The Internet is now taking on the role of a listener, a punching bag, or a counselor, if you will. A new Twitter Page called First Date Hell and its accompanying aggregator – Crapdate.com is giving serial daters an opportunity to talk about their first-date horror stories, with one condition – relate your experience in 140 characters or less.
Rhodri Marsden, London-based musician and writer started crapdate.com, after he had a verbal match with his friends relating first-date horror stories with friends at a local pub. His first post about a disastrous first date, this week, inspired around 17,000 Twitter followers to relate their own nightmarish experiences on First Date Hell, the Twitter page set up by Marsden.
Marsden told Daily Mail, UK, “If you have ever dated via non-traditional means – lonely hearts columns, Internet dates, speed dates or inappropriate blind dates set up by well-meaning but unhelpful friends, you will have a stack of anecdotes detailing the occasions, it went badly wrong.”
He continued, “Whether you disliked the other person or vice-versa, or you found some kind of grim solidarity in your mutual loathing, that unique social discomfort tends to be seared into your memory forever. The stories become dinner-party staples; your appalling experiences, mellowed by time, transforming into comedy gold.”
Marsden claimed that the British tended to have ‘more potent’ tales because they were more socially inept, more apologetic and more likely to put up with rudeness and idiocy. Brits will sit in pubs for hours with people they dislike because they are scared of confronting someone,” he said.
Majority of the first-date hell stories came from women complaining about the men. Apologizing on behalf of the male population Marsden promised that they would try and behave better.
If you have had a hellish first-date and would like to share it all you have to do is compact it into 140 characters and post it on First Date Hell.
Here are some gems hand-picked by Daily Mail UK from First Date Hell postings for your reading pleasure:
Elle_c_emm: ‘Met guy at his flat, opened door in blue check fleece dressing gown and an electronic tag on his ankle, “Shall we just stay in?’
Bohemiangirl: ‘I went on a date and he took me on a burglary. I stayed in the car, not having a clue (I was 18) what he was doing in that house.’
Stevyncolgan: ‘I dated a proto-Goth who spent the entire meal asking me to describe dead people and how peaceful they looked (I was a cop then)’
Leighblue: ‘I Had date, no chemistry, didn’t call her. Years later saw her on TV makeover show, saying sadly she’d only been on 1 date in her life.’
Davis2908: ‘I had one who pretended he was a widow having lost his wife to cancer! when I became suspicious he said “she’s not dead *exactly*”?!’
Matthewlowry: ‘Friend got so drunk she fell asleep on the loo for 20m then couldn’t find table again. Date had to stand and wave across restaurant.’
Elle_c_emm: ‘I am living proof, after one date, that the line “i can’t see you any more, i’m becoming a priest” is still in modern use.’
Kristainchicago: ‘First date. asked my age. Me: “32, why?” Him: “Well, I really want kids and at 32, your ovaries are dying.’
Dobster1878: ‘another sat down and told me he really only dated black woman. It wasn’t a blind date either.’
Eirlysberlin: ‘I went on a blind date wearing a bright pink blazer & jeans. I turned up to find my date wearing exactly the same thing.’
Rachelparkin: ‘I went on date with guy who said ‘seeing as I’m paying’ . . . ‘we won’t have starters and we’ll drink tap water’.’
Amsterdammed: ‘The pilot said he was married but flew to amsterdam sometimes and was interested in me because I was “Geographically convenient”.’
Jimmyshakes101: ‘On way to tube after a date, girl said “wait a sec”, urinated on someone’s driveway & walked away telling me to “hurry up”.’
Timlusher: ‘Journo mate had dinner date during a week wearing size 20 fatsuit. She changed between courses to an 8. He appeared not to notice.’
MrelizabethB: ‘Went on a date with a colleague’s brother who didn’t believe a kiwi was also a bird. He wanted to see me again because i’m clever.’
If you have had a hellish first-date and would like to share it, all you have to do is compact it into 140 characters and send a tweet to @firstdatehell.