There are a lot of *******s out there. There is no going around it. I certainly believe in entering a relationship with open eyes and not allow yourself to be walked over. If you make the same mistakes at 25 as you did at 18, something is obviously wrong.. But I'm also fond of facing the truth and not put all the negative stuff on the girl, always.. For some people, the girl is always to blame. "You choose the wrong men"/"you're too naive" etc. In threads like these women are women worst, and they will be full of enraged replies saying that this is all your fault for letting yourself be walked over. Sure you need to change your dating techniques, but that is only because you cannot change the men out there. If a man pretends to have feelings/want something serious while knowingly stringing you along, he is to blame. One might call you naive/choosing the wrong guys, but that does not outweigh his bull****. You might have bee partly foolish in choices and partly unlucky, of not all unlucky, I don't know you well enough to say that.
It's a vicious cycle. *******s make you cynical, that is natural enough. Cynicism closes you to love (I have reached a cynical stage myself of which I slightly cringe by using the word 'love' on an online forum). You either close yourself to the possibility of a real relationship, or you switch between hard cynicism and vulnerability (because everyone's a little vulnerable) and you end up choosing guys that are hot & cold - who sometimes give you what you want, and sometimes withdraw it, helping you confirm your negative theories about men. Meaning the players.
Relationship-oriented guys like girls who are sweet, positive, give off a good vibe, have a sense of humour, a mind of her own but not stubborn, intelligent but not a show-off, loves sex but is no slut.
It's not easy, but you can make certain choices. I don't know how attractive you are, but by optimizing your attractiveness you can control how many men will be interested. The filtering process is the most important - filtering out the men who just want to **** you from those who want to date you. Go for guys who are not soo young they just want fun, but not so old that they have chosen single life permanently. 25 is a good age. Don't get too drunk, don't waste time talking to guys whom are too drunk. Don't go to clubs which are famous for their hookup-scenes, go to bars which are lively, but where you're able to talk. Dress feminine - show your figure, but not too much pure flesh. Don't reply to texts that arrive after midnight. Don't agree to 'meet up' at a bar. Have him schedule a date. If he only wants to meet to dance and drink, move on. Don't **** on the first date. Take care of your reputation.
I realize this is probably what your mummy told you when you were 12, which is somewhat depressing, but it's also true. Trust me.