Promising dating app match came to an abrupt end when a 26-year-old heard one request before they even met in person: '[I'd prefer taking a month to get to know you first]'

Celeste Mello • Writer and Editor

Jun 24, 2026 7:45 AM EDT

Sometimes it's best to end a relationship before it begins. If you can already tell that both sides want different things, why force it? If you recognize early that you're not compatible, it can be a fair move to cut things off before anyone gets too invested.

Have you ever tried online dating apps? Although they have become one of the most common ways of meeting new people, they still can make dating feel like browsing through an endless catalogue of options. But these options are people. You're one profile among thousands, which is technically true in real life, too. But being one swipe away from everyone else and having unlimited access to matches at your fingertips can make people feel more replaceable than they really are. Like, if it doesn't work with someone, you know a thousand others are waiting on the dating app list.

However, I have heard more dating app fails than real-life matches, but at least they are worth trying. Sometimes the conversation never really goes anywhere. You chat about superficial stuff, and you never really connect with anyone. But other times, you spend a few days texting and feel interested enough to meet in person to see if there's a real connection. Well, this is what happened to this 26-year-old guy who was really interested in getting to know an old match that had never gone anywhere before. He thought, maybe this time is different. Things were going well until he suggested seeing Toy Story 5 or doing something casual together, and she made a request that made him cut things off.

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A dating app notification on a smartphone, illustrating modern dating, represented by a model.
Aitah for cutting things off with someone who requires a 1 month talking stage?

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A man texting a potential romantic interest before meeting in person for the first time, represented by a model.
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A representation of a woman texting on her phone, saying her dating expectations and analyzing relationship compatibility.
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An illustration of a young woman browsing a dating app while looking for a meaningful connection online.
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She was disappointed by the response, and he was disappointed by the request. I don't think this is a situation in which someone's right and someone is wrong. Both her request and his decision are valid. The thing is, they both had different expectations, different timing, and different approaches to dating. And when you don't agree on that, the healthiest decision is to walk away, because you've already seen enough to know you're looking for different things.
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An illustrative image of a smartphone displaying a dating app conversation between two people discussing when to meet for a first date.
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