Imagine this: you’re on a first date, sipping coffee, and a stranger slips you a note.
This isn’t a scene from a spy movie; it’s what happened to Hadia.
While her date was in the restroom, a gay man sitting nearby, who had overheard their conversation, quickly scribbled a message on an old CVS receipt.
This unexpected dating advice from a stranger turned Hadia’s coffee date into a viral Twitter story.
Hadia shared her unique experience on Twitter, saying, “I had coffee with a guy yesterday. When he went to the bathroom, the gay guy sitting behind me passed me this note.”
The note was short but impactful: “Too many red flags. Run. Be safe girl.”
This tweet, revealing the stranger’s warning, resonated with many, garnering over 385,000 likes and more than 40,000 shares.
Curious followers flooded her with questions about the so-called red flags.
Hadia admitted she noticed some red flags herself but didn’t feel threatened.
She chose to stay, eager to challenge her date’s viewpoints.
In a tweet, she humorously reflected, “I recognized the red flags, but I wasn’t in danger, so I stayed, because of course, I had to debate him. I’m sure my guardian angel was exhausted and was like ‘BITCH, LEAVE!’”
The disagreement that stood out was about rapper Da Baby, criticized for homophobic comments, and her date’s admiration for Kevin Samuels.
Samuels, known for his controversial views on women and relationships, often targets the vulnerability of Black women.
His approach and the term he coined, “sexual marketplace value,” have been widely criticized for promoting negative attitudes towards women.
Despite the stranger’s note, Hadia felt she would have recognized the red flags independently.
However, she appreciated the gesture, saying it added some humor to her evening.
When asked about a second date, she confirmed there wouldn’t be one, aligning with the advice of her unexpected guardian angel at the coffee shop.
The incident sparked a conversation on Twitter.
One user pondered the severity of the red flags for a stranger to intervene.
Hadia’s witty reply: “As bright as my red nails.”
Others expressed a desire for such a protective figure in their lives, with one commenting, “If a man who dates men tells me to run, duh, I’m hitting the JETS.”
However, not everyone agreed with the stranger’s intervention.
Some men felt it was unfair to judge someone so quickly, arguing that differing opinions are normal.
This led to a broader discussion about the visibility of red flags in dating, with one user noting, “Judging by a good portion of the comments on this post, a lot of men are fearful that their red flags are easily detected.”
The story resonated with others who had witnessed similar situations.
One Twitter user, a former barman, shared his experience with a regular customer who frequently brought different young women to the bar.
He recalled being blunt with one of the women, indicating she was just one in a series of many, highlighting the prevalence of such red-flag behaviors.
Hadia’s unexpected coffee date experience serves as a reminder of the complexities of modern dating.
It’s a world where strangers can become allies, red flags can be both subtle and glaring, and social media can turn personal anecdotes into viral discussions.
