Recent reports suggest that there are now more varieties of catfishing than ever before! This is definitely an unsettling revelation, to say the least. While some argue that it proves that we as humans are too easily influenced by fake pictures and false promises, others believe that it shows how desperate some people can be to connect with other individuals.
Catfishing has become such a common occurrence that some are even creating apps designed to help prevent people from being tricked into investing their time and money in someone else.
There you have it — proof that we’re all too readily available to fake pictures and empty promises!
But what does this mean for those who enjoy listening to stories about beautiful women or men living outside the norm? And why should you be concerned if you like looking at strange things?
In this article, I will discuss some important points related to catfishing and whether or not it is good for you. After reading my content, your mind will be clearer on both sides. So, let’s get started!
Disclaimer: The information in this article comes from sources whose accuracy we trust. however, UT did not receive any compensation for writing this article. The material in this text is general in nature and cannot be guaranteed to reduce risk, nor is it medical advice (as mentioned earlier, there are serious risks associated with online dating). We advise users to do additional research and read more detailed warnings in order to protect themselves.
History of catfish
While some people may consider catfishing to be an annoying way to meet new people, it can actually pose serious health risks for those involved.
Catfishing is unfortunately very common- most studies estimate that one in every five relationships features at least one catfisher. This makes sense since there are many ways they could use false information as a tactic to win your trust and keep interacting with you.
It’s important to remember that while some catfish will try to hurt you by leaving you out or hurting you physically, others will only suffer from mental illness and/or suicide.
This can have disastrous effects on their loved ones and even themselves.
Sadly, some individuals who engage in this behavior find success in charging money for their services. As such, it becomes increasingly expensive (both monetarily and emotionally) to break up with them.
That being said, here are some warning signs that might indicate someone you know is engaged in catfishing.
Is catfish good for you?
Many people consider online dating to be a way to meet new people, but some argue that it is actually harmful due to all of the fake information shared through profiles.
Catfishing or “playing with toys” as one source calls it, is when someone creates an account using false personal details and then meets up with you under those pretenses.
This can sometimes include meeting at a place that they have pre-arranged and paid for or in a situation where they are already friends with you before switching games and interacting with you more romantically.
It is very difficult to tell if someone is lying about who they are or not because there isn’t anything physically visible that proves who they say they are. They could even claim to be your friend!
Online dating sites like Tinder don’t do much to protect users from potential catfishers either. Since most people these days use apps, creating an app account is easy and almost anyone can do it.
By tapping into social media accounts and phone numbers, catfish may gain access to valuable information that helps them create their profile.
They may also add additional detail to strengthen their story or pick generic pictures that don’t necessarily relate to who they say they are.
The truth about catfish
There are two main theories as to what ‘catfishing’ is. One says that it’s when someone pretends to be someone or something of value to you, to gain your trust and use this trust to steal money or valuable items from you.
The other theory states that it’s just using deception to take advantage of people. This is typically referred to as emotional manipulation.
Neither one of these definitions really tell you much beyond the fact that most people feel they’re fake. Because there’s no clear definition, many people have different opinions on whether it constitutes fraud or not.
Furthermore, some experts believe that while some instances may fit the criteria for fraud, most definitely do not. They argue that since most people consider them true partners, relationships are simply not needed to perpetuate the scam.
So how can you tell if someone is lying to you?
There are certain behaviors and patterns that prove that someone is not being truthful with you. By looking at their behavior, you could determine if they are in a relationship, or if they actually love you.
Catfish taste horrible
While some people may find them entertaining to watch, catfishing can be very harmful. For one thing, it can hurt your self-confidence.
Catfishers usually use false identities to interact with potential partners. This is often done through social media sites like Facebook or YouTube.
They create fake profiles of loved ones in order to gain their trust. Once they feel that they have enough confidence in you, then they will reveal themselves and ask if you would marry them.
This could seriously damage your self-esteem because now you realize someone lied to you just so they could get married. It also might make you feel guilty for giving into their demands and marrying them when you didn’t even know who they were!
Another problem is that many catchers keep the person waiting months or years until they are finally able to meet face to face. During this time, the catter knows exactly what kind of person you are like before meeting you.
Catfish are invasive
Many people refer to catfishes as snake-like fishes, but this is only because they look long and fluid when swimming. This can be misleading though, as some species grow very large! For example, some members of the genus Iberdolsus can get up to 50 feet (15 meters) in length.
Catfish actually belong to a group called Siluriformes, which means “silvery” due to their skin and body texture. Some examples of other siluriforms include eels, newts, and even tiger sharks!
With that said, many people consider catfish to be ugly and scary. This isn’t always true! There are over 200 different species of catfish, so there’s really no way to know what one looks like until you see it!
Many cats make beautiful aquarium decorations and some breeders keep purebred kittens just to create more hybrids. So why not enjoy these beautiful creatures while we still have them?
There are several reasons why having a pet catfish is bad, including health and environmental issues.
Catfish carry diseases
While some people make fun of them, catfishes are actually very important to our lives! They play an integral part in keeping other animals away from harmful substances and resources.
Catfish can be described as fish with thick skin that grow rapidly. These changes occur because they use special glands to produce toxins to protect themselves against what they perceive to be threats!
These protective chemicals come from food sources or by ingesting things such as plants or water. When hunting for prey, most carnivorous creatures rely heavily on taste buds to tell if there is enough nutrition for their body.
If you look past all the flashy colors and decorations, eating meat requires lots of glucose to be absorbed into your blood. Glucose comes from vegetables and fruits which may not be abundant in certain environments so cats must learn how to find it elsewhere!
That’s where catfish enter the picture!
Many species of catfish will eat almost anything else except crabs.
Catfish are tasty
Many people enjoy eating catfish, so why would you not want to make it part of your culinary repertoire? If you’re concerned about whether or not all the added ingredients are healthy, that is! Most cooked fish is healthier than never cooking with meat, but there are ways to cook the most delicious fish without adding too many additives.
Catfish can be either white, dark, hickory smoked, or dry-cured. The best way to prepare any kind of fish depends on what type of flavor you like and what kind of texture you desire. For example, thinner, lighter fillets will taste better if pan fried in butter or olive oil with salt and pepper. More solid, heavier pieces may benefit from being broiled or grilled with olive oil and seasonings.
Overall health benefits of seafood include improved heart and blood vessel function, reduced risk of stroke, lower cholesterol, and higher levels of antioxidants which help keep your body free of oxidative stressors (such as from consuming foods high in sugar or fat). Nutrients such as selenium and zinc are also important components of good health when consumed as seafood.
Be sure to check out the nutritional value per serving to ensure you’re meeting your daily diet needs.
Catfish are delicious
Many people love catfish, whether it is as a food source or just because they think it is beautiful. Almost every town has at least one restaurant that specializes in fried fish and sweet sauces!
A lot of the time, when people order catfish, there is no clear picture of what kind it is. It could be all white meat, dark meat, mixed meat, or even chicken-style catfish.
It depends on where the catfish was raised and what type of recipe their chef wanted to make with it.
Some people may not know how to prepare fresh fish correctly, so they stick it in a breading mixture and fry it. This can cause dry, tough skin and loss of flavor due to poor frying.
Catfish must also be cooked properly; either broiled, grilled, pan roasted, or baked and never boiled like other fish.
