So it’s been a day since I installed grindr and created a profile for the first time, and I already have some funny stories I want to share. Important details for later: I’m 18, I’m only looking for guys of my age or a bit older, and I don’t want hook ups. I made everything perfectly clear in my description.

First, I sent messages to two guys. I told both of them I found them very cute. One told me he was into older guys and the other just blocked me.

Then the funny part: the messages I received. I was sent three unasked dick pics and an explicit album. Another one just sent “I’m a top and I don’t host”. Other guys asked me to chat, or just sent a “hi” or a tap. I chatted with one for quite a while. Another one made a bad joke calling me a pdfile because of my choose of words in my profile (“around my age”). The best part is that none of the guys who sent me anything was under 30 years old. The oldest was three times my age. There were also faceless torsos and picture-less accounts. All of this was funny for me, as I had certain idea of what grindr is like thanks to the internet and communities like this one.

Even though the guy I chatted with for a while was like twice my age, it was fine. He was charming and respectful, and everything started because, after I rejected him at first because of his age, he complimented how my lips looked in my profile picture (which is just my face) and I made a spicy but silly joke that could only make sense when talking about my lips.

In general, it was a good experience. Several guys finding me cute or sexy resulted in an unexpected bust in my self esteem. I wish I had more luck with guys of my age though, but nobody said it would be easy. And I also hope to find something a bit more serious and sustainable over time than a hook up. I’m virgin, and quite emotional, so I don’t want to have my first time with an stranger twice my age who dissappears from my life immediately. It’d be quite sad, I think. I need some connection.