4 ms·

Show HN: TWIBS — map-based financially-transparent dating

9 points by twibs_io 4y ago

TWIBS is a new kind of dating app where you can place pins at locations on the map and specify who would pay for the date. Then wait for people to message you or browse the map to see where other people put their TWIBS.

nicoburns 4y ago
Is who would pay for the date really a big factor in anyone’s decision about who to date? Seems like a pretty basis on which to start a relationship!
- twibs_io 4y ago
  A substantial portion of people don't use dating apps to find a relationship. You may just be visiting a city and interested in having someone take you out to the nicest restaurant in town. If you're looking to settle down then the payment factor probably doesn't matter so much, in which case you could place TWIBS at your local pizza place, bowling alley, hiking trails. The idea is to help people find what they're actually looking for instead of assuming everyone is out to find "the one"
attractTheWorm 4y ago
This is a really cool concept that acknowledges the more transactional nature of certain relationships and sets an honest playing field. I would worry about people taking advantage and security but no more than any other dating app.
annagrigoryan2 4y ago
So a dating app based on the misogynist stereotype that women are going on dates to eat dinners?
swah 4y ago
Honorable idea, but in practice, all men will set "I can pay" and all women will set the "feed me", so the feature kinda doesn't make a difference? Maybe just make the app with only the "split" option and market it like that, with another name.
- twibs_io 4y ago
  That's fair, but the preference is pinned to the TWIB/location, not the user. So while some men may offer to pay for a meal at the most expensive restaurant in town, not all men will necessarily offer to pay at any location.
- nicoburns 4y ago
  Really? Most of the women I’ve met on dating apps (which admittedly isn’t that many) have been quite uncomfortable with the idea of me paying and have preferred to split. I believe they see the man paying as a sign of an older time where women weren’t considered equal to men.
  - wadamomo 4y ago
    I think things are definitely going in this direction. But again it depends who you're dating! Also these rules apply differently in the queer community and the app is open to everyone so hopefully there will be many women who offer to pay and many men who want to paid for too
  - swah 4y ago
    No, not really. I don't use those platforms - I was thinking more in the sense that women are outnumbered 10:1 (or 100:1 ?) on those apps and "get to choose" the terms. Also there is a meme (?) that even average looking women on Tinder will be super picky ie "he must be 6'+, have a 6 figure salary, and has to hit the gym everyday day*...
jnakagawa 4y ago
SushiSalami 4y ago
I feel like this is actually a really effective way of finding people who think like you. The places you choose to spend your free time says a lot about you. I'm surprised this hasn't been done before. I also feel a little weird declaring my payment preferences upfront like that, but I can understand why that's important and offers transparency in a refreshing way.

9 points by twibs_io 4y ago

nicoburns 4y ago

Is who would pay for the date really a big factor in anyone’s decision about who to date? Seems like a pretty basis on which to start a relationship!

twibs_io 4y ago
A substantial portion of people don't use dating apps to find a relationship. You may just be visiting a city and interested in having someone take you out to the nicest restaurant in town. If you're looking to settle down then the payment factor probably doesn't matter so much, in which case you could place TWIBS at your local pizza place, bowling alley, hiking trails. The idea is to help people find what they're actually looking for instead of assuming everyone is out to find "the one"

attractTheWorm 4y ago

This is a really cool concept that acknowledges the more transactional nature of certain relationships and sets an honest playing field. I would worry about people taking advantage and security but no more than any other dating app.

annagrigoryan2 4y ago

So a dating app based on the misogynist stereotype that women are going on dates to eat dinners?

swah 4y ago

Honorable idea, but in practice, all men will set "I can pay" and all women will set the "feed me", so the feature kinda doesn't make a difference? Maybe just make the app with only the "split" option and market it like that, with another name.

twibs_io 4y ago
That's fair, but the preference is pinned to the TWIB/location, not the user. So while some men may offer to pay for a meal at the most expensive restaurant in town, not all men will necessarily offer to pay at any location.
nicoburns 4y ago
Really? Most of the women I’ve met on dating apps (which admittedly isn’t that many) have been quite uncomfortable with the idea of me paying and have preferred to split. I believe they see the man paying as a sign of an older time where women weren’t considered equal to men.
- wadamomo 4y ago
  I think things are definitely going in this direction. But again it depends who you're dating! Also these rules apply differently in the queer community and the app is open to everyone so hopefully there will be many women who offer to pay and many men who want to paid for too
- swah 4y ago
  No, not really. I don't use those platforms - I was thinking more in the sense that women are outnumbered 10:1 (or 100:1 ?) on those apps and "get to choose" the terms. Also there is a meme (?) that even average looking women on Tinder will be super picky ie "he must be 6'+, have a 6 figure salary, and has to hit the gym everyday day*...

jnakagawa 4y ago

SushiSalami 4y ago

I feel like this is actually a really effective way of finding people who think like you. The places you choose to spend your free time says a lot about you. I'm surprised this hasn't been done before. I also feel a little weird declaring my payment preferences upfront like that, but I can understand why that's important and offers transparency in a refreshing way.