The Online Dating Site Thing - or, Freaks And Weirdos

   I'm no stranger to freaks and weirdos.  When I was a child some of my peers called me weird because of my high IQ and the fact I didn't like "girly" things.  As a young adult, I was called a freak because I enjoyed role playing games like D&D.  As a woman in my mid-30's, I've been called a freaky weirdo because I still love Star Wars and superhero movies and I still have crushes on celebrities.  Hot is hot, no matter how old one is.  Anyway...all of that is tame compared to the ignoramus I had to deal with last night.

   I've been on an online dating site for a while, and have had limited success.  I met who I thought was a great guy on this site, and we dated exclusively for a few months.  I didn't know he had a severe case of PTSD and drank himself to sleep almost every night.  He broke up with me via text message.  I texted back and forth with another man for almost a year before I decided he wasn't the one.  We both claimed to want to meet in person but he was "broke" every time I said I wanted to meet up.  I wouldn't meet up with him unless it was in a public place and he, always being broke, wanted me to go to his place.  Red flag!  I left him a scathing text message and blocked his number.

   A man sent me a message on this site about a month ago, so I looked at his profile.  I don't want to date a man who has four children under the age of 10, and I'm not into the full-sleeve tattoos, so I told him what I tell most other men who message me:  "I'm not interested."  Polite and to the point, because I wasn't raised to be rude unless it's necessary.  Most men who receive this message from me thank me for responding then back off.  Not this jerk. The same man sent me a message last night, and all it said was "So beautiful."  Once again I replied with my standard three word brush-off.  The following is the result of my being polite:

Him: "I don't want to write two or three paragraphs about myself because I don't like talking about myself, but I will if that's what it takes to get you to talk to me." (I'm cleaning up the grammar and spelling because this man uses text speak, which I despise!)

Me:  "Please stop messaging me."  Once again, polite and to the point.

Him:  "Or what?"

   By this time I've had enough, so I report this man to the dating website as being abusive and threatening.  As I'm typing my report (on my phone), my phone is blowing up because this ass is still sending me messages.  Here's another one.

Him:  "You think you're all that, don't you?  You're not.  Trust me."

   I snickered at that one, because I know I'm not "all that".  I'm still not responding either, pal.

Him:  "You think you're all that but you're not.  Snobby girls always get theirs.  Usually in a dark alley next to a bar."

   I'm dying laughing now, because this guy is either drunk or doesn't take rejection well.  Not five minutes after I filed the report he was removed from the dating website.  This morning I wake up to find a message from someone on that site, so I read it.  Lo and behold if it isn't the same asshole from last night, but now he's using a different user name.  Block and report.  No wonder he's single.

   I'm not alone because I want to be.  Quite the opposite, actually.  I hate being without someone special in my life.  However, I have standards.  I don't like a lot of tattoos on a man.  I don't want to date a man with more than two children.  I won't date a man who is shorter than I am.  I won't give a man's online dating profile a second look if he uses a lot of text speak.  I'm guilty of LOL and BRB, but I despise "ur" and "K". I'm not used to pursuing men but I'm used to men pursuing me.  I won't look for guys at a bar because, honestly, guys who let women pick them up at the bar are after only one thing.  I'm horrible at flirting but I love to flirt.

   I have a feeling I'll never date, fall in love, or get married again, and I'm starting to come to terms with that.  I'd rather set my standards high and not know what I'm missing than set them low and be disappointed later.

Facebook Rummage Sale Pages

   A few months ago, my mother says to me "Sis, you have to check out this piece of glass I found on a Facebook rummage sale page".  My reply was "What are you talking about?"  She then proceeded to explain.  Facebook rummage sale pages are like a page for a band, group, etc.  One peruses these pages instead of physically travelling to rummage sales to buy junk.
   Here's how it works:

• Sellers post photos of what they're trying to get rid of.  I've seen collectible glassware, playpens, hot tubs, and previously worn bras on these pages.  People also post items they would like to purchase or items they want given to them, such as baby wipes and diapers.  I'll get to that later.
• If you like an item, you comment on the photo.  The first person stating they want the item has dibs, then other people "get in line" in case the first person doesn't pick it up or if they change their mind.
• Pick up/delivery is arranged.  Most people meet in a public place, such as a store parking lot, baseball diamond, etc.
• Once the item has been sold, the seller then removes the photo from the rummage sale page and life goes on.

I've purchased and sold quite a few items using these pages I've never had a problem when it comes to people meeting me, payment, etc.  This system works great...most of the time. These pages have people who call themselves "Admin", and they're basically referees when font fights break out or when people don't meet to pick up an item.  I'm a member of quite a few of these pages, and I've seen people fight over the dumbest things.  I guess one person's trash really is another person's treasure.
   Here are a few of my problems with the Facebook rummage sale pages: 

• I recently posted my old cell phone on one of these pages.  I gave a thoroughly detailed description which included the model of phone, technical specs, and service provider information.  I stated I didn't know if the phone could be used with a different service provider or with a pre-pay plan.  I gave the price I wanted to get out of the phone and I also stated no trades would be accepted.  Within a few minutes of posting, I got the following questions:  "Can I use this with Verizon?", "Can I use this as a pre-paid phone?", and "I'll trade you my phone for yours".  Jeezus, people, read the fricking description!  The lady who repeatedly offered me $20 for my smartphone in excellent condition was told off via private message.
• One person kept commenting "I wish I had the money to buy this".  I wish you had the money, too.  Until you do, please stop commenting because my phone is blowing up with messages the way it is.  I politely told this person to stop commenting on my photos of items for sale if she wasn't interested in purchasing anything.  She didn't stop commenting, so I blocked her.
• One young girl posted she was out of money and needed baby wipes, diapers, and formula for her baby.  This one pissed me off, because she was obviously on a computer or cell phone.  She had enough money to pay for Internet and cell phone service but she didn't have enough money to buy necessities for her baby?!  I was even more amazed at the number of people who took these items to this woman's mobile home.  I understand we all fall on hard times, but this is re-damn-diculous.
• Some of these people buying and selling items post their home address and phone number where everyone can see it.  This is stupid for obvious reasons, especially when one says "Come get this item now before my husband gets home" then proceeds to give her address and phone number.  The same goes for meeting people in a not so public place.  Last weekend I sold an item and met a lady in a park at the intersection of two busy highways.  It's kind of out in the country, so I took my son with me so I wouldn't be alone.  She turned out to be a very nice person, and I had to buy Kiddo lunch at Burger King for going with me, but the peace of mind was worth it.
• Please don't get me started on the grammar some of these people use.  There have been times when I've asked "What do you mean?" because I couldn't decipher a comment.  I know not everyone is intelligent, but "Is this tooken?" totally rubbed me the wrong way.

  Bottom line?  Think of it as a member's only Craig's List.  This is a great way to buy and sell items if you can deal with low-ball offers, people who don't show up when they say they will, and font fights over the authenticity of a Coach bag.