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Nerdy, niche dating sites: Because Tinder is too mainstream

By Daley Wilhelm We’re all just out here looking for love, companionship, and understanding. With the unstoppable march of technological progress, that search has become increasingly easier as the years go by. In the past, finding a suitable mate meant hoping that strangers and friends you meet in bars, in class, and out in the wild would share your interests and values. Today, you can sit on the couch and browse through thousands of faces, their likes and dislikes displayed in plain text. For introverts especially, online dating has evened the playing field in a sense. Rather than having to work up the courage to talk to strangers—who may or may not be creepy in the first place—and compete with extroverts, introverts can quietly message people whose profiles interest them.

Image from Funny Junk
That said, online dating or just flirting can be dangerous. Unsolicited pictures, rude replies and downright creeps abound, so I can understand wanting to turn to a platform more curated than Tinder or Cupid or Grindr. There appears to be a dating site for every particular interest or lifestyle. No matter how niche your interests are—there is a place for you too, to find love.

Dating for Muggles

If you’re looking for the “Snape to your Lily” as is often said on the site, look no further than Dating for Muggles, a dating site that will match you with the Harry Potter fan of your dreams. While the site is sparse in appearance, you have the ability to browse exactly what kind of Muggles are magical to you—from dog lover Muggles, to redneck Muggles, to policeman Muggles, to Mormon Muggles—these myriad people are united in their love of magic and their search for love.

BronyMate

Also grabbing onto the magical theme, BronyMate is where “magical relationships begin.” BronyMate is a dating site geared toward fans of My Little Pony founded in 2013 with the mission “to connect Bronies and Pegasisters and create long lasting relationships between our members.” The site offers both free and paid services.

Mouse Mingle

Into all things Disney? Or Star Wars and Marvel for that matter? Mouse Mingle hosts a offers a way to find “YOUR Mickey or Minnie.” Exclusively for fans of Disney, the site has been spoofed on Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Whovian Love

“Find your companion! Because you never know when adventure will find you!” is how Whovian Love, the dating site for fans of Doctor Who, greets visitors. Most features on the site like “Who News” and the Forums appear untouched since 2013, but this is a site filled with fans of a show where time travel is commonplace so who (haha) knows? Maybe Whovian Love is where real Time Lords seek out adventure.

Looking for Group Dating

Finally, we have the most visually appealing site of all: LFGDating. This site is where you too, can find your player two. Touted as the number one dating site for fans of World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and even Pokemon Go, LFGDating promises a dating experience without the usual stereotypes associated with the gamer identity. Our interests connect us, so why not find love through them?
Sources: LFG Dating, Whovian Love, Mouse Mingle, BronyMate, Dating For Muggles Images: Funny Junk, YouTube

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