I know these threads are always around and it's probably been beaten to death, but put me in the group that's struggling right now.

Just turned 40 a few months ago and the dating scene seems pretty hopeless at this point. I'll admit a good amount of my situation is my own doing. I was definitely one of those immature boys in my 20s and even early 30s who didn't really know what I wanted and was afraid of commitment. I know in many ways I wasted my prime dating years.

After not bothering for a few years I decided to start using dating apps again. Tinder, Bumble, Facebook Dating, they are all a joke.

Many will say to meet a woman the traditional way, but is that even possible anymore? Let's look at it. 50, 40, 30, even 20 years ago there were essentially 5 traditional ways to meet a woman:

1) At Church/Religious Group
2) Through Family/Friends
3) At Work
4) Through Social Clubs/Groups
5) Bar/Club Scene

Considering that most of America is going away from religion the idea of meeting through "Church/Religious Group" seem slim to none. I'm religious but don't go regularly anyway. I also don't know a single person who met that way.

In the past through family and friends would've been a good angle but with most families not knowing as many people anymore it's hard. Needless to say in my case I've not met anyone through family and friends and the likelihood of that is slim to none.

Work until 10 years ago was a legitimate way to meet women. We see our coworkers at work more often and for longer periods of time than our family and friends. But in the post #MeToo era meeting through work is off limits and all but over.

Social Groups are a good option but less people are participating in those. Plus I feel too old to meet someone that way. And the bar/club scene has never been good unless you just want a quick hookup.

By and large in the post Covid world it's just the dating apps and those just suck the life out of me. They are completely awful.

With all that said, is it really possible for me as a 40 year old man (or any man in their 40s) to meet a decent looking kind woman anymore or am I pretty much done for?

This post was edited on 4/15/24 at 7:21 am