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I think it is due to the misconception of an over abundance of choice. The apps trick us into believing that there is always someone better at the next swipe. S

I think it is due to the misconception of an over abundance of choice. The apps trick us into believing that there is always someone better at the next swipe. So instead of having random hook ups, it could be that people are always waiting for the perfect, and thus having less casual sex.

newsclues 6y ago
Dating apps suggest that a small group are having more sex and a larger group less sex. It’s the distribution of sex, not the amount. Technology has enabled the upper echelons of desirable men to sleep with many desirable women, and those down the pecking order are content with porn/toys, instead of settling for anyone other than the prized upper echelon. It’s not just the technology but the social change that resulted from technology
- stonecraftwolf 6y ago
  It’s extremely telling that you don’t bother to consider this from a woman’s POV, as though sex is some sort of fungible good to be distributed amongst men rather than something that results from two or more people expressing their agency. This is a deeply toxic set of assumptions that has its roots in the deeply misogynistic Incel culture.
  - nickthemagicman 6y ago
    Everything viewed through statistics takes the emotion and human element out of it. This is statistically accurate analysis from dating sites and also the above article. It's not really something that's an opinion. Much like how Americans are Obese due to readily available junk food, women have become less interested in the less attractive men. Humans are more primitive than you would like to think.
    - goatinaboat 6y ago
      Americans are Obese due to readily available junk food, women have become less interested in the less attractive men Leading to headlines like http://whisper.sh/stories/09e9086b-03de-4087-ad5b-7f003ce2c312/Plus-Sized-Women-Admit-They-Arent-Attracted-To-Overweight-Men http://whisper.sh/stories/09e9086b-03de-4087-ad5b-7f003ce2c3... "Plus-Sized Women Admit They Aren't Attracted To Overweight Men"
  - deleted 6y ago
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  - scarmig 6y ago
    If the poster had said "Technology has enabled women to choose to sleep with a more rarefied subset of men than in the past," many people would complain that it's incel rhetoric attributing the statistical distribution to conscious agency on the part of women. Speaking in terms of distributions is the best way to handle this discussion, because people are more able to focus on the facts.
  - chefkoch 6y ago
    Why is that? It's the women who decide who of the men has sex. If a women is not considered unattraktive it's way easier for her to find someone (but most won't find that someone good enough) for casual sex.
  - deleted 6y ago
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  - newsclues 6y ago
    I write as a 30 something year old man that has never had sex. Having re-read my comment I tried to make it gender neutral because I think the phenomenon effects all genders, it was only the third paragraph that I used gendered language. I’m concerned that you jumped on that, but not surprised.
scotty79 6y ago
Apps that enable random hookups discourage people from random hookups? Doesn't sound plausible.
- MattGaiser 6y ago
  This study says the number of people participating in hookups is down, not that hookups are down.
- KMag 6y ago
  That partly depends on your thoughts on the validity of the paradox of choice.
metalliqaz 6y ago
I don't think this hypothesis holds water. Individuals motivated to copulate might initially perceive an abundance of choice, but it would be quickly self-correcting as hookups don't materialize. The falling alcohol consumption seems much more plausible in my opinion.
- nickthemagicman 6y ago
  Why do people keep going back to junk food as good outcomes don't materialize? Humans are not rational.
  - metalliqaz 6y ago
    because it tastes awesome and is cheap and easy to obtain
dominotw 6y ago
> The apps trick us into believing that there is always someone better at the next swipe. How though. Wouldn't you learn pretty fast that it isn't the case.
- inetknght 6y ago
  > How though. Wouldn't you learn pretty fast that it isn't the case. Many people don't learn. Those that do learn would be dissuaded from trying alternatives for anticipation (fear?) of a repeat experience.
the_only_law 6y ago
I'm not sure quite how to explain it, but I get a very uneasy feeling from dating apps. I feel like I'm constantly looking at the same person over and over again, The pics are the same, the bios are copy/paste, overused lines. It doesn't feel like people trying to date, but rather people trying advertise their lifestyle / social media presence. Some of them are worse than others and some seem to only attract a single type of personality. It almost all feels fake Then go to read some r/tinder advice and it makes sense. The Advice tends to boil down to creating your profile formulaic, attempting to be different or add much personality docks you points. On another note if someone could please let me know how all these people are constantly affording retreats to all sorts of countries, please let me know ;)

newsclues 6y ago

Dating apps suggest that a small group are having more sex and a larger group less sex. It’s the distribution of sex, not the amount. Technology has enabled the upper echelons of desirable men to sleep with many desirable women, and those down the pecking order are content with porn/toys, instead of settling for anyone other than the prized upper echelon. It’s not just the technology but the social change that resulted from technology

stonecraftwolf 6y ago
It’s extremely telling that you don’t bother to consider this from a woman’s POV, as though sex is some sort of fungible good to be distributed amongst men rather than something that results from two or more people expressing their agency. This is a deeply toxic set of assumptions that has its roots in the deeply misogynistic Incel culture.
- nickthemagicman 6y ago
  Everything viewed through statistics takes the emotion and human element out of it. This is statistically accurate analysis from dating sites and also the above article. It's not really something that's an opinion. Much like how Americans are Obese due to readily available junk food, women have become less interested in the less attractive men. Humans are more primitive than you would like to think.
  - goatinaboat 6y ago
    Americans are Obese due to readily available junk food, women have become less interested in the less attractive men Leading to headlines like http://whisper.sh/stories/09e9086b-03de-4087-ad5b-7f003ce2c312/Plus-Sized-Women-Admit-They-Arent-Attracted-To-Overweight-Men http://whisper.sh/stories/09e9086b-03de-4087-ad5b-7f003ce2c3... "Plus-Sized Women Admit They Aren't Attracted To Overweight Men"
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- scarmig 6y ago
  If the poster had said "Technology has enabled women to choose to sleep with a more rarefied subset of men than in the past," many people would complain that it's incel rhetoric attributing the statistical distribution to conscious agency on the part of women. Speaking in terms of distributions is the best way to handle this discussion, because people are more able to focus on the facts.
- chefkoch 6y ago
  Why is that? It's the women who decide who of the men has sex. If a women is not considered unattraktive it's way easier for her to find someone (but most won't find that someone good enough) for casual sex.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- newsclues 6y ago
  I write as a 30 something year old man that has never had sex. Having re-read my comment I tried to make it gender neutral because I think the phenomenon effects all genders, it was only the third paragraph that I used gendered language. I’m concerned that you jumped on that, but not surprised.

scotty79 6y ago

Apps that enable random hookups discourage people from random hookups? Doesn't sound plausible.

MattGaiser 6y ago
This study says the number of people participating in hookups is down, not that hookups are down.
KMag 6y ago
That partly depends on your thoughts on the validity of the paradox of choice.

metalliqaz 6y ago

I don't think this hypothesis holds water. Individuals motivated to copulate might initially perceive an abundance of choice, but it would be quickly self-correcting as hookups don't materialize. The falling alcohol consumption seems much more plausible in my opinion.

nickthemagicman 6y ago
Why do people keep going back to junk food as good outcomes don't materialize? Humans are not rational.
- metalliqaz 6y ago
  because it tastes awesome and is cheap and easy to obtain

dominotw 6y ago

> The apps trick us into believing that there is always someone better at the next swipe. How though. Wouldn't you learn pretty fast that it isn't the case.

inetknght 6y ago
> How though. Wouldn't you learn pretty fast that it isn't the case. Many people don't learn. Those that do learn would be dissuaded from trying alternatives for anticipation (fear?) of a repeat experience.

the_only_law 6y ago

I'm not sure quite how to explain it, but I get a very uneasy feeling from dating apps. I feel like I'm constantly looking at the same person over and over again, The pics are the same, the bios are copy/paste, overused lines. It doesn't feel like people trying to date, but rather people trying advertise their lifestyle / social media presence. Some of them are worse than others and some seem to only attract a single type of personality. It almost all feels fake Then go to read some r/tinder advice and it makes sense. The Advice tends to boil down to creating your profile formulaic, attempting to be different or add much personality docks you points. On another note if someone could please let me know how all these people are constantly affording retreats to all sorts of countries, please let me know ;)