I'm a 30 year old lawyer, decently good looking and in shape (at least I think so lol) and own my house yet online dating has been a barren waste land for me.
No problem getting matches, but I've gone out with 8 women this year, one got to a second date, and none to a third. 6/8 I rejected for various reasons, ranging from being crazy radical MAGA (2), just no personality (1), disclosed they are actually in an open relationship (1) and borderline catfishes their pictures were so out of date and inaccurate (2). Last one I actually liked we had a very good second date, then I get a 2 AM text that she wants to be friends because she's allergic to my cats and she may be moving out of my state 2 years from now (granted, she has dogs that I'm allergic to which I was fully prepared to deal with).
Then, I had 2 dates set up for this weekend, Friday and today Sunday. Friday date cancels 2 hours before citing car trouble, and never responds to my attempts to reschedule. Then today, I confirm morning of, she says she's excited, then I show up to the restaurant and she never shows or texts or anything. So I said fuck it, still had dinner.
I'm just so tired man. I guess I'm a hopeless romantic because I won't give up on finding someone, but the dating ecosystem is so far beyond fucked-last time I was on it seriously was pre-COVID and it was just a completely different ballgame, people were normal and actually wanted to meet and have a good time if not seriously date. Now its full of weirdos and girls who are dating 3 guys at once. I'm going to need a break after this week, with the sole good one cutting things off, the last minute cancel and being completely stood up. But fuck man I'm not getting any younger and if my dreams of having a family are ever going to happen the ball needs to get rolling.
I will say a couple years ago I would have accepted that friend opportunity and lurked on the margins, but I refuse to disrespect myself like that anymore. So there's progress there at least.