Grindr: To Delete or Not to Delete?

To delete or not to delete? That is the Shakespearean question currently facing many gay men today.

For those who don’t know, Grindr is a gay dating app that sorts men by distance and allows users to message each other without having to match first. This contrasts starkly with Tinder, which requires both users to mutually “like” each other beforehand. This leads to many unsolicited messages, which can be hilarious, hot, or just plain creepy.

It is essentially a virtual gay bar, without the dancing and booze.

Though it may seem raunchy — and it can be — this app was revolutionary for the gay community. The convenience of Grindr is remarkable, as you can check and see if that hot barista who correctly spelled your name on your java chip frappucino could be a potential bae.

Never before have we had the ability to connect so quickly. In a world riddled with homophobia, gays have had to resort to interacting through secret codes. For example, inquiring if someone was a “friend of Dorothy” used to be a discreet method of uncovering someone’s sexuality without alerting others. Handkerchiefs were also used to symbolize homosexuality, the different array of colors hanging out someone’s back pocket signified certain sexual interests, giving the rainbow a whole less innocent context.

Gays literally had to be badass secret agents to find love in a hateful world.

Thanks to our modern era, there is no longer this need; instead, we can simply scroll through endless pictures of local and available guys. It’s like buying a sweater online at Forever 21 — both easy and tempting.

Despite the accessibility, users are faced with many dilemmas. Should I really be using this? What would my mother think? Will it actually help me find true love? SHOULD I JUST DELETE IT ALREADY?

This takes us back to our Shakespearean question, and I must say there is no clear-cut answer. To help you flush out some of the pros and cons, I’ve made two short lists.

Pros:

• You may virtually stumble upon that guy you’ve been eyeing in real life.
• Ego boost from the multitude of random compliments.
• Good hookups.
• Discovering relationship options that wouldn’t have been visible otherwise.
• Nudes.
• Your GSI is on it. (If this happens to you, you’ve basically won the lottery).

Cons:

• You get those scary “I see you” messages. (Once someone claimed they saw me in a Taco Bell bathroom).
• That one guy who just won’t leave you alone.
• Bad hookups.
• When you leave your sound on, and its distinct notification alert lets the universe know you’re gay.
• Nudes. (The unwanted ones).
• You find that random old uncle of yours on there and see he’s categorized himself as a “bear.”

In all seriousness, the choice is yours to make.

For some the temptation can be too real; however, having a stockpile of possible lovers ready at your fingertips may prove too daunting. Others think that the likelihood of establishing a lasting relationship through Grindr is next to none.

While notably slim, the chances of finding meaningful love on Grindr aren’t impossible. Through all the hookup propositions, there may just be that one guy, that diamond in the rough, that knight in shining armor, that needle in the gaystack, who you really click with.

It’s up to you to gauge if it is worth digging through all the potential suitors to find him.

If you delete, I wish you luck in the real world.

If you don’t, keep on scrolling darling, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Image from: buzzfeed.com