Whether you’re on Tinder to “network only” or to look for English tutors, there’s no denying that swiping is addictive. Just like Pokemon, you will never know who/what you would catch.

Whether you’re into ripped Machokes or cute Squirtles, here’s our compiled Pokedex to help you unravel the different characters you might stumble upon during your Tinder journey.

Mr Otaku

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Think Aloysius from Ah Boys to Men. He probably gave in to peer or parental pressure to find a girlfriend. At times, he’ll remind you of your Math teacher back in secondary school–a little socially inept, but a total sweetheart.

Mr “Hey Do You Remember Me in Primary School”

With Singapore being so tiny, it’s inevitable to bump into people we know. Who knows? It may end up like a Nicholas Sparks love story. Unless he’s a creep that remembers the number of bobby pins on your head and PSLE score.

Mr Lelong Lelong

Bro, girls don’t want your sports apparel on Carousell lah. More than just selling yourself, Tinder can also be used to sell your products or look for a job.

Mr Ballin’

The kiasu Singaporean dream is to achieve the 5Cs – condominiums, cars, country clubs, cash and credit cards. From ritzy cars to atas tailored suits, he’s got it all. But tbh, if I wanted to see a picture of a Lamborghini, I’d Google it.

Mr Kawaii

Maybe it’s the snapchat dog filter, or bios like “I’m here looking for my Tinderella.” But when 359/500 characters are emojis, we get it – he’s Mr. Kawaii.

Mr Over-The-Summer

He studies in US/UK/Australia but will return to Singapore during the holidays and charm you with his fake accent. He’ll also amuse you with stories from his time abroad like when he met Ed Sheeran on the streets of London *such amaze* *much wow*.

Mr Catch-Me-If-You-Can

He uses reverse psychology with “why don’t you talk to me first” or “swipe me if you dare”. Alright, I’ll swipe. But left or right? It’s for me to know and you to find out.

Mr Wanderlust

One minute he’s hiking the Great Wall of China, the next, he’s skydiving in Dubai. Chatting with him will satisfy your travel cravings as you live vicariously through his backpacking stories. You’ll also get to see 258 angles of how the sky looks like through the plane window.

Mr Family Man

Filial piety is valued in Asian societies and photos with his kin scream “I’M HUSBAND MATERIAL!”

Mr Too-Good-To-Be-True

He’s so handsome we’ll suspect he stole his pictures off Google. Though K-dramas tell us that Prince Charming’s out there for us, Crimewatch says otherwise. So when we chance upon someone who seems too perfect, we can’t help but suspect he’s a scammer.

Mr Buddy

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He says he’s only looking for buddies to watch concerts and cafe hop with. Perhaps “buddies” is a new term for “friends with benefits.” But buddy, if you mean what you say, congratulations, you friendzoned yourself.

Mr Think-He-Funny

His bio is filled with cheesy pickup lines. “Know what will look good on you? Me!” or “What’s on the menu? Me-n-U!” If you love light-hearted conversations with dry jokes, swipe right.

Mr Pets-Are-My-Bestfriends

Though it’s a cheap tactic to use pets and tiny humans to score that right swipe, it’s no secret that this trick works like a charm.

Mr IDKKKK

He has no idea why he’s on Tinder. Accompanied by a “IDKKK what to say here” caption, most of his photos are blurry and cropped out of frame. He also says he’s on the app because it’s a great way to pass time while he poops. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mr Basic Bro

President of the #antisocialsocialclub, he’s all about that #hypebeast life. When he’s not on the guestlist for free club entries, he’ll hang out at the raddest music fests to #eatsleepraverepeat.

Mr #Fitspo

Everyone loves a hot bod. But most girls we know have a limit for half-naked mirror selfies of alpha males. We girls are vain, but it’s a little odd if our guy checks himself out more than we do.

Mr Hipster

He takes pride in grooming his stubble and man bun, and filling his feed with avant-garde cafe shots along Duxton Hill. He’s also got a penchant for art & literature to feed the old soul in him.

Also read:

What I Learnt From Serially Dating Singaporean Men Through Tinder

Mr Bad Boy

If you’re into bad boys, thank Guan Yin Ma as there are plenty of these guys on Tinder. However, when every photo features 1) your tattoo 2) you at the tattoo parlour 3) you partying with your squad of fellow bad boys, we’re not sure if your character will be as colourful as your skin.

Mr Philosopher

“The meaning of life is to give life meaning” or “you’re a victim of your own mind.” If you’d like to have a HTHT talk on love and life with someone, swipe right.

Mr “Network” Only

If you’re on social media, we’ll stalk you. And when you obviously have a girlfriend, we’d rather you keep your “innocent” networking skills on LinkedIn.

Mr Do-Gooder

Picture 1: a photo of him teaching kids in Cambodia
Picture 2: a scenic Tumblr-esque shot captioned “live life to the fullest”
Picture 3: a picture of him at a blood donation drive

He’s the guy who’ll feed stray cats at the void deck because he’s all about creating good karma.

Mr Where’s Wally?

We’re not going to scrutinise five group pictures to figure out what you look like. Because 1) we’ll assume that you’re the ugliest/most insecure of the lot, and 2) ain’t nobody got time fo dat.

Mr Resume

“180cm tall NUS graduate, president of the dog-walking club, chemical engineer by day and professional bartender by night. I’m also nice, emotional and loyal.“ You’ve got perfect grammar and a great personality? I’d definitely hire you – I mean, swipe right on you.

Mr Could-You-Bring-Me-Around

“Hello me is here for weekend! I looking for someone to show me Singapore and practice English.” I didn’t realise that Tinder provided job opportunities too. That’ll be $250 for the tour and tuition, please.

The Special One

He’s the one who might seem like any of the above until we get to know him beyond his online persona. It’s human nature to fit people in boxes but if you take time to know someone, you’ll realise that there’s more to each person than their 3-liner caption and dubious profile picture.

Finding Love on Tinder

Be wary of what you post because girls are like archaeologists; we’ll meticulously scour through your social media accounts and find out who you dated last, last summer. Specifically that girl in the Instagram photo posted on 24/11/2010, 7.48pm, when you were at your grandma’s place.

Grouping guys into categories may seem kinda harsh, but Tinder’s one of the few places you can openly judge a book by its cover – ‘cause that’s all you’re really given.

However, if the dating game gets too tiresome, just remember that love fades but pizza is forever.

This article was first published on 23 November 2016 and last updated on 3 February 2024.

Also read: 

Dating App Fatigue: Young Singaporeans Who Are All Swiped Out On Tinder Share Their Stories

The post 25 Types of Singaporean Guys on Tinder appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Being a man isn’t just about getting a 9 to 5 job, paying the bills, and getting the 8-pack abs of your dreams. It’s about being a kind, considerate, and decent human being. Here are some immature things guys do that are complete turn-offs.

1. Being rude to any sort of service staff

This applies to both genders. No, the 10% service charge doesn’t entitle you to treat waiters like your personal butlers. Just because someone’s rice bowl is to serve you food, doesn’t give you the right to abuse him/her. Yes, service staff are trained to handle it, but that doesn’t mean you should throw your weight around.

2. Thinking that being “nice” entitles you to a girl’s affections

“That bitch left me for a douche-bag, even though I’m such a nice guy!” Genuinely nice guys don’t have to proclaim their niceness. Actions speak for themselves, and we’ll judge from what you do, not what you say. It’s also important to remember that treating a girl nicely doesn’t entitle you to their affections.

3. Categorising everything girls do with “as usual, girls”

Bad mood? Must be PMS.
Unhappy? Must be PMS.
Doesn’t like me? Must be PMS.

Contrary to popular belief, not all negative emotions a girl goes through are due to PMS. Yes, hormone imbalances are a bitch, but there are other factors that contribute to a bad mood. It’s unfair to blatantly stereotype every girl’s problems. Sure, PMS definitely affects a girl’s mood, but a lot of times, it only triggers or amplifies the real issues.

4. Referring to all ex-es as “bitches/crazy”

We get it, you’re heartbroken. You may choose to vent about your ex who cheated on you with your best friend, but there has to be a limit. If it was due to a communication breakdown, incompatibility, or simply the fading of feelings, calling your ex a “crazy bitch” only reflects your own immaturity. If a break-up automatically warrants a stream of ugly, demeaning words, then you’re not mature enough to handle a proper relationship.

5. Being sexually selfish

If you roll over the second you’re satisfied, chances are you’re ignoring your partner’s needs. It’s easier for guys to orgasm from sex than girls, who usually need a little help—because no, it’s not easy for a girl to orgasm from penetration alone. Mutual satisfaction is important, and if you want to keep a girl interested in sleeping with you, you better give her a reason to want to.

6. Thinking that they’re the only one with problems

A good conversation is a two-way street. When you blabber on and on about how much NS sucks, it’s a definite turn-off. We all go through our own trials and tribulations, and although you may feel as if yours are so much worse, it’s important to let the other party speak and contribute to the conversation.

7. Thinking that muscles make a man

It’s admirable to keep fit and take care of your body, but it’s another thing to be obsessed with becoming the epitome of a “manly-man”. Having a good character is definitely more important than as nice physical appearance in the long run. You don’t have to brag about how much you can lift to prove your masculinity, or incessantly flex to show off your muscles.

Also read:

The Truth Behind Dating Elite All-Boys School Guys, Revealed By 9 Singaporean Girls

8. Objectifying women

“Wah, look at that chiobu! Damn nice ass sia.”

Social media has made it very easy to find pretty girls. They’re all over Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Youtube, etc. This causes a disregard for women’s feelings and capabilities, as you don’t see them as actual people anymore, but a game to be hunted down. This is dangerous, as it projects ideals onto real-life relationships and causes unrealistic expectations.

9. When they make uninformed, sexist comments

“Men will prefer you with no makeup”, “Girls shouldn’t curse”, “Oh you use birth control? You must be a slut then”. Berating a girl for her personal preferences aren’t just turn-offs—they’re downright rude. Again, this all boils down to respect.

10. ALWAYS having to be right

“I think McDonald’s has the best burgers!”
“Actually, I disagr…”
“Aiya you don’t know one lah.”

This also applies to both genders. Humans will always have different opinions, and that’s what makes life interesting! However, there are always people who die die must be right. By listening to a variety of opinions, we can expand our mindsets and understand another person’s point of view.

11. Mansplaining

“Come, let me show you how it’s done”
“But I already know….”
“No no no, let me show you how it’s done the right way”

If you’re guilty of this, you’re guilty of mansplaining. Years in a patriarchal society has ingrained both men and women with the idea that men know better. Both genders have their strengths and weaknesses, but that also means that women are perfectly capable of doing things themselves. We’re not afraid of asking if we need help, but if we’re fine doing our own thing, please don’t try to be a valiant prince charming and “come to our rescue”.

12. Freaking out over our monthly visit from mother nature

Face it guys, periods are part and parcel of a woman’s life. Although it’s just a bodily function, many guys tend to squirm and get uncomfortable when a girl mentions that she’s having “that time of the month”. Grow up, boys. It’s just blood…coming from a place you popped out from. Surprise!

13. Bragging about the number of girls that are into them

We get it, you’re “Mr. Hotshot”. However, what good does it do to anyone if you brag about how many girls you have under your belt? And please don’t over-exaggerate the number. It’s your own business, not everyone else’s, so keep your mouth shut and be grateful that so many girls want to give you a chance.

What Makes a Man

At the end of the day, turn-offs are subjective to individuals. Not all of these are specific to boys alone, as girls are just as susceptible to bad manners and self-centredness. However, everyone wants someone who’s well-mannered, understanding, and a genuinely nice person to be around. Is that really too much to ask?

This article was first published on 8 February 2017 and last updated on 24 October 2023. 

Also read:

Shit Boys Say To Girls When Growing Up In Mixed Schools In Singapore

The post 13 Immature Things Singaporean Boys Don’t Know They Do That Are Turn-Offs appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Set Up For A Blind Date

Being a young adult subjects you to inappropriate questioning about your relationship status in the workplace. It became known that I had been single for a while, four years to be exact.

A friend at work casually brought up the topic of setting me up on a blind date during lunch. He asked if I had dated anyone outside my race. I said no and immediately knew he was setting me up with a non-Chinese girl.

I had never been attracted to someone outside of my race, but I didn’t want to sound like a racist either. So when I was asked about the blind date again, I agreed.

The set-up

Leading up to the date, I wasn’t given any clues, pictures or numbers. He took the blind aspect of the date very seriously. I was given a fake name of the girl, which I later found out to be the name of his domestic helper.

Our blind date was set up on a Friday. We would go to a location determined by my friend with no points of contact except through him. It was an uneasy situation but I trusted him.

When the day rolled around, I dressed a little better than usual by putting a neatly pressed blue shirt over my usual T-shirt-and-jeans get-up.

That day, various colleagues kept telling me how excited they felt for me. Maybe they needed to be set up themselves. The mood in the office felt nice with its winded-down Friday vibes, so I lingered past work hours.

7.30pm, Orchid Hotel, Tanjong Pagar was when and where we were to meet. I felt butterflies in my stomach as the time approached, but my fears were drowned when I met her. She beamed in a red dress, flats and a handbag. I knew it was her at once because she was the only Indian girl outside Orchid Hotel.

Dinner at a Korean restaurant

After an ice-breaker conversation about how our day had gone, we hopped into a Korean restaurant. She had an upbeat personality, which made the night much smoother. It would have been a nightmare if she was difficult to talk to.

We laughed after learning each others’ real names and got down to ordering. The restaurant was packed at dinner time but not too noisy. Korean patrons spoke in hushed tones with the occasional ping of beer glasses.

I was surprised by how comfortable she was with herself. She talked cheerfully, her voice and laughter filling the small joint, which made the introvert in me quiver a little.

We ordered fried chicken, spicy soup noodles and fried pancakes. Our conversation centred around casual and appropriate topics two people on a blind date should talk about. In other words, we talked a lot, but not about much. I tried to find points of commonalities between us to keep the conversation going.  

She works in advertising, which I am interested in. I also found out she was Catholic and a lector in church, somebody who reads bible lessons during service. Unfortunately, I had abandoned my faith as a Catholic a few years prior. It was a strange, perhaps unsettling phase for me as I walked away from a community that had always been there for me.

I could not reconcile an absurd faith in miracles and a personal God who didn’t seem to be there for me. It became clear that she was an optimist, and I, a pessimist.

Our differences went beyond our skin colour.  

Also read:

How To Pick Up Girls: Foolproof Guide For Humji Singaporean Guys

Drinks at Fyr

It seemed like a natural succession to go for drinks after dinner. We went dutch with the bill and hopped into a bar, Fyr, because she had a one-for-one discount there.

We continued to chat cordially for the next hour and a half, though I don’t remember what we talked about. As I swirled the last bit of colourless gin in my glass, I felt a sense of fatigue. It signalled the day and week had come to an end.

We decided to call it a night, but not before exchanging numbers. I hugged her goodbye at about 11.30pm, just in time for the train.

After the date

After rolling out of bed the next morning, I decided to thank her for the night we had. We texted casually through the weekend, mostly about how our mutual friend who set us up would feel.

After mulling about the experience over the weekend, I thought it would only be appropriate and honest to provide closure.

“I don’t think we are romantically compatible,” I texted her close to Sunday evening.

She accepted it with grace, but my colleagues gave me a hard time about it when they saw my texts the next week.

“Why you go out for one date expect to want to get married is it?” A colleague yelled at the pantry.

They need to leave me alone.

My Blind Date Conclusion

I felt the lack of chemistry at the start, but I went through with it. Perhaps for men, we need to feel the buzz of excitement before dating someone.

If there were sparks, we would have touched each other at the bar, but I found myself just gulping my gin.  

These days, when busybody colleagues ask me how my date went, I tell them that it felt more like going out for dinner with a friend, which might not be a bad place to start.

Also read:

10 Fun Outdoor First Date Ideas For Singaporean Couples To Avoid Awkward Silence

Cover illustration by Asher Mak

The post How My Blind Date Taught Me Skin Colour Is Less Important Than Chemistry appeared first on ZULA.sg.