@icedquinn@TURBORETARD9000@freon I'm one of those voluntary loners who don't want to participate on that song and dance. I get it though. Humans are a commodity for all services, so it makes sense people are trying to benefit from their target demographic as best as they can. That is why for example Tinder did the great bait and switch from being a "good" and affordable alternative to expensive bars, only to get turned to a gacha game with fake profiles and whatnot (I don't use Tinder but AFAIK that is what happened).
I'm not old enough to remember what dating before the internet and mobile phones was like. However (again AFAIK) people paired up by being in close proximity for long periods of time. So workplaces, hobbies, small towns or just visiting the same social places on the regular. Not really speed-dating, Tinder or any other "quick meetups" sort of way.
Also women were "traded" as a commodity by being paired with men by social/monetary pressure and their families setting up dates/bringing up good candidates for grandchildren. I don't think that happens at all anymore, but it was one way to "make connections" by involving family networks.
Sadly hobbies and social gathering places are pretty expensive these days. One thing people still claim to be a thing for singles to mingle are pair dancing events/festivals. Might be just a Finnish thing though. We call them "latotanssit" which means literally translated "barn dances".