In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to put too much time and energy into dating, it wouldn’t take long to meet a partner of our dreams and live happily ever after. Sadly, fairytales are not real and in reality we have to deal with terrible dates, ghosting, game-playing and straight-up losers!
What can make people want to retire from dating is dating etiquette; One, being a lack of honesty when cancelling dates or telling people you don’t want to see them again. I mean, it wouldn’t be so bad if their excuses were believable and not so ridiculous, right?
We asked people what the lamest excuses they have gotten from a date or potential date and trust me, some of them are WILD!
1. The admission to hospital
“I guy once told me that he was in hospital with pneumonia! Completely legitimate excuse, if only it were true! I didn’t believe it initially and had my suspicions confirmed when I bumped into his work colleague, who confirmed he was fine! – Idiot must have forgotten that we had a few people in common!”
-Olivia, 25
2. The I’m leaving town
“A guy I was once dating told me that he was leaving the city that we were living in for work purposes, therefore he didn’t think the long distance would be worth it. I believed him until a new colleague joined my company. It turned out she knew the guy I had previously dated and she was shocked when I mentioned that he had moved city and confirmed that he had been in London all along and never moved anywhere!” – Jo,34
3. A case of the ex
“My date cancelled on me last minute because his ex came round unexpectedly and they had decided to give it another go!”
– Sarah, 24
4. A hair emergency
“ A guy I had been on a date with a couple of times cancelled on me the day we were meant to go out because he said he had been to the barber to get his hair cut and the Barba had messed up his hairline! I found it quite funny, we rescheduled for a couple of weeks later. We got together and are still together now. – Chantelle – 39
5. The health emergency
“I was on my way to our date and the woman I was dating texted me and said that she wouldn’t make it as she had passed out on the way to our date. I didn’t believe it and I never responded. I texted a friend who I knew was in town and met them for drinks as I didn’t want my plans to be ruined. I ended up meeting my girlfriend on that night out, so shout out to my date for passing out!” – Lavelle, 32
6. A mix up with the law
“My date and I had probably had about 3 dates and it seemed to be going well until he started to become a little distant and texting and calling as he usually did. He eventually said that he was in legal troubles so he could not continue to date, I didn’t bother to ask what the legal troubles were”
– Tamera, 32
7. A sick animal
“My date played on my love for animals and told me that he couldn’t date me anymore because his dog had fallen ill”
– Lucy, 28
8. Tell it like it is
“A girl texted me and said she wasn’t going to make out date as she could not be bothered. Respected the honesty!”
– Josh, 22
9. I was robbed
“I was dating a guy that ghosted and blocked me, I saw him a few months later on a night out and he felt the need to tell me that his phone was robbed!”
Ava, 21
10. Car trouble
“Myself a guy had been talking for a while after meeting on a dating app. We got on well and had arranged a date, however, we lived in different cities so he agreed to drive to me. About an hour before we were meant to meet, he texted me and told me that he had broken down on the motorway and wasn’t going to make it. I thought it was suspicious as when I tried to call him to check he was okay he didn’t answer, seems like he had something to hide!” – Kate, 35
11. Rodent infestation
“A man cancelled on me as he said he was too tired and had not had any sleep because he saw a mouse in his home the night before and it kept him up all night!”
– Tanisha, 30
12. The little sister
“My date cancelled last minute just as I had arrived at the bar we were meant to meet at. She told me that she had to look after her little sister, of course, I never believed it, I ended up sending her a sarcastic message back and blocked her.”
– Henry, 23
13. The urgent work call
” I think we have all probably had this excuse, she cancelled because she told me that she had been called into work, meanwhile she was admin for a law firm and it was a weekend, it didn’t make sense to me!
– Lewis, 26
14. The housemate
“My date told me she could not make it because her housemate was going through a break up and she needed to stay in with her and help her through it!”
– Mo, 36
15. I’m too hungover
“I agreed to meet a man I had been talking to on a dating app. He never showed up and told me that he had fallen asleep because he was hungover!”
– Emma, 29
