Romantic relationships can be full of surprises, but not all of them are pleasant. Sometimes, it takes just a brief moment to learn the person you’re with is not the sharpest t**l in the shed. For some, it’s a harmless realization — like discovering their partner has no idea how plumbing works. For others, it’s a much more sobering wake-up call, exposing reckless behavior and selfish tendencies.
These stories come from a couple of online discussions where people were asked the same blunt and provocative question: When did they first realize they were dating an idiot? However, while the prompt was identical, the answers, as you are about to see, were nothing alike.
#1
One of my exes told me that ducks can't fly. When I said that was absurd, that in fact the ones where we lived migrate hundreds or thousands of miles southward every winter, she said that they do that by walking. My mind was blown, but I protested a little harder, and she then called her brother to put him on the line who also defended her assertion that ducks can't fly, they walk south every year to avoid the winter.
I felt bad for them not just because they lacked this basic knowledge about the world, but also because clearly neither of them ever played Duck Hunt on NES.
Anytime since when I am outnumbered in an argument where I’m confident that I'm right, I remind myself that no matter how many people think ducks can't fly, they can.
I felt bad for them not just because they lacked this basic knowledge about the world, but also because clearly neither of them ever played Duck Hunt on NES.
Anytime since when I am outnumbered in an argument where I’m confident that I'm right, I remind myself that no matter how many people think ducks can't fly, they can.
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116points
#2
I took a career break and went backpacking around the world for a year with my then girlfriend. Well, that was the plan, but we lasted only 9 months. Here’s just one of the thousands of red flags which finally made us fail “the test for marriage”.
We were comparing wildlife photos with fellow travellers in Africa and one showed us some close-ups of meerkats.
“ooh, meerkats!” I said. My ex laughed a very loud, scornful laugh, catching the attention of everyone in the cafe, and said to me “is that really what you think they’re called?!”.
After a very awkward silence, it became clear she thought they were called “meekrats” (which took a few attempts for quora’s autocorrect function to accept).
Now I need to assure everyone that i’m NOT disparaging dyslexic people here (nor is it certain she is dyslexic - she was a high school English teacher at that time). Rather, I’m disparaging people who are so sure of themselves that they’ll sneer at others’ “stupidity” before questioning their own certainties. It’s attitude, not the lack of specific knowledge, which makes someone an idiot, and I know I really dodged a bullet back then!
We were comparing wildlife photos with fellow travellers in Africa and one showed us some close-ups of meerkats.
“ooh, meerkats!” I said. My ex laughed a very loud, scornful laugh, catching the attention of everyone in the cafe, and said to me “is that really what you think they’re called?!”.
After a very awkward silence, it became clear she thought they were called “meekrats” (which took a few attempts for quora’s autocorrect function to accept).
Now I need to assure everyone that i’m NOT disparaging dyslexic people here (nor is it certain she is dyslexic - she was a high school English teacher at that time). Rather, I’m disparaging people who are so sure of themselves that they’ll sneer at others’ “stupidity” before questioning their own certainties. It’s attitude, not the lack of specific knowledge, which makes someone an idiot, and I know I really dodged a bullet back then!
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99points
Despite these stories, for the most part, love is in the air.
According to Ipsos' 30-country global advisor survey Love Life Satisfaction 2025, 82% of those in a relationship say they are satisfied with their partner/spouse. This is the highest in Thailand and the Netherlands (both 92%), while India and South Korea rank at the bottom of the list, where only two-thirds in both countries are happy with their significant other.
#3
She told me if I didn't start smoking she'd break up with me. Glad that's over!
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86points
#4
Mine happened last night, she (Jewish)called me anti-Semitic because I don't believe Obama is secretly planting Muslims in white communities.
Incidentally, we broke up last night.
Incidentally, we broke up last night.
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86points
#5
I was briefly dating a complete idiot. Not in the way that he had never read a book, or something like that, but just that he lacked common sense.
I’ll prove it:
He stuck his hand down my pants. I told him I wasn’t ready. He retracted his hand. About half an hour later, he stuck his hand down my pants again. I told him I wasn’t ready. He asked why, and I said I suffered from PTSD (in retrospect, incorrect, but that’s what I thought). He nodded and retracted his hand. About an hour later, he stuck his hand down my pants again. I asked him if he understood what I’d said earlier, and he admitted he hadn’t. I told him that I’d experienced sexual a*****t, and had lasting traumas, which meant I just wasn’t ready to have s*x with him. He nodded and retracted his hand.
An hour later, he told me he didn’t need my permission for him to have s*x with me.
I’ll prove it:
He stuck his hand down my pants. I told him I wasn’t ready. He retracted his hand. About half an hour later, he stuck his hand down my pants again. I told him I wasn’t ready. He asked why, and I said I suffered from PTSD (in retrospect, incorrect, but that’s what I thought). He nodded and retracted his hand. About an hour later, he stuck his hand down my pants again. I asked him if he understood what I’d said earlier, and he admitted he hadn’t. I told him that I’d experienced sexual a*****t, and had lasting traumas, which meant I just wasn’t ready to have s*x with him. He nodded and retracted his hand.
An hour later, he told me he didn’t need my permission for him to have s*x with me.
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86points
When it comes to bedroom activities, the numbers aren't as good, but the majority is still positive. 59% of the global respondents claimed they're happy with their sex life.
Millennials were the most satisfied generation (63%), followed by Gen Z and Gen X (both at 58%), and Baby Boomers (55%).
#6
We went to the grocery store and they had a sale on mayo. I bought 2 jars. When we got home I stuck both of them into the refrigerator because why not. Hours later he comes storming into the livingroom holding both jars…….lids off…livid. “Why did you put these into the refrigerator? Can't you read that it says 'refrigerate after opening'? I had to open both of them, dummy!”
Yeah.
Yeah.
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81points
#7
When I was a uni student I was dating this guy who I found to be very, very attractive. We were casually dating and we had a few mutual friends we had been hanging out for at least a few weeks getting to know each other.
One day he asked me if I believed in hell.
I answered that no I didn't believe in hell.
He then looked at me sceptically and then said. “But you believe in heaven right?”.
I guessed that maybe he thought I was trying to take the best without the worst.
He then went on to explain to me that there was a hole in the earth somewhere in South America and that it went so deep in the ground that you could hear the screams of hell coming out of it. The look on his face I could genuinely see that he believed that there were Devils and suffering people in the ground and that he could hear them screaming as evidence of hell.
I started to try to explain to him that the sound was wind or air pressure coming from deep in the earth and that it sounds like screaming but is actually a natural phenomenon.
I don't believe that all theists are idiots but his grasp of science and reasoning was way too far off for me to consider him seriously after that.
Also he was very concerned about going to hell and was a bit dodgy and that made me suss.
That and he is an idiot.
One day he asked me if I believed in hell.
I answered that no I didn't believe in hell.
He then looked at me sceptically and then said. “But you believe in heaven right?”.
I guessed that maybe he thought I was trying to take the best without the worst.
He then went on to explain to me that there was a hole in the earth somewhere in South America and that it went so deep in the ground that you could hear the screams of hell coming out of it. The look on his face I could genuinely see that he believed that there were Devils and suffering people in the ground and that he could hear them screaming as evidence of hell.
I started to try to explain to him that the sound was wind or air pressure coming from deep in the earth and that it sounds like screaming but is actually a natural phenomenon.
I don't believe that all theists are idiots but his grasp of science and reasoning was way too far off for me to consider him seriously after that.
Also he was very concerned about going to hell and was a bit dodgy and that made me suss.
That and he is an idiot.
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74points
One of the more interesting findings of the survey was that money appears to actually bring happiness to people's relationships.
Those on a higher income are more likely to feel loved and be happier with their romantic/sex lives. 83 percent of high-income earners across 30 countries say they are satisfied with the love in their life compared to 76% of those on a middle income and 69% on a low income. The same is true when it comes to their romantic/sex life. 67% of people with a high income are satisfied with their sex life compared to only 51% of low-income earners.
So, apparently, you can compensate for being a little slow with a bigger bank account.
#9
He was already incurring red flags an hour before he dropped the worst thing he could have ever mentioned. When I said I needed to get home since I have to wake up early for work the next morning, he said
“You no longer have parents. No one will get mad at you.”
I was stupefied for a second but managed to reply
“All the more reason I have to discipline myself.”
I could not believe he used that sensitive information against me. My parents separated when I was 3, no idea where Father is, and Mom died a year ago during that time. How could he say such a thing? I felt disrespected. At that moment, I knew I was dating an idiot. I don’t care if you make five times what I do, you don’t get to do that to the memory of my parents. He was an idiot.
“You no longer have parents. No one will get mad at you.”
I was stupefied for a second but managed to reply
“All the more reason I have to discipline myself.”
I could not believe he used that sensitive information against me. My parents separated when I was 3, no idea where Father is, and Mom died a year ago during that time. How could he say such a thing? I felt disrespected. At that moment, I knew I was dating an idiot. I don’t care if you make five times what I do, you don’t get to do that to the memory of my parents. He was an idiot.
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68points
#10
Talking about the Great Depression, man looked me in the eyes and said “I don’t believe in depression”
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63points
#11
When I realized that they didn't know the difference between there/their and argued with me about it for an hour. Shortest date ever.
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62points
#12
my ex asked me what 20% of the bill was so he could tip, but he wouldnt let me know the total so I could calculate it for him, and when I tried to tell him how to do it, he said "I dont wanna do MATH"
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62points
#13
Well, the moment my partner realized she was dating an idiot (ME) was when we were watching Noah, and the animals were boarding the ark.
I looked at her said, “How is he going to save all the fish?!?!”
Her response was priceless and I instantly understood how idiotic I was.
That is just one instance of MANY, MANY examples of my idiocy, but thankfully, my partner sticks around and we can laugh about how stupid I am some times.
I looked at her said, “How is he going to save all the fish?!?!”
Her response was priceless and I instantly understood how idiotic I was.
That is just one instance of MANY, MANY examples of my idiocy, but thankfully, my partner sticks around and we can laugh about how stupid I am some times.
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61points
#14
On a Sunday drive on a narrow, curvy, mountain road, we passed a roadside memorial of three crosses, which, in the South, usually means three people died there in an automobile wreck. The shoulder of the road was almost non-existent, as the road was curving around the base of a small cliff. She, "That's dangerous, They shouldn't allow that." Me, "What?" She, "Burying people that close to the road". True story, unfortunately.
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60points
#15
I suggested we go to London for a day out (we live near Manchester) she said I can't I haven't got a passport.
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59points
#16
When he accused me of being a gold-digger because in the cafe I ordered the same coffee as him, without even looking at the menu properly. And I had no prior knowledge that the coffee was around 120 INR (1.8$ approx).
Had I stayed within INR 60, I would not have been a gold-digger, according to him. And ordering the same coffee as him made me one. Wow.
Had I stayed within INR 60, I would not have been a gold-digger, according to him. And ordering the same coffee as him made me one. Wow.
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59points
#17
She was mean to kids. I got out of there as fast as I could.
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54points
#18
My friend told me the fact, "your intestines can stretch around the world three times." After he realized that was so wrong, we laughed about it and I told my boyfriend. Who didn't laugh and said yes, that's true.
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53points
#19
He put aluminum foil IN THE MICROWAVE. He tried to stop the fan with his hand instead of turning it off. He forgets to turn on the washer and wonders why his clothes aren't washing.
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52points
#20
I was dating this girl for about 2 months and one day I was just checking her instagram (she was by my side) and saw something about Justin Bieber.
This was the following conversation between the two of us:
me - do you like Justin Bieber?
her - yeah, he is cute blablabla, and you? I suppose you don’t.
me - Well, he is really successeful, he has a really nice life and he has money to provide for himself and his family if needed.
her - yeah, he is the richest guy in the world.
(at this point I thought she was kidding)
me - LOL, you’re kidding right?
her - NO, HE IS. He has a lot of money and I’m sure he is the richest man in the world.
At this point I didn’t know what to do, I was just like “what the h**l? seriously? Do you really think that?”
I went to forbes and showed her who the richest man in the world was and, as you might know, Justin Bieber is not even close to be richer than Bill Gates, not even close to be close.
We broke up a few days later.
This was the following conversation between the two of us:
me - do you like Justin Bieber?
her - yeah, he is cute blablabla, and you? I suppose you don’t.
me - Well, he is really successeful, he has a really nice life and he has money to provide for himself and his family if needed.
her - yeah, he is the richest guy in the world.
(at this point I thought she was kidding)
me - LOL, you’re kidding right?
her - NO, HE IS. He has a lot of money and I’m sure he is the richest man in the world.
At this point I didn’t know what to do, I was just like “what the h**l? seriously? Do you really think that?”
I went to forbes and showed her who the richest man in the world was and, as you might know, Justin Bieber is not even close to be richer than Bill Gates, not even close to be close.
We broke up a few days later.
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48points