StickyDango

Melbourne broke the record for coldest Christmas in two decades being at 17C. ❄️

Melbourne does not know how to respond to secret Australian handshake

I would go in to it without expectations other than meeting people. Things will develop if it's the right person. Some people (like myself) will freak out if the other person is too pushy, so go easy and go slow. Expectations from a dating app is asking for trouble and disappointment.

I didn't get overly personal with those photos or prompts. I gave enough to give me a bit of character to stand out from others, and this is what I looked for in others. Instead of short answers, add a few details. Low effort is a turn off. There are so many people with photos of themselves in snow gear with little to no information on it that it does nothing for me. I used to work the snow seasons. Tell me more about what you do daily and enjoy, not that one time you went snowboarding.

We also have given Google, etc. a lot of information a lot more personal than what we give on a dating app, so I wasn't too worried about it. Also, don't be afraid of getting others to vet your profile! What you think might be okay may be strange for others, and vice versa. My partner had one line in his profile like "Everything is better with peanut butter" 😂 I thought it was strange yet cute, and I learned later than he developed this love of PB when he was backpacking in Canada. Cheap and delicious.

Female, mid 30s, looking for a man also in his 30s, looking for a long term relationship.

I hated online dating, but I felt like it was a bit of a necessary evil. Some of my friends had said to try it out because I "needed to find someone to stay in the country" (background: I was on a work visa at the time, and we always joked about it even though I made it clear I was 100% going to get citizenship on my own, not via someone else).

I used it for only about 3 months before I found my partner. He had a different experience - I think he said he was on and off for a year on Hinge, but also hated it. I tried different apps like Coffee Meets Bagel (catfished on my first connection, so I deleted it.. Luckily, I found out before meeting him because one day, I saw his account was removed and a TOS violation message was in our chat. Also way too many weirdos and people I wasn't interested in), Bumble (too anxious to make the first move), then free version of Hinge.

I found Hinge suited me best because of said anxiety, and I could change my location. (note: this was also during the covid years, and I lived in a small town where everyone knew each other. I was in Melbourne every weekend anyway, and I made it clear early to each connection where I lived, and they were all okay with it.) I had a lot of matches (I think females seem to get more matches), but because I'm picky and will run from any potential red flags, I only chatted with three people, met two, picked one. He's still here 4 years later.

I think the biggest problem is that people are judged based on limited photos and prompts. Some of these "weird" or "red flag" people could have been the nicest guys, but just put up photos I didn't like, had low effort answers ("just ask", or cliche answers), or worded their answers in ways I interpreted as red flaggy. Much like a resume, I suppose. They could be the best fit, but someone else fit "better" on paper.

I'm not a fan of dating apps but I'm glad I did it because I found someone. If I didn't, maybe I came away with learning a little more about myself and hating on dating apps more. My partner and I are a great fit, but if it weren't for the app, we had nothing in common in terms of activities... We would never have crossed paths otherwise.

I really enjoyed reading the responses, so thanks for asking the question!

And "low sodium". They replace sodium chloride with potassium chloride instead.

Whereabouts are you?

Oh, and processing aids. That's another kettle of fish. Same with things that are added and then taken out, or vice versa, as long as they are the same amounts, they don't have to be on the label unless it's an allergen. (Australia)

I'm always wary of places that cook or bake their own food, especially home businesses. They don't have the money to pay an accredited food lab to do their labels and testing for them. I've done my share of food label auditing, and I've seen some pretty shocking things.

"No preservatives" - Sugar is a preservative. Salt is a preservative. Vinegar is a preservative. Lemon juice is a preservative.

"Sugar-free" - but they add alternative sweeteners that have a range of other health issues associated with them.

"Cholesterol-free" - I once saw this on a juice container and had a laugh.

What people don't realise is that with food formulation, what you take out, you have to put something back in to replace it. A low/no sugar product will likely be higher in something else like fat to make it a palatable product.. So labels make claims on some things, but will purposely not mention the others.

Edit: Yay! 100th comment!

I'm sorry for being so busy with the new place especially after how many people have probably gone through the process of getting a new car.

Can confirm. I wrote to an author asking what I the best way I can support her because I have so limited space in the place I currently in. She said buying physical books is the best, but I was surprised to learn that borrowing books from libraries is also a big help. Authors don't make much from ebook sales.

I've heard it in person, can confirm satanic mating call. At first I was like "W.. T.. F... Am I in danger" but walked a bit more and actually saw it making the sounds.

I've never used olive oil or water before. Good to know it still turns out. I make it in a loaf tin so I can have consistently same sized slices and it fits in to the toaster without having to cut to size. It'll also bake more evenly.

I wish I could get Odlums flour. The company I bought I from now claims to only do wholesale and to a supermarket chain, but they won't get back to me with a supplier whom I can actually find it from. :(

Couldn't tell you, but it would be more in Canadian football fields. ;)