Fashion Parlor

Whether you’re smooth as melted ghee or the most awkward human alive we all have one thing in common: we all cringe at the thought of confrontation. You don’t fire someone: you let them go. You don’t dump someone: you ‘mutually’ separate. You don’t reject a date: you tell them you had a great time but unfortunately you’re busy next weekend.

Unless you’re a low-key sadist you don’t like telling people they suck. Especially in person. Which means that the whole “thanks but no thanks” interaction is a zone of social psychology ripe for the plucking. Which may explain why one woman’s simple story, told on Reddit, has gained so much interest. What’s it like to reject someone in person? Wonder no more.

I rejected somebody in person last night from TwoXChromosomes

The story begins with a situation we all know: you go on a date and before Bumblewoman (or Tinderman) opens their mouth you already know they aren’t for you. A sixth sense, subconscious bias, a set of functioning eyes: call it what you will—you know it ain’t going to happen.

Normal protocol would be to see out the next forty minutes, decline their suggestion to try out the bar down the road, ignore their Facebook friend request and hope they get the hint. But what if there was another way?

Reddit user r/TwoXChromosomes proves that indeed there is, and judging on the response from the Reddit commentariat—which is known for being male-centric and unforgiving—harsh rejection could actually be best for both parties involved.

“I came back to the table, and he asked me where I would like to go next. I thought about it for a moment and said, ‘honestly I don’t feel any chemistry here, and I don’t want to waste any more of your time. If you want me to pay for my ice cream, I’m more than willing to do that.’ He was taken aback but respectful.”

The general consensus among the commenters was that you should never date someone out of kindness, with the most up-voted opinion being, “Honestly if he was any sort of decent guy he probably appreciated that too – imagine sinking 3 weeks of dating into someone just to find out they were never really into you.”

“Imagine being in a relationship for 3 years where you hear your ex actually didn’t see a future after 6 months.”

This was followed up with the following: