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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Online date turned up looking nothing like his pictures

373 replies

Crystal1981 · 26/10/2019 13:55

So I had been talking to a 28 year-old guy for a week. He sounded lovely (honestly hadn't spoken to anyone that nice before) and he looked very cute on his pictures.

We arranged to go for a drink and he told me he would be outside a café in a blue coat and black jeans.

I got there early so hovered around. I saw an older grey haired man waiting outside but couldn't see him. He then texted again saying he was under an umbrella and I realised that older man WAS him.

Now I know people can use pictures that are a couple of years old and pictures can be filtered, men can add an inch or two.
But honestly not sure this was the same person.

If that guy was 28, i'm the prime minister.
He had virtually a full head of grey hair. There is nothing wrong with grey, but using only photos where you have brown hair is misleading.

He looked like a different person to his photos and much, much older.
I thought there was no point even going for a drink and getting his hopes up. I text saying I had an emergency and got straight on the bus home.

I know that was really not good what I did but neither is misleading someone.
What would others have done ? Anyone else had this experience ?

OP posts:
user1481840227 · 27/10/2019 19:19

You didn't do anything wrong.
I've seen men go grey in their 20s but they still look like they're in their 20s.
If he looks 20 years older then I bet he's lied or left out a lot about his life in your conversations that you've had so far.

I mean if he had a long marriage or kids etc, he would have had to have hidden those facts and ages/length of relationship etc. if he's saying he's only 28.

Viviand · 27/10/2019 19:27

When I went to college, aged 16, there was a boy, in my class, who was completely bald. We became good friends and never had a problem getting an under age drink, as he looked a lot older than he was. He ended up marrying one of my friends. They were married for nearly 50 years before he, sadly, passed away, a year ago. I still miss their friendship.

DisneyMadeMeDoIt · 27/10/2019 19:28

As somebody who did OLD for a year or so before meeting DH I think it’s TOTALLY fair to just leave if the other person has misrepresented themselves grossly.
Whether that’s age, gender, appearance or size it doesn’t matter. Don’t get me wrong there’s leeway for ‘pics aren’t reality’ but if you’re 10 years older or 3 stone heavier then you KNOW you’ve essentially catfished the other person and brought them to meet under false pretences.

For me it’s not even about appearance (I’ve never been vain) but transparency/honesty.
feeling like somebody had intentionally duped me/ not given me all the facts upon with to make an informed choice just turns my stomach!!!

MulticolourMophead · 27/10/2019 19:30

I started going grey at 20, but I still looked like a 20 year old facially. OP said the man looked older, so it wasnt just a question of some grey hair.

OP did the right thing, she didn't owe this man anything given he'd already lied.

LuluBellaBlue · 27/10/2019 19:30

I had the most hilarious catfish once..... met a man in real life, he asked for my number, we text and speak in the phone for a few days. Arrange a date for end of the week.

I turn up and it’s a totally different guy!!! Shock

Hirsutefirs · 27/10/2019 19:32

Maybe you should have told him the truth about not wanting a date with the dishonest old git.

MulticolourMophead · 27/10/2019 19:33

If he looks 20 years older then I bet he's lied or left out a lot about his life in your conversations that you've had so far.

I mean if he had a long marriage or kids etc, he would have had to have hidden those facts and ages/length of relationship etc. if he's saying he's only 28.

I have to agree with this.

ton181 · 27/10/2019 19:38

So you stood him up because he had grey hair. Shallow shallow shallow. Hes better off without someone as shallow as you.

Mumanddad7 · 27/10/2019 19:41

Well said. Totally agree

ton181 · 27/10/2019 19:44

Women conditioned to be polite

What a load of rubbish...………………...

Nutellalovesme · 27/10/2019 19:44

YANBU

Has he contacted you since?

IndieTara · 27/10/2019 19:53

@ton181 she didn't stand him up because he had grey hair she stood him up because he'd lied about his age and misrepresented himself with his photos.
She couldn't trust him, what else had he lied about?

To all the other posters giving examples of this kind of thing happening to their brothers or male friends. It's still bad and a waste of their time but chances are it wasn't a dangerous situation for them.

When this happens to women the chances of it being a potentially dangerous situation are much higher

dexter6000 · 27/10/2019 19:55

Autumn Rose 😂🤣

Boots20 · 27/10/2019 19:55

You done the right thing God knows what else he could have lied about

texasgurl · 27/10/2019 19:57

Before I met DH, I had this happen a couple of times. The worst was a man young man who was: totally bald on top, had long hair on the sides and back, was +40 lbs heavier than his profile pic, and had small glasses. He looked like Benjamin Franklin. I excused myself after ten minutes. When he contact me again, I asked him why he lied about his appearance. He said, "Some women I talk to are superficial." I said, "Nobody likes a liar. There's nothing superficial about that."

manteray · 27/10/2019 20:01

Don't feel guilty OP.

This happened to me a few times. The first time I "grinned and beared it". The next time, I just walked by - he was literally unrecognisable - about 20 years older and looking like a complete creep. He sent a nasty text when I apologised for saying 5 minutes later I couldn't "see" him. It made me feel quite sick I'd put in all that effort, and secondly, that I'd be deceived by such a weirdo - people really can be "who" they want to be online, with no relation to reality.

I think they deserve a bloody rollicking for such a massive deception. At the minimum, a complete "couldn't make it" and walk on by.

manteray · 27/10/2019 20:02

^good for you Texas.

I really shudder when I think of these awful men.

Jack80 · 27/10/2019 20:02

I would have met him, and seen what he was like and told him he isnt like his pictures

ruralliving19 · 27/10/2019 20:03

I don't think you were wrong to call off the date but you lied to him about why. I think you should have told him the truth.

manteray · 27/10/2019 20:05

Is this a good moment to mention the trans age movement?

Grin Slattern

isseywith4vampirecats · 27/10/2019 20:06

when i was OLD i put current pics on my profile (mid fifties at the time) and got one weird message saying "your a bloke really aint you" er no then went on a date with a guy same age as me, when i went to meet him he was totally the opposite of the type of look i usually go for but as we were meeting outside the town hall and im walking straight towards him i couldnt really walk straight past, so went on the date and as the afternoon went on found out we both got on really well, he asked for a second date i said yes and 6 years later we are still very much a partnership and happy, but if i had gone just on his looks i wouldnt be with my lovely other half

elesbells · 27/10/2019 20:06

She stood him up because he clearly lied! He looked nothing like his photos and was older. For the interest of safety I’d say she did the right thing...that’s not shallow...that’s sensible!

Euromillsplz · 27/10/2019 20:06

Was his paper route through Chernobyl?

God that made me laugh (had to look up paper route mind 🇬🇧)

ton181 · 27/10/2019 20:10

@IndieTara

Sha assumed he was older due to his grey hair, but didn't ask or follow it up properly.

Philip Schofield went grey at 16 years old.

StormBaby · 27/10/2019 20:10

I'd have been really pissed off OP.
When I was dating I was really lucky. My now DH looked OK on his pics, he looked my type at least, when I turned up and saw how gorgeous he actually was I nearly fainted. 😂😍

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