Did My Best Friend Ruin My Relationship with Bad Dating Advice?

Some people don’t recognize a favor, they recognize an opportunity to “fix” your love life. In this Reddit story, a 27-year-old woman thought she was doing something small by listening to her best friend’s dating advice. Big mistake.

Her boyfriend and her had been smooth sailing for about a year, until her best friend, Sarah, pushed her to start playing hard to get. Sarah kept insisting that “guys love the chase,” so OP tried it, and instead of sparking interest, it made her boyfriend pull away. Then OP did the right thing and talked to Sarah about the damage, but Sarah got defensive, claimed OP followed the advice wrong, and started giving her the cold shoulder.

Now OP is stuck wondering if she crossed a line, or if Sarah finally took a hint.

Original Post

I (27F) have been with my boyfriend for about a year now, and things were going great until my best friend, let's call her Sarah, decided to give me some 'helpful' dating advice. Sarah suggested that I should start playing hard to get to keep my boyfriend interested.

At first, I brushed it off, but she kept insisting, saying that guys love the chase. Fast forward a few weeks, I followed Sarah's advice and began playing hard to get.

However, instead of making my boyfriend chase me, it pushed him away. He felt like I was no longer interested in him, and our relationship started to deteriorate.

I realized the mistake I made by taking Sarah's advice, so I sat down with her to explain how her suggestion negatively impacted my relationship. I told her that I appreciated her trying to help but that her advice didn't work for me.

Instead of being understanding, Sarah got defensive and argued that I didn't follow her advice correctly. Now, Sarah has been giving me the cold shoulder, and our friendship feels strained.

I feel like I did the right thing by being honest about how her advice backfired, but Sarah's reaction has left me questioning if I overstepped. So AITAH for telling my best friend that their dating advice ruined my relationship?

I value our friendship, but I couldn't keep silent about this.

The Danger of Bad Advice

This situation highlights how well-meaning advice can derail a relationship. Sarah's suggestion to play hard to get might seem harmless on the surface, but it reveals a deeper misunderstanding of how genuine connections work.

It’s puzzling how someone could misjudge the dynamics of another’s romantic life. It raises the question: when does friendship cross the line into meddling? This story resonates with anyone who’s ever faced the fallout from unsolicited advice, reminding us that sometimes, it’s better to keep our opinions to ourselves.

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OP brushed off Sarah at first, but the “guys love the chase” talk kept coming, and that’s where the trouble started.

Friendship vs. Romantic Love

The tension between the OP’s loyalty to her friend and her commitment to her partner creates a compelling moral gray area. When Sarah's advice led to negative consequences, it put the OP in a tough position. She had to confront her friend, risking their friendship to defend her romantic relationship.

This is a classic dilemma: do you prioritize a lifelong friendship over a new romance? The stakes feel especially high when relationships intertwine, and the consequences of wrong advice can ripple outwards, affecting multiple lives. It’s this messy intersection of friendship and love that resonates so powerfully with readers.

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A few weeks of playing hard to get later, her boyfriend felt like OP was suddenly uninterested, and the relationship started to crumble.

This also echoes the Reddit debate over tough love from a friend who might’ve gone too far.

Community Reactions Show Complexity

The Reddit community’s reactions to this post reveal just how polarized opinions can be on relationship dynamics.

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OP finally sat down with Sarah to explain the backfire, but Sarah didn’t hear accountability, she heard criticism.

Is Playing Hard to Get Outdated?

The advice to play hard to get may feel like a relic of past dating norms, yet it persists in contemporary discussions. It brings up the question of whether such tactics are genuinely effective or simply a recipe for miscommunication. This story challenges readers to reflect on the validity of such advice and its impact on real relationships.

For many, the OP's experience serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of following outdated dating strategies. It’s a reminder that authenticity often trumps games, and perhaps it’s time to rethink the wisdom shared among friends.

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After Sarah doubled down and gave her the cold shoulder, OP is left questioning whether she was honest, or just too blunt.

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.

The Takeaway

This story is a poignant reminder of how easily the lines can blur between friendship and romantic advice, leading to unintended consequences. How do you navigate the tricky waters of friendship and romantic relationships when advice goes wrong? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Share your thoughts below!

Why This Matters

The situation between the 27-year-old woman and her friend Sarah illustrates how well-meaning advice can lead to unintended consequences. Sarah's insistence on the "play hard to get" strategy reflects a common but misguided belief in dating tactics that can undermine genuine connection. When the OP confronted Sarah about the negative impact of her advice, it revealed a rift in their friendship that suggests deeper issues in communication and accountability. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of navigating advice within personal relationships, highlighting how easily trust can be shaken when advice backfires.

If Sarah wants to play matchmaker, she should be ready for the fallout when “help” costs OP her relationship.

Curious if Sarah crossed the line with her “hard to get” advice? Read the AITA about giving relationship advice that ended a friendship.