Catfishing: an epidemic

Pantherrrr

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I've been on hookup/dating apps for about a month and a half now; on and off. I've seen episodes of catfish but I always thought not me. Until I tried linking up with guys on Grindr. At first it was just a little odd. Trading pictures with guys and thinking everything was going well until the moment to meet. Now, I understand nervousness. I too was once intimidated to meet up with another guy because at the time I was just curious and wasn't going to actually act on my urges. I would always admit to the guy that I was nervous and I would be in contact.


However, these cases are a bit different. I have found it absolutely ridiculous the amount of catfishing that goes on within these apps. From stealing pics off of people's IG pages, to using their friend's pictures or just stealing it off another profile. My question is why do people feel pressured especially on the predominantly hookup/dating apps.

Is it because of low self esteem? Maybe people just like collecting nude photos? The pressures from society? Please help me understand why this seems to be a staple in the culture nowadays and if it's not and I'm just overreacting please explain. Because I think my viewpoints are pretty valid on this becoming close to absurd.
 
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There are catfishes all over LPSG it's ridiculous.

What I've noticed from Grindr is that a lot of men will have their best picture up. Now, this is fine. It's just that when I see them in public and recognize their Grindr pic, they will look more or less 30% worse than their online picture. These aren't hookups. These are just me going to the grocery store in the neighborhood and I see them, etc. I take it on account that they too are going to the grocery store so who cares if they don't look their best. Now when I did have Grindr, every now and then some guys would look spot on to their profile pictures and I appreciated this.

I've also had men that look like their pictures but their personalities are wayyyyyyyy off. And of course you can't gage someone's personality on an app. The thing that sealed the deal for me to lay off apps for good was a hookup with some guy who I believe was autistic or had some sort of mental issue. It was very slight but noticeable. And another, who did the typical lie about penis size. I decided no more after that. But I believe a lot of men catfish because they are afraid of using their real pics and being outed and because they believe no one will find them attractive. They probably don't even find themselves attractive and don't look at porn with men that look like them.
 

ShipOfFools

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When talking about catfishing, sometimes the discussion goes in different directions as to what a catfish exactly is (which only benefit the catfish themselves because that means we can't have a clear discussion)

I determine a catfish as someone using someone else's pics to get attention. In doing so they clearly exhibit a need for something virtual that they don't get in real life. These people are not evil. However their need for attention and validation has caused them to completely ignore how this could effect the people who's pics they use. Not nice.

And yes, it is an epidemic with no benefits in it for anyone involved, nothing good (long term) comes of deceit.