Starting Conversations Without Making It Weird

Starting can feel heavier than it needs to.

You see his story and want to reply, but you do not want to seem like you were waiting for an opening. You match with someone and think he is cute, but you do not want to send the first message because you have been told that means you are doing his job. You meet someone through friends, have a good five-minute conversation, and later stare at his name in your phone like the message has to be perfect. The whole thing starts to feel strangely formal for something as small as, "That was funny."