DEAR parents,
Sincere greetings from the land of your unmarried and blissfully content daughter. I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits and ready to embark on yet another adventure with your perpetually unmarried daughter.
It's about to get PG-rated and once more, I trust that our open relationship will allow for robust storytelling.
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Yes, I know it's been a few weeks since I updated you on my dating escapades, so grab a cup of tea, put your feet up and get ready for a continuation of Tinder tales.
My last Tinder file was from the pages of a fairy tale book - even dating escapades that don't lead to a long-term relationship can be beautiful. The one I am about to share was more of a nightmare.
They say grey hair is a crown of glory and often symbolises wisdom. This Tinder match was everything but wise.
Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, they said all the right things and were as charming as ever but they had plenty of hang-ups.
After chatting for a while and going on a few dates, we planned a movie night. To date, Tinder had proven to be far less terrible for me than my peers who had been trying to find love on this app for far longer than I wish to recall. This unexpected turn with this match therefore caught me by surprise.
There was no amount of judgement that could have prepared me for this person's refusal to respect me and my space. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but respect for a difference in opinion is important.
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Our disagreement about relationships quickly turned volatile with me asking them to leave. Without going into too much detail, this encounter reminded me of the dangers and pitfalls of Tinder. I didn't feel safe. I quickly called a friend and informed them about the turn of events to ensure someone knew what was happening in the event that things got worse.
You're no longer meeting a friend of a friend or a friend of a relative. Instead, it's a complete stranger. There's no way of vetting your match in the same way you would someone your friend knows. This anonymity and lack of verification can pose significant dangers.
Without proper background checks or identity verification measures, users are left vulnerable to encountering dishonest and sometimes even dangerous individuals.
With work taking up most of our days as young professionals, it leaves very little opportunity to meet people the way mum and dad did. Our communities are far smaller and so is the dating pool.
My story is not nearly as bad as the experiences of many other unmarried daughters. So maybe, the next time mum and dad consider asking about my plans to wed, think about this story and how challenging it has become to find love in 2023.
With all my love,
Your Unmarried Daughter
P.S. Just a quick reminder, dear parents: I love you dearly. This is a satirical letter to all parents with unmarried daughters. I cannot promise a wedding invitation - ever - so let's simply keep calm and carry on with our lives, shall we?
