After bringing my last long term relationship to an end, I decided that I’d like to get to know lots of different people and start going on more dates. I don’t know what part of me thought this was a good idea, but at the time I figured, why not? So I set out on my own little social experiment, and created a Tinder profile. I played by my own rules, which included not refusing a date if I was asked by someone I matched with and that I also had to fearlessly ask people I found interesting or attractive on dates as well. I met some neat people, don’t get me wrong, but those people don’t really make for a good article. Without further ado, here's the inconclusive lists of the worst dates I have been on.

1. Scott Pilgrim Versus the World

I went on a date with this really cute guy who decided that we would go see a movie and then go to dinner. It was super cliche but I didn’t much mind, except for the fact that after getting our tickets we encountered his ex-girlfriend and her friends who just so happened to be seeing the same movie. She decided to sit with us, which I also didn’t mind, except for the fact that my date all but completely ignored me to talk to her THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE. (I don't care who you are or who your speaking with, talking during a movie is rude enough as it is.) At dinner I learned they were together for two years and had broken up nearly a week ago. There was not a second date.

2. Mr. Handyman

This time, we had successfully completed an average date with no conflicts other than everything was a little awkward and sort of mundane. I had met him at our chosen dinner destination earlier and as it was time to leave, I gave him a hug and intended to go about my day, but his car wouldn’t start. I got jumper cables out of my trunk as he popped his hood and handed him his end of the cables. He then said, “So what do I do with these?” and I laughed because I thought he was joking. He was not. I still feel a bit bad for embarrassing him, but hey, he can now use jumper cables on his next date with someone who is not me.

3. Captain Conservative

This guy was interesting, well, at least he thought so. He spent a good 30 minutes telling me how Donald Trump was the only hope for our country, which is perfectly okay because I totally respect the fact that he has a varying political belief, but what was not okay is the fact that he would ask for my opinion on a matter and then cut me off in the middle of my sentence to tell me why I was wrong WHEN I HAD NOT EVEN STATED AN OPINION YET. Also, he chewed with his mouth open and talked while he had food in his mouth. I told him I had to use the restroom, but actually paid for my food and left (I get this was rude, but so was he so we’re even).

4. The Carnivorous Contumely

I had suggested that me and this guy go to Our Daily Bread which just so happens to be one of my favorite restaurants. On our walk there (we spent the first part of our outing window shopping on King Street) he joked about how it was a ‘hippie’ place and somehow brought up the fact that he thought vegetarians were stupid. Which is all well and good except for the fact that I’m a vegetarian. I, being the passive aggressive type, said nothing and instead proceeded to ask our waiter if there was meat in any of the soups I planned on ordering (I already knew there was not). At least this guy was smart, because he turned bright red and apologized profusely. I laughed and said it was fine, and even agreed to a second date.

5. The Carnivorous Contumely Continued

On the second date with this same guy, he saw that I wore a necklace picturing Navi, who is a fairy in my favorite video game. He asked me if I knew what my necklace was for and I explained to him that it was indeed Navi from "The Legend Of Zelda" and how it was my favorite video game. He proceeded to say to me these exact words: “Girls shouldn’t play video games because they don’t actually understand them.” I really wish I could say this was a joke and that it did not happen, but it did and I think I’m still in shock to this day. He texted me after asking for a third date to which I replied, “No. I don’t think so.”

6. The Dipsomaniac

Got to the restaurant and the dude ordered a beer. As I am not yet 21, I did not. He chugged the whole thing in record time and I couldn’t figure out if he was trying to impress me or scare me away. Either way, the latter worked best.

7. Oh...whoops.

This one is entirely my fault and I am so embarrassed. This guy I met in one of my classes was quite cute, and really nice to me. So I had to follow my rules and ask him on a date in which he agreed. I suggested we go grab lunch after class. We got to a place he had recommended and I told him that I really liked to eat there, (it was not Our Daily Bread) and he said he liked to eat there because his boyfriend worked there. That’s right. I had asked a gay guy on a date. His boyfriend ended up being our server and even sat down to join us on his break. A couple weeks later I actually told him that I thought we were actually going out that day and he laughed so hard. On the bright side, I’ve gained two really cool and chill guy friends.