It was a first date that began with hopeful anticipation, only to unravel spectacularly over a debate about documentary titles. The evening, which took place shortly after pandemic restrictions lifted, saw a freelance journalist meet a man from a STEM background, only for tensions to flare when he insisted on correcting her about Louis Theroux's iconic series.
The Build-Up to Disappointment
After matching on Bumble and arranging a meet-up at a local pub, the date started with high expectations. The journalist, then 23, had spent hours preparing, viewing this as a chance to explore a new connection after months of isolation. However, the conversation quickly stalled when her date showed little interest in her career, responding with a dismissive "Oh" to her freelance work.
A One-Sided Conversation
For nearly half an hour, the date dominated the discussion with tales of his STEM job and rugby initiations at a top university, rarely asking questions in return. The journalist politely engaged, but felt increasingly alienated by his self-absorbed and immature anecdotes, which centred around "lads being lads" without delving into meaningful topics.
The Mansplaining Moment
After several glasses of wine, the conversation turned to television preferences. When the journalist mentioned binge-watching Louis Theroux's documentaries during lockdown, her date interjected with a smirk. "You know it's Weird Wednesdays, right?" he asserted, despite her gentle correction that it was, in fact, Weird Weekends.
He doubled down, claiming authority from having watched it weekly when it first aired. The journalist, drawing on her professional knowledge as a fellow journalist and avid fan, stood her ground, leading to a half-hour bicker that highlighted their fundamental mismatch.
Aftermath and Reflections
The date ended shortly after, with the journalist leaving her heels in his car—a symbolic detail of the evening's disarray. The next day, he texted to return the shoes and propose another meeting, but she declined, feeling no inclination to revisit the experience.
Five years later, now 27, she looks back with amusement, noting that such mansplaining would now prompt an immediate exit. While she wishes him well and acknowledges he wasn't a bad person, the incident taught her that even with perfect preparation, some connections are doomed, especially when someone insists on correcting you about Louis Theroux.
The story serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of post-pandemic dating, where social rustiness and incompatible communication styles can turn a hopeful encounter into a cringe-worthy memory.
