In a candid account of modern dating woes, a woman has detailed how a promising Hinge match rapidly descended into a night of backhanded compliments and outright insults after she rejected his advances.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
Anya Abbott, writing for Metro.co.uk's 'So, How Did It Go?' series, recounted the encounter which took place almost two years ago. Fresh from a divorce, she had ventured onto the Hinge app and matched with a man named George*. His profile, featuring humorous photos including one of him dressed as an astronaut, seemed refreshing.
Their first date at a pub began well enough, with George arriving early and even buying her a pint. Conversation flowed easily, and he confessed to being nervous. However, the tone shifted when, after Anya diplomatically sidestepped his request for a second date, he launched into a stream of appearance-focused compliments.
"He told me I was a nine out of 10," Anya wrote, noting that the superficial praise felt disingenuous and uncomfortable from a man in his mid-thirties. The pressure intensified when George revealed he'd been told he would soon meet the love of his life—and she would be wearing a red dress. Anya was wearing a red dress that evening.
The Moment Everything Changed
After a lacklustre kiss confirmed for Anya that there was no romantic spark, she mentally friend-zoned her date. The situation reached a tipping point when George begged to stay the night at her home. Upon her polite refusal, his demeanour transformed completely.
"You think you’re so cool!" he huffed, before downgrading his earlier rating. "You’re not that hot actually, I've changed my rating to 6/10." Anya remained nonchalant, interpreting the sudden shift as a "weird and immature" power move to save face.
When George again implored to go home with her, grabbing her arm, Anya firmly stated she did not have sex on first dates. This triggered a new wave of insults, targeting her star sign and even mockingly claiming he could tell she was "part ginger." Anya, a brunette, found the remark bizarre.
The Aftermath and a Wider Pattern
After extracting herself from the date and refusing his insistence on taking her home, Anya returned home relieved. Her peace was short-lived, as a barrage of WhatsApp and Hinge messages began arriving, with George blaming alcohol and pleading for another chance. She chose to block him without response.
Reflecting on the experience, Anya expressed disappointment, particularly given George's age and stated desire to settle down. "I've dated guys in their 20s with lightyears more decorum," she noted.
Since sharing the story, originally published in July 2025, Anya has discovered a troubling commonality. "The more I've told this story to single friends of all ages around the world, I've learnt that they have all experienced similar dates," she revealed. She suggests such behaviour may stem from insecurity or emotional immaturity, but asserts that nobody wins by playing mind games.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes toxic dynamics that can surface in the modern dating landscape, where initial digital connection can quickly unravel in person.
