Single Man Who Just Got Out Of Long-Term Relationship Sparks Debate After Calling Out Today's 'Odd' Dating Scene

Since the pandemic, there's no denying that most people's social skills have shifted. While not everyone's staying home and isolating anymore, it's harder to connect with other people, trust, and maintain new relationships than it used to be.

TikToker @palladiumpaladin recently discovered that this has impacted how people approach dating, too.

Stepping back into the dating scene after a very long-term relationship, the TikToker has been struggling to have startup conversations or go on first dates—let alone make meaningful connections—with possible partners.

The TikToker observed that people treat it as "cringe" to ask questions, have introductory conversations, or to share vulnerable information with someone new, making it impossible to start a meaningful relationship with someone or even get to know them.

He could hardly tell if he liked any of these people enough to go on a first date with them because they were so reluctant to volunteer any information about themselves, so he couldn't get to know them.

The TikToker called the dating scene "weird" and "odd" before admitting:

“I don’t even know what flirting is nowadays… Everyone’s, like, speaking in these riddles to each other. And nobody knows what the other person is saying, and nobody really knows what they’re saying.”

He also felt people were far more concerned about preserving an aesthetic than sharing anything authentic.

“I don’t know what it is… I feel like people are super hyper-aware and hyper-fixated on their self-image… In a way that, like, nothing really feels natural and authentic anymore."

You can watch the video here:

Fellow TikTokers wholeheartedly agreed with the troubles he was having.

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

@palladiumpaladin/TikTok

The pandemic undeniably changed a lot of things for us, from how we work and go to school, to how we make new friends and date.

But one thing is for certain: if we cannot share anything real and true about ourselves, it'll be impossible for us to do anything more than talk about the weather with the people around us.