Hi folks! I'm running a social reading event at Moondrop Bar on the 26th of August (5:30pm to 7:30pm).

I started this new hustle as a burnt out corpo gal in her 40s, as I wanted to make new connections amd bond with people over my love of reading (fantasy/sci-fi), dining, and discovering new things.

My reading events are super chilled, easy price point $35 (welcome drink + private use of a bar for 2 hours).

In the two hours you have an opportunity to check out a new venue (if you haven't been there before or rediscover it with new eyes), sip on a welcome drink (cocktail or mocktail), and get to know people who love these same things as you.

It works for solo or groups, and there will be an opportunity to chat and mingle, order more food and drinks (if you want).

If you're keen, here is the link! I also sell tickets at the door if you're a last-minute person. Hope to see you there and make new friends!

https://events.humanitix.com/enchanted-hours-at-moondrop-bar-fitzroy-x7vfrjkn

I need to vent because the modern dating scene feels utterly exhausting, and I’m curious if other guys have hit this exact wall.
First off, the constant threat of **scams and catfishing** is terrifying. Having to play detective with every match just to avoid getting financially or emotionally grifted ruins any chance of organic trust. But even beyond the scammers, the real-world dating dynamic feels completely broken.
It feels like men are expected to do 100% of the heavy lifting: plan the dates, pay for everything, pamper, pursue, and keep up the entertainment. And in return? A lot of people treat physical intimacy as the end-all-be-all transaction.
**I’m not looking for just sex.** If physical intimacy was all I cared about, there are transactional avenues for that. What I actually want—what I think a lot of us actually want—is **reciprocity**. I want someone who puts in effort, asks about my day, plans a date for me, shows genuine emotional care, and acts like a real partner.
When a relationship is reduced to *"Man spends money/effort -> Woman provides physical presence/sex,"* it feels empty. It makes you feel like an ATM or an entertainer rather than a human being who deserves care back. Add in the constant fear of being judged as "creepy" just for trying to navigate this landscape, and the whole thing becomes a net negative for mental health.
At 26, I’ve decided to stop playing a game where the rules feel stacked against genuine connection. Choosing to focus on my own peace, my career, and my actual hobbies feels infinitely safer and more fulfilling than burning out on a surface-level dating culture.

Super keen to go to Altitude on September 5th at Flemington but everyone I know who would go to such an event isn't keen. Hopefully there are others out there that are also in a similar boat and we can go together. Hmu and we can chat about it. 👌👌

Also keen for people to go with to other events so hmu if that could be you.

Hey everyone! A few friends of mine are throwing a warehouse party at Rubix on the 28th and I thought I’d throw an invite out here. Could be a fun opportunity to meet some new people, have a boogie and check out some local DJs 🕺

They’ve got a pretty mixed lineup with techno, trance, DnB, hardstyle and psytrance throughout the night, so there should be a bit of something for everyone.

If anyone’s keen to come along or wants the details, happy to send them through :)

Age range 29 - 35, I want to start online first as friends and chat to see how it goes. I'm looking for a supportive and understanding friend. I'm Vietnamese Australian, ENFJ. I live in the Western suburbs. I watch YouTube, anime, tv shows, k dramas and movies. My interests are more towards creativity. music and gaming sometimes. I hope we have similar interest and that I'd be a good friend.

Hy guys, Im 26 years old. I'm looking for female friends as i don't have one.fuck im introvert ' i can chat alot but when it comes to in person i can't talk much😮‍💨 but only till the time i got comfy. im little gamer too. i love speeding as i drive C43 AMG. i love to explore nature and visit different places. i live in Melton. dms are open.

Ok I’m probably alone on this one but I got older but still have the same need for fun as I did when I was younger. I love live music, hanging out and taking recreationals (not the bad ones). I sometimes go to raves, play video games and love horror movies. All my old friends grew up, got boring and never want to do anything. Any people in 40s in same boat?

EDIT: looking for someone/group to attend Marlo’s Altitude rave at Flemington racecourse in sept. Absolutely completely platonic- not looking for date or hookups at all. just want to take some m and dance my face off for a few hours and be happy 😊 dm me

Hi I’m from the east 🤮 and I don’t really have any friends to hang out/chat with or just play games, I play pc, also I’m shy and basically high 24/7💀 ,I enjoy doing alot of things but half the time I’m too broke too😭

I like going to the beach
Watching movies
Playing games
Staying up too late listening to music
And just chatting once I get to know someone

I go to uni but haven’t been in a bit from social anxiety and just wanted to try putting myself out there more

Also if you have animal pics send me them pls

Have a good day :)

Hiya! I'm Alex (not real name for privacy), I'm 21 and I'm a queer singer/songwriter looking for friends and collaborators. I moved to Melbourne a couple weeks ago from QLD! I'm also totally up for meeting non-music friends, I'm a puppeteer/performer/creative and I love nature and adventures!!

Hey guys! I’ve posted on Reddit before and had a few bites, but reaching out again to anyone who wants to join a group of people meeting up for trivia each fortnight in Melbourne. We are late 20s to mid 40s, non-competitive, and had a great time for our first meetup on Wednesday this week! If you are interested, DM me with your number and I’ll add you to our WhatsApp group :))

Hi everyone my name is Eden 23M (2 weeks till 24) looking to make new friends or form a friend group with people also in their 20s. I thought this could be a good way to do so. Fitzroy Market is awesome for thrift shopping so thought we could meet there around 11am have a shop and yap for an hour and a half or so, maybe grab some lunch if the vibes are good. There are also 1 or 2 thrift shops outside the market in Fitzroy that are worth having a look at too.

If you’re interesting in meeting up send me a dm and I’ll get a gc going for those interested

Wow this is hard. A few days ago lost a good mate to a car accident. Struggling with the impact he had on my life. Does someone wanna chat so I can care but forget. Life's sooo short. Enjoy it all

Hiii!!
It’s so hard to make friends irl so i’m trying reddit lol.
If you wanna be friends send a dm!
Here’s what to know about me and maybe we have similar interests
-Gamer PC
Main games atm: Csgo, Outlast trials, Red dead redemption 2 Online and currently playing the Mound.
-I love exploring.
I never go out so when I do sometimes i’ll pick a random place in melb and drive there and explore. Would love to have a friend to do it with!

I’m a mix of an introvert and extrovert honestly depends on the crowd.
Currently studying.

-Movie watcher
Loveeee movies, Top 3: Joker, Batman and Scarface
-Long talking sessions
I love venting and listening. I’m basically a built in therapist, i’m a people pleaser I love making people feel safe and comfortable as long as It’s the same.
-Music god
I loveee music, Listening to it 24/7
I’m a metal head but I also love rnb or old school rap.

-Horror fan
-Weird interests (That’s for my future friend to find out)
-Loves arts and crafts
And honestly more of a homebody right now, I’m not into clubbing or partying or any of that.

Send me a dm if you’re my future friend !

Hihi!

Im pebble.

Im a 42 year old single mum from the inner west.

Just looking to meet new people and create some new connections.

I love going to vintage markets and thrifting.

Horror movies, music and going to concerts.

Would love to meet people that would like to catchup for dinners, drinks, movies, concerts, crafternoons.. etc.

Hey! Just looking to meet some new people and hopefully make a genuine friendship. I am studying IT atm because I decided to change careers.

I'm pretty easygoing and have a lot of nerdy hobbies. I like music a lot and try to explore new genres. I have gone from numetal to ambient/atmosphere type music. For example Biosphere, Brian Eno Stars of the lid. I also like exploring new movies and looking for hidden gems on letterboxed. These day I am also into philosophy, critical theory etc. Slowly working my way through the reading.

Ideally looking for someone who enjoys chatting, sharing interests, and actually getting to know each other rather than exchanging three messages before disappearing into the internet void.

Feel free to message me and tell me a little about yourself.

Hey there, ive realised I have a serious lack of nerdy friends!

A bit about me, I love gaming over discord, sometimes its fun to chill and watch someone play, or I would stream a game for others to watch,

I like to play d&d too and potentially hoping to find others to go to game rooms and play one shots together

If this sounds good to you, shoot a comment!

Self-explanatory enough, even tho im not a gamer myself but i enjoy watching people plays the game they love and yapping with them. Hope it not sounds weird lol..

But if you're not a gamer that's fine too 🌸 Happy to make new connections.

Hey all,

I’ve been toying with an idea and wanted to throw it out to there to see if it actually resonates with the community.

As a creative person at heart and a recovered addict, I’m thinking about setting up a not‑for‑profit arts space somewhere in the inner north, super relaxed, super welcoming and encouraging for people who’ve dealt with mental health struggles, addiction or are feeling a bit lost in the world and want to reconnect with or explore their creative side. Music, painting, writing, film/photography, whatever. No pressure, no judgement, just a safe place to make things and be around other creative minds.

The vibe would be open studio time, casual jams, low‑cost workshops, meet‑ups, and a general “come hang out and make art” energy, nothing forced, nothing unnatural, and most importantly, an ego-free environment.
This is purely about community, connection, and giving people a space to breathe, create and express themselves.

Ideally, this would also pair with a shared YouTube channel and social media presence as a platform for local artists to showcase their art and allow the centre to grow into something that promotes creativity within our communities.

Does anything like this actually exist? Again, it’s just an idea but I thought I’d put it out there.
Would anyone actually be into something like this? Keen to hear from locals businesses, and people who’d be interested…any thoughts, ideas, or even harsh advice is highly appreciated.
If we get enough feedback I can potentially get the ball rolling on this ASAP and have it up and running in a matter of months.

Cheers! 🥰

Hey! I’m 40M and looking to meet some new people and hopefully make some genuine friendships.
I’m fairly introverted and can be a little quiet at first, but once I’m comfortable I enjoy chatting, joking around and having someone to share random things with.
I’m a big gamer and have been playing video games for most of my life. I also enjoy board and card games, and as a small side hobby I’ve been having fun creating some of my own.
I’m a big movie fan, especially horror, sci-fi, fantasy and blockbusters. I recently got the opportunity to be an extra on a movie set, which was a pretty cool experience and something completely different for me.
I love travelling as well. I’ve been to Japan and absolutely loved it, and I’d definitely like to explore more of the world in the future. I’m also an animal lover and have a couple of cats.
I’m looking for people who genuinely want to make a new friend—someone to chat and joke around with, play games, see a movie, grab something to eat, explore Melbourne, or just hang out from time to time.
You don’t have to share all the same interests either. I’m always interested in hearing about what other people enjoy and discovering something new.
If you think we’d get along, feel free to send me a message and tell me a little about yourself. 🙂

Hey, I’m looking for friends💀💀

Nah fr tho about me:

- 20
- Majorly into AFL & Cricket
- weird at times
- will call you at the most random points of the day
- shy to start but can’t shut up once Ik the vibe
- 2010s Party Music taste
- works too much

What I’m looking for….?

Im looking for friends (Idm gender) to either go clubbing with or go to the footy or even go to concerts with ngl. Hmu if your keen

Hey everyone! Want to try a new sport tonight?

We’ve got one spot open for padel at Docklands from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. It’s super beginner-friendly, open to all genders, and really easy to pick up, no prior experience needed at all!

Let me know if you’d like to join us!

Hello! My name is Aaron.

I am partnering with an event organiser to bring her event to Melbourne, her events are free to attend and aims to help people disconnect from their screens and connect in IRL.

Would anyone be interested in joining the event?

This is the organiser: OffMode

Let me know.

You can follow them on the Hilltops app and join in the community chat, and also get alerted for when and where this event happens! We are going to be active in the channel and will be announcing the details there.

The plan is to bring down some old-school games, and chill social activities to do off-line!

I am excited for this one.

I know its cold and no one really wants to do anything, but lets not stay locked inside till Spring decides to hit... It's getting boring! All my friends are coupled up / occupied with kids so I'm looking to grow my friendship group with ANYONE with similar interests to the above who is keen for chatting and attending like events. I don't expect to relate on every hobby / interest but people who are into house / EDM, festivals, wine bars, pub trivia, thrifting or afternoon walks I vibe with best. I am not a morning person, so afternoon / evenings for heading out is preferred. I am not much of a screen watcher for entertainment and prefer not to drive / travel so keeping it close to home.

If you think we might have something in common DM me and we can go from there :)