The Partner Plot Twist: What If Dating Isn’t the Main Story?
If every conversation ends with “So, seeing anyone?”—you’re not imagining it. We’re culturally obsessed with coupling, even as apps turbo-charge snap judgments and fuel loneliness. This piece makes the case for stepping off the treadmill: prioritising friendship, purpose, and community over performance dating. With fresh research on swipes, AI “companions,” and why stated preferences rarely match real choices, here’s how to choose connection that lasts—whether or not it leads to a relationship.
Filling the Silence: Loneliness, Party Culture, and the Search for Something Real
Despite the queer community’s reputation for pride and celebration, many gay men are quietly battling loneliness. This piece explores how apps, parties, and even substance use can become placeholders for connection — and why building real belonging might mean looking beyond the usual spaces.
Do We Still Need Gay Bars? Or Have Dating Apps Replaced Them?
We don’t need gay bars anymore—we have Grindr." When I heard a younger gay guy say this in Sydney, it hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Have LGBTQIA+ spaces really become redundant, or have we just changed how we connect? With Gen Z socialising differently, dating less, and feeling lonelier than ever, what does this mean for the future of our community spaces? And if gay bars disappear, what do we lose?