That one date at a bowling alley in Phoenix totally changed my approach

I went on a date last month to this bowling alley in Phoenix called The Bowlero. The guy I met online seemed super nice in texts, but when we got there he spent the whole time trying to show off and got weirdly competitive when I beat him the first game. He also ordered a pitcher of beer for himself and didn't even ask if I wanted anything. The worst part was when he started arguing with the employee about our lane being broken, like yelling at this teenager for no reason. I made an excuse about feeling sick and left after an hour. Now I always suggest coffee or a walk for first dates so I can bail fast if I need to. Has anyone else had a date go bad at a specific place that made you change your routine?

2 comments

2 Comments

charlienelson12d ago

bro that Bowlero story is brutal, I've learned the hard way too that keeping first dates cheap and easy to leave is the move. coffee or a quick walk gives you an out in like 15 mins if they're trash.

the_jason12d ago

Coffee walks are my go-to too, but 15 minutes is cutting it close. Even a bad date might need more time than that before you can bail without it being super awkward. I usually give it a solid half hour minimum just to be polite and make sure it's not just nerves. You ever had to tap out that fast and it actually worked smoothly?