Here’s a quick view of my Instagram:
Is there anything particularly fetching about this page?
Is my avatar dressed too provocatively?
Are the pictures I post too racy?
Are my flowers R rated?
Does this in any way, shape or form make it look like I want a date?
Or do I look stupid enough to fall for someone out to catfish?
Yesterday- I received this:
One guy messaged me without me even accepting his follow or liking his picture. (because I’ve learned that some guys assume you want to talk to them if you ‘like’ their snap)
The other guy clearly thinks that I must be a candidate to be his soulmate…
So…
Let’s assume for a second that these guys are legit.
Why would I want to date someone who is too cheap to use an actual dating site?
On what basis are these men deciding that I am worth chatting up?
Now, let’s assume that these guys aren’t legit…
What makes me look like easy prey?
But then we go back to other thoughts: Do couples legit meet on insta, assuming they have no real life connections?
I know my daughter has been out and recognized people from Instagram because somewhere along the line of six degrees of separation, every New York city teenager probably knows someone through someone…
But, have virtual strangers become IRL lovers?
Are my thoughts that insta is only a site to share pictures really one dimensional? Is insta the online equivalent of a bar or coffee shop?
Is this how people in the future will meet one another?
But as for my apparent online fan club, I’ve had so many male followers the past few days that I actually wonder if one of my friends is playing a very elaborate joke on me- because really, I’ve gotten at least five follow requests of men who only post pics of themselves (not nudes, just typical pictures that one would associate with a dating site) For now, I find it a little bit humorous, and makes a pretty interesting story.
But, as always, it makes me think and wonder and pause and reflect and question…
FYI- I need to update the avatar- I ditched the bangs….
After watching a few episodes of 90 day fiance, I would have to conclude that most of these guys are looking for red-hot love in the form of a green card. 😉
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Oh…that’s a good thought! Totally fits
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From what I’ve seen on social media, both men and women, at least some of them,believe all sites are dating sites. I picked up an internet stalker on LinkedIn. In fact, I was propositioned by a prostitute on LinkedIn – although I suppose one could argue that is a “business” site. Conversations of all types have spun up from this cyber world. And when I was on the dating sites, I’d have to say that most I encountered were scammers of one variety or another. BTW, your pics are fine, and those may have been bots phishing 🙂
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I’d agree the bots except for my exchange a few weeks ago ….where the guy actually questioned why I like his pic but didn’t want to chat!! And yeah…someone else said they got chatted up on LinkedIn! Though I wonder if that’s someone who is married and their spouse would never think to check their linked in activity….
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That must have been a real person with the chat. Why? I don’t know, but the internet seems to have dropped many social boundaries with the anonymity it provides. Interesting thought on LinkedIn – maybe so. I also met a woman on there who wanted to date, but I think she was coming from the perspective of looking at resumes – looking for a good provider, The stalker started following me on other platforms and then started talking about “our relationship.” It was getting spooky and I had to block that one
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Ohhh…yes…on LinkedIn you can get an idea on what a persons net worth is….I never thought about it because I don’t use LinkedIn…but my daughter will be starting this year so it’s good to think of these things beforehand. While you need it in this employment climate, it also opens up things….and yeah…I like the married angle the more that I think about it
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Haha! I never thought of stalking resumes. SMH.
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It’s a strange world out there
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Ain’t that the truth
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Right?!
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🙂
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Maybe this is the reason I’m not on Instagram. Sorry you’re going through this…it’s really bizarre and I haven’t heard of anyone else having men act that way on Instagram. Well, maybe now I should get one? LOL – NOPE 🙂
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I’m sure I’m not the only one…and I do think it’s fun to share these tidbits with everyone! I especially loved the guy looking for his soul mate……😆
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Really strange how dating has evolved…and who knows if they’re legit or not?
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My guess is most aren’t….tough not to be cynical. But who knows?
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You clearly are oozing too much charm and sex appeal on your site LA. It’s the cat picture for sure 😉
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That’s got to be it!
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Didn’t your daughter say your avatar looks like you? Hmmmm, much too personal for Instagram.
(just a sarcastic remark)
For the record: this is too creepy for me!!!!
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Right? I get that there are bots…but some of these are actual people doing this
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Wow. Good argument for me to continue to stay away from Instagram!
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Omg totally! I like trying out my photo skills, but the “dating” is crazy! Loving the guy searching for his soul mate!! Seriously!
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Who knew! Man, I do live in a bubble. I think I’ll try to stay there! 😉
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I’m joining you if this is what’s out there!!!!
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I’ve gotten a couple of those too. At first I was flattered that someone actually found me, and then I thought that maybe it was someone that I’d seen through a blog post but once I check their profile I realize not. I’ve even gotten one or two women like that! Did you ditch the bangs so you look less like Susan Sarandon – LOL.
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😉just too hard to keep up with! My hair grows like a weed!
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I have found after awhile these creep messages are less frequent.
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Now they’re amusing….
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“Is my avatar dressed too provocatively?” Well she’s not wearing any clothes that I can see…..so that might well qualify! You might want to send a clear message and dress her in a turtleneck.
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Good point!!😉
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PS. I once made a facebook page for my 90 year old mother for her folkart and got chatted up by some random guy with no interest in the art world he just wanted to chat or fish…..I quickly changed the page to private which defeated the whole purpose of showing her art.
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I know!!!
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I have gotten that exact same comment on mine, wonder if it’s a bot. I mean the wording is EXACTLY the same.
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Yup. Then that’s a bot
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😂Only men lookin for an easy lay…… then again 😉your avatar is pretty sexy!
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😉
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🤔Hmm I agree with Cindy, a green card is more likely.
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Yup
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I think it’s your name, Wrong side of 50. Men are making assumptions that you are single.
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From my experiences of Internet dating, I think you are right!
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Gee….I thought it just made me sound old….😆
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That’s just….weird!
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I don’t get it. If you were wearing black leather and talking about boots…maybe you are into pain but you are what you seem to be. Hmm…maybe they want to oust your husband and live in your penthouse.
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They’d need to find someone with a penthouse first
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Dang….is what they are saying…
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😉
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Again… another Wow! Crazy world! Seems to be an uptick in these recently. I got some on my site recently too but not to the very personal level (Thank God!). Bots looking for info and I know a good deal of them are out of Russia. Block them from your feed if you can. Your pics are fine, nothing to encourage that sort of behavior. Glad I stick to only one platform.
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Totally blocking them! Now it’s just more fun!
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No clue. I avoid instragram but always thought it was just to put photos and stuff on, and not a pickup site. Online is a weird world–
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That’s what I thought too!
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I don’t have an Instagram account, but my Twitter feed is full of cat fishers. They’re hilarious.
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I’m going to start posting the fun ones
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I’ve totally thought about doing a post featuring the best of the worst cat fishing attempts.
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I think it would be hilarious
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I’ve been working on my novel every day, so I’m kind of throwing blog posts together. That would be a fairly easy one to write.
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Looking forward!
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Hmm I’m going with romance because women over 50 are quite a catch….. either way I LOVE a good mystery 😀
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You’re just a hopeless romantic
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You’re not alone. I’ve had the same just in the last week. Heaps of new male followers out of the blue with the only pictures of them. Usually with a dog, a kid, a cute quote, all posted at the same time … So annoying and now it’s just kinda amusing. I just block them.
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I find them funny. I’m going to post pictures of the most interesting profiles
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You should!
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Hmm, I’m not getting any. What’s wrong with me?! Lol
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Haha lucky you 🤣
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Or…what’s right with you….😉
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This is so random! I love the fact that you have made a post out of it and turned it into a positive. Not sure whether to find your experience comical or creepy! Thanks for sharing.
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Well…..let’s go for humor…😆
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The guy who wrote “my Dear,” I think some of them are from foreign countries… OR have nothing better to do than prey on women and talk to anyone who will talk to them. I once had a follower like that, he started getting really WEIRD in his conversations, so I told him he was “out of line,” and BLOCKED him. So… BLOCK anyone who comes to your site and seems to be looking for a “online conversation date.” LOL
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Now I just think it’s pretty funny. I had a guy with a good profile today, but I blocked him before I took a snap
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Finding the right hair for your avatar is difficult. Good luck.
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There’s no way I’m starting to redesign my avatar!!
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🙂 Get your daughter to do it when she’s home.
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😆
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I can see where striking up a conversation on a platform where you share common interests with other people becoming the foundation of a relationship. But in this situation, where it is random and out of the blue? Yeah, they are all just potential scammers.
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That’s my thought. Yesterday someone wrote in his blurb…single dad…wifey RIP 😢😢. Can you imagine?
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That is… wow. If they were honestly a widower, that is just weird. If it is some sort of joke about being divorced or something, it really is not that funny. That is just weird no matter how you look at it.
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I know! I should have snapped a pic before I blocked it. I just burst out laughing
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I block them almost daily. I get men who have one or two posts, with 0 to 3 followers, who are following 1000+ people that never noticed them I guess.
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Right? It’s crazy!
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I get weird follows also, not sure if I can reject them or not, but I’m not in the market for what they are selling.
The other thing is that I don’t think you are doing anything to provoke untoward interest from these types, it’s just that they know how to cast a wide net, knowing full well that 99.6% of the time they catch nothing, but that other .4% is what they are looking for. I sometimes get strange facebook friend requests also, and I am sure they look nothing like the photo!
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I don’t do Instagram, but your post made me laugh
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I sincerely think some people are just weird. Looking for anyone. I’ve had that happen. “Let’s get to know
Each other?”
Not a dating site folks
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