Petty Revenge Served Cold: The Ghoster Gets Ghosted in This Tinder Tale

Young man looking pensive after being ghosted on a date, with a blurred city background.
In this photorealistic image, a young man sits alone, reflecting on the confusion and emotions of being ghosted after a promising date. The city backdrop adds to the sense of isolation, perfectly capturing the essence of modern dating challenges.

There’s a special kind of sting that comes with being ghosted, especially when you’ve spent days trading flirty messages, rearranged your schedule, and even made sure your car is sparkling clean for that first impression. But what happens when the ghosted becomes the ghoster? Strap in for a wild ride through one of Reddit’s most delightfully petty dating stories, where revenge is as sweet as it is satisfying.

Meet our protagonist, a 24-year-old guy (let’s call him Mr. G), who, like so many of us, once found himself swept up in the giddy anticipation of a Tinder match turned potential love interest. What started as a promising connection quickly spiraled into a game of cat and mouse—where the mouse isn’t quite sure if it wants to play.

The Ghosting Olympics Begin

It all started innocently enough: two young adults, both 19 or 20, vibing over Tinder, cracking jokes, and texting endlessly. After a few weeks of digital chemistry, they decided to take the plunge and meet in person—no small feat, considering she lived a solid hour and a half away. Plans were made, schedules cleared, and expectations set sky-high.

The day of the big date arrived. Mr. G woke up early, put on his best face, and gave his truck a makeover that would make a car enthusiast weep with pride. He texted his date to see if she was ready, and she replied that she was “almost ready” and would ping him when to leave. And so, our hopeful romantic waited. And waited. And… waited. Text after text went unanswered. The clock ticked past the agreed time. By 3pm, reality set in; the date was as dead as his battery after all those unanswered messages.

Two days later—yes, two days—she finally reached out. No, she hadn’t been abducted by aliens; she just “wasn’t in the mood for a date that day.” Oof.

Revenge: Petty, Yet Perfectly Proportioned

Now, most people would have cut their losses, maybe deleted the match, and moved on. Not Mr. G. Here’s where the story takes a gloriously petty turn. About a week later, the ghoster came crawling back, wanting to reschedule. But the trust was gone, replaced by a mischievous sense of justice.

So, Mr. G agreed to another date. He texted her that he was “ready to leave,” played along, and even claimed to be en route. In reality? He was probably in pajamas, nowhere near his keys. For two hours, she waited and texted, the roles reversed in a poetic twist.

Two days later, he finally replied—mirroring her own delay—with a half-hearted “I fell asleep.” Did she rage? Did she block him? Nope. She actually laughed, called it even, and suggested they try again.

A Friendship Is Born (But The Date Never Happened)

Despite the mutual ghosting and playful payback, the two never actually went on that fateful date. Instead, they settled into an unexpected friendship, chatting here and there but never crossing the line into romance. Looking back, Mr. G notes that he’s glad things never progressed.

Lessons from the Petty Trenches

So, what can we learn from this Tinder tango? A few things, actually:

  1. Ghosting Hurts—But You’re Not Powerless: Sometimes, a little well-timed pettiness is the only closure you’ll get. Just make sure it’s harmless and in good fun.
  2. Communication Is Key: If you’re not feeling a date, honesty beats radio silence every time.
  3. Friendships Can Bloom from Awkward Soil: Sometimes, the best connections come from shared experiences—even if those experiences are a little uncomfortable.
  4. Don’t Take Dating Too Seriously: At the end of the day, if you can laugh about a bad date (or a date that never happened), you’re already winning.

Your Turn: Have You Ever Served Up Petty Revenge?

What’s your best (or worst) ghosting story? Have you ever flipped the script and dished out some harmless payback? Share your tales in the comments below—because if love is a battlefield, we might as well swap a few war stories.

And remember: in the world of online dating, sometimes the only thing more satisfying than finding love is finding a good story.

Inspired by the original post from u/Mrg0dan on r/PettyRevenge. See the full Reddit story here.

Original Reddit Post: Ghosting a date.