'To the dude who stood me up last night... Sir, you've earned yourself a Google review.'

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Dear "Sir" (and I'm being ironic with that title),

Please accept this article as an unofficial Google review following our date last night.

A date that did not happen, because you stood me up.

Let's set the scene: you were punching above your weight when I agreed to meet you for a drink. I was bored, looking for a distraction, and clearly feeling charitable with my time.

But here's the thing – you're not the first to pull this disappearing act, and you probably won't be the last. Welcome to modern dating, where apparently the bare minimum of showing up is now optional.

Watch: Em Asked ChatGPT To Decode Her Dating Texts. Post continues below.

It would appear, Sir, you have simply fallen victim to the trope of dating apps turning us into some sort of human delivery service, where people seem to forget there's an actual person on the other end.

It's like we've all become items in a shopping cart that people can just abandon at checkout.

As someone with a schedule (a busy one, thanks), I make plans with the wild expectation that "yes, let's meet at 6pm" actually means, how do I put this… we're meeting at 6pm (??).

You not showing up makes you highly unoriginal. This happened to another legend recently. Michelle Bridges, you might have heard of her? She got the same charming treatment on her first date in five and a half years.

What a welcome back to the dating swamp, Michelle. The swamp has gotten swampier, hasn't it?

We're all wading through ghosters, fizzlers, and serial no-shows. Every catch-up with girlfriends sounds like we're comparing war stories. Where did basic manners go? Did they get lost in the same place as people's ability to reply to text messages?

Turns out, I'm in great company! Image: Instagram @mishbridges.

Look, Sir, this isn't about hurt feelings. I don't even know you, and now I'm grateful for that small mercy. What's fascinating is the complete disappearance of basic courtesy.

We confirmed plans at midday – time, place, all sorted. Six hours later, you left me sitting at a venue like I was waiting for a bus that never comes. It's not devastating; it's just... weird?

Here's where this story gets good. Being someone who finds silver linings in everything, I ended up chatting with the loveliest locals who shared my bench.

I mentioned I was pretty sure I was being stood up, and we had the most genuinely interesting conversations about life, and why people have forgotten how to be decent humans.

By 7pm, I was happily in my pyjamas on my couch with a cup of tea and a friend popped over. And I had a light bulb moment: this is so much better than awkward small talk with a stranger.

So actually, thank you. Thank you for the reminder that, as Carrie Bradshaw famously said, "The woman realised she was not alone, she was on her own."

And I am very happily on my own.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Annaliese Todd (@annaliese_todd)

Thank you for reminding me that my standards aren't unrealistic – they're exactly where they should be. Thank you for being the push I needed to realise I don't actually want to be dating right now.

I've deleted my dating app. Not in a dramatic huff, but because I genuinely can't be bothered. Life's too good to spend it wondering if someone will show up to plans they made.

Finally, if you're reading this and nodding along, you're not alone. We're all out here navigating this bizarre world where basic courtesy has become revolutionary.

Don't let the convenience of apps make you forget your worth. If someone can't manage the simple task of showing up (or cancelling), they're doing you a favour by showing their true colours early.

Your time is precious. Your company is a gift. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

Cheers to that,

Annaliese.

Have you been stood up for a date recently? Let's trauma bond over it together in the comments!

Feature Image: Supplied.