Honestly, overhearing a guy at the coffee shop say 'I just need a date who doesn't have any baggage' made me realize that's code for 'I'm not willing to handle any real human emotions'.

Ngl, it clicked for me that expecting someone to show up as a blank slate is a huge red flag, and I'm curious if anyone else has heard a phrase that instantly told them to run the other way.

3 comments

3 Comments

alex_nguyen1mo ago

Heard a guy say he wanted a "low-maintenance" girlfriend once. My brain just went, oh, you mean a person who never needs anything from you. Cool. That's a pet, not a partner. Like, my last relationship fell apart because I got sad about my dog dying and it was "too much." Guess I should have just been a cheerful robot.

loganthompson1mo ago

Spot on about the low maintenance thing. But honestly, calling it a red flag is too nice. It's a full stop dealbreaker because it shows they don't want a real person.

phoenix291mo ago

Totally agree, and @alex_nguyen nailed it. My ex said the same "low-maintenance" line, which really meant he wanted a girlfriend who never got sick or had a bad day.