Dear Anna,
I'm one of those weirdos who's on "dating" apps to make friends — I'm single, but not interested in dating right now, only partly because of COVID-19. It seems that despite checking the "friends only" box, people that I've been meeting are assuming that I'm trying to date them. Do I need to be more explicit about my desire for friends only? I want to avoid the awkward come-ons during socially distanced Jenga hangs. (I'm a queer woman in a large-ish city, for reference.) — Just Friends, No Benefits
Dear JFNB,
People are hitting on you during socially distant Jenga games? Are you Cate Blanchett? In any case, yes, you should be more explicit. Put a disclaimer in the first line of your profile. Then mention it again right before you meet up for the first time just in case they've forgotten. Is it annoying? Yep. But less awkward than a surprise Jenga French kissing. I mean, I imagine. That's never happened to me. But it sounds pretty excellent now that I'm thinking of it. Maybe you are cursed. But hopefully the extra bit of diligence works. If not, perhaps your next socially distant hang should be an 11 a.m. tour of a sanitation plant.
