First dates can bring so much excitement and potential, but there’s also a lot that can go wrong, and one woman told Newsweek how she felt when her evening ended after just two minutes.
Maggie Smith, 32, has been trying to change her fortunes by using dating apps to find the right man. But it hasn’t been an easy ride. She said her overall experience has been “hit and miss” since coming out of a relationship in November, 2023.
While those dates didn’t lead to anything, she managed to have a nice evening at least (for most of them, anyway). That’s more than she can say for her latest dating nightmare which she has crowned “the worst date of [her] life” as it was over in just two short minutes.
“When I arrived at the date, he gave me a hug and asked if I was hungry and then he said let’s go inside,” Smith, who resides in Alabama, said. “I turned around to walk inside and he walked behind me, and then leaned down and asked me to step back outside. He said he was sorry, but that he wasn’t feeling it.
“As a plus sized girl, there’s always the thought in the back of my mind that a guy could walk away as soon as he sees me, but I don’t want to believe it would actually happen. Then it did, and I was shocked, mortified, and embarrassed.”
Ahead of the date, Smith had “high hopes” and she was feeling optimistic. The guy told her he was attracted to her personality and her determination, they’d seen pictures of each other, and even chatted on the phone for a few hours the night before the date.
Despite all the positive signs, it led to Smith’s “shortest first date ever” which lasted less than two minutes in total. She posted a video discussing the terrible dating experience on TikTok (@mcgonagallsays), and it went viral with over 6.6 million views and more than 520,700 likes in a matter of days.
The video has sparked a debate online, as some people think it was rude of him to end the date so abruptly before giving Smith a chance, while others suggested he didn’t want to waste her time if he couldn’t see it going anywhere.
Regardless of his reasoning, Smith thinks it would have been more respectful for him to proceed with the date as planned and end it as friends. She’s done that before and would prefer the same courtesy to be extended to her too.
“It has made me take a step back and wonder if dating is worth it. I’ve worked hard on myself, and am happy with who I am, and I know what I bring to the table. I think right now I’m trying to focus on those things and take a break from the apps. I feel like that’s where a self-esteem goes to die,” she said.
“I’ve tried not to think about why he did it the way he did. I still hope he finds what he’s looking for and wish him the best.”
Smith often uses social media to share her tales of dating woes (and the wins too), and she’s created a supportive following online. She certainly wasn’t expecting her video to go viral, but she’s been heartened by the reaction to it, and has even heard from others who have gone through similar.
Indeed, she hopes that by being so transparent, she can help others feel less alone and know that it doesn’t only happen to them. Nobody ever said online dating was easy, that’s for sure.
“Dating is hard for everyone, and I hope those who have had similar experiences who messaged me and told me that’s why they don’t date anymore know how worthy they are,” Smith told Newsweek.
Since going viral, Smith’s video has already amassed over 28,200 comments in just a few days. Many were outraged by the man’s behavior, while others praised him for getting straight to the point.
One comment on the video reads: “That’s such a rude way to end a date.”
Another TikToker wrote: “Glad you dodged a bullet. Don’t want someone who doesn’t spend the time to get to know you first.”
Contrastingly, another commenter added: “Unpopular opinion but this guy did not waste your time! And didn’t lead you on.”
While another TikTok user responded: “Honestly, he saved you precious time you will never get back. I go on dates, and we pretend to enjoy each other and then ghost each other.”
Have you noticed any red flags that made you end a relationship? Let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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