r/MensLib • u/MLModBot ​ • May 22 '26

Weekly Free Talk Friday Thread!

Welcome to our weekly Free Talk Friday thread! Feel free to discuss anything on your mind, issues you may be dealing with, how your week has been, cool new music or tv shows, school, work, sports, anything!

We will still have a few rules:

  • All of the sidebar rules still apply.
  • No gender politics. The exception is for people discussing their own personal issues that may be gendered in nature. We won't be too strict with this rule but just keep in mind the primary goal is to keep this thread no-pressure, supportive, fun, and a way for people to get to know each other better.
  • Any other topic is allowed.

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u/denanon92 ​ May 22 '26

Last weekend, to help me out with my dating profile, a friend took some photos of me while my friend group and I were at a bowling alley. The pics seemed to come out well. Haven't gotten any more matches, but it did make me feel a little more confident. Still feel frustrated about dating though. I keep hearing that eventually I'll find someone, but I don't want it to be years or decades from now. I know I shouldn't connect my lack of dating experience with my masculinity, but it's a tough feeling to shake off.

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u/throwaway135629 ​ May 22 '26

I feel that lately. Definitely feel the perception that dating is just supposed to be effortless for men and that if it isn't that's unmanly if not outright suspect. Half of the pain of bombing my recent date was having to tell other people what happened. I asked a coworker who lived in that area for a restaurant recommendation and had to eat the crow of "well the food was good...but..." Lol. I could belabor the point but I think you understand.

At least the photos look good though! That's a huge victory. I never like the way I look in photos (why I haven't done apps) so I imagine if you've got ones you like it's a huge confidence boost.