Are Singles Events Worth It?

A friend of mine finally decided to try a singles mixer after getting tired of dating apps. She figured that meeting people face to face would feel more natural. She spent a couple of hours talking to different people, exchanged numbers with two guys, and left feeling pretty hopeful. A week later, neither conversation had gone anywhere. One guy never replied. The other exchanged a few messages before disappearing. She even tried making a few casual friendships, but those conversations went nowhere too. She told me, "I basically paid money to get ghosted in person." Honestly, I understood what she meant. I don't think singles events are necessarily bad. The problem might be the format. When everyone enters a room knowing they're supposed to find a romantic connection, it can make every conversation feel like an audition. You start wondering whether you're attractive enough, interesting enough, or compatible enough before you've even had a normal conversation. That's why I sometimes think ordinary social activities can be better for meeting people. Take a class. Join a hiking group. Volunteer somewhere. Go to a book club or a local event. You're not walking around thinking, "Is this my future boyfriend?" You're just meeting people while doing something you already enjoy. And if nothing romantic happens, you still had a good time. Maybe singles events work brilliantly for some people. But if you've tried several and keep leaving disappointed, it might be worth changing the environment instead of assuming something is wrong with you. Sometimes the best place to meet someone isn't somewhere designed for dating. It's somewhere you'd happily go even if you knew you wouldn't meet anyone.