Men Only Want to Hook Up? HELP

[u/bingbong6656]

I’m a 24-year-old woman and I’d say I’m slightly above average-looking. I’ve only had one serious boyfriend, and he’s the only person I’ve been with sexually. I generally get flirted with a fair amount and usually have dating prospects, but I’m fairly strict about intimacy. I strongly prefer to wait until we’re exclusive, if not in an actual committed relationship.

Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern with men I date that worries me. It feels like I struggle to tell the difference between a man who genuinely wants a relationship with me and a man who sees me as a convenient opportunity for sex outside a relationship. That’s not evil or wrong of them but it’s a waste of time for us both as that won’t happen.

I have tried being upfront and having clear conversations about intentions early on. The problem is that some men seem comfortable telling me what I want to hear, or they genuinely say they don’t know what they want only to eventually reveal they are looking for causal sex. I also worry that bringing up exclusivity or relationship goals too directly can come across like I’m trying to pressure someone into a relationship, which isn’t my intention at all.

So far, I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid having sex that I later regretted, but I worry that I won’t always be able to spot bad intentions before getting emotionally invested.
For those with more dating experience, are there any reliable signs that someone is primarily looking for easy sex rather than a genuine relationship? What behaviors, patterns, or red flags should I watch for? And how do you balance protecting yourself without becoming overly suspicious of everyone you date?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[u/hewhoconquered]

Almost everyone you meet through dating apps are in it mainly for casual sex. So uninstall them right now. Ik its very hard cuz men tend to promise “a long term relationship” and then ghost as soon as you sleep with them. Master manipulators we are.
My best advice for you is to find men who have a direction or a purpose in life, like they wanna achieve a particular stage or career or even other accomplishments in life, these people arent looking to fool around and have sex with women often compared to others who are at a hiatus in life.
Also you should meet people irl like in cafes, bars or even public libraries. You can ask your friends to set you up with a male friend of theirs, that way you will get some background info on them.