I was walking along the beach near my home the other day when I saw a big red flag. I mean literally.
It’s put there by civil employees when the meteorology says that it’s way too dangerous to be getting in the water right now. It’s an explicit warning. “We may not be able to stop you from diving into this, but you should know that if you do, it’s gonna get bad.”
Unfortunately the red flags of relationships can be a lot more subtle than that. Like for instance:
what’s a simple red flag that has never failed you? something small like a person quoting 48 laws of power.
— Lauren Chanel (@MichelleHux) January 23, 2021
But what about some others? Twitter lets us know what to look out for.
10. Loyalty
Sounds reasonable on its surface, but bubbling underneath are torrents of jealousy, insecurity, and a need to control.
Someone who says “the most important thing to me is loyalty.” Head for the door, baby. Danger lies ahead
— Ellen McGirt (@ellmcgirt) January 23, 2021
9. Kid-hating
Dude if you don’t want them that’s fine but…are you ok?
People who love to talk about how much they hate children. I get not wanting a kid or feeling uncomfortable around kids or finding some kids annoying but people who make it their thing that they hate children: no thank you.
— Lucy Huber (@clhubes) January 25, 2021
8. Animal hating
Similar to kid hating, but actually worse because kittens are cuter.
People who hate animals – but cats in particular. Not merely people who don’t care for cats, but people who hate and would happily harm one. 100% of the time they have serious (usually unexamined) issues with women.
— Cherie Priest Says Get Your Damn Shots (@cmpriest) January 24, 2021
7. Victim complex
As though everyone on the planet has agency except for you.
When somebody always refers to things as happening TO them.
Instead of experiencing something or learning from something. Small words give away someone’s whole mental process
— Chris (@cmvsal) January 23, 2021
6. Blessings
I’m not sure you have the power to bestow that kind of thing.
A stranger telling me to “Have a blessed day.”
In that small moment, they transform an opportunity to be kind and courteous into an opening to signal how “Christian” they are.
Avoid them. You will never regret it.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) January 25, 2021
5. Shopping cart negligence
This is the true test of all morality.
Not returning the shopping cart. It’s a tiny thing, takes 60 seconds, has no benefit to you and a tiny cost, and only benefits some abstract future person. Not all people who return shopping carts are good, but all people who don’t return shopping carts are bad
— Mx. Peter-Astrid Kane (they/them) (@PeterAstridKane) January 24, 2021
4. Friend exclusion
Because you never learned to function that way.
I don’t trust women who say they don’t have women as friends. Why?
— Liz (@WarmestRegardss) January 23, 2021
3. Ride or die
See the top listing about loyalty.
A man who says he wants a “ride or die” woman. It’s def about to be all die and no ride.
— PINEAPPLE TEEF 🍍 (@Juva881) January 24, 2021
2. Rudeness to wait staff
Oh, look who thinks he’s really something.
People who are rude to waiters are guaranteed to be awful in most important ways. They might run a billion dollar charity and have three Nobel prizes, but if they are rude to the waiter, they are bad people and don’t stick around to find out why.
— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) January 25, 2021
1. “Fiscal conservative”
I’m sure this one won’t start any fights in the comments.
“I’m a social liberal and fiscal conservative” is revealing oneself as a sociopath. Right-wing conservatives are mostly insane, but at least it’s a fully formed ethos. Being “socially liberal and fiscally conservative” just means you’re selfish but want to feel OK about yourself.
— Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) January 25, 2021
Red flags all around.
You may now fight in the comments.
But yanno, keep it from getting out of hand.