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Woman Tests Her Boyfriend With TikTok’s ‘Orange Peel’ Test, Realizes How Trashy He Is
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Woman Tests Her Boyfriend With TikTok’s ‘Orange Peel’ Test, Realizes How Trashy He Is

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If you ever have doubts about your relationship with anyone, put it to the test, right? How else will you know it’ll last if you don’t shake up the foundations a bit?

One woman recently shared her story of figuring things out with her significant other. Well, spoiler, he’s no longer significant. But a viral internet thing called the orange peel theory helped her understand what’s what in her relationship and she seems better off for it.

If folks want a relationship to last, it has to have a strong foundation—one based on mutual respect and love

Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

A woman recently tested the foundation of her relationship, which unexpectedly led her to the realization that he is unfortunately not the one

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Image credits: Fine_Marionberry3796

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Image credits: BGStock72 (not the actual photo)

The theory led the woman to realize just how disproportionate her contribution to the relationship was when compared to his

The gist of the story is that Redditor u/Fine_MarionBerry3796 stumbled upon the orange peel theory while scrolling through TikTok one day.

If you’re not aware, the orange peel theory is essentially a test of a relationship—ask your significant other to do something that you can, at that moment, do yourself (like peeling an orange) and witness their reaction. The idea is that if the SO responds with any form of “no”, then the theory claims it’s likely that they won’t be able to go through with other, bigger tasks in the relationship. If they do it, however, you’ve got yourself a winner.

Anywho, out of curiosity, she tried it. She asked her partner to braid her hair—he could as he himself used to have long hair. He declined. And she didn’t make much of it until later in the day when she, already having forgotten about the whole theory, asked him to do something else—throw her towel into the dryer so it’s warm for when she gets out of the shower. And he didn’t.

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OP suddenly realized just how much of herself she has already invested in the relationship, all the while he can’t even throw a towel into the dryer. We won’t get into the gritty details, but OP admitted she’s giving 90% to the relationship, while he’s nowhere near any reasonable proportion.

Folks online were very critical of the fact that the woman based her relationship decision on a TikTok thing

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)

At first, commenters went ballistic on the woman about her choice to essentially sabotage her relationship with someone all because she saw a video on TikTok.

They elaborated that instead of partaking in dubious online advice, she should instead reflect on the relationship, communicate needs, and not assume that all the small things will necessarily lead to all the bad things too.

There were some defenders among the comment ranks too, though. The thing that a part of the commentdom failed to realize is that a test like this lets folks understand how much a partner is willing to meet their SO’s needs just for the sake of making them happy. Because, ultimately, that is the kind of partner OP wants in a relationship.

One of the first comments to come out pointed out that TikTok trends are not an authority in relationship advice

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Others, however, disagreed and said that the reasoning is legit

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A hefty update followed several days later, posted by the original author

Image credits: Fine_Marionberry3796

Image credits: Prostock-studio (not the actual photo)

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In the update, the woman acknowledged the comments and shared what happened next

OP considered what folks online said and tried to do just that—to communicate with the partner she initially described as lazy and uncommitted. And, well, long story short, even after trying to talk about it, he had the audacity to essentially disregard everything by trying to dump his kid on her to babysit while he went out for a beer.

What was supposed to be a serious conversation about making a relationship work turned into an argument that led to a breakup. You know things are absurd when the mom gets involved and says that she should’ve stepped up and been “a good mom and future wife” (for context, the kid is his, not hers).

Anyway, she went no contact, told him to come get his stuff, and then beat it. OP was relieved that she had dodged a bullet. And folks online approved. The impression everyone got was that he just needed a babysitter with benefits.

The orange peel theory doesn’t have to involve peeling an orange—it can be any simple task, but the aim is to see the partner’s attitude and commitment

Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (not the actual photo)

For context, the orange peel theory was first broken down by TikToker @neanotmia. It essentially suggested that small acts of service—such as peeling an orange—and a significant other’s willingness to do it are indicative of a healthy relationship.

It doesn’t have to be an orange, of course—in OP’s case, it was braiding her hair and throwing a towel into the dryer. As long as it’s something simple enough to be performed by the person asking to do it.

The idea is to see the partner’s reaction—and based on that, to see if the partner can be asked for bigger favors. It is supposed to reveal their attitude towards the one asking to do the favor and the relationship in general.

It’s believed that the trend became a thing after a text exchange between an ex couple reminiscing about their time together and one of them missing how the other one peeled their oranges in the morning.

Both the author of the post and the commenters think she dodged a bullet by calling it off with the lazy boyfriend

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Robertas Lisickis

Robertas Lisickis

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

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Robertas Lisickis

Robertas Lisickis

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Gabija Palšytė

Gabija Palšytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

Read less »

Gabija Palšytė

Gabija Palšytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

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franziska-birk avatar
Francis
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the test is still dumb! if my bf doesn't want to peel my orange for whatever reason it doesn't say ANYTHING about how he reacts if i ask him for something bigger? i would have reacted the same way as her bf :D why would i tie up her hair?? that's just stupid LOL... to compare the orange peeling/tieing up her hair to something bigger is just so random. but she still did some reflection and learnt he was an a*s so that's a win i guess... but the test is stupid!

feuerrabe avatar
VioletHunter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The test might be dumb but it did lead her to realize he was using her as a housekeeper and babysitter.

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petemccann avatar
DrBronxx
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad she came to the realisation that she needed to cut that guy loose. He was obviously taking advantage of her. It's good that the orange peel theory led to her epiphany. That said, the orange peel theory on its own is stupid. If you think that the orange peel theory alone is enough of an evaluation of your relationship, you're not worth having a relationship with. Don't play games. Communicate.

de-snoekies avatar
Alexandra
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is the right answer in this case. She escaped a life of semi-servitude to a man who doesn't lift a finger to care for his own daughter and who can't be bothered to go out and make a life for himself. That's not husband-material; it's a recipe for disaster.

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lynemma avatar
BravePanda
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a person who was unexpectedly disabled and then unexpectedly needed to fight a hyperaggressive breast cancer, all with in a decade...I support the orange peel theory. My partner never expected to be a caretaker for a traumatically injured wife, a premature baby, or a breast cancer patient. I went from a badass athlete who could rise to any occasion to a person who couldn't walk. Orange Peel Theory would have been passed with flying colors by the both of us from the 1sr date. He got a brave survivor who won't give up unless there is no other way. I got a partner who will see my weaknesses as an opportunity to help.

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franziska-birk avatar
Francis
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the test is still dumb! if my bf doesn't want to peel my orange for whatever reason it doesn't say ANYTHING about how he reacts if i ask him for something bigger? i would have reacted the same way as her bf :D why would i tie up her hair?? that's just stupid LOL... to compare the orange peeling/tieing up her hair to something bigger is just so random. but she still did some reflection and learnt he was an a*s so that's a win i guess... but the test is stupid!

feuerrabe avatar
VioletHunter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The test might be dumb but it did lead her to realize he was using her as a housekeeper and babysitter.

Load More Replies...
petemccann avatar
DrBronxx
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad she came to the realisation that she needed to cut that guy loose. He was obviously taking advantage of her. It's good that the orange peel theory led to her epiphany. That said, the orange peel theory on its own is stupid. If you think that the orange peel theory alone is enough of an evaluation of your relationship, you're not worth having a relationship with. Don't play games. Communicate.

de-snoekies avatar
Alexandra
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is the right answer in this case. She escaped a life of semi-servitude to a man who doesn't lift a finger to care for his own daughter and who can't be bothered to go out and make a life for himself. That's not husband-material; it's a recipe for disaster.

Load More Replies...
lynemma avatar
BravePanda
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a person who was unexpectedly disabled and then unexpectedly needed to fight a hyperaggressive breast cancer, all with in a decade...I support the orange peel theory. My partner never expected to be a caretaker for a traumatically injured wife, a premature baby, or a breast cancer patient. I went from a badass athlete who could rise to any occasion to a person who couldn't walk. Orange Peel Theory would have been passed with flying colors by the both of us from the 1sr date. He got a brave survivor who won't give up unless there is no other way. I got a partner who will see my weaknesses as an opportunity to help.

Load More Comments
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