Nowadays there is hardly an area of life that has not been influenced by the triumph of the Internet - even love life is no exception.
The dating world has actually been revolutionized by the World Wide Web. Today, your dream partner can be found with just a few clicks – if fate has it that way. This applies not only to heterosexual people, but also to homosexuals . The community of gay men is particularly broad on the Internet.
But what tips should gay men actually keep in mind when dating on the Internet? The following article shows what you need to consider in order to always be safe and successful in the gay dating world.
Photo by christian buehner @christianbuehner, via Unsplash
Here are our 3 best dating tips for gay men:
The first contact
Today, the Internet offers an almost unmanageable number of dating offers for queer, bisexual and homosexual people , for example in the form of communities, chat rooms or apps. For gay men , there are numerous different opportunities on the Internet to find like-minded people and perhaps even the absolute prince charming, for example in the popular gay forum .
Nevertheless, with such a large number of people living in the anonymity of the Internet, it cannot be ignored that there are some black sheep. After all, the Internet makes it very easy to pretend to have a completely different identity. Fake profiles are one of the biggest problems in online dating.
To avoid the risk that you are actually communicating with a completely different person than the person pretending to be, the most important tip is to carefully look at the respective profile. For example, the uploaded images and other profile information should be consistent. In addition, it is of course particularly easy to determine in the course of the conversation whether the information in the profile corresponds to what the other person reveals about themselves communication
Especially on platforms for gay men , there are often people who are looking for a much younger partner. If the age difference is 15 years or more, it is essential to show a certain degree of skepticism - these contacts often turn out to be not serious and the focus of interest is mainly sexual acts.
The First meeting
However, if you have found a likeable man on the Internet with whom you have perhaps been in contact for weeks, you will probably want to meet in person sooner or later. The first rule in this context, however, is that the planned date should under no circumstances be kept secret. At least one other person you trust should be informed about the plans.
In principle, however, group meetings are particularly suitable for getting to know each other for the first time . For example, a few friends can get together for a small party, to which the date is then also invited. You are also welcome to bring a friend with you. The group of familiar people will provide valuable support while you get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, both date partners can still have fun even if they don't feel excessive sympathy for each other in real life.
However, there are of course also people who would like to be alone when they first meet. In this case, the first personal contact should definitely take place in a public place that is well attended. In this way, you always have the opportunity to quickly move away or get help if it is needed.
If the date partner can convince you in the first personal impression , the focus of interest will certainly be a pleasant conversation. Cafés or restaurants, for example, are well suited for this. A good tip is to also ask questions about your date partner's personal expectations on the topics of love, relationships and sex. If these do not match your own expectations and attitudes, it is not at all objectionable to communicate this openly and end the date promptly.
However, if there is any fear of directly rejecting their date partner, many gay men like to resort to a little white lie. For example, while going to the toilet, a friend can be asked to call in a few minutes and feign an emergency - this way you can walk away from the date without any unpleasant situation.
In terms of safety when meeting in person for the first time , it also makes sense to inform a friend about where the date is currently and whether everything is okay. The messenger WhatsApp, for example, also allows you to constantly share your current location.
The steps after getting to know each other for the first time
What happens after you get to know each other for the first time is of course completely individual. If the two date partners decide to go home together, it is important to remember to give the friend in the know the respective address and ideally also the full name of the date partner.
How the activities take place in the familiar, home environment depends entirely on your personal wishes and the signals from the other person. If, for example, you don't want any romantic or sexual activities yourself, it makes sense not to lie down on the couch together right away.
It is then much better to keep a certain distance from your date partner, for example by sitting alone on a chair or armchair.
On the first date, it also proves to be much safer to avoid consuming alcohol . The same applies, of course, to other intoxicants or drugs. When you are sober, it turns out to be easier to block unwanted advances in style.
Photo by Renate Vanaga @whynottogoforit, via Unsplash
Maybe there is still no desire for sex - but the evening has already progressed so far that there is no longer any possibility of driving home. If someone is waiting at home, the first step should be to inform them about the unplanned delay.
In addition, you have to decide independently whether you actually want to share the bed in the bedroom or whether you would rather spend the night alone on the sofa - this of course applies to both sides. A serious date partner, who perhaps even deserves the chance for a second date, will definitely understand such a decision.
But regardless of how the date goes in detail - a meeting with a previously unknown person is always a very special experience. Even if the date partner unfortunately did not meet the desired expectations, this should not be viewed as a reason the search for the real dream man and true love.
