Tinder now lets you swipe right for the presidential candidate of your dreams.
Who's your presidential match? Tinder wants to know.
Not to freak you out, but ... we're all about to be in a long-term relationship, whether we like it or not.
We'll be forced to meet their parents. Their photos will dominate our Facebook newsfeeds for months, and they'll probably break our hearts at some point after we've given them nothing but support.
I'm talking about the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, of course.
But with so many candidates, how can you be sure you've found your special one? The one who likes the things you like and believes in the things you believe in? The one that's worth waiting hours outside a public library or school cafeteria to vote for? If you're going to be stuck with this person for the next four to eight years, surely that's not a decision to be taken lightly, right?
The good news is, thanks to dating app Tinder, all it takes is a few swipes to make the choice that's right for you.
Photo by Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images.
Tinder, the dating app that brought "swiping" to approve potential mates into the mainstream has partnered with nonpartisan group Rock the Vote to launch "Swipe the Vote" (get it?) on March 23, 2016. The aim is to get millennials to the voting booth this November by matching them with candidates based on the issues. It's a pretty worthwhile cause, too, considering young people have a tendency to not show up on Election Day.
If you're a Tinder user swiping through profiles, you'll eventually stumble across a screen that looks something like this:
If you tap to find your presidential match, you'll be asked to swipe right if you agree or left if you disagree in response to questions about 10 hot-button issues.
If you want to learn more about the topic, you can tap the screen. Tinder will provide some more context, like what you see below regarding marriage equality:
Tinder will then match you with one of the Democratic or Republican candidates based on your swipes.
Your screen will look something like these two — the user on the left was an 80% match with Bae Bernie Sanders, while the user on the right was a 100% match with Mr. Right (Wing) Donald Trump:
Photo courtesy of Tinder, used with permission.
"Swipe the Vote" also shows you how you compare with the other baes/candidates and lets you learn more about where they stand on the various issues. And from there, you can easily get down on one knee — er, register to vote — through Rock the Vote. Easy!
Before you dive into the app headfirst, though, you really should get a rough understanding of what these folks could be like as a partner.
I mean, we're not talking one-night-stands, people, so you better choose wisely...
Let's look at John Kasich.
He's a nice Midwestern fella who'd probably get along great with Ma and Pa. But be warned: If you're a woman, he might feel entitled to tell you what to do with your body.
GIF via Fox News.
Then there's Hillary Clinton.
If you're looking for a woman who will explore the world with you (instead of, say, staying home and baking cookies), Hillary's your gal. Although, to be fair, there might be some trust issues.
GIF via ABC News.
Ah, Bernie Sanders.
He's the hip guy at the party who's been cool forever, but (for some reason) everyone's just now noticing. Don't be surprised if he promises you the world and can't follow through, though.
GIF via Bloomberg Politics.
Ted Cruz certainly isn't for everyone.
But if you're an old school-type when it comes to going steady, Ted might be your guy. If you two settle down and buy a house, he might give your new neighbors some trouble though, FYI.
GIF via Babalu Blog.
Donald Trump would be ... an acquired taste.
If you're someone who appreciates a good-sized bank account, Donald's the man. He doesn't, however, have the bestreputation among the ladies (hm, maybe because of this, this, and this).
GIF via CNN.
So ... are you ready to take the plunge?
Yeah? Hooray! Get to Tindering! Or, if you're not the dating app kind, find out how to register to vote here.
Not ready yet? That's OK! This is a big commitment. Learn more about the candidates here.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.