When Aileen Barratt, 37, entered the world of dating apps in 2016 after her marriage broke down, she was shocked by the levels of sexism she found.
She learnt the hard way to read the subtle — or not so subtle — clues in a man’s profile that reveal what he really thinks of himself and women.
Here, for the uninitiated, she shares her brilliantly witty ‘translation’ of what men really mean, and whether to swipe right (for a match) or left (to reject) a potential suitor .. .
A is for Pierścionek z diamentem Just Ask
Lazy men often put this in their ‘bio’. It means: ‘I never know what to put here, so just ask me what you want to know.’ But why would I spend time on someone who can’t think of anything interesting to say about themselves? This is a man who requires that you make all the effort.
B is for Banter
‘Banter’ used to mean a snappy conversational back and forth. But men who say a prospective partner ‘must have banter’ are rarely asking for someone funny.They want to be able to make ‘edgy’ (aka belittling or misogynist) statements and have you laugh because they’re obviously joking.
C is for Conversation
Conversation on a dating app can feel like a robotic exchange of niceties. The problem is making it a smug requirement, as in the request ‘must be able to hold a conversation’. It sets him up as an intellectual powerhouse — and it sets you up to do all the work.
D is for No Drama
This request is a big red flag, especially when it’s IN CAPITAL LETTERS.What these guys count as ‘drama’ is, for the most part, the natural progression of a relationship. Any desires or boundaries at all will be framed as needy. God forbid you admit to wanting more than shallow text exchanges, drinks and sex. Just swipe left.
Here, for the uninitiated, Aileen Barratt, 37, Pierścionek z diamentem shares her brilliantly witty ‘translation’ of what men really mean, and whether to swipe right (for a match) or left (to reject) a potential suitor .. .
E is for Entrepreneur
There are a suspiciously large number of entrepreneurs on dating apps. This is the equivalent of being photographed next to a Maserati in white chinos. It could be accurate, but 99 per cent of the time it’s rubbish. Anyway, if being an entrepreneur is his whole personality, maybe he doesn’t have a personality.
F is for Fun
This was the first euphemism I noticed on Tinder. If men say they’re ‘looking for some fun’, it won’t be fairground rides and candy floss.Don’t get me wrong. Sex is fun! But casual sex often isn’t that much fun for a woman — especially when it’s not your fun they’re concerned with; it’s theirs.
G is for Good Vibes Only
A man who uses this harmful little phrase goes even further than the NO DRAMA types. Should you ever be less than totally thrilled by them, they’ll tell you it’s really hard when you’re like this because the negativity is really draining, you know?
