Rejection stings, whether it’s a job you didn’t get, a kid who didn’t want to play with you at recess, or a random lottery where you weren’t picked as the winner. Somehow, romantic rejection is the type that causes most heartbreak.
That’s why many young people report feeling dating app fatigue — 78% of Gen Z Americans say they’re burnt out. Although failing to easily find people you click with is the most common reason for this, 27% of those who date say they just can’t handle the rejection anymore.
Some people know how to let others down gently, but others don’t offer the same grace. In fact, their ways of saying “No” can be so brutal and insulting that those on the other end of it can never forget them. Bored Panda collected the most interesting stories about brutal rejections from three separate online threads, and we’re presenting them to you here. Read them and see that “The worst thing she can say is ‘No’” doesn’t always apply.
#1
I asked a girl out in highschool and she just looked at her friends, said eww, and walked away. It crushed my self esteem for months.
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26points
#2
Can I answer as a female? I asked a guy to a dance in high school and he went of a half hour rant about why he couldn't say yes because he wanted someone way hotter to ask him. He pointed out the list of why I didn't make the grade and suggested that not having a date would be better than saying yes.
That was the first time I asked a guy out. Like just say no.
That was the first time I asked a guy out. Like just say no.
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25points
#3
She laughed in my face and said, "Oh, you were serious? I don't date short guys." I'm 5'4".
6 years later I'm doing very well, she is couch-surfing.
Saw her at a bar recently and she didn't recognize me, partly because I grew a beard and partly because she was so sloshed.
She tried to hit on me, and I'm actually proud that I just said no thanks, but I'm flattered.
Proud of myself, sad for her.
6 years later I'm doing very well, she is couch-surfing.
Saw her at a bar recently and she didn't recognize me, partly because I grew a beard and partly because she was so sloshed.
She tried to hit on me, and I'm actually proud that I just said no thanks, but I'm flattered.
Proud of myself, sad for her.
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20points
#4
At a bar with a friend, I asked a girl for her number and she said, "I have one but not for you." I went back to my friend and we laughed and got drunk.
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19points
#5
In high school this guy asked me out. 2 days into the relationship he seemed way too into me. Like, this is back when AIM was popular, he'd leave notes like "I LOVE YOU FOREVER (my name)" in his away messages, and had my name all over his profile... Creeped me out a bit but it was my first "boyfriend" so I didn't say anything.
About a week in he had all these weird requests. He wanted me to write him love notes, draw him pictures, etc. At one point he gave me a notebook of his that had a picture of him and his ex (who I was in an afterschool club with) taped to the front. He told me to draw all over the notebook with hearts and "i love yous", and then to cross out her face in the photo. At first I refused but then he begged me and was like, "please, please, for me"... So the idiot I was, I did...
Turns out the relationship was just a gigantic joke between him and his friends, and they had all placed bets on certain things that I would or wouldn't do, and how far he could take the relationship.
Needless to say, I hated high school.
About a week in he had all these weird requests. He wanted me to write him love notes, draw him pictures, etc. At one point he gave me a notebook of his that had a picture of him and his ex (who I was in an afterschool club with) taped to the front. He told me to draw all over the notebook with hearts and "i love yous", and then to cross out her face in the photo. At first I refused but then he begged me and was like, "please, please, for me"... So the idiot I was, I did...
Turns out the relationship was just a gigantic joke between him and his friends, and they had all placed bets on certain things that I would or wouldn't do, and how far he could take the relationship.
Needless to say, I hated high school.
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18points
#6
A girl in high school told me, in front of others, that if I was the last man on earth she would rather have s*x with a gorilla than with me.
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17points
#7
I asked a girl out privately in highschool, she rejected me politely but told everyone at school that I asked her out. That would have been fine but she is a popular girl in highschool while I am an ordinary, unnoticeable student. Every boys that liked her bullied me until the end of the year for confessing to her.
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17points
#8
I bought a girl a few drinks at a nightclub in my early twenties. After about 3 drinks, I asked her if she wanted to come hang with my friends and I. She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek and says " Thanks for the drinks I have to get back to my boyfriend now." My guy friends were laughing their asses off.
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14points
#9
Here's a couple I've had:
>The trademark five minutes of laughter.
>Hooking up with my friend to spite me.
>Claiming to be a lesbian, making out with the nearest woman to try and keep the act up then actually turning lesbian.
>No response, just turned around and left.
>"I literally wouldn't put myself through that just to cheat on you for a laugh"
>Quit (she was a coworker and I literally just invited her out for a beer... with other people there
Women love me as you may tell.
>The trademark five minutes of laughter.
>Hooking up with my friend to spite me.
>Claiming to be a lesbian, making out with the nearest woman to try and keep the act up then actually turning lesbian.
>No response, just turned around and left.
>"I literally wouldn't put myself through that just to cheat on you for a laugh"
>Quit (she was a coworker and I literally just invited her out for a beer... with other people there
Women love me as you may tell.
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13points
#10
Making small talk at a bar with a girl and offered to buy her a drink. She said "nooo, I'll buy *you* a drink!" Can't argue with that, I thought, and accepted.
She got me a gutter shot... Apparently she was dating the bartender and it was a thing they did whenever she got hit on.
Ninja edit: a gutter shot is when the bartender scoops up a shot glass full of whatever spilled drinks ended up in the trough behind the bar. It's disgusting and probably not sanitary. Anyway, she was a jerk and that bartender was an jerk. I left without paying and never went back.
She got me a gutter shot... Apparently she was dating the bartender and it was a thing they did whenever she got hit on.
Ninja edit: a gutter shot is when the bartender scoops up a shot glass full of whatever spilled drinks ended up in the trough behind the bar. It's disgusting and probably not sanitary. Anyway, she was a jerk and that bartender was an jerk. I left without paying and never went back.
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11points
#11
I went to school with a girl I ended up nicknaming JK.
Her initials were actually JK, so she never thought much about it, but I called her that because she was always 'just kidding'.
She would flirt with you nonstop, making you think she really had a thing for you, until you built up the courage to ask her out. Then she'd laugh and say she didn't think about you like that.
Weeks later she'd start flirting again, really pouring it on that she wanted you, rinse and repeat.
Wasn't 'the worst' rejection or anything but man was it aggravating to keep falling for it!
Her initials were actually JK, so she never thought much about it, but I called her that because she was always 'just kidding'.
She would flirt with you nonstop, making you think she really had a thing for you, until you built up the courage to ask her out. Then she'd laugh and say she didn't think about you like that.
Weeks later she'd start flirting again, really pouring it on that she wanted you, rinse and repeat.
Wasn't 'the worst' rejection or anything but man was it aggravating to keep falling for it!
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11points
#12
Worst one? i asked someone out and they laughed, said i was ugly as f**k and asked if i really thought she or anyone else would EVER say yes to me... ouchies.
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11points
#13
She said no, and it f****d up my self image, because I was young, stupid, and *way* too into her, and honestly believed that sh*te was requited.
Still glad I asked, no rejection is worse than a missed opportunity.
Still glad I asked, no rejection is worse than a missed opportunity.
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11points
#14
Oh, let me think back on the list of crushing moments ...
- Got told I wasn't nearly attractive enough to date her. She then badmouthed me to her social circle, which followed me for months.
- Actually got the "gotta wash my hair excuse" in college which just struck me as amazingly lazy.
- Oh, I once got "I'm sorry, I can't be seen speaking with you" followed by a swift departure.
And there have just been plenty of "laugh at your face" or "Ew, no" responses over the years. Those are pretty standard.
I eventually just stopped asking women out. Seems healthier mentally.
- Got told I wasn't nearly attractive enough to date her. She then badmouthed me to her social circle, which followed me for months.
- Actually got the "gotta wash my hair excuse" in college which just struck me as amazingly lazy.
- Oh, I once got "I'm sorry, I can't be seen speaking with you" followed by a swift departure.
And there have just been plenty of "laugh at your face" or "Ew, no" responses over the years. Those are pretty standard.
I eventually just stopped asking women out. Seems healthier mentally.
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11points
#15
I met this girl at a Metal concert (specifically Gwar), she came up to me and was scared because of the mosh pit, and insisted I hold onto her because I was the biggest guy there (6’5” and 250lbs), she was cute so of course I did. After the show ended I forgot to get her number but gave her a drumstick of one of the opening bands. Fast forward a few days later I get a message on Facebook asking if I was the guy who gave her the drum stick, and I said yes. We ended up hanging out, a few times, got lunch, and I asked her out, I was told she does not date younger guys (she I guess was 25, I was 20 at the time), Fast forward a few days later, I find out she was dating an 18 year old so surprised me with a curveball.
10points
#16
A friend set me up on a date with a wonderful woman and we got along well. But when I took off my hat and revealed that I was bald, she gasped and walked briskly to the bathroom.
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10points
#17
A friend of mine got dumped by her long term boyfriend because he said 'God doesn't want me to be with you anymore'. The holy dump.
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9points
#18
I'm a guy, a girl once came up to me in high school and asked me if I would "go out" with her friend. I said no. She then proceeded to ask me out, for the remaining 5 of her friends, to which I said no to all of them.
TO FINISH IT OFF, SHE ASKED ME OUT FOR HERSELF.
I said yes. Not really, I said no. I mean - That must have been a pretty awkward conversation with her group of friends after that.
God knows what conversations they have had about me throughout school...
TO FINISH IT OFF, SHE ASKED ME OUT FOR HERSELF.
I said yes. Not really, I said no. I mean - That must have been a pretty awkward conversation with her group of friends after that.
God knows what conversations they have had about me throughout school...
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9points
#19
Wow I actually have a list.
Got maced
She yelled as loud as she could “I would go lesbian before I ever went out with you”
Smacked in the face.
Drink thrown in face.
Said she is too good for me.
Said she would f**k her brother before me (issues?).
Got maced
She yelled as loud as she could “I would go lesbian before I ever went out with you”
Smacked in the face.
Drink thrown in face.
Said she is too good for me.
Said she would f**k her brother before me (issues?).
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8points
#20
It's my birthday, the big 2-0, and I figure who would I like to spend it with more but a close friend of mine for whom I also happened to have feelings of the intimate nature. After lots of close analysis, I came to the conclusion that he might like me back, and with b**t loads of confidence, I asked him out on a date.
The first thing he said was, "I had a feeling you were going to say that," after which he promptly *went silent* for two minutes. Finally, he said yes, but my heart knew otherwise. Sure enough, the next day I received one of the dreaded, "can we go for a walk" texts, and needless to say, I got friendzoned pretty hard. We're friends to this day, and I have no regrets, but it's still not one of my proudest 24 hours.
TL;DR, don't ask anyone out on your birthday.
The first thing he said was, "I had a feeling you were going to say that," after which he promptly *went silent* for two minutes. Finally, he said yes, but my heart knew otherwise. Sure enough, the next day I received one of the dreaded, "can we go for a walk" texts, and needless to say, I got friendzoned pretty hard. We're friends to this day, and I have no regrets, but it's still not one of my proudest 24 hours.
TL;DR, don't ask anyone out on your birthday.
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8points