Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Hellish encounters for singles sick of Valentines

Geneviève Roberts
Monday 13 February 2006 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

For those already sick of the sight of loved-up couples in the run-up to St Valentine's Day, an antidote is on hand.

WhenDatesGoBad.co.uk, launched by Sam Jordison, the author of Crap Towns, is a new website charting embarrassing, humiliating and truly horrific dates. From the girl who ruptured her stomach when over-indulging at an all-you-can-eat restaurant, to the date who kept his security rag from childhood, "Moopert", in his pocket, the stories of dating hell are a riposte to the Valentine cliché.

Jordison expects the best entries from the website to be compiled into a book called Bad Dates. "I am certainly hoping that it will achieve the same success as Crap Towns, which along with Crap Towns II has sold 160,000 copies.

"I keep laughing at all the entries that come in. The saddest has to be the couple who were intending to go on a date to a Manchester club, but a mugger managed to get into their taxi on the way, with an imitation gun. They spent their evening being driven around the town and never made it to the club," he said.

His inspiration for the topic is "soppy", he said. "I have been going out with my girlfriend for a while, and it is a relief that I don't have to go on dates any more. I was hopeless at it, and was reflecting on the terrible mistakes I made. Then I realised everyone is in the same position."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in