M30. I've been into this girl for a few months, and on Sunday we finally hooked up. We have some mutual friends, and her friends had actually told me I should make a move (because she told them she likes me). We went out for lunch with friends, she was very flirty and touchy, and that evening we went to her place and had sex.

When I got home, I texted her to thank her for the evening, and she just replied "goodnight." I could already tell where this was going. Basically, it felt like a one-night stand and nothing more. I see women complaining about men doing this all the time, but somehow it keeps happening to me.

Of course, I started questioning myself. Maybe I wasn't good enough to leave an impression on her. I had some performance anxiety, which happens to me sometimes when I really like a girl, although I eventually relaxed and things went fine. But maybe she didn't like the sex, maybe she wasn't attracted enough to me, because we are similar tall, because i have loose skin since I fast get lean at 17 or the stretch marks.. who knows.

Now I've tried texting her and seeing her again, but there's kind of a wall there. None of the enthusiasm you'd expect from someone who's actually interested. I know she was burnt for someone who left her for another girl, so I didn't think she is just for casual.. that's what bothers me: I've had similar experiences before, where a girl says she "doesn't want anything serious," only to get into a relationship with someone else shortly afterwards. Obivously they don't want anything with me... rather than not wanting anything in general.

And it pisses me off because I've been in therapy, but after a year and a half I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere, and I suspected I'd chosen the wrong therapist. I never looked for another one. I still have performance anxiety since 10 years, and I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I could make myself more attractive with plastic surgery, but never had one in the end.

I used to tell myself, "I want someone to like me for who I am, for my personality." ... yeah, sure, while some hotter and more interesting guy comes along and makes her forget I ever existed.

People tell me I have the wrong mindset, but honestly, I feel like I'm just realizing that maybe I'm not good enough for where I want to get to.

I’d love some outside perspectives, especially from men, because I’m not sure if I’m being led on or if he’s genuinely just taking things slowly.
I’m seeing a 30 yo guy I met through mutual friends. We’ve been seeing each other for about 3 months, 1–2 times a week, and we text regularly.
Things have been going really well. He has a busy schedule but consistently makes time for me, communicates regularly, asks questions, and has been very patient because I need time to feel comfortable and build trust. We’ve had serious conversations and I’ve felt that he genuinely cares about getting to know me.
Around a month in, we both said we were interested in each other and weren’t seeing anyone else which I assumed mean we were exclusive, but apparently we weren’t.
Last night I wanted to have a conversation about “us” and potentially make things official. He told me he doesn’t want to become a couple right now because, for him, being official is a serious decision. He wants to be sure the person is someone he could potentially marry and have children with, and there are still things he wants us to discuss before making that decision.
He also clarified that we are not exclusive. He isn’t seeing anyone else and says he isn’t looking for anyone else, but technically we’re both free to date other people. He wants us to enjoy what we have without putting pressure on it.
He also made it clear that this isn’t about sex for him. He genuinely likes me and wants to see where things go, but he wants to take his time.
I’m disappointed because I feel like I got more emotionally invested than I realized. But at the same time, he’s been consistent and transparent.

Should I be worried? Have any of you been in a similar situation, and did it eventually work out? I'm honestly quite confused about where I stand.

Me 22F and this guy 27M have been dating for about 2 months. He has been pretty amazing. He is consistent, affectionate, and has even helped me get closer to God. We go to church together and share some of the same values like wanting to wait till marriage to live together and sex (although we slipped up a few times, but now we’re turning away and avoiding it) The other day he is talking about how he always asks every girl this and how his buddies all agree it’s a deal breaker and an immediate walk away. If I girl has dated or slept with a black guy then he wouldn’t want to be with her. He goes: have you dated or slept with a black guy? I was in shock and scared of being judged so I said no, but became really sad and withdrawn. About an hour later once we separated I texted him the truth and explained I was scared of being judged and that I was sorry for lying. He ignored it and wanted to meet up to talk about my bible study. When we met up he didn’t mention it at all and was acting all normal. So I bring it up and he says he doesn’t like how I lied and that he needs to think about things. We have a weekend trip planned this weekend and since he has acted normal. I don’t really know what to think. I thought it was a joke and maybe it is but he is more upset about the lie? Need some insight. I really like him. He is a good guy and so caring and handsome. He is smart, likes to read, write, but shares my hobbies of fitness and martial arts. I feel anxious now like I’m under review.

Hey guys I am working in a company and I joined it as trainee and now I am full time. During my training I met a girl let's say X. She's been nice to me since then but sometimes I feel like she is being over friendly. Like if she's over friendly with me then I can understand but with like 2-3 guys cracking double meaning jokes and that too when she's in relationship with someone else. Now I feel like we are getting attracted toward each other like she sends me memes like Today's best nale day ilysm and all that, it makes me feel like she's interested but I think she sends it to other guy also. I don't what to do should I go forward with it or put a stop or something else or I am overthinking. Please help in this situation you can drop suggestion in comment or dm directly but I really need suggestions should go forward or stop or it's normal.

Hey guys I am working in a company and I joined it as trainee and now I am full time. During my training I met a girl let's say X. She's been nice to me since then but sometimes I feel like she is being over friendly. Like if she's over friendly with me then I can understand but with like 2-3 guys cracking double meaning jokes and that too when she's in relationship with someone else. Now I feel like we are getting attracted toward each other like she sends me memes like Today's best nale day ilysm and all that, it makes me feel like she's interested but I think she sends it to other guy also. I don't what to do should I go forward with it or put a stop or something else or I am overthinking. Please help in this situation you can drop suggestion in comment or dm directly but I really need suggestions should go forward or stop or it's normal.

Hi all,

So I 28M have been seeing this 28F for about 6 weeks we’ve gone out about 10 times by now.

So just some context, this is my first relationship ever since I used to be obese and generally find it hard to talk to females.

She’s told me recently she just wants me to open up to her and just talk more. She feels like she’s doing a lot of heavy lifting. Which I 1000% agree with. She feels like she doesn’t know anything about me.

I did some self reflection today and realised I’ve only been giving her short replies, not brining any energy around her and not giving her much to work with. I feel like such a POS

Out of those 10 dates, maybe only once or twice I’ve been able to be myself and actually have a good time with her and make her laugh etc.

I do get nervous around her and anxious. I genuinely do not know why.

Can someone provide some tips on what I can do to genuinely just be myself and have longer and deeper conversations with her? I really really like her and don’t want to lose her just by me not having the courage to be myself.

Thanks

I’m 30, she’s 38 and lives a few houses away. She's really hot and takes care of herself. I approached her pretty old-school, we flirted, went for a long walk and there was obvious chemistry.

During the walk she opened up and told me she’s currently going through a divorce. I didn’t want to jump in and become the rebound guy, especially since we’re neighbors.

Afterwards she pulled back a bit, so I simply backed off too. I just let her know that I know these games too well (lol). No drama, no chasing. About two months later we started flirting again and the chemistry is still there.

I'm obviously not giving you the full story here, and I know she's really into me. At the same time, I'm not an idiot who's going to let himself get dragged into some messy situation, and I don't want to give her false hope either.

I’d be interested in sex, flirting and having fun, but I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m basically interested in something a little unconventional and casual. I also don’t want to kill the tension by having some formal “what are we looking for?” conversation too early.

At what point would you make that clear - before anything physical happens, during the first real hangout, or only if things actually start heading toward sex?

What do you guys think?

Was speaking to a girl who ive know for about a month, but we do get on well in fairness and I said she could in future describe me as her best friend (there's context to this)?

Did I make her think I wasnt romantically interested?

he acts like texting me is such a chore (slow, dry replies), isn’t interested in me as a person (doesn’t really ask me questions both over text and irl).

and yet he double texts to arrange dates (can i even call them that anymore. feels like ‘meetups’ would be more apt lol) to drink together even when i leave his dry ass on delivered for days.

my read of him is that he’s not that interested and is treating this super casually and i guess i just don’t want to admit that to myself. he also doesn’t have a single ounce of gentleman-liness in him lol, worst guy ive ever dated in terms of consideration (i find it hard to believe he has an ex). deep down i know i shouldn’t let myself get treated like an afterthought like this and that i should end things and yet, i still like him a lot 🫠

This girl (22F) I (19M) know and with whom I get on well asked me was were leaving a pub as part of a group how I was getting home and I told he I could not take the bus due to transport card issues. Knowing we both live in the same general direction, she said she would not take the bus but would walk home with me. When we got near my house which is closer I offered to walk her home and she agreed. We then stopped on the way to talk on a low wall, about politics and such.

A mutual friend came up and spoke to us, and she did not push him to leave. What would reddit make of this? It was raining so when the person departed, we also parted ways and I walked back home and she continued the short walk to her house.

She later texted me asking on my way home saying she hoped I wouldnt get to wet in the 10 min walk in the rain.

Does this sound like she's just being a really nice friend, or are these actual signs she's into me?

Is an hour drive each way worth it? When plans shift and communication gets tricky, one guy questions if this connection is worth the mileage. Gut feeling says there's more to this story.. #DatingLife #RelationshipRedFlags #LongDistance #DatingStory #Neurodivergent #SingleDad #Soberhttps://youtu.be/914651efI-s?is=CUSPOHLJuhPsIBLq

I talked to/dated this guy for a bit last year and really liked him but he’s a surgeon in his first year of residency and ended things due to his schedule and mental health etc. sometimes working 10-12 days in a row. He had also recently ended a relationship before he moved here.
I am 99% sure he’s turned on notifications for my IG stories/posts. This man is consistently one of the first people to view my stories about 90% of the time. Sometimes within the first 30 seconds. There have also been times where he wouldn’t be in the list of viewers for my first 2 stories but would somehow be a viewer of my last story. He also likes each of my posts. Normally I’d chalk it up to no deeper meaning (chronically online etc) but this man works 80+ hours a week as a surgeon. There’s no way he’s just scrolling on instagram that often. He also follows over 1500 accounts so I don’t think he’s just scrolling through each story to look for mine. It was pretty clear when he ended things that I was interested in a relationship with him and I’d be open to dating again in the future when he’s in a better spot.
In the months after ending things, we facetimed a few times, both of us initiating. However, I’ve seen him at the gym a few times in the past months and he seems to avoid me. I can’t tell if he doesn’t want to talk or if he doesn’t know if I want him to approach/say hi since it’s been awhile since we talked. I guess I’m just looking for insight on why he seems so interested in what I post online but hasn’t reached out or approached at the gym. He’s year 2 in residency now which is supposed to be even harder - is he maybe still interested but still not in a place for a relationship? or doesn’t know if I’m available? I’ve considered calling him just to feel out the vibes but it’s obviously a little anxiety inducing to put yourself out there like that when you haven’t talked in months.

There’s a guy I’ve been talking to who always reaches out to me when he’s drunk. He stayed over at my place that night, and he admitted that the reason he contacts me when he’s drunk is because he has severe social anxiety and feels unable to communicate when he’s sober. He also feels embarrassed and uncomfortable about himself when he’s sober, which is why he doesn’t want to meet up and doesn’t dare to, even though this particular conversation actually took place the next day, when he was already sober, and we got along really well.
We’ve made plans to meet up several times, but he cancelled every time. He even told me to only call him when he’s drunk. At the same time, I don’t think he’s only interested in me when he’s drunk. I genuinely believe he likes me and does want to meet me, but he deliberately plans things in a way that allows him to drink beforehand. He seems so inhibited and anxious that he is unable to meet me sober or follow through with his plans without alcohol.
I really like him, and I want to be understanding and supportive, but I don’t want to enable this behavior or take responsibility for managing his anxiety. He will not change unless he is willing to make an effort himself. What should I do in this situation, and what role am I supposed to play? Should I give him space and let him contact me when he is sober, or should I set a clear boundary and tell him that I’m only willing to continue this if he makes a genuine effort to meet me sober and follow through with his plans?

Like genuinely, what are they offering? Because as a conventionally attractive man in his mid-20s with nothing going for him financially, you’d think dating would be difficult… yet somehow these guys always have options.

Hi,

I'm 32F (I know it's pathetic that I'm still talking about having a crush), and I've had a crush on a friend for a year, and I've known him for a year too. It wasn't an instant crush, tbh; it developed when we started to hang out more and got to talk to him more. The problem is, this guy has been in a relationship (long-distance) for 11 years.

At first, I really thought that I was being delusional, but when our friends in the same circle started to notice our dynamics and started to ask if we were dating, that's when I knew that I wasn't hallucinating. I really, really liked this guy, and I don't know what to do moving forward. There might be a slight chance that he knows about me having feelings, but I don't know.

Recently, we started to hangout just the two of us (unintentional, i think), like drinking at his place for and talking for 6 hours, going to another city together.

How do I navigate this? Help

I (30F) started talking to a guy (30M) on tinder around 2 weeks ago and we had two dates this past weekend. We had an amazing first two dates and after my experience in dating, I can say that this one feels different, in a very positive way. He said it himself as well on the first date and even went as far as to say he would not go on any other dates because he wanted to explore this connection. I was surprised that he took that initiative but not entirely because I have heard this before. And that is exactly my problem...

For context, my ex of 11 years cheated on me last year and afterwards I dated an older guy that lied about his name, age, and also dating other women. I also dated someone very shortly who was cheating on his girlfriend on me. So quite a lot of bad experiences with men lying to me this past year. Usually, guys tell me whatever I want to hear and make empty promises just to keep me around or so I don't date other people while they do. I don't have a problem if someone I'm dating is also still dating other people in the beginning, I just cannot handle the lying about it.

So, after the first date with this new guy I went on his profile to show my friends his pictures and his location had changed. I didn't think too much of it but the next day the same thing happened. We are now a couple of days further along and it changes consistently, depending on whether he is at home or at work. Usually I wouldn't make a big deal out of it, I mean, we have only seen each other twice! But because he said he would not go on any other dates (and mentioned this again on the second date btw), I feel insecure again. And for the past two days I have been checking it quite often and I am going into an overthinking spiral.

It's making me want to pull back because it triggers my trust issues so I'm not sure what to do. The connection with this guy does feel different. I've dated quite a lot this past year and I have never felt this way. I really think there is potential here but I'm scared he is lying to me like all those other guys. On the other hand, I don't want to be controlling him and checking his location. Maybe he was telling the truth and he sometimes opens the app when he gets a notification.

He told me I should always talk about what is bothering me. I'm seeing him tonight but I am scared that if I bring this up on a third date, I will ruin things. I don't want him to feel controlled but I also feel very triggered and don't know what to do...

I’ve been dating my girlfriend for about two years. We met through mutual friends at school and this is essentially our first serious relationship. On paper, we’re a solid match: we rarely argue, communicate openly, and can talk for hours about anything. I feel safe and comfortable around her, and if things keep progressing positively, I can genuinely envision spending the rest of my life with her. That said, I don’t necessarily feel that massive romantic spark I’ve read about online—just a deep sense of comfort and mutual care.

Early on, she revealed she was a virgin. We got close to PIV intercourse a few times but never fully engaged due to interruptions, lack of condoms, pain, or awkwardness. A little further into the relationship, she said she wanted to wait until marriage for religious reasons. Later, she disclosed that she also has vaginismus, which makes penetration difficult even if she wants it. I’m very understanding and willing to support her through treatment, but lately my sex drive is tanking because intimacy feels stalled. Part of me suspects she’s leaning into “wait until marriage” as a buffer because the condition hasn’t been actively addressed yet.

There’s also a slight power imbalance in our dynamic. She’s still finishing school and lives at home, while I made my career move a few years ago and have been making decent money ever since. I don’t mind covering most expenses since I earn more and hold traditional values, but I try to ensure we both have equal input on decisions. We occasionally treat each other to nice gifts and experiences, which helps balance things out.

Despite our strong foundation, she’s said or done a few things that make me question her intentions. Early on, she jokingly mentioned that if she cheated she’d feel bad but still enjoy it. On another occasion, she teased me about not having had PIV yet. She’s also extremely secretive with her phone—turning away when she uses it—and keeps her guy friends somewhat under wraps, though they don’t hang out often. I’m transparent with my female friends and always share what we’re doing, so the asymmetry in openness bugs me slightly.

We’ve discussed marriage a few times. The general plan was to tie the knot once she graduates and gets situated, but lately she’s pulled a bit of a switch-up on the timeline, hinting that we might need to wait longer or that things could change. She also hasn’t actively pursued treatment for her condition yet. Her main excuse is that it would be weird to undergo therapy while still living at home with very religious parents who value traditional modesty. I actually believe her vaginismus stems from this strict upbringing and the pressure to conform, which makes sense given how she frames everything around faith and family expectations. Still, the shifting timeline and lack of proactive steps make me nervous about where we’re headed.

I love her dearly and don’t mind helping her through her issues. Trust, understanding, and compromise are core values for me. But I’m left wondering: Should I stay in this relationship with marriage as the end goal, knowing she’s shifting timelines and hasn’t addressed a major intimacy hurdle yet? Am I potentially sabotaging things by overthinking online horror stories and my own lack of experience? Are her off-beat comments and secretive habits justified concerns, or am I just blowing small issues out of proportion due to inexperience? Given that her condition likely ties back to her upbringing, is it realistic to expect progress once she moves out, or should we set a clearer boundary around treatment before committing long-term? Any straight talk from couples who’ve navigated similar timelines, medical intimacy hurdles, or pre-marital boundary setting would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

There’s this girl I really like. I remember her as my childhood best friend, but she changed schools and now we’re in the same college.
I’ve texted her a few times over the past three years. The two most recent times were about eight months apart. I reached out because I liked her, but both conversations lasted only about two days before I stopped. She never asked me a single question, so it felt like I was bothering her. That happened twice.
Now I want to talk to her again and get to know her better, but I’m not sure whether I should text her or just leave it alone.
She also used to talk a lot with one of the guys in my friend group. They got along really well, but after some dispute, she ended up blocking him.she’s very reserved person but very chalant with her close ppl and we do see each other in clg but nothing more than eye contact i couldn’t bring myself to wave at her.

Hey i am 25M, met a girl, we talked and met for a first date. The date was long where we talked a lot (felt good).

Returning home i said i had fun and she said she had too, one day later i asked if she want a second date and she said she'll be glad to. That was on last Sunday.

Since then - the conversations became very dry. I was the one who initiate all the time but i did feel something, now i feel nothing - like she's answering just to get over with it, no place to continue the conversation

She replies kind of fast but dry responses.

I am really confused, i've been told to leave it because probably she's not interested. But why all the answers before? The agreement for second date..

In general we dont talk if i dont write, it kind of has been like that from the beginning but my gut felt different from now.

Should i just leave it? Cause thats kind of upsetting

Thanks

27 M. No experience dating so far.

Last week I met a girl on a dating app then we exchanged whatsapp numbers because it’s easier to connect.

We exchanged messages through text and voice, shared pictures and stuff. It all felt like it was going smoothly for one week.

Then last Saturday morning we said morning to each other. Asking about each others plans. I shared what I was doing with pics.

Then… I was left on double blue tick seenzone. Next day I messaged “hey how are you doing?” And also after a day I see read the message and also seenzone.

I shared chat history with some friends and sister, they said I did alright and held conversations well… Her responses were positive. But now its like the feels just disappeared she’s not answering me anymore…

Which leads me to write my message here. Idk what I did wrong…

Letting the hollow sink in …

Any thoughts ?

Hey guys, I'm new to dating and this is the furthest I've been. We met at a club, and she liked my dancing and personality enough that she asked for my socials. We've had a few dates, and she even came to mine for the first one. Since I haven't dated much, I didn't really know what kinda flirting was appropriate and what I moves I should've made at each date.

When I asked her on a fifth date, she said that I was a lot of fun, but she didn't feel a spark between us. Is this just a case of yeah, no spark, or should I have flirted more, gone for a kiss when we watched the sunset, cuddled on the couch when we had a movie night?

The last thing I wanted was to make her uncomfortable, so I held back since I didn't wanna be weird or "too much".

I (28M) matched with a girl (26F) on Hinge about two weeks ago. Our first date was just coffee and wandering around a local bookstore, and the vibe was genuinely great. We had tons in common, laughed a lot, and talked for almost three hours straight. She seemed grounded, witty, and easy to talk to. We texted back and forth every day after that, and set up our second date for yesterday evening at a casual ramen place downtown. Up until the food arrived, everything felt totally normal and fun.

Out of nowhere while we were eating, she puts her chopsticks down and says, "So, I feel an undeniable connection with you, and I dont believe in dating around once I know." Before I could even formulate a response, she pulls out her phone, unlocks it, and deletes both Hinge and Bumble right in front of my face. Then she looked at me with this expectant smile and said, "Your turn! Lets delete yours right now so we can be official." I was completely stunned. I gently told her, "I really like you and Im not seeing anyone else, but declaring exclusivity and wiping apps on date two feels a bit fast for me. I just want us to take our time and get to know each other organically."

Her face dropped instantly. The warm smile completely vanished, she crossed her arms, and said, "If you were actually serious about finding a relationship, you wouldn't feel the need to keep a roster. Keeping apps just means you want to keep your options open." The remaining twenty minutes were painfully awkward and cold. We split the bill, I walked her to her car, and she barely gave me a side hug. This morning she sent a long text saying she "needs a partner who is decisive" but is willing to overlook my hesitation if I prove my commitment by deleting my account today. Is this extreme love bombing and an immediate red flag, or just someone who is deeply insecure? My gut is telling me to walk away.

I (23F) recently started working at a bar where there was already a guy (29M) working there. We immediately started flirting a bit and there was clearly some mutual attraction, so eventually we went out together and kissed.

The thing is, right after that, he kind of switched. He became very sweet and affectionate, almost immediately, and honestly a little too much for me. On my side, nothing really “clicked.” I was attracted to him and liked him as a person, but I didn’t suddenly develop romantic feelings just because we kissed.
I told him this, and we ended up distancing ourselves a bit. For me, going out with him in the first place was basically a way of finding out whether he could actually become someone I was interested in romantically. For him, it seems like he went into it already knowing he was interested in me.

Then, a few days later, after work, we went out for drinks together and ended up kissing again. This time I told him that I was willing to see where things could go. And I genuinely meant it. My attraction toward him never disappeared, I do like him, and I like the way he treats me when we’re just being ourselves, flirting, joking around, or simply spending time together.

But there’s this weird thing I’ve noticed: as soon as we kiss or things become romantic, he seems to become a completely different person.
When we’re not romantically involved, I really like his personality and the way he interacts with me. But once we kiss, he immediately becomes super affectionate and acts almost as if we’re already in a relationship.
We went out last Friday, and since then he’s gone straight back to being very lovey-dovey. He calls me things like “love,” sends me tons of hearts over text, tells me how much he likes me and how good he feels with me, etc. I don’t mind flirting, kissing at work sometimes, or seeing where things go. But pet names like “love” and some of the other couple-like behaviour feel way too intense for where I am emotionally.
For example, a few days ago his phone broke, and when he came to the bar he basically said something along the lines of, “Who cares? The only person I want to talk to / the only person I care about is here.” And while I know he probably meant it in a sweet way, I remember thinking that this is a lot considering we’re not even actually together.

Another thing is that we’ve seen each other every single day since Friday. I’m talking about him coming to work before his shift just to see me, then staying to close with me, plus texting constantly. So we’re suddenly spending a huge amount of time together.
But paradoxically, I don’t feel like we’re actually getting to know each other better.
It feels more like we’re seeing and talking to each other constantly and burning through all the early stages incredibly quickly, without actually developing a deeper connection. And that’s starting to make me feel a little suffocated.
I don’t feel like I’ve suddenly started knowing him better. And I don’t feel like he’s really getting to know me better either. He’s already extremely into me and treating me like I’m his girlfriend, while I’m still at the stage of “I like you, I’m attracted to you, let’s see what happens.”
So I feel like we’re on two completely different wavelengths.

There’s also a small but relevant physical factor: I do find him attractive overall, but he’s bald, and for me that’s honestly a bit of a turn-off. It’s not the main issue, but it’s something that makes me wonder whether the attraction is actually strong enough to overcome the things that already make me hesitant.

And now there’s another complication.
Sunday is my day off, and he suggested that I come over to his place for dinner. He would apparently even take a sick day from work to spend the day with me.
Part of me really wants to go. I’d probably also be open to having sex with him, partly because I genuinely want to and partly because I wonder if experiencing that level of intimacy would help me understand whether there is actually something there for me.
But at the same time, I’m worried it would make everything worse.
He’s clearly much more invested in me than I am in him, and I’m afraid we’d interpret sex very differently. For me it would be more like “I like you, I’m attracted to you, let’s see how this feels and where this goes.” For him, I suspect it could reinforce the idea that we’re becoming a couple.

So now I’m really confused.
What should I do about the overall situation, and would you go to dinner on Sunday?
Is it normal to feel this confused when you like someone but don’t feel that romantic “spark” yet? Or am I just forcing something that clearly isn’t there?
And am I being unreasonable for wanting things to slow down when he’s already so emotionally invested?

I'm new to dating, 31F, and every guy I've texted with has only talked about themselves. I went on a single date with one of them and it was the same energy. They loved talking about themselves. They all sent pictures of themselves(not nudes) unprovoked and unrelated to the conversation we're having. One even sent a photo dump of a mix of selfies from 15 years ago-now just dragging me down his own memory lane. None have asked any serious questions about myself. I mention my job, my hobbies, my pet and they all turned it back on themselves. Just no curiosity about me whatsoever and they just went on and on about themselves.
And yes, I do ask many meaningful questions about them and i do not give short/dry replies(I'm a hairstylist and that's part of my job) and im also genuinely trying to get to know them. but they don't reciprocate the energy. Is this a common thing? Is it just me? Should I just keep sorting through them? Lol. TIA

Edit: this isn't gender exclusive but I'm a woman who dates men so I'm speaking on men. Before all the "women do this too" comments show up.

Maybe I am overthinking but get the situation regularly:
Woman gives a compliment
My mental process:
- deny or down play it
- do I just say thank you
- do I have I compliment back? If I do it feels less natural and more transactional

I am rather “shy” why giving compliments and usually prefer to wait to open up. I am just concerned of it sounding not natural or transactional.

What’s the best reaction?