#1

I left.
#2

They pretty much ignored me and ordered the most expensive items on the menu, including drinks. Every time I tried to join in the conversation, I was rudely dismissed.
I realized pretty fast that I was being scammed. They barely paid attention when I finished my meal and excused myself to go to the restroom.
I went to the bar and had the bartender call my server over. I was a regular there, so they knew me. I told her what was up, and I wanted to pay my share of the check. I tipped her generously since I knew my "date" was probably going to screw her over.
I warned my server that they might try to run out on the bill when they figured out I wasn't a sucker. I left and met some friends at a bar I knew they would be at. We had a good laugh about it.
A few days later, I stopped back in the restaurant for lunch. The bartender told me I was right. He said it took them a while to catch on that I'd left. They did try to dine and dash and got caught.
The manager threatened to call the cops. They ran up a huge tab because they had several drinks each as well. One of the girls had to have her dad come down and pay the bill.
#3

No thanks. If you aren't mature enough to realize that this is your sister's special day and that you made it all about you, then this ain't gonna work.
To find out how this conversation started in the first place, we reached out to Reddit user CosmosisJones42, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.
"I was inspired to ask [this question] because I was bored watching romantic comedies and wanted to see a few real-life romantic comedies," they shared.
#4

About 17 years ago, I dated a guy that I met off of Match. We had a good connection via messaging, phone calls, and we went on four dates. After the fourth date, there was a sudden change. He would take days to answer back, so I figured he was just busy and I just left him alone. After a while, he finally contacted me to go out on a fifth date, and said let's go to Venice Beach, as I have never been there before.
When I was in the car with him, he never said a single word. He drove us out to Venice Beach, never made eye contact with me, and we were just in this weird awkward silence the whole time. I would ask him what is wrong, what is on his mind, and if needs me to call for help. No answer. I knew something was bad. Of course, in my mind, I was running various scenarios in my head what my next move was. We went back to his car, and he was taking me back home.
Before we got close to my place, he let out a deep sigh and says, "I have something to tell you." Of course, my insides were screaming at this point. He says, "I... I don't deserve you. You have a lot to offer someone to make them happy, and I am not that person...." He pauses, sighs again, and then says, "You know why I was not responding early on? Because I was in mandatory anger management counseling, and was having trouble coping with life." My eyes grew wide, and I asked what happened. He said his last girlfriend got on his nerves over something they argued about, and in turn, it frustrated him so much that he nearly choked her to death. Because of what occurred, he was in court-ordered counseling for the next few years and had to check-in with someone three times a week. He felt he was ready to date again because he felt he mentally moved onto becoming a better person.
By the time he pulled up to my house, he finished everything he was saying. He asks, "What do you think I should do? What advice do you have for me?" I told him calmly, "I admire your courage to tell me the truth. I think the best move from this point is to remove your dating profile, finish your healing, rebuild yourself, and maybe try again when you feel ready." I said bye to him, went back in the house, and I literally just sat in my bed just in a weird stupor because I could not believe what happened, and thanking my stars that nothing happened to me. Strange but true, he actually did write me a final email thanking me for everything, and he did take down his profile a day later.
#5

#6

We also asked the author if they've ever been on any tragic dates that ended quickly.
"I've been on many dates where it didn't work out but none as bad as what was posted!" they shared.
So is it a good idea to end a date as soon as red flags appear, or is it best to simply not schedule a second date? "I think it's a good thing to end the date early if you're not feeling it, as to not waste people's time and emotions," CosmosisJones42 says.
#7

Oh and I’ll throw in a bonus here. Another guy, first date. We met online so it was our very first time meeting. Met at the restaurant, parked close so our initial meeting was in the parking lot. He says hi, asks how the drive was and then told me that if I didn’t agree to f**k him after dinner he wasn’t going to bother with the meal. I got right back in my car and left.
#9

ETA: some of yall are doing some mental gymnastics to excuse this man 😂 he meant what he said. I asked him to elaborate and he doubled down.
We also wanted to know what the OP thought of the replies to their post. "I loved reading this thread! People are wild!" they told Bored Panda. "Most of the replies beat the romantic comedies in terms of crazy dates!"
Finally, the author shared some words of wisdom. "If your date doesn't go well, it is for a reason. That person is out there, and they will show up in your life when the timing is right," CosmosisJones42 says. "Don't give up on love because some people are crazy!"
#10

She was game for grabbing dinner, and even suggested a good Italian place that she had been wanting to try.
Done! Reservation booked. Time set.
The day of our date arrived. We were supposed to meet there separately but mid morning she texted asking if she could get picked up.
Sure! No problem.
She texted again. This time asking if we could change the reservation time to an hour later in the evening.
Ok, I’ll see what I can do. Done.
Another text. This time asking about possibly going to a different restaurant because one of her girlfriends suggested a “better” spot.
I actually reserved a table at said “better” spot at the later time and everything.
Oh. But then I found out that she didn’t want the later time at the “better” spot. She wanted to go back to the original time.
I forget exactly what my text message said at this point but it was something along the line of “I’m sorry to do this but I’m just not hungry anymore.”.
#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

I went looking kinda gross. I absolutely looked like I had just finished an all-nighter. She looked radiant and had clearly put more work into this meeting than I did. As our breakfast went on, we’re talking, laughing, and the caffeine is mixing with the satisfaction of completing my work for the semester, and I just feel like I’m in a really good place and I tell her as much. The sun is starting to fill the windows of the restaurant we’re in, and there’s this warm light everywhere. She smiles, looks coy, and asks me if I’m over my ex. I smile back, say that I am, and tell her that I’m already thinking of the person who I’d like to ask out next. She smiles even broader and asks me if she knows who it is, while touching me on the hand...
Still smiling I say, “I don’t think so, her name is Rebecca and she was in one of my history classes”. Distinctly, this was not the girl I was out to breakfast with.
The girl I was with, looked absolutely devastated. And I had no idea why. I think I said something like “I’m sad the semester’s ending soon, but I’ll see you in the spring!”. And thus ended what I would later learn was the first date with the woman who would later become my wife.
#17

#18

Basically got kidnapped on the first date. Oh yeah, and he was a middle school resource officer 🙃.
#19

*She* brought up the exes conversation (how many relationships have you been in, why didn’t they work out, etc.)
Without skipping a beat she told me she’d probably still be with her last partner but he left because she lied about taking birth control.
#20

As she was explaining this to me, her speech got slower…and slower…you see, I’m Latino. Needless to say, we didn’t make it to the first base of heaving.



