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Singles dream of dating feeling like a hilariously wholesome sitcom, but it can also be a cringeworthy reality show with episodes titled "Mommy's Boy at the Restaurant" and "The Awkward Movie Night."
Recently, a person who goes by the nickname Nocta on X asked other platform users to describe the worst dates they've been on, and their post immediately went viral.
As of now, it has been viewed over 22.3 million times, with thousands of people contributing their experiences to the discussion, so we decided to scour the thread and show you the most memorable ones.
Continue scrolling to check out our hand-picked entries and the talk we had with dating coach Blaine Anderson — you will find it spread out between the images.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
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These stories might represent a broader picture. Among those who are on the dating market – the 15% of American adults who are single and looking for a committed relationship or casual flings – 67% say it's going either not too well or not at all well.
While single-and-looking men and women report equal levels of dissatisfaction with their love lives and the ease of finding romantic interests, women are more likely to say they have had some particularly negative experiences.
#3
Jeff White 1 year ago
Ok, early in the list but I have to admit this first post has set the bar pretty high. I'm sure it CAN get worse, but I'm not sure how.
Singles are often open to seeing people with many different traits and from a variety of backgrounds, which also entails a level of uncertainty.
"Especially with someone you're not very familiar with, my best piece of advice for planning a first date is to avoid getting too creative!" Blaine Anderson, dating coach and founder of Dating By Blaine, told Bored Panda.
"Asking a woman to drinks tends to be a safe and time-tested bet. Find a bar you love, particularly one that has non-alcoholic options because not everyone drinks these days, and then feel free to use it as the venue for all of your first dates. Because you'll always be at the same spot, you give yourself something like a home court advantage with this strategy!"
#8
AnnaRachelle 1 year ago
I had similar happen. We had spoken in line for months. He came for a visit and we went into the city centre. He got a tattoo of my name,I big letters down his forearm. After going home he called me to tell me he was going to move in with me. Told,not asked. Freaked me out. Blocked him.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons why a date might take a turn for the worse, but Blaine, who has helped over 3,000 people find love, thinks guys tend to make two mistakes over and over again.
"The first one is exclusively focusing on forming an intellectual connection, and not a physical or emotional one," she explained. "This is a mistake that intelligent and introverted guys make in particular!"
"The second one is over-sharing, and talking too much about themselves. I think a lot of guys feel like they need to impress the woman they're out with, and they don't realize that they talk too much about themselves as part of that process," the dating expert added.
It can be quite difficult to end a date early in a polite and smooth manner, even if it isn't going well. "You always want to balance being direct with being empathetic," Blaine Anderson said.
"Depending on how early you want to do that, there may not be a truly polite way — cutting a date off after less than 30 minutes is probably going to feel rude no matter how smooth you are."
#13
Nannychachi 1 year ago
Nope. Not on a first date. Even years in, I still ask my husband first if I can have a bite.
#14
#15
#16
Jeff White 1 year ago
Did you have his phone number to call him back? No wait, you couldn't, he stole your phone.
However, if you're in a situation where you just have to hit the escape key, Blaine suggests saying something along the lines of, "Hey, I'm so grateful you took the time to come here to meet me. I can tell I'm not feeling a romantic connection, and I want to be respectful of your time, so I want to part ways for now, but I genuinely wish you all the best."
"Just don't be surprised if the person you're out with asks for more of an explanation!" she added.
It can be exhausting to keep putting yourself out there when Cupid has turned his back to you. Which is probably why almost half (49%) of Bumble users are prioritizing their own work/life balance over actively looking for love.
However, you might run into your special someone even if you're not trying to. Just keep your eyes open, and remember, there's no such thing as a perfect date.
#21
DragonofMordor 1 year ago
Anyone who is rude to staff is an instant turn off. Treat people decently.
#27
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
Yay for us another south african. Ocean Basket is a chain of fish and chips restaurants. Not romantic, not fancy.
#29
#30
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
wow. For non-South Africans, Kauai is a health food takeout restaurant. Apologies for the cultural appropriation to the Independent Kingdom of Hawai'i.
#31
Luke Branwen 1 year ago
How a person treats animals and staff are two major indicators of their overall quality.
#39
Jeff White 1 year ago
Sounds the bashful type. Just give him a couple more dates to come out of his shell.
#42
Jeff White 1 year ago
Classic clueless guy disease. I used to suffer but then I got cured by a quick swift boot in the butt and told to get a clue. Thanks goodness.
#43
Katrina Nixon 1 year ago
Well thank God you didn't get his tooth in your mouth if this is still giving you shivers.
#45
#47
#51
KatSaidWhat 1 year ago
Life lesson - if anyone ever "needs the bathroom" before the bill is paid after dinner, they're 99% dashing.
#52
#53
Tobias Reaper 1 year ago
seems like he set this up if the date wasn't going well classic tactic
#55
Jennifer Mathison 1 year ago
How can you “don’t like to dance” if your soundtrack is “singalong Disney?”
#56
Power puff scientist 1 year ago
why even sit down for food and drink with a woman that catfished you
#57
Charles McChristy 1 year ago
Been there. Couldn't drop her off fast enough, but had to stop a couple of times so she could puke.
#59
#60
Jeff White 1 year ago
I find it amazing the number of people I've heard break up or commit attempted murder because they can't stand the sound of other people's chewing. I guess there are times when being somewhat hard of hearing is helpful.
#64
Minecraftemery (he/him CisHet) 1 year ago
Oh the horror! She... talked! And paid! What a terrible travesty! Looks like she dodged a bullet.
#65
Szzone 1 year ago (edited)
So her date got physically assaulted, also, he was drunk, so he probably couldn't take care of himself. And she left him there. Even a hard punch can cause a concussion, now imagine a drunk person being punched and he falls over, hits his head? Signs of concussion like dizziness and feeling sick, easily hidden by being drunk? No one else to check up on him, call an ambulance if need be? Wonder what she would have said if the situation was reversed. What a champion of compassion and humanity, this woman is.
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What do you think ?
Flora Porter 1 year ago
In my forties, there was the guy who arrived late, clearly having refreshed himself liberally in advance, who couldn't string two sentences together, kept putting his hands up my dress and asked 'Do you still menstruate?' So embarrassing.
Flora Porter 1 year ago
In my forties, there was the guy who arrived late, clearly having refreshed himself liberally in advance, who couldn't string two sentences together, kept putting his hands up my dress and asked 'Do you still menstruate?' So embarrassing.
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