30 Hilarious Yet Petty Reasons People Won’t Date Someone, As Shared By Folks Online
In many cultures, in the old days, traditions dictated that the bride and groom could only see each other for the first time at the wedding - and in fact, they had very few options. Especially considering that divorces in ancient times were not welcomed, or were generally prohibited per se.
Today the situation is completely different - and each of us, when choosing a partner to date, is guided by some of our own criteria regarding appearance, behavior or everyday habits. Criteria, or prejudices - depending on how you look at it. And so, in this viral thread in the AskWomen community, women (and, I guess, men as well) answer the question: “What is the pettiest reason you won’t date anyone?”
More info: Reddit
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They have to be an animal lover. I can tell when someone doesn’t like animals and I couldn’t see myself with someone who doesn’t tolerate animals
Yes because if we start living together you will have to tolerate my obsession with my animals
Deeply religious people. Nope.
You shouldn't date someone who has deeply held beliefs that don't jive with your own. Religion has little to do with it. There are people of the same religion who don't date because other deeply held beliefs don't align. They may both be deeply Muslim, but one is Republican and one is Democrat or because one is more of a homebody and the other is social. The aged "blame religion first" is a shallow excuse to throw shade on people who believe in something.
I won’t date someone who wants me to watch them play video games. They want to play video games while I read or do something else in the same room, that’s great. They want me to sit there while they play video games and I have to actually pay attention to their Fortnite kills or whatever, absolutely f*****g not. It gives strong “Mommy look at me!” energy that I find a complete turnoff from an adult man.
If you look at the statistics of responses, you can perhaps divide them all into two categories: sincere and superficial. Because, for example, how can you recognize a bad person literally on the first date, or even before it? Of course, there are many verbal and non-verbal signs, but still, only an incredibly insightful person can correctly assess someone after talking with them for just an hour or a couple of hours.
Any run of the mill average Joe who thinks all women are golddiggers coming to take their $45,000 annual salary ... 😆
Reeks of him watching too many podcasts from other dudes who also can't get laid.
fr, alpha males always seem to assume that women are making less than them and going after their money even if they don't make that much
when a guy treats their mom or their sister(s) like s**t. i’m looking at our future boy, and you aint it.
This, and Lyoness' comment aren't petty. This is a solid reason. If they can't be nice to family or service workers they aren't worth your time.
I agree about the way they treat others, but please stop assuming mothers are the be-all end-all. Some of us choose no contact for our own mental health. This does NOT make us bad men.
It’s called intersectionality, folks! Misogyny exists and so does child abuse and you have to be able to tell the difference between a man who hates his mother for being a woman and a man who hates his mother because she treated him like shǐt.
Load More Replies... Absolutely not a petty reason at all. That is a legit red flag. The guy might as well be wearing a "douchebag" name tag.
Anyone complicit in the child slave labor of the Cobalt mines deserves no respect. So if mom sister or someone in the service industry has a cell phone....we are all terrible people.
True! I have an ex-gf who treated her mom badly, it was a red flag but I ignored it because she was soo nice to me. Until if course the time came when she got used to me enough to treat me the same. Goodbye.
I agree with this in general, but there are some exceptions. My husband had issues with his mother during his childhood and is not accepting any of her suggestions now. Sometimes he seems rude, but is just painfully honest. I've helped him softening his tone for the 12 years we're together, but he was a bit AH in the beginning.
My husband has said this with me and my parents because we’ve had similar issues in the past. If it’s explained then I’d give some leeway but even still like you said, he was willing to work on it a bit to not be an AH at least, don’t have to like them or even have a solid relationship but don’t be an AH to people for no reason or just fight venom with venom, just ignoring people and setting boundaries is okay too (what I’ve learned to do with my folks)
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I’ve had people give me s**t for this before, but picky eaters. And I don’t mean people who have allergies or other food issues. I can understand that. I mean grown a*s adults whose main course is chicken nuggets and French fries. Or make faces, or refuse to even taste a new dish. I have friends like that, but I don’t think I could date anyone long term.
I am with you OP. I fully accept if someone doesn't like something. But extremely picky eaters who have no issues that explain it are difficult to be around and very exhausting. If all they ever eat are the same three dishes I'm out. It's different if they were autistic and have sensory issues, but even then I'm not sure I'd be strong enough to have a relationship with them.
You can also divide all the answers into the categories "Appearance" and "Social Rating", let's call it that. After all, nobody's perfect, and many of us initially judge people by purely physical attractiveness, which can completely overshadow even a person's negative social role. Just remember what Britney Spears once sang: "And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical..."
Using "your" when they should use "you're". That really bothers me.
If they're really hard into social media. I know it's much more of a girl type of thing, but guys can be clout chasers too. Or just really into their phone in general. Put the f*****g thing down and genuinely talk to someone.
Also men who are chronically on Reddit/4Chan are likely to have bigger issues than just social media addiction.
If they don't use sheets or pillow cases on their bed. It's just gross. If I walk into a dudes room and all I see is a yellow stained mattress and a s****y blanket with no "it's laundry day" explanation, I'm out
“There is nothing strange about this, because a person is, first of all, a living being, and we perceive people around us not only with a cold mind,” says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “Despite centuries and millennia of development of our civilization, there is still a lot of primitive stuff in our bodies. And often this only hinders us.”
“After all, those personal traits that would have been very valuable in the era of ancient people, and which still resonate in our subconscious, today can carry an obvious negative and sometimes even criminal connotation. And then, after we enter relationships, we sometimes ask ourselves: 'What were we thinking?' However, mistakes are inevitable - it’s important to simply learn from them, both from our own and from others,” Irina summarizes.
People who breathe or chew or drink loudly give me the biggest ick. I have severe misophonia.
I refuse to date anyone that says I’m cute when I’m mad. They always play with my emotions for entertainment.
A beard that isn’t well-groomed. I need to see evidence that the edges are tended to, trimming is happening, whatever. Nothing turns me off like a pube-y beard.
Goes along with general hygiene. Beards and mustaches, as well as longer hair, all require extra effort to groom, if the goal is looking neat, clean, and presentable. Trim the beard and mustache, and ffs, keep them CLEAN! Same goes for the hair on your head—-well, anywhere, tbh. Shower regularly, and I don’t mean every month. Wash your junk and your asscrack while you’re at it. Do the laundry so you’re wearing clean clothes. Make your bed when you get up and change your sheets every week. Pick up your towels and hang them to dry after you have used them, and change your towels every week. Buy more than one set of sheets and towels, ffs. Clean your house every week, and pick up after yourself every day—-wash your dishes after eating and wipe down your counters in the kitchen and bathroom after you’ve used them. You want a woman to like you enough to spend time with you? Then make the damned effort to be presentable to her! This isn’t rocket science, ffs.
By the way, regarding learning from other people's mistakes - from this point of view, it is especially useful and interesting to read what other people consider a dealbreaker for a possible date and, who knows - maybe someone else's experience will really come in handy? So please feel free to scroll this list to the very end, and maybe add your own pettiest reasons to not start dating someone in the comments below. After all, exchanging experiences is no less great, isn't it?
I don’t think I could date someone with a peanut allergy, I love peanut butter and don’t think I would want to live a peanut free life for anyone
Someone who is over the age of 28 and uses the phrase “ Saturday is for the boys”
As an adult, I seriously dated THREE guys named Dave. Someone named Dave would have to be an 11/10 for me to go this route again.
A friend of my mind has dated 6 or 7 Amanda's. After the last breakup I suggested he move down the alphabet for the next attempt
I have synesthesia (letters/words/numbers have colors) and I had a hard time dating anyone whose first and last name didn’t look synesthetically aesthetic. Happily married to someone whose name has colors that harmonize lol.
Omg I feel bad for men reading these posts but of course I have my own. I get really disappointed when men have a purebred dog they bought from a breeder. Tells me they have no compassion for animals, want to boast wealth/status, and they waste money on stupid s**t. This perception is particularly heightened for having brachiocephalic breeds like bulldogs.
I am very aware I might be taking it too far on the meaning of it but my brain works in mysterious ways. Please don’t hate me.
I wouldn’t date someone who smokes pot or vapes 🤷🏼♀️ or anyone super into astrology
There's absolutely nothing wrong with smoking pot, but of course it's fine to say you wouldn't date someone who does, personal choice. But weed is not the enemy and not everyone who smokes is a deadbeat. I have smoked practically every day for the past 30 years and I have a master's degree, make well over $100k/year, and have a solid family and social life. Don't judge us stoners 😊
Anyone who listens to Jordan Peterson
This is so far the most reasonable one. Someone who takes the Misogyny Personified seriously can never be a good partner.
If their ideal home temperature is lower than 70 degrees. I’m very cold natured and have lived with someone hot natured.
I can’t do it again. I refuse to live under a blanket in my own house or argue because they lowered the thermostat and thought I wouldn’t notice. It just makes us incompatible because it’s too big a deal to me.
If we don’t have similar tastes in food. I once stopped seeing a guy because he didn’t like cheese.
If they spell my name wrong in the initial messages on the dating app. It’s right there. Immediate unmatch
Socks with sandals is my pettiest, but most strictly enforced, dealbreaker. I simply can’t be seen with you.
I remember people trying to convince me of this in high school. Also that white socks outside of sports are a total 100% no-no. What reasons, grounds, justifications? Absolutely none beyond parroting others that said the same --- if you wear that, you're out of the herd. No other reason. So yes, I will go out of my way to wear socks in my sandals and if that steers me clear of you we both win.
There’s a local bar that gives out smiley face stickers. Yeah idk it’s a thing I live in the middle of no where. Anyway, A lot of guys are covered them on their dating app profiles. Instant no. I don’t like party boys.
Also, if you have a “type” and I clearly don’t fit it it’s not happening.
When I was single many years ago, I learned not to date anyone who was new to my city. I wasn’t interested in becoming someone’s personal tour guide, who would then use all the fun things I showed them to eventually woo another person.
Anyone with a solo mustache (no beard) is an immediate no. You look like such a goober, sorry.
If they're not a cat person
I don't necessarily dislike dogs, but the people who have them are most often very dominant and selfish in my experience
As a native of Cleveland Ohio usa, I don't think I could ever date a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
I could never date anyone whose entire personality is "(insert sport/team) Fan" 🙄
Lips too thin
Completely hairless body
Massive football fan
Certain jobs- police officer, army, teacher
I absolutely refuse to date anyone who has the same name as any of my exes. For the most part, they’re all common names, so not ideal. I’m in a relationship though so hopefully won’t be an issue again 😂
I am Gen X and the name Michael is very prevalent among men my age. My ex is a Michael and one day, I was at the bank for work and this cutie with an Irish accent came in and went to the teller beside me. He was there for business and the teller asked him his name and he said "Mike". Nope.
Omg. I have a list. But here are my top ones. He has Bad hygiene. He has never lived alone and his parents do everything for him. He is controlling or he has to be right on everything. He is vegetarian or a vegan. Specially a vegan. He refers to himself as alpha. He is a mommas boy. Smokes or is an alcoholic. Has cats and that’s mostly because I’m allergic.
This list includes people who I won’t swipe on on dating apps but for me it’s:
-Lawyers. Naturally argumentative and I feel like they’d have a leg up if we got married and divorced.
-Guys who have fish or golf photos. The fish people know why, guys with golf photos have historically been too full of themselves for me.
-If their instagram handle is on their profile. I don’t have one and have no interest in just giving you more followers.
-Dog owners. Too much time needs to be dedicated to their dogs. Can never sleep at my house. etc. I’ve done it in the past and it was majorly inconvenient and annoying. I’m also just not a dog person and don’t want them all over me.
-Family member names
-Smokes pot/cigs. I don’t and people make it their personality. I also HATE the smell
😂 Lawyer here (& divorce lawyer no less) - I can honestly say from speaking w my colleagues, (1) we prefer to not argue at home, even to extent of letting our spouses win every disagreement bc its not worth it to argue & (2) we tend to roll over & settle own own divorces by giving our spouse way more than deserved, just so they go away & get it over - while there are exceptions, the non lawyer spouse gets a sweet a*s deal in arguing & divorces
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I think those ones match the title "petty and hilarious". It's the ones with serious reasons that don't belong on this list.
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Most of these complaints from people would turn me off them tbh. Shallow and stupid reasons...tells me what I'd need know about them lol although..if you don't like animals...something wrong!
When I was 4 years old my dad threw some coin down the hall at a shopping center and we watched as everyone chased after it. That's when I learned contempt for everyone.
Many of these seem like fairly petty reasons to check someone off of your list. That will change, as you get older and more desperate.
There's nothing wrong with having a dating preference. Usually saves a lot of time. And if someone you think is really worth it, things can change. Been my experience that if you have to ignore something that's big to you, it will come back and bite you. Having a list is not a bad thing. And don't belittle people who know what they want, or don't want. Dating is for learning . . . take the lessons with you.
I just can't date people who have a one trait personality. Such as "I am a cat person" or dog person or vegan or exercise nut. I have no problem with that being part of them but not how if they use this to describe themselves when you meet them.
I think those ones match the title "petty and hilarious". It's the ones with serious reasons that don't belong on this list.
Load More Replies... Most of these complaints from people would turn me off them tbh. Shallow and stupid reasons...tells me what I'd need know about them lol although..if you don't like animals...something wrong!
When I was 4 years old my dad threw some coin down the hall at a shopping center and we watched as everyone chased after it. That's when I learned contempt for everyone.
Many of these seem like fairly petty reasons to check someone off of your list. That will change, as you get older and more desperate.
There's nothing wrong with having a dating preference. Usually saves a lot of time. And if someone you think is really worth it, things can change. Been my experience that if you have to ignore something that's big to you, it will come back and bite you. Having a list is not a bad thing. And don't belittle people who know what they want, or don't want. Dating is for learning . . . take the lessons with you.
I just can't date people who have a one trait personality. Such as "I am a cat person" or dog person or vegan or exercise nut. I have no problem with that being part of them but not how if they use this to describe themselves when you meet them.
