These stories collectively serve as a compelling argument for hiring a dating coach. Obviously, dating is not something that comes easily to everyone. It's the age-old “practice makes perfect” thing. What can I say? The internal struggle of how to become the most grounded, authentic version of oneself without being entirely fake and inauthentic in the process can drive anyone crazy.

Here's a friendly reminder that when you approach someone at a bar with a bold pickup line, chances are there is at least one other person who is hearing everything you say: your bartender. If this list serves one productive function in this world, let it be something that motivates you to always tip your bartenders generously because you know they have to hear a ton of nonsense on the job from singletons attempting to flirt. Sometimes, as these folks from r/AskReddit shared, people were trying…

Servers have to deal with a ton of unwanted nonsense on the job, but one perk of the job is that they get a front row seat to a wide variety of date nights gone wrong. From awkward first dates that turn out to be full of red flags to full-on marriage proposals that turn out to be complete failures, it seems like servers have seen the full range of possibilities that can occur on a date. Not to persuade people not to go out to dinner, but when someone says, “Just go out with them! What's the wor…

We know that the dating scene these days can feel like an endless pattern of failed first dates, but you have to make the slightest bit of effort at the very least. Otherwise, you are simply in no position to complain about your life as a single person. This Redditor tried his best on a first date with a woman who would not stop texting during their meal. It was just constant. Every time the phone buzzed, she just had to pick it up and text (probably with her sound on) instead of answering simp…

Hi there Cringe

Everyone says it's important to be your full self on a first date, but let's be honest: some people should absolutely not follow that advice. Their full selves are far too bizarre, ridiculous, and outlandish for any stranger to encounter without a serious advanced warning. I suppose showing all those true colors is good for the other person to make an immediate judgment, and in all of these cases, that immediate judgment was a hard no. Personally, I have never had a date that went so poorly I c…

Ouch

It's not exactly easy to play it cool in a situation like this. Picture this: you wake up one morning and you scroll on social media for a bit. Then, you complete your lazy morning routine by checking out your dating app matches and messages. You start to message someone new, you exchange witty texts, and you agree to catch up later because you both have to get ready for work. You then check in with the person you had already been messaging for quite some time now because the two of you have a…

This is what you get for installing that dating app

Sometimes, things don't work out for bizarre reasons.

Picture this: it's summer, you've recently gone through yet another breakup, and now, you have to begrudgingly put yourself back out there. Otherwise, the dating scene is just going to chew you up and spit you back out, and you'll find yourself staying single and paying way too much for another night of takeout. Rather than let you go through that again, we decided to compile a fresh collection of romantic and humorous pickup lines for you. We're not talking about the kind of basic pickup lines…

You would think people would be on their best behavior on a first date.

There are lots of things that would stink to hear as feedback from a first date . One guy experienced the shame first hand, naming it among the most embarrassing things to ever happen to him, especially because he really liked this woman . He claims she showed interest in him even when others didn't. But as the OP shared, he truly and spectacularly bombed this first date in numerous ways, and we're cringing hard for him. Read all about this poor guy's first date mistake that he will definitely…

Remember that your behavior on a first date is not just seen by the person with whom you are eating.

You can't be so desperate to ask a lady to pay for your meal and then call her cheap afterward.

On this next installment from the wild world of dating, we've got a series of horrible first date stories for you.