When you start dating someone new, it’s worth being a little careful about who you’re letting into your life. Because early on, as exciting as everything feels, they’re still pretty much a stranger, and you never really know what kind of person you’re dealing with. The only way to find out is to pay attention and be honest with yourself about what you’re seeing.
And the signs are usually there. Are they nice to you but rude to the waiter? Do they make jokes at your expense, then call you too sensitive for reacting? Do your friends have a nagging feeling that something about them is off? It’s easy to write these things off as one-time slip-ups, but they rarely are.
Below, we’ve rounded up stories from people who realized the red flags in their dates were there for a reason. Let them be a reminder to trust your gut when something feels off.
#1
Ignored my girlfriend’s texts after a tough shift at work. She took her frustration out on my TV.
Image source: zzaman
#2
Image source: FortyOneandDone
#3
Image source: W0ndering_pineaple
#4
Image source: Spare-Requirement-17
#5
Image source: dragonheartstring1
#6
Image source: Separate-Show-1603
#7
The 11 smartphones that my mom’s boyfriend has broken in the year they’ve been together. Some of them were his, some were hers, and one of them was even mine.
Image source: ThayPastaGuy
#8
Image source: byrnestj7
#9
Image source: Kevin_Uxbridge
#10
Image source: VehicleFeeling5804
#11
Image source: WillBsGirl
#12
Image source: Grazedaze
#13
Image source: Notfrootloops
#14
Image source: TravelwithIyanu
#15
My girlfriend hates my room. I live on my own right now, and she saw my room and said it is an instant red flag.
Image source: Mattbaker99
#16
Image source: cosmicbeam888
#17
Image source: WestsideLAGuy
#18
Image source: custom78647964
#19
Image source: Coll3enG
#20
Image source: water-heater-guy
#21
Image source: warzian
#22
Image source: Ok-Bus1716
#23
Image source: Mammoth-Fan6811
#24
Image source: amandaasettee
#25
Image source: tofeelhealed
#26
Image source: Market0
#27
Met a “nice” guy at the bar, but had to leave for a party. This is what I woke up to.
My phone filters new senders, so I didn’t see any of these or get notified until the next day.
For context, when I put my number in his phone and handed it back, I noticed he had a second phone in his other hand. I had already noticed he only had a few contacts when I was adding my number, but I thought maybe it was a new phone at first. I asked if it was a work phone and if he wasn’t really single. Red flag for sure, but I brushed it off as I was paying my tab to leave and said maybe we could meet for breakfast the next day. This is what dating has been like for me lately. I’m frustrated.
Image source: Striking_Catch_5757
#28
Image source: Normal-Cockroach5858
#29
Image source: _jasminwats
#30
The context: I matched with this girl 3 days ago, and we were planning to meet on the weekend to go skiing together. The conversation was going really well and seemed like long-term potential. I wished her good night and went to sleep early. I woke up to go to the bathroom late at night and opened Instagram and liked her picture, which she had posted late.
Image source: sp1205_
#31
Image source: ellmcgirt
#32
Image source: chalke__
#33
Image source: WitchKid13
#34
Image source: Bizzle_worldwide
#35
Image source: virtuallylewd
#36
He’s absolutely a red flag.
Image source: HazelAppleyard
#37
Image source: GustavesGhost
#38
Image source: zhouref
#39
Image source: calciumcraving
#40
Image source: bluez_z_q
#41
Image source: twilightprincess778
#42
Image source: _jasminwats
#43
Image source: ixidorsDreams
#44
Image source: turnthepge
#45
Image source: basil.picard
#46
He’s also been in and out of prison, but he thinks it’s a normal thing.
Image source: VICE
#47
Went on 3 dates and have spent maybe 10 hours with this person, and she is on me full court press about therapy. Like, I am open to it, but I’m not gonna go just bc she says so. Am I wrong for this?
Image source: horseduckman
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