Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I use my first and middle initial because my first name + location could lead someone to my driveway pretty easily. I give them my real name after I know who they are (usually ask for last name and check out linkedin profile or something). Good men are totally understanding about it - it’s smart to take precautions. One guy who I thought I really liked made some comment about whether I was a Nigerian banker and I blocked him.

You blocked someone for making a joke? Something seems to be missing here.

Just means that she has no sense of humor and lacks knowledge about fake profiles trying to scam men. They weren’t a fit.

When I matched with my now boyfriend, we discussed travel, and I traveled so much recently that he asked me if I’m an FBI agent. He jokes all the time, and we laugh together over every little thing, it’s a part of compatibility.

Anonymous wrote:I use my first and middle initial because my first name + location could lead someone to my driveway pretty easily. I give them my real name after I know who they are (usually ask for last name and check out linkedin profile or something). Good men are totally understanding about it - it’s smart to take precautions. One guy who I thought I really liked made some comment about whether I was a Nigerian banker and I blocked him.

You blocked someone for making a joke? Something seems to be missing here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I use my first and middle initial because my first name + location could lead someone to my driveway pretty easily. I give them my real name after I know who they are (usually ask for last name and check out linkedin profile or something). Good men are totally understanding about it - it’s smart to take precautions. One guy who I thought I really liked made some comment about whether I was a Nigerian banker and I blocked him.

It’s also strange when someone with a name posted as DJ or something expects a man to provide his last name to her. Perhaps the guy that you blocked was smart and also taking precautions on his end.

really? How many men are stalked, assaulted or killed by women? It’s not the world I want to live in, but straight up numbers would tell you women need to be more cautious than men when meeting strangers. The good guys get this.

Men deal with a greater number of fake profiles created by people trying to scam them. Therefore his joke about you being a Nigerian banker makes perfect sense, and I would just laugh at it and by no means block him.

I don’t see any need in asking for a man’s last name before meeting him in person once, in a public place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I use my first and middle initial because my first name + location could lead someone to my driveway pretty easily. I give them my real name after I know who they are (usually ask for last name and check out linkedin profile or something). Good men are totally understanding about it - it’s smart to take precautions. One guy who I thought I really liked made some comment about whether I was a Nigerian banker and I blocked him.

It’s also strange when someone with a name posted as DJ or something expects a man to provide his last name to her. Perhaps the guy that you blocked was smart and also taking precautions on his end.

really? How many men are stalked, assaulted or killed by women? It’s not the world I want to live in, but straight up numbers would tell you women need to be more cautious than men when meeting strangers. The good guys get this.

Anonymous wrote:I use my first and middle initial because my first name + location could lead someone to my driveway pretty easily. I give them my real name after I know who they are (usually ask for last name and check out linkedin profile or something). Good men are totally understanding about it - it’s smart to take precautions. One guy who I thought I really liked made some comment about whether I was a Nigerian banker and I blocked him.

It’s also strange when someone with a name posted as DJ or something expects a man to provide his last name to her. Perhaps the guy that you blocked was smart and also taking precautions on his end.

I use my first and middle initial because my first name + location could lead someone to my driveway pretty easily. I give them my real name after I know who they are (usually ask for last name and check out linkedin profile or something). Good men are totally understanding about it - it’s smart to take precautions. One guy who I thought I really liked made some comment about whether I was a Nigerian banker and I blocked him.

If your name is Jing, I'd change it to J or Jane or something like that. If your name is Aditi, I'd change it to A or Audrey or something like that. Even if your name is a common American name, you may want to disguise it. Google is a powerful search tool. No big deal if you don't mind people being able to figure out who you are.

If you have a distinctive name, you should use initials or a fake (but somewhat similar) name, especially if you are female. You can give your real name at the first date. Many people do this. It's safer. I'm a man. I've never been stalked but plenty of women have been stalked.

If you keep Hinge for a few months, you probably see people you previously Xed. It can take a while, so it's not a bad idea to show interest in many people, especially if you are male. I think most women are much more selective, but no harm trying if you see someone who looks really compatible with you. Honestly, I have never ended up in a relationship with a woman who swiped right on me before I swiped right on them, but I'm sure it happens.

The biggest problem with Hinge and online dating generally is that everyone who's attractive has a lot of options. Disappointments are inevitable if you actually go on dates. So you have to be resilient. Another big problem is that you can end up spending a lot of time texting and meeting people who aren't actually good matches, but you may not realize this for a while.

The best thing about Hinge is that you can meet great people you'd never meet in your normal life and you can do it without much awkwardness and without having your friends or coworkers know about your dating life.

Anonymous wrote:Also, I have an unusual first name. Should I use a fake name?

Are you having an affair? What an odd thing to want to do.

I think on a free version, people can like only 8 profiles per day. Also, if I removed or rejected someone, I’ve never seen their profile again.

I met my boyfriend on Hinge, and this is the best relationship of my life. He has a distinct first name, and I googled him by name and location and found information about him which actually gave me a lot of comfort (he has a PhD, and his publications were online, and he is a competitive athlete and a lot of his performance results were online). We are also in our 40s.

Anonymous wrote:Are you male or female?

Roses are hella cheesy, just send likes. If you're male, include a thoughtful message.

It shows wherever you set your location to and whatever radius you choose. You can change your location to wherever you want.

You'll likely see people again after you X them because the user base for Hinge is so small. Once you cycle through everyone, it sends you them again.

Yes, only way to see the next person is to X.

Yes, you can chat with as many people as you want, but you can only have 8 people waiting for a reply from you. If 8 people are waiting for a reply from you, it won't let you like anyone else.

I'm a woman and I just pay for the premium version so I can see who likes me and just go through those profiles.

I wouldn't use a fake name, but maybe use a shortened version/nickname for your name for safety reasons. If someone uses a fake name, I always assume they're married or in a relationship and don't want me finding out.

This is helpful, thanks! I'm a woman. 40s.

For name, maybe first and middle initials. TJ. KJ. etc. As PP said, I wouldn't create a totally fake name, but can see how you'd not want a very distinctive name in your area to be the one on your profile.

Are you male or female?

Roses are hella cheesy, just send likes. If you're male, include a thoughtful message.

It shows wherever you set your location to and whatever radius you choose. You can change your location to wherever you want.

You'll likely see people again after you X them because the user base for Hinge is so small. Once you cycle through everyone, it sends you them again.

Yes, only way to see the next person is to X.

Yes, you can chat with as many people as you want, but you can only have 8 people waiting for a reply from you. If 8 people are waiting for a reply from you, it won't let you like anyone else.

I'm a woman and I just pay for the premium version so I can see who likes me and just go through those profiles.

I wouldn't use a fake name, but maybe use a shortened version/nickname for your name for safety reasons. If someone uses a fake name, I always assume they're married or in a relationship and don't want me finding out.

Also, I have an unusual first name. Should I use a fake name?

I just created a profile. Do people "like" everyone? Give a rose? Is it only showing me people in my local area?

If I X someone, will I never see their profile again?

Is the only way to get to see the next person, is to X them?

Can I chat multiple people at once?