creepslist

3

2009-05-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

I had my first sort of awkward meet up! I met a guy, maybe three years younger than I am, at a Brazilian coffee house in Queens. All I knew was that he would be wearing a Cubs hat. He was a little late, because he forgot his Cubs hat and had stopped to buy one on the way.

He told me about going back to finish up high school soon, and about working as a paralegal. We also talked a little about living with his grandmother, because his mother lives in Pennsylvania. I was curious to hear more, but it seemed to weird him out when I asked him questions, and I didn’t want to pry. He didn’t ask me questions or seem interested in what I said, to the extent that it started feeling like I was forcing him to have coffee with me, even though the agreement to go had been mutual. He was nice enough, and probably just shy, but it ended up feeling like an awkward interview.

This is why people think craigslist is creepy.

2009-05-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is an email exchange of one of the responses; I'm DS.

C1429: pic?

DS: but why?

C1429: so i can see who i'd be hanging out with

DS: but like, why does it matter if it's just for talk? it's not a big deal or anything, but if you need to know what I look like to hang out with me, I just think we're on different pages, you know?

C1429: would you be interested in being cuddle buddies? there, i asked.

(at this point, he sent me his picture)

DS: I appreciate your frankness, but I'm not looking for anything like that. good luck though!

C1429: why not?

C1429: not even in exchange for financial assistance?

DS: no, and that's insulting

DS: I'm looking for what I said I was looking for, I'm not sure why you thought I wanted to be anyone's cuddle buddy. I don't need or want that right now, I have enough to do and I don't see the value in being physical with someone I'm not dating, or in this case, don't even know. but there are definitely ladies looking for that on craigslist, you just gotta message them! :)

C1429: it's virtually impossible for me to meet anyone, i'm telling you the truth. I'm literally going insane with frustration/loneliness. Won't you be my cuddle buddy? please?

C1429: no insult meant. i'm desperate, that's all.

DS: why are you desperate? why is it so impossible for you to meet someone?

C1429: i have no idea. it's a woman's world when it comes to dating. I'm too old for most women. My pic isn't that great, i didn't smile. The competition is huge. I recently got dumped by a long time girlfriend, and i'm thinking that's is for me sexually/romantically. My life is over, i'm just basically living out the days. It's sick.

DS: dude, I don't think so. you look fine. like, the age difference is a little too much for me, but I'm 21. there are plenty of good looking women closer to your age who would probably be into meeting up with you! breaking up always sucks, but this, too, will pass :)

C1429: thanks for the encouragement, devon, but i don't think anything is going to happen to me positively in this area. I think I've had it. She was my one and only girlfriend in my life. I'm shy, I don't drink, don't smoke, not confident, don't make women laugh, not tall, not a hunk, not rich, etc. Thanks anyway for talking to me. If you ever need a friend, write me.

I didn't end up meeting him.

2

2009-05-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

This man spelled my name wrong in all of the emails preceding our meeting, despite the correct spelling being in my email address and at the end of each of my emails. He also texted me even though I told him my phone doesn't have texting. Which is true.

Coincidentally, we met up at the same diner where I met the last person. He's very into fitness and organizes track and running events, and he has biked 5 centuries, which impressed me after I got home and looked up what that meant. He doesn't eat red meat.

After showing me a picture of his (super cute) 5 year old son, he told me the two things about having kids are waiting until you're done doing what you want to do in life, and finding the right partner. I think I already knew both of these things, but it's nice to be assured.

He said he doesn't want a facebook because he had a bad experience in an AOL chatroom where a dude sent him a girl's pictures.

He's also a DJ, and talked to me about outdated technology formats. He wants to learn to snowboard. He roller skates.

It occasionally felt awkward. I think we both preferred different paces of conversation, and sometimes I felt like I was grasping for things to talk about. It was interesting, but I wouldn't do it again.

1

2009-05-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

32 year old man from Sweden in town for business, we met at a diner in Chelsea for dinner. His job is something with computer servers that I don't understand. He told me about his girlfriend whom he met on the internet, and also how to make "the best mushrooms I'll ever eat" (I don't remember now, but it did sound really good at the time).

He doesn't like a lot of American things. The coffee here is too weak, the cities are too dirty, the advertisements are crap, and the food is not as good. Admittedly, these are all probably true. He also doesn't like traveling because he feels stupid when he doesn't know the language or where to go and what to do.

There was an even give-take of mostly small talk conversation, but we never ran out of things to talk about and it was overall a nice way to eat dinner.