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The State of the Romantic Marketplace
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The State of the Romantic Marketplace

INTRO

  • Being single in modern society is both fun and difficult

  • Advantages: freedom, new experiences, not being tied down

  • Challenges: most people desire companionship, even if casual

We’ll reverse social convention and talk about the boys first…

MEN’S EXPERIENCE IN MODERN DATING

  • Average men rarely match with women they find attractive on dating apps unless he is very, very good looking (9/10)

  • High rates of flaking and ghosting after initial contact

  • In-person approaches more difficult due to social anxiety, and because women often don’t give guys the chance to shoot their shot

  • The most attractive women are often easiest to talk to and date, which is odd

  • Men face negative assumptions until proven otherwise

  • Unrealistic financial expectations compared to previous generations

  • Women’s rising economic/educational achievement narrows the pool of “successful” men

WOMEN'S EXPERIENCE IN MODERN DATING

  • Desired men are often non-committal, especially post-intimacy

  • Many men lack maturity and independence ("grown children looking for a mom")

  • Men often lack sophistication, interests, and clear direction in life

  • Substance abuse issues are common

  • Many men seem unprepared for marriage/fatherhood despite claiming to want it

  • Poor grooming and self-care compared to women's efforts

  • Political differences create additional compatibility challenges

THE CROSS-PURPOSES PROBLEM

  • Men experience scarcity of attractive partners

  • Women experience scarcity of quality relationships

  • Dating apps amplify these issues:

    • Men lower standards for more opportunities

    • Women match with attractive men who won't commit

    • Women are targeting the top 10-20% best looking and most successful men

  • Evolutionary factors: women's attractiveness peaks earlier, men’s “quality” develops with age

  • Age gaps in relationships often make sense but face social scrutiny

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

  1. Release gender-based resentment; it’s counterproductive and unattractive

  2. Communicate clearly and kindly:

  3. Stay optimistic and prioritize in-person meetings over apps

  4. Help friends meet potential partners through introductions and social events

CONCLUSION

  • Most people are fundamentally good and seeking connection

  • Bad dating behavior poisons the environment for everyone

  • Personal coaching available for those struggling—jallengetbetter@gmail.com

KEY QUOTES TO HIGHLIGHT

  • "Unless he's a 9 or 10, he is rarely matching with women on dating apps he finds attractive."

  • "Modern women assume you are loser until proven otherwise."

  • "Men are geared to be attracted to women who are fertile, and women are geared to be attracted to men with status, who can provide and protect."

  • "Where men lack for opportunity, women lack optionality—both with the type of people they desire most."

  • "Don't carry your frustrations with you when dating, because it will come across to the other person, and it's a HUGE turnoff."

You can get in touch with me at jallengetbetter@gmail.com, DM me on Substack, follow me on IG, or drop a comment below. If you like what I’m doing, please share this with a friend or family member who needs to GetBetterSoon, and if you really like what I’m doing, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This will give you access to all of my posts and podcasts, and a free hour consult on anything you want to talk about. Thanks again for your support!

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