10 Buffy GIFs That Capture the Horrors of Online Dating

Online dating is sort of a crapshoot. You either find really interesting, genuine people quickly or (more likely), you end up sifting through person after person trying to explain themselves in the cutest, wittiest, most apathetic, self-loathing or braggy way possible. In the worst cases, you commit to meeting one of these people and it's absolutely awful. Pictures aren't accurate. Personalities are fake. They sounded a lot better in the written word than in person.

The risk can be worth the reward for some, but for others, it's a terrifying game to pass the time and combat overpowering loneliness. I probably shouldn't be shading online dating this much, seeing as it's a successful and totally acceptable way to meet people nowadays. This, like IRL dating, doesn't mean it's any less scary.

So here are 10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer GIFs that accurately describe the trials of online dating (because sometimes a '90s cult-classic just gets it).

1. It all starts with you scrolling past a really cute picture of someone and then lying to yourself that you're interested in them for any reason other than how good they look.

2. Then you remind yourself that people can put up fake pictures, but they're still REALLY cute.

3. You take a chance and send a message, trying to be as effortlessly cool as possible, which of course, doesn't make sense. You also check on your pictures to make sure you have only your best.

4. Then comes the terrible waiting part, and of course, while you wait for a message from them, everyone and their mother (whom you don't want) decides to message you. Each time you get so excited only to see that it's someone else saying..."hey."

5. They're still not responding and you're starting to get desperate. Then you start to get mad at them and tell yourself that really you didn't need or want them at all.

6. But then, out of nowhere, they reply!

7. They apologize for not responding right away and they explain that they'd been busy the past few days and hadn't had the time to be online. This causes you to look back on your moment of spiraling with shame. You start to question your sanity.

8. The conversation flows as naturally as water. Your vibes are in perfect harmony. It almost feels like magic.

9. But then out of nowhere they stop responding. You follow up once or twice but quickly realize that they're never coming back.

10. Then, finally, this...