B4U Swipe

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss using the app when people are just “passing through” a place as opposed to staying put. Lauren shares the story of a recent connection where they played Seattle tour guide, and Kris reflects on times she was navigating an unclear interloper, a half-time Torontonian, and a long distance relationship. We think dating apps are great for all kinds of relationships. Yet, as always, there needs to be clear transparent communication about your realities and wishes.

And that concludes Season 4 of B4 U Swipe! We'll be back in a bit to kick off Season 5 with more app reviews, discussions of online dating media coverage, and, of course, over-analyzed profiles.

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss a man who hangs out with a LOT of women at work and another man who is a little too proud of his kids. 

Kris’s profile highlights include: Impressive weightlifting skills, an actual camera, “tasty” friends, mad love, and a beautiful woman, another beautiful woman, and another, and another, and another. Overall, we felt this profile was a classic case where the words and the pictures did not align, leaving us feeling confused and swiping left.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: Fauxhawks, weird avatars, and a discussion of how to ethically reference children in a dating app. Overall, this profile left us feeling uncomfortable and as if we were part of his extended family rather than potential dating partners. This led us to a thoughtful discussion of when you need a picture to back up your words and when you don’t. Definitely swiped left.

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss another article! This time we are annoyed with “dating expert” Jana Hocking’s opinion piece, picked up by The New York Post, about deceitful married men on dating apps. We counter the article's brazen assumptions and horrible bias against ethically non-monogamous people by sharing a profile of a couple looking for friends and possibly more. 

Kris’s profile highlights include: Total transparency, playful use of rhyming, a cute cat staring off into the distance, couple selfies, hotel rooms and clubbing, and some of the clearest relationship goals we’ve ever encountered in online dating profiles. Overall, we felt this couple is setting the standard for married consensual non-monogamous profiles. Take that, Jana Hocking!

Because we think this article is harmful and doesn’t deserve your clicks, we aren’t including a link.

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren try something new! We first review a profile, per usual, then we discuss a related article Lauren found online. The topic? Reverse Catfishing.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: Beefy arms, the struggles of being too attractive on dating apps, a mysterious cup on a wooden tray, vaguely international tiles and door, the best last name, the challenge of capturing Kris’s sparkle in photos, and Moscow/Kyiv mules. Overall, we felt this profile didn’t humanize these overly-hot photos, Lauren swiped right but mostly out of curiosity. Will report back if a match occurs.

Here’s a link to the article on reverse catfishing at Well + Good: https://www.wellandgood.com/reverse-catfishing/

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss a profile Lauren came across while in Ireland, while Kris shares one of a young man who may have work-life balance issues.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: Using filters in dating profiles, mismatched eyebrows, laughing during dark times, The Troubles, smoking culture, and practical footwear. Overall, we felt this profile did a great job portraying someone who just wasn’t our type. We appreciated this person’s sense of humor and loved contemplating cultural differences.

Kris’s profile highlights include: Sleeping on the job, Lauren’s issues with hair, “best” best friends, the many types of bears, and a sweet depiction of friendship. Overall, we felt this profile was lovely except it lacked a good photo! Kris passed on this person who reached out to her, mostly because of the age difference. 

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss an income-oriented “optimistic gentleman” and a queer pansexual with an intense gothy profile.

Kris’s profile highlights include: The Oxford comma, Lauren’s hatred of car photos and those featuring visible earbuds, an empty hotel chair, quality ice cubes, the orgasm gap, and the best smile we’ve seen in ages. Overall, this profile showed a lot of promise. We wish the photos appeared in a different order and were better edited. Kris swiped right to no avail.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: Many different hair and nail/finger colors, hand tattoos, dyed dog ears, missing eyeballs, body gore, selfies with fruit, and your own music being your anthem. Overall, this profile felt more like an art installation and/or a recipe for codependency. While Lauren didn’t swipe right, they did listen to their music.

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss a man who is seeking a roommate on Tinder (?!?) and a woman who … we have no idea what she’s seeking.

Kris’s profile highlights include: Lake Ontario, vacuuming, questionable shirtlessness, brown socks, full-sized mirrors in living spaces, and being passionate about generic beverages. Overall, we question why someone would want to find a roommate on Tinder. Also, this person is either the most boring person alive or this is the most poorly executed joke profile. Pass.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: A LOT! Bubble bath invitations, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), cliched quotes from Hobby Lobby signs, robot drawings, impressive yoga poses, and a call for clarity if you’re in an open marriage on a dating app. Overall, this profile simultaneously overwhelmed us and left us unclear as to what they were looking for. Another pass.

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss a woman with giant eyes (and not much else) and a young man who never smiles.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: Large eyes, photo filters(?), another picture on the can, a pink gym, sex dolls, and that’s about it. Overall, this profile left us wondering how much of these photos were real vs. doctored.

Kris’ profile highlights include: No smiles, being crazy for communism, celibacy vs asexuality, and Kris’s first Canadian voting experience. Overall, this profile left us confused – was the person joking around or, like his photos, completely serious?

In this episode of B4 U Swipe, Kris and Lauren discuss a woman who has more variety in her hairstyles than her wardrobe and a man who is proud of his garden, complete with waterfall.

Lauren’s profile highlights include: Open fields, a challenging hike, car/bathroom/bedroom selfies, and lots of hairstyles. Overall, this profile was another example of “less is more.” 

Kris’ profile highlights include: Dubious plastic birds, plants, more plants, debates on how much to focus a profile on a particular passion, and a question as to whether this profile might be more for a business rather than dating. Overall, this profile left us hoping this fine gentleman finds the gardening woman of his dreams. We also want to see his water feature (not a euphemism) 

Lauren and Kris also express their dismay over Hinge’s new relationship options, finding them too grounded in monogamy and heteronormativity to fit their lives.

Welcome to Season 4! In this episode, Kris shares her experiences (and successes) with Bumble’s BFF (Best Friends Forever) feature. 

In this episode we discuss the difficulties making friends as we age and how important platonic relationships are. In the app, we noted options for describing your current life experiences that don’t exist in other apps. We were overwhelmed and annoyed by the limits on the number of interests we can choose. But overall we were excited by this feature. Lauren intends to sign up and will report back!