The realities of sex and dating during a pandemic... P.S. it's very sad
The only thing I want to say is, the coronavirus has been unbelievably inconvenient for my dating life.
On top of ruining so many things, Covid has now made dating impossible too. Now, I’m not talking about those of you who have been in relationships for the past year, or the ones who were lucky enough to start dating someone back in January. This applies to everyoneeeee else.
If you’re thinking covid isn’t a huge obstacle in the dating world, then you’re probably cuddling with your boyfriend / girlfriend right now, and I hate you.
Realistically, I think the #1 place to meet someone new pre-covid was at a bar, club, or party. All of which, are literally illegal now.
Now restaurants are the next best option
Still, even that isn’t simple.
Two weeks ago, I was out at dinner with my sister and cousin, when my cousin pointed out a table with "cute" guys.
Let me set the scene: my back was to the table, my sister’s contact had just blown away in the wind (I’m not exaggerating) so she was blind, and my cousin was sitting in front of me, drunk. When I tried to casually turn, I saw two guys (neither cute, sorry to say) and a girl sitting in the middle of them. The four of us made extremely awkward eye contact when they caught me staring, but my cousin still wanted to go up the one she liked.
I told her two reasons why that was an absolutely horrible idea:
People don’t exactly want strangers coming up to them because we’re, uh, you know, IN A PANDEMIC
There was no way to tell if he was single!! And who was the random girl?? Sure, maybe they were a group of friends, or maybe even siblings, BUT if it was a couple and their friend, then my cousin would’ve been guaranteed one bitch slap
As one would imagine, when we left she was sad and single, just like us. For those reasons, I don't think restaurants are a good scene for meeting someone today.
Okay but what about dating apps?
It's true, they haven’t changed. In theory, you could still find someone on Tinder or Hinge or any of the other hundred platforms.
While apps are still an option, A LOT of people are understandably reluctant to meet in person right now.
For argument sake, let’s say two people start talking and form a connection after a few months. When the time comes to make plans for an actual date, one of them confesses that they don’t feel comfortable meeting in person because of covid. Which. Is. Valid.
Now what? How are two people supposed to create a strong bond in a new relationship without physically being together?
I've never done it, but I'd imagine it's extremely difficult, which is why online dating has never been more difficult.
This next part is for all of my Tinder lovers who just want sex: make sure to bring your protection, both kinds...
NOW, in addition to worrying about whether or not your one-night stand has an STD, you also have to worry about their covid status.
Is there a solution?
Well apparently according to researchers from Harvard Medical School, wearing a face mask during sex can help avoid the spread. I honestly don't know if I agree with that or not, but I also don't see people trying...
Why does having sex have to be so dangerous in 2020???
Last but not least, I want to share something that my family and I have been discussing for months. I was telling my dad how I used to love walking down the streets in New York and staring at the attractive men that would pass by me. Personally, before covid, when that happened I would either try to talk to them or just drool from far away, but now it's a little more complicated.
Today, when you see a hot stranger on the street you have to ask yourself one serious question: are they just "mask-hot" or are they actually attractive?
Covid has given people the perfect opportunity to catfish. Without seeing someones mouth and nose, which is literally 90% of the face, it's impossible to know what somebody really looks like under a mask.
Okay but why does my dad actually understand the struggle...
Let’s just say that there’s a reason why Single’s Day is the biggest shopping holiday of the year (Professor Mendoza told me...not sure how to take that), and this year I will definitely be enjoying it.