“Getting yourself out there” often involves going on at least a few bad dates . Normally, this ends with an awkward goodbye and then both parties simply never messaging each other ever again. But some people feel that’s not enough and will go to bizarre lengths to get out of it.
A woman asked the internet if she was wrong to block a guy who, on their first date, decided that faking a family emergency was a good way to get out of it. When she called him out on it later, he claimed it was a test. We reached out to her via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong on a first date
A man and woman on a tense first date in a cafe, illustrating a fake emergency gone wrong during the meeting.
But one woman was unpleasantly surprised when her date got a call about his mom
Text excerpt from a dating app conversation describing a guy who fakes an emergency on a first date and gets caught.
Text on a white background about planning a safe, public, normal first date at a cafe with coffee and pastries.
Text describing a first date where a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught, revealing a failed test.
Text on screen showing a first date scenario where a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught during the conversation.
Young man on a first date talking on phone, holding a green smoothie, in a cozy cafe setting.
Text showing a tense moment on a first date where a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught.
Text describing a first date turning wrong after a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught.
Text excerpt showing a first date moment where a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught, causing shock and doubt.
Text excerpt showing a woman discovering a guy faked an emergency during a first date through his Instagram story.
Man on a first date at a bar looking uneasy after a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught in the act.
Text showing a first date at a bar where a guy laughs with friends and drinks are on the table, hinting at a fake emergency test.
Text on screen explaining a first date going horribly wrong when a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught.
Text message exchange showing suspicion after a guy fakes an emergency during a first date and gets caught.
Text excerpt showing a first date gone wrong after a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught.
Young woman on a couch looks shocked while reading a message on her phone during a first date that goes horribly wrong.
Text excerpt discussing a first date where a guy fakes an emergency to test the other person’s reaction.
Text about a first date where a guy fakes a medical emergency as a test but gets caught and blocked.
Text excerpt showing someone messaging from another account accusing the other person of failing a test and overreacting.
First dates tend to be awkward
Navigating the modern dating scene often feels like walking through a minefield. However, there is a distinct difference between a date that simply lacks chemistry and one that veers into the territory of psychological warfare. When a first meeting shifts from a pleasant exchange of anecdotes to a series of calculated maneuvers you’re witnessing the dissolution of basic social decency. While most people look for common interests or shared values, savvy daters have learned to keep an eye out for “the vibe shift,” that moment when the person across from you stops being a potential partner and starts being a performance artist.
One of the most glaring indicators that a date is heading south is the introduction of a “test.” In healthy dynamics, trust and character are built over time through consistent, honest interactions. When someone bypasses this organic process to stage a simulated crisis or emotional stress test, assuming they are actually “testing,” it’s normally a sign that they have some strange ideas about dating. These tactics are often rooted in deep-seated insecurities or a desire for control. The moment a date manufactures an emergency, whether it’s a fake phone call about a collapsed relative or a staged disagreement, they have signaled that they value their own sense of security over your emotional well-being. This kind of behavior is a hallmark of manipulative personality traits that usually escalate long after the bill is paid.
Another subtle but significant sign of a failing date is “calculated smoothness.” We often praise people for being charming, but there is a specific brand of charisma that feels scripted, almost as if the person is reciting lines from a pickup artist handbook rather than engaging in a real conversation. If the responses are too perfect, the timing too precise, and the flattery too frequent, it can indicate a lack of authenticity. Real human connection is messy, it involves stutters, pauses, and the occasional awkward laugh. When someone is “always on,” they might be masking a highly defensive or narcissistic personality that cannot handle the vulnerability of a genuine interaction.
There are really no reasons to trust what this man had to say
The way a person handles the end of a date is perhaps the ultimate reveal of their character. In a standard “bad date” scenario, two adults might realize the spark isn’t there, finish their coffee, and go their separate ways with a polite text. However, when a date goes truly off the rails, the exit strategy often involves gaslighting. If you find yourself being told you are “overreacting” or “failing a test” simply because you reacted with human empathy to a fake tragedy, you are dealing with a classic gaslighting technique . This is designed to make you doubt your own perceptions and morality, shifting the blame from the liar to the person who was lied to. It is a massive red flag that suggests the person is incapable of taking accountability for their actions.
Furthermore, the “social media slip-up” has become the modern era’s greatest truth-teller. In an age where people feel the need to document their every move, the disparity between what someone says in person and what they post online can be jarring. Finding out that a “family emergency” was actually a “happy hour” via an Instagram story is just a display of total disrespect for your time and intelligence. It shows a person who is so comfortable with deception that they don’t even bother to cover their tracks.
A good first date should be a low-stakes exploration of compatibility. If it starts feeling like an interrogation, a stage play, or a loyalty test, the best move is the one that leads directly to the exit. Trusting your gut, that sinking feeling in your stomach when a story doesn’t add up, is the most powerful tool you have. You aren’t “failing a test” by walking away from someone who plays games, you are passing the most important test of all: the one where you choose to respect yourself.
Some readers thought the man’s “plan” was unhinged
Screenshot of an online conversation discussing a first date that goes wrong when a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught.
Comment discussing a first date gone wrong after a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught and fails the test.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment about sending flowers to a mom after a guy fakes an emergency on a disastrous first date.
Screenshot of a forum comment about a first date that goes wrong when a guy fakes an emergency and gets caught.
Screenshot of an online comment reacting to a fake emergency on a first date that goes horribly wrong.
A screenshot of a Reddit comment describing insane behavior during a first date where a guy fakes an emergency but gets caught.
Screenshot of a comment criticizing a man for faking an emergency on a first date and being called out online.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing a first date gone wrong involving a fake emergency test.
Text excerpt explaining how a first date went wrong after a guy faked an emergency to test and manipulate.
Text discussing a first date gone wrong with a guy faking an emergency and stalking behavior after being blocked.
Screenshot of a social media comment discussing a first date where a guy fakes an emergency and gets caught.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a failed first date where a guy faked an emergency and got caught lying.
Screenshot of a comment warning about crazy behavior on a first date after a guy fakes an emergency and gets caught.
Screenshot of an online comment saying NTJ RUN RUN RUN, relating to a disastrous first date with a guy faking an emergency.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment about a first date gone wrong after a guy fakes an emergency and gets caught.
Screenshot of an online comment warning about a guy who fakes an emergency on a first date and gets caught.
Screenshot of a comment discussing a first date test and calling out a guy who faked an emergency and got caught.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment about a first date where a guy fakes an emergency as a manipulation test and gets caught.
Reddit comment explaining how a guy fakes an emergency on a first date and gets caught for testing someone.
Thanks! Check out the results:
Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!
Follow Bored Panda on Google News!
Unlock an Enhanced Experience with Bored Panda Premium
Go ad-free, access unlimited content, and enjoy our sleek dark mode. Your favorite stories, uninterrupted.
No fees, cancel anytime
Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge’s Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations
