Widow’s Fire: App for Those Who Have Lost A Lover… And Are DTF

The Stream of Consciousnessner brought our attention to the platform Widow’s Fire today. 

Named after the desire for widowers to make some love after the loss of their significant others, the platform allows widowers and the widowed to do just that. Intended for casual hook-ups, the platform is the second to come from its developer Julia, who lost her husband to cancer. It has thousands of users. 

Preston wanted to hear what widowed listeners thought of the platform and what it is like to get back out in the love-making world after a loss. We were surprised to see the phone lines fill up! A lot of our listeners had a lot to say. 

Callers told us their own stories of losses and what their love lives were like afterwards. It turns out that – according to them – widowed women tend to be a lot hornier and less emotional than widowed men. There is certainly a difference in terms of how much connection, both physical and emotional, widowed men and women want. 

Some of our callers have had it pretty stable with their flings, a couple have been avoiding people seeking relationships, and one hooked up with a mortician. 

The widow community is one that we definitely did not expect to be such a thriving one. It does not only rely on hook-ups, though. Julia of Widow’s Fire previously developed Chapter 2, which was intended to link widowers seeking relationships. There are plenty of platforms with similar mission statements. 

One idea that got brought up several times during this segment was a Preston & Steve-sponsored widow mixer, and that wasn’t just suggested for laughs. People need connections. Maybe one day that can happen. 

In the meantime, if you are a widow and looking to share some love, Widow’s Fire is a great place to start. There are both free and paid plans, so you have several options for getting your start on the platform. Watch the segment: 

If you're dating in 2022, then texting is likely going to be a big part of your, well, courtship. I mean, who talks on the phone anymore? It's all about texting and instant messaging that special someone to get to know them and set up a time to meet IRL.

Now, a new report shows that new love often begins in a relationship via texting... with heavy use of emojis. But, what are the best and worst emojis to use when dating- or at least flirting?

The report comes from the Adobe Future of Creativity: 2022 U.S. Emoji Trend Report. For the report, Adobe surveyed 5,000 U.S. emoji users to discover how they use emojis to get to know a potential significant other. The report discovered that 72% of U.S. emoji users say they definitely use emojis in dating or flirting messages.

For a while, people were saying emojis were a thing of the past, but according to this new study, the younger generations use them the most. So, they're still hip. Adobe found 58% of Gen Zers and 54% of millennials said they would give a second and third date to someone who used emojis. Gen Zers, around 38% of them, also stated they wouldn't have a serious relationships with someone who doesn’t use emojis. What really stings, though, is when emojis are used to end things. According to the report, 32% of Gen Zers say they have actually been broken up with via emoji. Dagger to the heart. Read on for the full list of the best and worst emojis for dating according to Adobe, plus a few from yours truly.

1. Kiss with heart emoji. - I use this with everyone! Guess I need to settle down, if it's going to be taken as a flirting emoji.
2. Sweet face surrounded by hearts emoji. - This is a cute one. I never really thought of it as flirty, but I guess it is?
3. Heart eyes emoji. - This is a good one if you want to show your significant other that you think they're a hottie.

1. Poop emoji. Why would you use this one?
2. Angry face emoji. Not flirty, but if you're angry about something that happened during your day, why not?
3. Eggplant emoji. I literally have never used this emoji. I did not even know it existed.

This is just my opinion, not based in any kind of data, but I think the "Face with Stuck-Out Tongue and Winking Eye" emoji is a winner. I mean, it might be a bit much, but do you really want be in a relationship with someone who can't handle this whimsical emoji? No. The answer is no.

Again, this is just my opinion, but "Nauseated Face Emoji" is one I would stay away from at all coasts. Unless you have food poisoning or are throwing up because of being ill, I just don't think it's appealing to get this one from something you are dating.

This is via The Adobe Future of Creativity: 2022 U.S. Emoji Trend Report.