When it comes to a first date, you’re investing time, effort, and a carefully chosen outfit, all in the hope that the other person will respect both you and the clock.
A few days ago, TikToker Linds (@linds_elize) had plans to go on a date at 12 p.m. with a 34-year-old man in Ohio. But at around 11 a.m., he told her that he was getting a haircut before the date. It was questionable timing, but she wanted to wait and see how it would play out.
She got to the date at 11:45, giving herself a little buffer time. At 11:49, he texted her, saying that he was running a little behind because he had just arrived at the barbershop.
She thought he might be 10 to 20 minutes late, but when 12:30 rolled around, and he was still 30 minutes away, she decided she was done.
She told him that she was no longer interested in meeting up, and it felt like her time was not being respected. Scheduling a haircut right before a first date and arriving late to it signaled a lack of effort.
Instead of apologizing, he deflected. He tried to point the finger back at her, declaring that she hadn’t time to video chat with him earlier that morning.
She explained that she had been getting her oil changed ahead of time, as a responsible adult would do.
“He’s like, I just think it’s weird that you canceled on the date, and you couldn’t FaceTime,” said Linds. “He said, I think I see what the situation is here…I think you just don’t feel pretty about yourself today.”
She couldn’t help but giggle in disbelief. So far, he was showing three major red flags, and they hadn’t even met face-to-face. He was bad at time management, had poor decision-making skills, and was already gaslighting her.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
In the comments section, everyone was stunned by his audacity. They praised her for setting a clear boundary and refusing to accept such blatant disrespect.
“Turning it around to be your fault after he was late is crazy work,” stated one user.
“The moment he said that he just got to the barber, and it was already 11:45, DONE! Because you’re also telling me that you’re showing up without having showered after the haircut,” commented another.
“They show up late intentionally to see how much disrespect you’ll tolerate from them, by the way,” pointed out a third.
“I once went on a date with a guy. He was an hour late because he was looking at guns. I’m now married to a woman,” added someone else.
The lesson here is simple. Punctuality isn’t just about time; it’s about respect. If someone fumbles that before the first hello, then they’re not even worth meeting.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
