A Redditor asked:
"What tattoo is a red flag?"
Names Are For Relatives Only!
"Your girlfriend’s name tattooed after only 4 weeks of the relationship."
~ ClickWorthy69420
"My younger sister got 'Mrs *boyfriend’s name*' tattooed on her wrist when she was 16 or 17. I think she made a fake birth certificate to get it."
"The boyfriend later broke up with her when she was in rehab."
~ ElderCunningham
"Hooked up with a guy who had his own name tattooed on his ribs.
"His own full name. He ended up being a psychopath."
~ not_a_milk_drinker
"I've met 3 dudes so far that have their last names tatted on them."
"Two were in the exact same Gothic font (I met them years and thousands of miles apart). One had est.[birth year] underneath it..."
"Both were huge too, one across the chest, the other across his back. Both dudes were massive tools."
"The 3rd guy had it small on his bicep and doesn't like it anymore."
~ SceretAznMan
Red Flag, Literally
"My ex husband literally got a red flag tattooed on his wrist."
"I had no idea he did it until I saw it one day. I asked why he got it and he said it was a 'reminder' to himself to not make impulsive, rash decisions."
"He filed for divorce and moved in with his mistress two months later."
"The red flag tattoo was apt as f'k, apparently."
~ allworkandnoYahtzee
GiphySuperiority Complex?
"My daughter's ex had:"
"A ring of thorns on his forehead, like he was trying to look like Jesus"
"A 'not Nazi eagle' that looked exactly like a Nazi eagle on his abdomen"
~ gareewong
Sealed With A 💋
"lipstick kiss on the neck"
~ FunklerLing
"My old neighbor had this. One night SWAT showed up..."
~ AverageSoggaEnjoyer
"My buddy had this too, he went to prison for [drug] related crimes."
~ novicemma2
"My old coworker had this too, he got fired for getting high in the freezer."
~ Eggsor
"Also had a coworker of this ilk, proudly showed videos of him shooting a teddy bear on his couch. In his apartment. Just a grade A bozo."
~ theAlphabetZebra
"I’m sensing a theme here."
~ AzathothBlindgod
GiphyCell Block Special
"I saw a woman at a water park with her toddler."
"She had a tattoo that said 'Trust no b*tches, love no hoes'."
"In my bones, I feel there is no way you could have that tattoo if you haven’t been to prison at least once."
~ MissElphie
Rule 34
"Chester Cheetah having sex with a Smurf."
~ Goldeneel77
"But which Smurf?"
~ Grouchy-Change-1219
GiphyProbably Not a Tribute to Her Father
"I met a lady with a 'Daddy' tattoo on her forehead. My gut told me right away that she was trouble."
"She went on a camping trip with us and mixed alcohol and drugs and went into an abusive rage."
"We ended up having to have the sheriff escort her out of our camp. Total sh*tshow."
~ margos2cents
It's All About Location, Location, Location
"I mean, come on, if the first warning sign about a forehead tattoo isn't that it's a FOREHEAD TATTOO, there's bigger issues at play here."
~ Buckus93
"Especially if it literally says 'POOR IMPULSE CONTROL'."
~ foxbones
Take a Bow 🎀
"I’ve never met a girl I liked with bows tattooed on the back of her thighs."
~ hatsnatcher23
Anti-Heroes, We Hope
"Tattoos of very questionable people….like Eichmann or Jeffrey Dahmer."
~ GamerGirl-07
"Or a giant back tattoo of Richard Nixon."
~ CataclysmicConverter
"That's oddly specific."
~ Even_Dark7612
"They're referring to Roger Stone, who, in fact, has a giant back tattoo of Richard Nixon."
~ The-Beer-Baron
Richard Nixon GIF by GIPHY NewsGiphyWhy Not a Brand?
"When a girl has a 'Property of (guy's name)'."
~ Redditor
Adult Swim
"I know a dude that has an odd assortment of Adult Swim characters tattooed on their back, mostly from Aqua Teen."
"They're bad in general, but the worst part is that they're just kinda placed randomly, not in a cohesive group or anything."
"Similar to how you might expect a kid to place stickers on their bedroom door because they weren't sure where else to put them."
~ LolYouFkingLoser
aqua teen hunger force GIFGiphyDad Jokes
"No ragrets."
~ NostradaMart
"That joke is so old, Jesus told it at the Last Supper."
~ Redditor
Red Flag, Literally—Part 2
"A Chinese flag tattoo is definitely a red flag."
~ Shiny_Whisper_321
"A Swiss flag is also a big plus."
~ Bragior
"An Austrian flag is a minus though."
~ Alarming_Basil6205
"A German flag is a big… um… three colored stripes?"
"This is hard...."
~ Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Flowing China GIFGiphyArt—including body art—is subjective.
But before you get that ink, you might want to make sure it sends the message you want.
Nobody is perfect.
That is lesson number one when looking for love.
No one person is going to check off every box.
So that means that every red flag or warning is not life-altering.
That is called compromise.
But as long as they aren't buying bodies and storing organs... there is a lot that people can handle.
Redditor Cerseiriously wanted to hear about what warning signs people can live with when courting romance, so they asked:
"What’s a red flag you don’t mind so much in a potential SO?"
I can handle cheap.
Well, frugal.
Cheap to waiters? No.
But frugal for the future? Yes.
I Get It
Stop Motion Yes GIF by Mouse
Giphy
"Someone who isn't close to their own family. I'm not close with mine, either. I'd actually think it was refreshing to be with someone who understood and felt the same way."
JoeyTepes
Can't Commit
"A certain type of dating history. Everyone has their own style of dating. For example, Person A has a history of 3-4 year LTR but has never married while Person B doesn't have any relationships beyond 6 months. Person A thinks it's a red flag that Person B 'can't commit' when the reality is they simply end a relationship they don't see going long-term."
"On the other side, Person B thinks it is Person A who can't commit based on the fact they have years-long relationships but don't progress. It's all relative to how you compare the person's history to your own style of dating."
FunctionCreepy2096
As an older person...
"Not having a lot of prior relationships (as an older person). When I met my husband, he was 34 and had had only one serious relationship up until that point which was 15 years prior."
"Now I know a lot of people would see that as a waving red flag and think there was something 'wrong' with him, but the reality was he was in a male-heavy specialty (engineering college to an engineering job), had a job where he traveled about 90% of the time and, when I met him, had just moved back to the area where he had grown up after being away for over 10 years."
"None of that was conducive to meeting people or a relationship and, beyond that, he's not a particularly social person or someone who really revels in the company of others, which didn't help."
"We met online, we clicked, we started dating, we got married 2 years later, and are still married 18 years later."
Sniffy73
In Person
"Not being very communicative or chatty through text. Some people simply aren’t into texting. I dated a guy who was like that. At first, I took his lack of communication and short answers as not being interested… when in reality, he simply wasn’t much of a texter. I just accepted that’s how he was. In person he was great."
sweet_dream515
Dear Mama
Hocus Pocus Halloween GIF
Giphy
"'How a man treats his mother is a sign of how he'll treat you so be careful.'"
"Or if he dislikes his mom, doesn't want to help her, be there for her, talks bad about her. It could be because she's horrible and it's just a sign of how she treated him."
Prestigious-Phase131
Oh the mommy issues never end,
Love her. Hate her.
It'll all get covered in therapy.
The Socials
Social Media Facebook GIF
Giphy
"I’ve been told my lack of social media is a major turn-off and a major red flag. But I find a guy that doesn’t have any social media or very little attractive. It’s all about perspective."
asterbluesapphire
I blame all the Wattpad stories...
"I don't mind some mild (MILD) possessiveness. In fact, I think it's kind of hot. I blame all the Wattpad stories I consumed during my formative years."
_hootyowlscissors
"Same! My husband and I joke that we're both stage 5 clingers to each other 😂 not really that bad as we don't control each other but we're best friends, have all the same hobbies, and love spending all of our free time together. There's nothing better than a hard day's work and coming home to someone who is excited to see you, even if it's just a Monday."
Buffyfanatic1
No Mingle
"Someone who’s been single for a long time! I find jumping from partner to partner more concerning. Some people never figure out who they are on their own."
geminibaby
"You just described me, I got to a point where I am not just going to jump into a relationship with someone not compatible like I used to do before I knew who I was, I’d rather be single, but when people find out how long I’ve been single they think it’s a massive red flag."
Just_improvise
Tell Me More
"Absorbed in their hobbies/their work. I love that. Go buck wild, even if it’s obsessive. Also because bruh I have a terrible rest/production ratio. I need someone who understands. LOL."
Probablyawerewolf
"I see you've met my partner. Well, he's a grad student, so he doesn't have much of a choice in his workoholism. I'm trying to get him to balance it out a little bit, but I love his passion. He could spend hours telling me about his research, about a conference, or just about a paper he read once, and I love listening to that."
smallangrynerd
Let Go
friends cling GIF by Nick At Nite
Giphy
"Clinginess. I like it when she always wants to be around me and up under me."
​FruitSnackEater
Cling. In love. Dependent. Co-Dependent. In love.
Is there really a difference?
Redditor Fun-Lack7534 wanted to hear about all the big signs we need to watch out for when a romance begins, so they asked:
"What is the biggest red flag on a first date?"
If they're too touchy/feely from the jump, then jump... away.
Past Issues
Will Smith GIF by Red Table TalkGiphy"They keep talking about their ex."
Chocolatelover4ever
"Yikes, I'm guilty of that 😬."
palmtreegroove
Look Up Please
"When they won’t stay off their damn phone."
"I hate when this happens. Half the time I expect they are trying to show you something, but no, they are just browsing social media or texting. What's the purpose of meeting me at a restaurant then? You have WiFi at home and could do the same thing there haha."
Carbon-Base
"Had this on my last date, she wouldn't put her phone away. Later she even said, that I didn't talk a lot."
The_Shadowy
Who are you?
"They don't look anything like their pics."
ximby77
"I went on a date with a girl once. We matched on Bumble. She was like a supermodel gorgeous but I really don't care about looks, we just clicked and got along and that's all I care about. Well, we meet at Starbucks, and the girl looks a solid five years older and 200 pounds heavier than her pictures."
"I was obviously taken aback, and she eventually told me she used pictures that were many years old and slightly edited so that guys would go on dates with her. She then proceeded to talk about nothing but sex, in a public Starbucks, on the first date. We didn't have a second one."
whatisausername32
You're missing 2 wheels
"If they have you get on a motorcycle and burn your leg and then take you to McDonald’s."
Johncamp28
"One time, I went on a date with a guy who took me on his motorcycle to a restaurant. We get there, and he rides up onto the sidewalk and stops. I’m not really sure exactly how it happened, but I didn’t realize he was getting off, and so I stayed on."
"The whole thing falls over with me on it. So, I’m laying there on the sidewalk with my leg crushed by the motorcycle, and he just stands there gaping. Then, he had the nerve to get angry at me because some random guys who were standing on the corner came running over and picked up the motorcycle and helped me stand up."
virgincoconuhtballs
Yuck
Parks And Recreation Nbc GIF by HULUGiphy"Poor hygiene."
edthebuilder5150
"Yup! Bad teeth and/or smells."
Take a shower.
Brush your teeth.
Do some laundry.
It's the basics.
Cheater
glenn close GIFGiphy"She says, 'By the way, I am married but my husband sucks and I want to cheat on him.'"
"I had this happen once."
jeophys152
Disinterested
"If someone spends a lot of the time telling what they don't want, what they don't like, instead of discussing their interests and yours, probably not a good sign."
CMarlowe
"Went on a first date once with a girl who had just gone through a divorce and was obviously nowhere near ready to start dating. She was beautiful, kind, smart, etc but really been screwed hard by her ex and talked about it the whole time."
"We had like a six-hour date and went to multiple locations and really had a nice time but I friend-zoned her super quick into the date. I figured it would be at least a couple of years before she was truly ready to start dating someone. In retrospect, I’m so glad because very shortly after I found my now-fiancé who is just amazing to me. When you exclude what is not right for you, you make room for what is."
GoodAsUsual
23?
"Lying about their age. The guy I went on a date with told me he was 23 (my age). I found out through a close friend and roommate that he was actually almost 30 and that his lying about that was the tip of the iceberg in terms of the red flags he gave off."
Bookkeptclean
"Yup, I went out on a date who lied about their age and appearance on a profile (years older and gained a lot of weight), and like the second sentence of the evening was her being like, 'So, let me explain about maybe things not being what you might have thought...' I don't even remember what the explanation was, but it obviously wasn't good enough."
irai2
Hidden Treasures
"She asks for a photo ID. Her apartment is a total pig pen when you pick her up. You sit on her sofa to wait for her to finish getting ready and find a knife in between the cushions. This all happened on a first date and I still took her out. What a dumda**."
"I took her out a couple of times (I was newly single and raising kids, so the pickings were slim). After a few dates, a friend of mine was shocked to receive a wedding invitation. OUR wedding invitation. I was more shocked than him. I don’t even know how she got the addresses of my friends. Just retelling this story is going to give me nightmares again."
Bacontheblog
Oh the search for romance is never going to be easy.
Will it?
Redditor mcamilove wanted to hear about the times when everyone knew it was right to flee a relationship fast, so they asked:
"What makes you think 'Run!' in your mind when talking to a new partner/date?"
Always listen to your inner voice when it comes to a relationship.
And have comfortable running shoes.
Miserable
Joe Biden Reaction GIF by Election 2020Giphy"If they complain nonstop about how miserable they are, they're not going to get better in a relationship. It will only get worse."
xain_the_idiot
Hoppers
"I call them the relationship hoppers. In my opinion, they run away from their pain and avoid facing their wounds, hence why they feel the need to immediately get to know somebody new. They are also often really bad at being alone with themselves. But no matter how far or fast you run your pain will get to you and everywhere you go, there you are."
conialogr
Cash Flow
"When they try to casually mention how much money they make or how much money their family has. There's nothing wrong with making good money or coming from money, but I don't like it when I get the vibe that someone is using it to try to impress me."
smugmisswoodhouse
"The funniest part is when they constantly do that and then complain that the opposite sex only wants them for their money."
nanna_mouse
Turn Away
"Sexual double entendres when you’ve literally just met and aren’t quite comfortable with each other yet."
Dramiotic
"I said something sucked, at a bar, and this random woman standing next to me leaned in close and said, 'That’s not all that sucks.'"
"She was ok looking but the delivery was just so f**king awkward and cringe… I made her face away from me."
_Brunonono_
Bye Bye Kitty
Cat GIF by 9CatNFTGiphy"She started talking about being allergic to cats. I have a cat. She said I could get rid of the cat if it would be getting serious. I ended the date on the spot."
Court_esy
Never cross the animals. The animals come first.
Yes, they will...
Janet Jackson Reaction GIFGiphy"If you meet them whilst they are dating someone else, but their relationship is coming to an end. You two are getting on real well, all of a sudden... oh they won't leave you for someone else, oh no. They will. Yes, they will."
gliitch0xFF
The Past Stories
"When they say all of their EXs are crazy."
Hiberniuss
"If the whole world smells like s**t, check your shoes."
RichCorinthian
"Let's be honest, ten exes is a bit of a warning by itself. Unless they are counting ONS partners and short romances lasting 2-3 weeks."
"But yeah, having 1-3 crazy exes is very natural, given the s**t world we live in. Plus it takes time to grow up as a person, to stop attracting and start avoiding those kinds of people/relationships."
merc-ai
A Free Spirit
"Continual contrariness where the intended effect is 'I am interesting and different - a free spirit' but the actual effect is 'this person is way too much like hard work.' I mean you expect s**t testing but when everything seems like a s**t test, whatever happened to enjoy someone's company?"
​just_some_guy65
"Yep, and they think they are being smart too lol."
mcamilove
Replacements
"When they trying to control everything. From drinks to food on a second or third date cuz they think I would like what they’ve chosen for me. Or when they still talk about that ex from years ago or trying to find me as their 'replacement' No, I’m not her."
Effective_Math_2717
"I went on a date like this but it was the FIRST date. Didn’t ask me anything, and ordered everything including the drinks before I could even blink. Gave me vibes that he used the establishment often/people there knew his order. Also, casually mentioned he had two other options set up but he chose me. Mid dude that talked about his awesome engineering job and how much money his parents had. Wonder why he’s single with so much money."
AdKindly4291
Stalker
"When it's your first time meeting, at a coffee shop to be safe. You order she shows up and starts going on about 'how they were right we were meant to be together' - 'I am going to tell my doctor how wrong he was you are my husband' etc. I didn't even get my coffee before I left, there was more along those lines but gave me huge nope vibes."
"It was a blind date she apparently knew my best friend and all that. I spoke to said friend after he had no idea who tf she was. She became a stalker for a while after, ended up changing cars, moving house, a large distance, and basically was terrified of leaving the house for a while. Haven't tried dating since really."
azazeldeath
Look at the Signs
Zodiac Sign Leo GIF by Hope is SincereGiphy"Bringing up zodiac signs and assuming my personality based on my birth date rather than actually trying to get to know me."
"Real story. The guy spent half an hour straight checking up my ascendant sign after my zodiac sign to make assumptions about me right to my face. Boy, get a life first please."
FBrandt
Date Over
"One time a guy showed up to pick me up and was already drunk. I did not let him drive me. And another time I was on a date, getting to know each other, and I was talking about my brother and his husband, and the guy literally had his face flush and said 'You have a gay brother? And you support that?' Date over."
LittleNightBright
I'm glad I like to run.
Sometimes it's not just about exercise.
It's about running from crazy.