The dating "game" (no not a pc game, actual life)

Can't say i'm "old" at my 26 years, but I do feel like that when it comes to dating.
Kind of screwed up when I was younger - studied IT and engineering.. both times 100% guys everywhere. So some chances that did come up eventually failed.. Finished MBA last year.. was the only guy in my group.. Every girl was already dating or married with children.

Been grinding through tinder, bumble and FB dating with no luck. I really don't care for simple hooking up, but that seems to be only theme going on on those sites. Some likes but no real matches so far.. Have to note that there are not many to choose from as well. Basically one or two girls a day and it says again that there are no more within my area.

Been spending time with my long time friends for years and chances of meeting new people also started getting fewer and fewer. And with every year I start to get less and less enthusiastic as well.. Best chance is probably going to events I like and hoping to meet someone there. But not much events now.. with lack of enthusiasm also comes lack of caurage..

Been focusing on my professional life as well and going to gym.. there actually is not much time left in the day.. When I go out I do that with friends as I said.. in summer thats almost every or every second weekend. I'm actually quit social and go out. But I don't seem to have caurage to go up to strangers to strike up conversations.

For me, and I'd say probably for you as well, there's a simple solution - you just have to do it.. I suppose that's on the same level as saying "just don't be sad" to depressed person, but I'm sort of a cynic.. those who do - achieve something.. If you are feeling down and keeping to yourself.. well, poor luck, someone else will jump in and use the chance.

Lots of people are ashamed of having a profile on a dating site, like it's a place for losers and perverts. But c'mon, it's XXI century, online is a part of our lives. Also I don't think looking for new acquaintances in a bar or night club is somehow more honorable than doing it on a dating site/app.

I think dating sites are a great instrument, people are just using it wrong. E.g. there are lots of people with empty profiles - a few photos and no description. Yes, that's how it works in real life, isn't it? You can only judge by the looks. HELL NO - IRL we have the mimics, the body language, the voice - and most of all, THE CONTEXT. If you see a girl in a library, chances are she's into books if you meet her at the gym, she's into sports.

You can create context by having an honest and meaningful description in your profile. Keep a portrait of your "target audience" in your head, and write something that will catch that audience's interest.

I think successful dating is all about statistics. There is some amount of girls in your area, but only a small part fit your requirements (like appearance, common interests, etc.), and a smaller part of these girls have requirements that you will fit into. No you just need to be in the same space and in the same time - that's another problem. To maximize your chances, you should register on ALL major dating sites and stay for a long term.

Fake profiles exist, but if you have an ounce of common sense you won't fall for that. As for the lack of topics to talk - stop choosing profiles based on looks only, search for people who share the same interests, no matter how weird they are - this way you will actually have meaningful conversations, which may or may not turn into something bigger.

curious about others.

The answer is in the question -- the key to having a conversation is genuinely caring about what the other person has to say. Lots of good topics beyond hobbies and work: family, recent travel, TV shows, local news, favorite foods...

And if you ask follow-up questions, it's almost impossible to answer them with one-word answers.

"Oh, your favorite food is pizza? Do you ever make it yourself at home, or just order in? What's your favorite pizza place? Why? Have you tried Giovanni's over on 5th Street? I love that place. What's your most and least favorite toppings? How about Hawaiian pizza -- do you love it or hate it?"

If someone gets around all of those questions with one-word answers... you probably don't want to be in a relationship with them anyway.

Funny thing, Lugum, I've just broken up after 2 years with my girlfriend, we were too different, I'm outgoing, I drink and smoke a lot, I go out with friends too much, and with her, too little, maybe I was just kind of an asshole.

Not really much to add, just try not to fuck up like I did, haha!

You always bless us with some good music, let me return the favor