dating – Topical Fruit

The Best and Worst Sounds to Make in Bed

Wait… is lying there silent and motionless not a turn-on? Hmm, might have to adjust my technique.

A survey by the dating (err, hook-up) site SaucyDates.com asked men and women to rank some of the most common noises people make during sex.

If you’re not sure what your signature sound should be in the bedroom, here’s a handy guide to what people actually like, and what makes them want to fake a headache.

How Popular Are These Sex Sounds?

1. Moaning

91% of men like it
77% of women like it

Verdict: The universal go-to. Moaning is the gold standard of bedroom sounds.

2. Talking Dirty

77% of men
74% of women

Verdict: Verbal flirting works. If you’ve got a sexy voice and/or a decent imagination, you’re in business.

3. Heavy Breathing

60% of men
46% of women

Verdict: Totally acceptable. Sounds of exertion = still hot… just maybe don’t sound like you’re running a marathon.

4. Screaming

51% of men
36% of women

Verdict: It’s polarizing. Some like it wild, others prefer their neighbors not call the cops.

5. Swearing

39% of men
31% of women

Verdict: High risk, high reward. When done right, it’s hot. When done wrong, it’s…awkward.

6. Squeaking

28% of men
15% of women

Verdict: Is this you, or the bed? Either way, it’s not topping anyone’s fantasy list.

7. Silence

8% of men
13% of women
Verdict: So, 1 in 12 men and 1 in 8 women actually do like the silent treatment. Maybe I don’t need to change my technique after all.

Bonus: The Worst Phrases to Say in Bed

They also polled people to find the worst lines to blurt out in the sack. Whether you’re getting it on with a man or a woman, #1 is the same for both. But then things get interesting.

Top Lines Men Don’t Want to Hear

1. The wrong name
2. “I need to poop.”
3. “What time is it?”
4. “That’s it?”
5. “Get it over with.”

Top Lines Women Don’t Want to Hear

1. The wrong name
2. “I can’t do it.”
3. “I’m going soft.”
4. “Did you do this with your ex?”
5. Any mention of the woman’s sister

New Dating Trend: Letting Mom Run Your Tinder

Modern dating is hard, so why not hand the whole task off to your parents? What could possibly go wrong? 👀

According to the Wall Street Journal, Gen Z and millennial singles have started outsourcing their love lives to their parents.

People in their 20s and 30s are letting Mom (and sometimes Dad) take the reins on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge… because if you’re gonna be disappointed and rebuffed by strangers, it might as well be a family affair.

Failing to find someone can be exhausting

Struggling to find your soulmate isn’t a new problem, but online dating has made the search feel like a neverending slog. When you’ve spent years swiping yourself into oblivion, you suddenly find yourself saying, “You know what? Let’s see if Mom can do any better.”

Does mother really know best?

A 31-year-old woman the WSJ talked to said she has to reject a lot of her mom’s picks because they just don’t vibe. “She’s picking guys who are wearing Gucci and more designer, put-together apparel. And I’m like, okay, but how are they gonna do on a hike?”

Success stories are rare but real

Another woman said her dad convinced her to give a British guy a shot – even after the potential suitor didn’t respond to her messages right away. They started FaceTiming daily, and he picked her up from the airport when she moved to London for grad school. Now they’re a couple. Chalk one up for Team Dad!

Parents finally get to experience dating in 2025

Whether it’s good or bad, the experiment is giving parents a front-row seat to the chaos their kids have been dealing with. Suddenly, their “why can’t you find anyone” mantra is giving way to “Wow, I see why you can’t find anyone.”

One mom was stunned by how many men on dating apps proudly posed in full hunting gear, or mid-chug with a handle of cheap liquor. (Ma’am… that is the modern courting ritual. Just wait until they start texting. 🍆)

Is it worth a try, or is it just too risky?

Before you jump in with both feet (and both parents), remember this: If you let Mom into your relationship before it even gets started, there may be no going back.

So, the question is are you desperate enough to let your mom play matchmaker? Or will you continue to suffer in solitude, stubbornly swiping into the void?

There’s also a third option. Maybe just sack up, Gen Z, and resign yourself to the idea of dying alone like the rest of us. 😘

Halloween: The Loneliest Night of the Year (and Not Just for Ghosts)

Apparently, Halloween isn’t just spooky for kids… it’s also terrifying for single adults?

A new survey from Dating.com found that 59% of single people say Halloween is one of the hardest days of the year… and 57% say it’s actually worse to be alone on Halloween than on Valentine’s Day. Which is wild, considering Valentine’s Day was literally invented to make single people feel awkward.

Almost 80% admit they feel lonely on October 31st, and more than half have even cried after opening the door to trick-or-treaters. (“No, I’m not crying… you’re crying. Now take your Snickers and leave me to my pumpkin spice despair.”)

So why does Halloween hit so hard? For one, it’s a very group holiday.

There are couples costumes, family parties, and squads of friends all pretending to be vampires together. And, if you show up solo, you may think you look like you wandered out of a haunted house looking for emotional support.

And even staying home isn’t exactly a win. Watching horror movies or baking festive treats alone sounds cozy in theory, but in practice it’s a lot more fun when shared with someone (anyone) else.

77% of singles admit they’ve pretended to have plans on Halloween, and 73% say social media makes it worse.

It’s tough scrolling past photos of matching “Barbie & Ken” costumes when you’re dressed as “Person Eating Candy Alone, Again.”

So if you’re flying solo this Halloween, remember: you’re not alone in being alone. Just think of it as the one night you can wear a mask and emotionally hide behind it.

Couples Need to Have 54% in Common to Make It?

Some couples seem like they were separated at birth. Others make you wonder if one of them just lost a bet.

A new survey from the adult toy site LELO found 26% of people in relationships think they and their partner are polar opposites. But a solid 73% of us still believe opposites attract.

We’re talking the usual yin-and-yang combos: introvert meets extrovert, planner meets free spirit, dreamer meets spreadsheet warrior. When it works, each person brings something the other one lacks. You get balance, growth, and someone to blame when your “spontaneous weekend trip” costs $800.

But most people don’t go out looking for someone who hates all the same stuff they love. According to the people in the survey, the sweet spot for a successful relationship is 54% similar. That’s just enough overlap to share a Netflix account without fighting over every show.

You just need to match up on these core things

The things couples really need to match on are big ones: core values, family goals, and what counts as cheating (on a diet or each other). The least important things? Career ambitions, fitness routines, and hobbies. So, you might still make it even if one of you runs marathons while the other spends weekends on the couch binge-watching whatever Peacock is shoving down our throats that month.

You might not stay opposites forever

The good news: opposites may attract, but they don’t usually stay opposites. Over time, most couples say they’ve grown more alike than different. So, maybe love doesn’t just find a way… it finds the middle.

Do These 15 Things Count as Cheating?

We all know what cheating is in a relationship… or do we?

Would it be cheating if you watched the next episode of “The Great British Baking Show” without your partner… but with someone else… who you previously dated, and are now just friends with… after having dinner together… but before having sex? (Kidding!)

Thousands of people took an online poll that asked if different things count as cheating or not.

1. Does kissing someone on the cheek count as cheating?

Only 15% say yes. 77% think kissing on the lips is definitely cheating. 3% even think it’s cheating when two actors have to kiss.

2. Scrolling through Tinder when you’re bored, but not messaging anyone?

51% say yes, that’s cheating. If you do message someone, 88% say it’s cheating.

3. Hugging someone very closely and slowly?

21% think that’s cheating.

4. Sending someone else revealing photos?

Yes, 93% say it’s cheating.

5. Giving someone a massage?

25% say it’s cheating no matter the context.

6. Flirting with that cute barista at Starbucks?

35% think it’s cheating.

7. Hooking up with someone else when you’re on a “break”?

38% say it’s cheating. Another 30% think it’s a gray area, so it depends.

8. Sharing a bed, but you don’t do anything?

23% say it’s cheating.

9. Holding hands with someone else?

32% say it’s cheating. Another 39% say it depends.

10. Telling someone, “I’d totally hook up with you if I was single”?

45% say it counts as cheating.

11. Hanging out with an ex without telling your significant other?

Only 44% think that’s definitely cheating.

12. Watching porn?

Only 12% say it’s cheating.

13. Sliding into someone else’s DMs?

63% say it’s cheating.

14. Having sex with someone else?

2% say that’s not cheating.

15. Your partner has been in a coma for months and might not wake up. You sleep with someone else. Is that cheating?

48% say yes.

“Boyfriend Glow-Ups” Are Taking Over TikTok

If your man has gone from “dud” to “stud” during your relationship, it might be time to jump on TikTok’s latest trend.

“Boyfriend glow-ups” are booming on social media, and the trend is exactly what it sounds like – women posting then-and-now comparisons of their partners before and after they got their hands on them.

The “before” shots usually show guys looking like they just rolled out of a college dorm room. Then cut to present day: tailored haircuts, upgraded fits, and a vibe straight out of “Esquire.”

@victoriarobertson19
my man my man my man 😍😍😍 glowup boyfriend transformation
♬ original sound – twotsclips

Does your man qualify?

The transformations we’ve seen range from full-blown rebrands to subtle tweaks to “wait, what changed?” (The “Is this a glow-down?” videos are also fun.) But the best of the best are less “fixer-upper” and more “HGTV-level renovation.” Common upgrades include cooler wardrobes, trimmed facial hair, and the kind of confidence that comes with being loved and styled by someone who knows what they’re doing.

@laurynnashlee
always found him the best looking but he’s proud and so am i 😽 @Trey #fyp #sabrinacarpenteredit #bf
♬ original sound – twotsclips

Why girlfriends love it?

Because they’ve been working on you for years, and they finally get to brag. Sure, it’s about growth, partnership, love. But more than that, it’s about the joy of watching them go from “graphic tee and flip-flops” to “knows how to layer.” If your boyfriend used to dress like a background character in a 2005 sitcom and now turns heads at brunch, go ahead and flex.

Choose the right soundtrack

If your guy has gone from “not” to “hot” during your tenure and you’ve got the receipts, then“When Did You Get Hot?” by Sabrina Carpenter is everyone’s song of choice. It’s become the unofficial soundtrack of the glow-up movement. (Like, if you’re not using it, are you even doing the trend right?)

@lamphsed6xq
Ranking The Best Boyfriend Glow Up Trend ✨ #tiktokviral #glowup #ranking
♬ original sound – Random Ranking

7 in 10 People Use Their Gut to Make Major Life Decisions

Who needs spreadsheets or a five-year plan when you’ve just got a really good feeling about it?

According to a new poll by the life insurance hawkers at LifeHappens.org, 7 in 10 Americans admit they sometimes rely on gut instincts when making big life decisions. Not research, not logic – just straight-up vibes and intuition.

Basically, we’re all out here choosing jobs, partners, and zip codes the same way we pick what to watch on Netflix: “Eh, this feels right.”

What counts as “gut instinct”?

They went pretty broad with it. A gut feeling could mean your “intuition,” the “general vibes” you’re feeling, or what you decided after prayer or reflection. So, basically anything that’s not “I fully thought this through, ran the stats, weighed the pros and cons, and here’s my decision.”

10 things we’ve decided with our gut

They asked people about some common life decisions that shouldn’t be made on a whim, just to see how often our gut influences our decision making. And spoiler alert: it happens a lot.

Here’s a breakdown of just how many of us admit to letting our instincts take the wheel when it comes to major life choices:

32% have chosen a job based on gut instincts.
26% have decided where to move the same way.
26% have used their gut to end a relationship.
24% relied on vibes to quit a job or change careers.
21% have chosen a pet based on instinct.
20% have made investment decisions this way.
20% followed their gut to say yes to marriage.
19% trusted it while accepting a first date.
18% have gone with a feeling when buying a home.
13% decided to go back to school based on instinct.

Basically, if it’s a major decision that could affect your career, finances, or love life, there’s a good chance you or someone you know made that call with more gut than analytics.

So yeah, we like to think we’re rational beings who look at things logically and weigh the pros and cons. But if you’re mostly just vibing your way through life, you’re far from alone.

We’ll willingly go into debt for a gut feeling

Nearly half of people said they’re also willing to follow their gut when purchasing something they know they can’t afford. If our gut says yes, so does our wallet… and we’ll just figure it out later. YOLO!

Is trusting your gut really a bad thing though?

Many would argue trusting your intuition in many (if not all) of those situations is actually the smart route to take, and maybe even a necessary one. Is it really just impulse? Or is it your brain tapping into experience faster than logic can catch up?

You could argue the “feeling” you get is just a shortcut built from patterns, past outcomes, and emotional intelligence. Or to put it another way, maybe your subconscious knows better than your conscious mind does sometimes. So while spreadsheets are great, it’s possible your gut knows what your head just hasn’t figured out yet.

It’s like a built-in tiebreaker

We’ve all been there before. You have weighed the pros and cons. You’ve run the stats, thought it through the best you can, and still can’t decide. When that’s the case, what choice do you have?

Nothing breaks a tie quite like, “My gut is telling me to ______.”

Shrekking: Here’s What the Hot New Dating Term Means

A new dating term takes inspiration from one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. But did the person who came up with it do our boy dirty? Here’s what the hot new dating term “Shrekking” is all about.

Have you ever gone out with someone you weren’t attracted to because you figured, “Hey, at least they’ll treat me nice”… only to find out they were also a total bastard?

Congratulations, you’ve been Shrekked!

“Shrekking” is the new term for a delightfully savage concept. It’s when you “date down” (aka, go out with someone who’s not up to your normal standards) under the assumption that they’ll be kind, loyal, or emotionally available. But instead of a sweet and self-aware Prince Charming, you get an ogre who’s just as bad (if not worse) than the hottie who ghosted you last summer. Basically, you gambled on inner beauty and lost hard.

@thisiswhyimsingle2024
Getting shreked. I’m here for it 🤣 #shreked #onlinedating #datingsucks
♬ original sound – Bekah

But Shrek is a sweetheart!

The term takes its inspiration from the “Shrek” movies, where Princess Fiona looks past appearances and falls for a literal ogre. But if you’re a little peeved Shrek got looped into this at all, you’re not alone. In the films, he’s a lovable grump with a heart of gold. So naming a trend after him when there’s so much negativity surrounding it isn’t really fair. But here we are.

Yes, it’s mostly about d-bag dudes

While the term technically applies to anyone, it’s mostly being used in reference to men. Which, let’s be honest, kinda tracks. Half of all sitcoms involve a hot wife being low-key Shrekked by her pudgy husband who knows his favorite NFL team’s schedule by heart, but can’t remember his anniversary. (“King of Queens,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “According to Jim,” “The Simpsons,” “The Flintstones,” “Family Guy,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Married… with Children”… to name a few.)

A new term for an old trend

Dating coach Amy Chan – author of “Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart” – told “USA Today“ it’s a trendy term for something she’s seen many times before. Lots of folks (often women) have taken a chance on someone who wasn’t their type, hoping that physical attraction would grow or that personality would win the day. And being open-minded like that can totally pay off… unless it backfires.

The term might be new, but the behavior isn’t. Plenty of people have put looks lower on the list or hoped attraction would grow over time, and that in itself isn’t a bad thing. Where it backfires is when someone assumes that just because they’re dating ‘down’ in looks, they’ll automatically be treated better.”

Check yourself before you Shrek yourself

The point is that being “less attractive” (whatever that means to you) doesn’t automatically make someone nicer, more mature, or better at relationships. That dumpy guy with one ear two inches higher than the other could be just as likely to ghost you, cheat, or pick fights about pineapple on pizza.

So what’s the takeaway? Don’t go into any relationship – whether hot, not, or even medium cute – with the expectation that their looks say something about their personality, or that you’re owed better treatment just because you’ve “lowered your standards.” People are people, no matter what they look like, and jerks come in every shape and size.

The “Pettiest” Reasons People Have Stopped Hooking Up

Relationships can end for all sorts of reasons… infidelity, distance, “it’s not you, it’s me.” But sometimes? It’s way dumber than that. Especially with casual dating, where the commitment is low and the deal-breakers are weirdly high.

People online have been sharing the pettiest reasons they stopped hooking up with someone, and honestly, some of these sound pretty fair.

Here are some highlights from the list:

The Instagram Drama Queen. One guy said, “She got mad that I never viewed her Instagram Stories.” He barely used Instagram… which apparently was not acceptable.
The Hat Girl. Someone thought his date’s oversized beret was just an occasional fashion statement. Nope. It was her entire personality.
The Walking Jersey. A guy had his last name tattooed across his back. Romantic? Sure, if you’re in the NFL.
The Rude One. They never said “thanks” to anyone, for anything. That’s a fast track to being single.
The Loud Chewer. Do we even need to explain?
The Shoe Enthusiast. One woman spent an entire first date talking about shoes. Three hours. On the second date, she immediately launched into another shoe monologue, and the guy walked out before dessert.
The Litterbug. Someone dumped trash on the ground. Immediate dealbreaker.
The Spoiler. One poor soul had the ending of The X-Files ruined. Unforgivable.
The Bathroom Offender. “He always peed on my toilet and all around it.” Case closed.
The Chatty Movie Buddy. They would not stop talking while watching shows or at the movies. Which is basically a crime.
The Baby Talker. Nothing kills the mood faster than someone saying “pwease” and “tank you” in a baby voice.
The Fresh Prince Test. One guy wanted a Carlton Banks phone case. She said no. He realized she didn’t share his sense of whimsy… and that was that.

So yes, sometimes breakups are petty. But sometimes “petty” is just code for, “I refuse to spend the rest of my life listening to you chew like a horse.”

Your “Body Count” Doesn’t Matter, as Long as You’ve Slowed Down

Ah yes, nothing spices up a budding romance like the inevitable conversation about your “body count.” Right between “What’s your love language?” and “Do you believe in ghosts?” comes: So… how many people have you slept with? A true bonding moment.

But here’s some good news for anyone whose romantic history reads like a casting call: According to a new study, it’s not your total number that matters. It’s your momentum. In other words, people are apparently less freaked out by a high number of past partners if your, uh, extracurricular activities have slowed down over time.

So go ahead and be honest: “Yeah, I had a wild phase… for about 15 years. But I’m totally chill now.”

The study surveyed thousands of people in 11 countries, and surprisingly, the results were pretty consistent… even regardless of gender. Basically, your romantic history is like a stock chart… people are looking for signs the market’s cooling off, not about to crash through the ceiling.

And let’s be real: most people don’t actually care what you were doing 10 years ago, as long as you’re not still doing it now. A high number from your past can come off as adventurous, experienced, worldly even. But if you’re still collecting stamps for your loyalty card, that’s where the red flags start waving.