The internet has brought people from all over the world closer together; it has also aided in the formation of new romantic relationships. Many women have no idea how charming a one-liner can be until they receive a message from the man of their dreams. Is he, however, too good to be true?
Online dating apps have pros and cons, but many of the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. A potential partner can easily pose as someone else on the internet… How, then, do we determine if someone is telling the truth or if we are being duped?
Permit us to explain further. There are red flags to look out for in a man’s dating profile, and we’re here to help you spot them. Here is the decoder ring every online dater needs to learn how to read between the lines and spot red flags like a pro.
There could be valid explanations for any of the following actions, but you should still follow your intuition. In most cases, feelings are fairly accurate predictors of reality.
1. Bare Bones Information on Their Bio
We understand that not everyone has their best friends to assist them in creating the perfect dating app profile, but come on! No effort at all is unacceptable. If they don’t take the time to tell you anything about themselves, it’s a pretty good indicator that they aren’t using the app with the intention of forming a genuine relationship with someone.
It’s not a good sign if someone is secretive from the start. You should be able to learn more about them as you get to know them. Recognizing that some people are more reserved than others and giving them space is critical. However, if someone cannot be bothered to respond to even the most basic of questions, it is best to move on.
2. Bad Photos or No Photos
In the same way, the lack of effort is just not encouraging in any way! “Take me as I am—I’m not going the extra mile to select good images—and I won’t go the extra mile for you,” they reason. To be honest, it makes sense. People who use an excessive number of sexually charged body images, shirtless photos of themselves flexing in front of a mirror, or selfies taken in low light should be avoided. This is yet another cautionary tale about profile picture red flags. We believe that these are simple “not for me” statements that do not require further explanation.
3. They Only Focus On Your Pictures
Don’t bother wondering if they read your bio if they immediately start asking questions that are answered right there. You’re not expecting them to read ‘The Iliad,’ for Christ’s sake. It’s only a few sentences, and if they can’t be bothered to read them in less than 30 seconds, it’s a no-go.
4. Boring People
Yes, some people are just plain dull, but that isn’t the point here! Ladies and gentlemen, please repeat after me: Effort. Even if you are a bit boring, it only takes a little effort to engage with others!
Someone who doesn’t have much to say or is unwilling to try will put in little effort to keep a connection alive and enjoyable.
5. They Wait Days to Reply to Messages
It’s a crazy world out there. It’s important to remember that people have real lives. It’s fine if you and your potential new partner don’t start chatting nonstop right away. However, if it appears that they are always busy and never available, your suspicions are not unfounded. Our guess is that you’re not the only one they’re talking to, or that they’re already in a relationship and looking for a side piece. We could be wrong, but we could also be right.
6. Little Communication
If you have to do all of the heavy lifting in order to keep a conversation going, you should leave now because it’s not going anywhere. Talking to someone you’re interested in shouldn’t be like pulling teeth. If you have to put in extra time and effort right off the bat, you can expect to be working long hours for little to no pay.
7. They Want to Video Chat Immediately
Believe me, the last thing I want to do is exchange messages with someone for a month and then never see them again. Hey, dude, you gotta calm down. They do this to ensure that you look exactly like your profile pictures. It does not necessarily make them a bad person. You can be certain, however, that this is part of their established pattern of behavior. And we are completely against this aggressive strategy.
8. Refusal to Video Chat or Meet
People who only want to message and not video chat are at the other end of the creepy spectrum. They’re too busy to FaceTime, meet in person, or even pick up the phone? In our opinion, they are either a catfish or a cheat.
This could indicate the presence of another romantic partner or romantic interest in their life–possibly several! The game here is that they have other potential partners in mind, but they will keep you around if you are willing to take a back seat. And, honey, you deserve to be the main passenger.
If you’ve been chatting with someone online for a while and they refuse to meet in person, this is a major red flag. This could be due to their inability to commit to a relationship or to the fact that they are not who they claim to be (see catfish above).
9. Their Favorite Movie is Scarface
This is my personal gift to you, and it isn’t a well-known red flag, but it SHOULD BE. As a general rule, if a guy has a Scarface poster in his bedroom, dorm room, or prominently displayed anywhere in his living space, this is a huge red flag. No offense to Al Pacino or Michelle Pfeiffer, but if he mentions his love for this gangster film in his profile, swipe left for the love of Miami.
10. They Are All Sex Talk
It should go without saying that this extremely horny behavior is unacceptable. To be honest, not every situation calls for some phone sex or sexting. When you know and trust someone, that sort of thing can be a lot of fun. But if they immediately ask you to peg them (which has happened to me) or if you enjoy being choked without even asking how you’re doing, that’s a creeper.
The worst kind of creeper is the one who sends you dick pictures right away. And what are we supposed to do with them? Are they hoping for a compliment? Why are some men so enamored with their penises that they want to flaunt them to strangers on dating apps? We don’t know and, to be honest, we don’t care.