Dating can be unpredictable, and sometimes those surprises are more cringe than romantic. One person unknowingly matched with their own mother on a dating site, while another found their Tinder date had brought along her boyfriend. Awkward power moves also surfaced, like a coworker who ordered meals without asking, planned their marriage on the first date, and kept pursuing afterward until finally blocked.

Not every bad date was controlling—some were just painfully mismatched. One person spent hours setting up a dreamy picnic only to be told it was “desperate,” but ended up sharing the meal with two strangers who became lifelong friends. Another was grilled about thermodynamics by a date’s dad after dozing off at her place, while someone else endured the bizarre sight of their date tearing off his shirt in a fit of rage.

There were also those who simply couldn’t connect. A girl forgot how to hold a conversation, leaving her date to suffer through an hour of “Uh huh” and “That’s cool.” Another guy wanted his date to dictate his every move—literally—until she gave up as he walked into a wall. And one woman’s secret googling of her date’s family company came to light in the most awkward way possible when his website autofilled on her laptop.

Some experiences ended in comic escape. A man was ambushed by a woman and her four friends, all expecting him to foot the bill for expensive orders. Instead, he slipped away, silenced his phone, and later chuckled at the 70+ angry texts she sent. These stories may not have ended in romance, but they prove that dating disasters often make the funniest, most unforgettable tales.