> but I know many more who ended up dating friends or better yet friends of friends
I know almost none such people. Do you see how anecdotes work? Almost everyone I know met their SOs either in college, via online dating or at work, and rarely at a sports group or through a common friend gathering.
>If you have a friend group with a healthy mix of gender+sexual orientations
So a friend group that isn't gender mixed is unhealthy? I think friend groups form (as adults) organically via matching interest and personalities, they're not guaranteed to be mixed gender, especially if you're a male into male dominated jobs and hobbies. What now? Do I kick out Bob from my friends group and tell him due to DEI requirements, his position needs to be filled by a female in order to achieve a "healthy mix"?
>those people know other people, then you have a good shot at finding somebody you gel with.
Just because people know people doesn't automatically mean more dates for you. A lot of those people might already be in relationships or just incompatible with you romantically or even socially. Not every new person you get to meet will want to be your date or even your friend.
You're underestimating how many things need to fall into place in order to meet your SO "from other people". It's a lot more luck than things you can control.
> A friend invites you to their friends party and you spend some time talking to people.
I think your PoV and advice in entirely skewed towards college/early 20's dating when everyone's single and throwing parties.
>potlucks, D&D sessions, going to the movies, book clubs, etc.
Also either male dominated activities or non existent in my area. Hence why dating apps and bars/clubs are popular.
> going to the movies
BTW, How are you meeting your potential date by going to the movies? Dunno about you but whenever I went to the movie people just watch the movies, not talking to others. How do you flirt there?
I know almost none such people. Do you see how anecdotes work? Almost everyone I know met their SOs either in college, via online dating or at work, and rarely at a sports group or through a common friend gathering.
>If you have a friend group with a healthy mix of gender+sexual orientations
So a friend group that isn't gender mixed is unhealthy? I think friend groups form (as adults) organically via matching interest and personalities, they're not guaranteed to be mixed gender, especially if you're a male into male dominated jobs and hobbies. What now? Do I kick out Bob from my friends group and tell him due to DEI requirements, his position needs to be filled by a female in order to achieve a "healthy mix"?
>those people know other people, then you have a good shot at finding somebody you gel with.
Just because people know people doesn't automatically mean more dates for you. A lot of those people might already be in relationships or just incompatible with you romantically or even socially. Not every new person you get to meet will want to be your date or even your friend.
You're underestimating how many things need to fall into place in order to meet your SO "from other people". It's a lot more luck than things you can control.
> A friend invites you to their friends party and you spend some time talking to people.
I think your PoV and advice in entirely skewed towards college/early 20's dating when everyone's single and throwing parties.