Blind Date Disasters: Two Heart-wrenching Experiences of a Lifetime

Walking into a blind date can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when it#39;s your first time setting foot in a restaurant, expecting to meet someone matching a profile you thought was perfect. For me, it was a mix of excitement and trepidation, sparked by my very first blind date in the late 1980s, as I described in a gay magazine. This article delves into two of my most harrowing blind date experiences, which left me questioning the authenticity and intentions of those meeting me through such avenues.

The Minister's Collins Catastrophe

The story begins back in the 1980s when I eagerly read a profile of a man in a gay magazine. His description matched what I was looking for, and he wrote back to me. We agreed to meet at a restaurant and I was ready to see a man who, according to his profile, was a minister. However, the disappointment was immediate. When I spotted an older man with a pious look in his eyes, wearing a minister’s collar and waving at me, I realized this was not the type I had in mind. My preferences varied widely, and no matter how many physical types I dated, he simply did not resonate with me at all.

Upon meeting, the disaster escalated. When he asked if I found him attractive, I was barely able to finish my response as he interjected. This isn’t the end of the night, but rather the beginning of a bizarre and uncomfortable encounter. He stood up, pointed at me, and shouted, drawing the attention of everyone around us. This single moment drastically changed the atmosphere, and embarrassment took over. I walked away quickly, attempting to escape the situation, only for the experience to escalate outside the restaurant as he shouted the same thing in public. The incident left me shaken, and I vowed never to go on another blind date.

The Basketball Experience: A Waste of Time and Drink

During my sophomore year in college, a series of blind dates left me questioning my romantic compatibility with others. My first date with him was purely his mission to convert my ‘heathen’ soul. The third date was all about getting me to join his church, associating only with the youth group. The relationship fizzled out quickly. My next date was less religious but stringent about sports and his daily marijuana consumption. No questions about me—just him and his self-focused chatter. The date was over.

My friends found a catch for me, a man who had been accepted by a pro football team. Initially, I declined because he was an athlete, but the allure of attending a concert and the pressure from friends swayed me. We met at the concert, but the encounter was far from pleasant. He had been drinking heavily, his behavior was erratic, and he was keen on touching me despite his lack of familiarity with me. Walking beside me in the crowded backseat, he acted as if he had all the rights to do whatever he wanted. The situations only worsened when he lit up a joint and blew the smoke in my face. Realizing I did not want to continue, I chose to leave.

Initially, I thought the night couldn’t get worse, but it did. As we left the concert and navigated the parking lot, a stranger appeared, taking out a handgun and threatening to take me away. The incident was terrifying, but my statement to him about my father, who would kill me if I went with a stranger, worked. I managed to escape and walk back to the dorm on my own, despite the odds.

The aftermath was worse. The two girls who hosted me that night did not speak to me again, and the incident became a local legend of student dangers and the night to avoid. The man, later kicked off the pro team for drug use, would become a microcosm of his reckless behavior.

Lessons Learned from My Worst Blind Dates

These experiences teach us the importance of setting clear boundaries and understanding someone’s true intentions before agreeing to a date. Whether it was physical aggression, religious pressure, or drug influence, the combination of all these factors in a conversation created an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. These tales highlight the critical importance of vetting someone before agreeing to a blind date and advocating for your own safety and comfort.

The stories also remind us of the potential dangers lurking in seemingly innocuous dating situations. While blind dates can be exciting, they can equally be fraught with pitfalls. It’s essential to prioritize one’s safety and regular communication with one’s trusted friends or family. These experiences should prompt a re-evaluation of blind date practices and platforms to ensure a safer and more respectful approach to meeting new people.

Key Takeaways

Setting clear boundaries is crucial in any dating interaction. Understanding someone’s intentions and behavior is fundamental to safety. Escaping from dangerous situations requires self-advocacy and clear communication.

My experience with these blind date disasters has permanently altered my views on dating. It’s a lesson that, while painful, is invaluable in navigating the complexities of romantic relationships with greater awareness and confidence.