Ltr grindr
Jake Basford
Essex-boy living in Cardiff, Jake is a penner, PR/Media officer, and Social Media consultant.
Obsessed with video games, American culture and Buffy. Can usually be found at his laptop working.
Latest posts by Jake Basford (see all)
According to an article published last week by Gay Celestial body News, a reported 80% of gay men met their partners on dating website or hook up apps.
Quoting statistics and reports from Star Observer, it detailed how research published in ‘AIDS and Behaviour’ backed by the National Health and Medical Research Council and LaTrobe University showed an increase from 14% to 80% between 2001 and 2014.
We can’t comment on the research itself, but despite that, the findings are compelling as they don’t have much applicability outside of the gender, sexual orientation or geographic bias (studies on gay men in Australia don’t necessarily apply to bisexual women in the UK, for example) yet there is a grain of inherent truth in them.
While discussing it with other writers for Vada Magazine, there was an inherent sharing of stories of different occurrences of personal relationships, which is ironic considering most couples shy away from the fac
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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Famous fashion designer J.W. Anderson recently streamed his fashion show online. Although Burberry has successfully done the same in the past, Anderson’s display took a distinct approach. He streamed his show dwell on Grindr, which claims to be the “largest network for gay men in the world.” Maybe you’re wondering: “How much can JW Anderson get by doing publicity stunts like that?” Every year Grindr sees an grow in users. On top of that, one of the ten biggest game companies in China, Kunlun, took over as the majority shareholder of Grindr by investing US$93 million (112.7 billion won). They initiate Grindr’s rapid expansion and amount of international users to be enticing. It has only been since 2008, when the iPhone 3GS was released in Korea, that local gay communities started using Grindr. Pr
Grindr, Reviewed
Grindr is a popular GPS-based online dating service for men looking to get together other men. Anyone can make a profile, but you don’t need one to start “cruising” for anything from random sex to a LTR (otherwise known as a long-term relationship). Though you can cover your exact distance from other users, profiles are listed by distance from you. Pictures are optional, which is frustrating when some faceless string of text offers you a blowjob — asking for a “facepic” just kills the mood. Profile pictures are screened (nothing even suggesting nudity is allowed), which necessitates an enthusiastic and heady trade in “dickpics.”
Some people limit profile details to height and age; others compile virtual biographies: “I fond of men that execute like men. So to be completely honest, I’m not out nor own I messed with guys, and I’m not looking to hookup tonight either. 420+” Many proclaim their physical self-awareness: “Sexy, GL Masc Prof for same” (that’s good-looking, masculine and professional, looking for same). “Handsome, athletic prof…and thanks for the compliments.”
Some assert or imply an aversion to anonymous sexual encounters (“Not looking to one-night stand. Looking for that butt
A couple of blocks east from Manhattan's Empire Articulate Building in the neighborhood known as Murray Hill, 25-year-old Taiwan-born photographer Hsiang-Hsi Lu fires off a Grindr message.
"He's Taiwanese!" Lu remarks with a tinge of pleasant surprise about the 20-something recipient, perhaps hopeful that their shared heritage may garner a positive response and invitation to connect. But Lu doesn't want a date, hookup, LTR or "plug" — he wants to shoot photos of the guy's apartment.
A dwelling in Tribeca. Photo: Hsiang-Hsi Lu
"Grindr Profiles" is the working title of Lu's latest art project: photographing the living spaces of people — mostly cisgender male, but all gender identities are game — he meets through Grindr and accompanying the image with the occupant's blurred face photo and respective profile text. (Lu's have reads: "I'm doing a photo project about ppl's lifestyles. No nudity, no identifiable face pic will be involved. Your authentic ID is confidential! Lmk if interested.") A sampling of his 80-plus entries to date are viewable on his Instagram account, although he ultimately plans to create an online interactive map of NYC and its boroughs including Queens, Brooklyn, The Bro
Abbreviations and acronyms
If you employ Grindr, Scruff, Gaydar ... or one of the many other apps ... you will have seen or used its shorthand. Depending on your age you'll either be in your element or confounded by some of the internet slang abbreviations and acronyms used. Today is about efficiency and a sex-now culture, and day is of the essence in the twilight planet of hook-ups, meets and dating. LOL.
Once upon a time we wrote fully formed sentences. Letters became emails which became texts, so it should arrive as no surprise that would abbreviate them. Yes, they're quicker to document but some ABS (abbreviations) are nonsensical gibberish. However, we should not overlook that abbreviations and acronyms came about as a by-product of newspapers and magazines personal ads which charged by the letter. WTF!
Pulling together this list of acronyms and abbreviations has not been our finest hour. We clueless interest several times and failed to embrace this 'foreign' language fully. It's not exhaustive, we've probably missed something, and it's an evolving shorthand so some ABS drop off as new ones materialize. IRL.
A3: anytime, anyplace, anywhere
AMF: Adios motherfucker
ASAP: as soon as possib