I didn't know if we'd fall in love with each other, but I knew at the very least, we'd love the food. Rui, a Portuguese George Clooney-meets-Josh Duhamel, invited me to join him and his ex-girlfriend, a stunning Estonian woman, and a current prospect, a British businesswoman he met on Bumble, for dinner one night in Porto. I left with two new much-needed female friends. Plus, now I have a place to stay in three different countries.

You have every right to block people who disrespect you. You have every right to ignore individuals who say crude things to you. Do not let the words of one person set the example for who you are going to meet by trying out online dating.

There are a few steps between matching with someone on Tinder and setting up a first date. By making your matches comfortable, and showing them some personality, you’ll be seated across from them at the bar in no time. Swiping on potential matches in the area became the easiest way to set up dates and possibly make a love connection. Whether you are looking for Mrs. Right or Mrs. Right Now, Tinder can be fun or intimidating. Now that the shine of novelty has worn off these apps, they aren’t fun or exciting anymore. There’s a sense that if you’re single, and you don’t want to be, you need to do something to change that.

Don't send your money, personal, and credit card information to people online. It is painfully apparent when you think about it, but we are not as fraud-proof as we believe. The effectiveness of fishing and social engineering only proves that.

Tinder boasts a massive user base, with over 50 million active users across the globe. There is no reason you should feel obligated to hang out for over an hour. Hell, if you feel like leaving after 15 minutes, leave. I would suggest giving the date at least one solid hour, not too long, but not too short. Just enough time to feel each other out and decide whether you’d like to see each other again. Leave too soon, and you’ve hardly given it a chance, you might as well have just stayed home.

In short, nothing you do when on the app seems to go unnoticed. The app knows that data analytics is key to producing a more streamlined product, and they’re not shy about using it. Next time you see someone’s profile pop up, know that they’re being put there according to a very complex set of calculations. You've matched with that hottie with cute photos and a witty bio, and now you're in the enviable position of being able to talk to them directly. Don't rest on your laurels just because you know they've swiped right on you, though, as you can make or break the match depending on your approach. A lazy or creepy opener might even mean that they unmatch you, blocking you from any further contact.

"They are businesses that are designed to be monetized, and the longer a single person stays on each app, the more money they make. He kissed my hand when we met, a lovely gesture. Unfortunately, because it was a national holiday, all restaurants had closed at sundown, so we took a walk instead. We found a park and sat and talked for an hour or two. “N” is a good-hearted man who’s had a string of toxic relationships with bossy controlling women. I was turned off by his victim mindset about why nice guys finish last and why Israeli women are all seeking a man who’s rich.