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Ask Dating Coach Erika: He lied about his age. Is that OK?

Erika Ettin, Tribune News Service on

Published in Lifestyles

Today’s questions are all from women in the early stages of dating:

Question: He’s 40, not 38. And he used his middle name in his profile. Told me on the first date. Important for his job to keep low profile. OK?

Answer: Are you asking me to tell you that it's OK that somebody lied about their age by two years and then gave you the excuse that they are trying to keep a low profile online? I can't do that. But proceed as you see fit.

Now, I have had people use middle names when they have an extremely unique name that is easy to look up. That doesn't bother me so much. (But he should have told you that before the first date because it's awkward to show up and call someone the wrong name.) But the age lie does. You know he only did that so he could date women in their early 30s or younger. How old are you? I'm not a betting woman, but I would say 32 or 33?

Question: What's the female equivalent of the fish picture?!

Answer: The picture that makes men go, "ugh" or not pick your profile?

--filters of any kind

--no full body pics

--you posing with hot friends (or any friends where they can't find you)

--you posing in a more traditionally masculine position like (woman spreading

--Halloween costumes with mustaches or beards

--duck lips

 

--anything that alludes to you going to the bathroom

--basically anything where they can't see your face and/or body (sunglasses, etc.)

--too many pictures with your pet (no room for anyone else)

Question: We are three dates in and both looking for a long-term relationship. He's on vacation this week and switched his hinge location. What am I supposed to think? I don’t like it.

Answer: It sounds like he is planning to have some dates on vacation. Given that you are only three dates in and not exclusive, that is perfectly acceptable. Just because he might want a long-term relationship, if he does, he might also want to have fun on vacation. For better or worse, those are not mutually exclusive things.

I strongly dislike the idea of being able to keep tabs on the people you are seeing in the app. My recommendation would be to unmatch him and tell him, "Hey! Just wanted to let you know I unmatched you on Hinge since we now know each other in real life. :)"

Question: What's up with men asking you out and then canceling the day of because they're "sick"?

Answer: Are people not allowed to get sick?

Is it annoying? Sure. But if they reschedule, I don't really see a big problem. And men are not notoriously more likely to cancel a date on the day of than women are.

For your own peace of mind, the healthiest thing you can do is take them at face value and assume they are actually sick. Tell them you hope they feel better. If you simply don't answer when someone cancels saying they are sick because you don't believe them, they have no inclination to reschedule with you.

But the reason is irrelevant. If they reschedule, great. If they don't, move on.


©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

 

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