How it works

1. Post your story

Tell us about a date you were actually on. Use first names or nicknames. Our check removes full names, phone numbers, and addresses before anything goes live.

2. Vote on the worst

Every reader with an account can vote on each story once.

• The Ick is worth 1 point.
• Dumpster Fire is worth 2 points. You get 5 per week, so save them for the stories that earn it.

You cannot vote on your own story. Share it instead.

3. The worst date wins dinner

Voting closes Sunday at 11:59:59 PM Eastern. The story with the most points wins a digital restaurant gift card, announced Monday. When a week passes 10,000 total votes, first place gets $100 and second place gets $50.

4. Live forever

Weekly winners go on to quarterly and yearly finals. The most-voted stories of all time go into the Hall of Fame.