Smosh Reads Reddit Stories

Walking Red Flags | Reading Reddit Stories

October 11, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The boyfriend eating all the homemade jalapeno poppers and then dismissing the OP's feelings by saying she was overreacting is a significant red flag indicating inconsiderate behavior and poor character. 
  • A fiancé tracking his partner's location and confronting her aggressively when the location glitches, especially when there is a history of his own infidelity, signals deep-seated trust issues and controlling behavior. 
  • A boyfriend proactively learning ASL to communicate with his girlfriend's deaf brother is overwhelmingly viewed as a major green flag, directly contradicting the concerns raised by the girlfriend's friends. 
  • The male friend who warned the OP against her new boyfriend was revealed to be a 'red flag' himself, having fabricated stories about having a past relationship with the OP out of jealousy. 
  • The consensus on the story about the boyfriend learning ASL for the brother was that it was an overwhelmingly positive gesture, contrasting sharply with the friend's negative interpretation. 
  • The boyfriend's insistence on fighting a knife-wielding mugger instead of prioritizing escape and safety was identified as a dangerous, toxic 'hero fantasy' rather than genuine protection. 

Segments

Jalapeno Popper Etiquette
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Dismissing a partner’s feelings about a shared food item by calling them overreacting is a definitive red flag.
  • Summary: Eating all shared appetizers without offering any is inconsiderate, but the boyfriend’s reaction—diminishing the effort by calling them ‘just snacks’ and telling the OP she was overreacting—is the true red flag. Telling someone they are overreacting often invalidates their feelings, which is a common pattern in unhealthy relationship dynamics. The OP cooked the entire meal, making the appetizer sharing an implied social contract.
Location Tracking and Trust Issues
Copied to clipboard!
(00:15:20)
  • Key Takeaway: A partner using shared location data to justify a surprise confrontation based on suspicion, especially following past infidelity, indicates a severe lack of trust and controlling tendencies.
  • Summary: The fiancé tracked the OP because the location service glitched, leading him to call ten times and then physically ‘pop up’ at the grocery store. This behavior stems from pre-existing suspicion, which the OP later confirmed was rooted in his own past infidelity and projection. Persistent suspicion, even when location data is used as a tool, signals that the relationship’s trust foundation is broken and the behavior is likely to escalate.
Wife Material Cooking Standards
Copied to clipboard!
(00:24:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Demanding a partner meet the specific, high-effort cooking standards of one’s mother and labeling them as not ‘wife material’ is deeply disrespectful and sexist.
  • Summary: The boyfriend compared the OP’s homemade pasta dinner unfavorably to his mother’s three-course, from-scratch meals, stating the OP would never be ‘wife material’ otherwise. This expectation ignores modern realities where partners share domestic labor and rejects the effort already put into the meal. Such comments suggest the man desires a traditional caretaker role rather than an equal partnership, indicating emotional immaturity.
Peeing the Bed Reaction
Copied to clipboard!
(00:31:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The primary issue in an adult bed-wetting accident is not the accident itself, but the partner’s refusal to immediately clean the mess and their dismissal of the other person’s valid discomfort.
  • Summary: The boyfriend peed the bed due to extreme tiredness after an overnight shift but refused to clean it immediately, telling the OP she was overreacting when she insisted on cleaning the new mattress. The OP’s anger stemmed from being expected to sleep in the urine and having her valid concerns dismissed, which is a major sign of selfishness and lack of consideration. The situation resolved when the boyfriend reflected on his actions and apologized for dismissing her feelings.
Learning ASL for Family
Copied to clipboard!
(00:43:15)
  • Key Takeaway: A partner making a sincere, significant effort to learn ASL to better communicate with a significant other’s deaf family member is a strong indicator of genuine care and commitment.
  • Summary: The boyfriend is actively learning ASL via YouTube and Skillshare to connect with the OP’s deaf brother, leading to visible joy for the brother. The OP’s friends viewed this effort as potentially creepy or manipulative, suggesting they might be projecting their own relationship skepticism or harboring jealousy. This effort demonstrates a pure desire to eliminate communication barriers within the family unit, which is overwhelmingly positive.
ASL Boyfriend Update Revelation
Copied to clipboard!
(00:50:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The male best friend’s supposed concern about the boyfriend learning ASL was rooted in his own unrequited crush and jealousy.
  • Summary: The OP’s friend group’s male best friend, Mike, had been spreading lies, including claiming a pact to marry the OP and that he took her virginity. Mike was subsequently kicked out of the friend group after the OP confirmed the extent of his fabrications regarding her relationship with John.
Mugged Boyfriend Hero Fantasy
Copied to clipboard!
(00:59:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Prioritizing fighting a knife-wielding mugger over immediate escape is an unrealistic ‘hero fantasy’ that actively endangers a partner.
  • Summary: The boyfriend insisted on arguing with a knife-wielding mugger about justice, preventing the OP from executing a safe escape plan by throwing her wallet. Self-defense experts advise that the only correct action against a knife threat is to run, as fighting guarantees serious injury or death.
Mugged Boyfriend Update Fallout
Copied to clipboard!
(01:10:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The boyfriend immediately reverted to lying and rewriting the mugging narrative to save face after a temporary apology.
  • Summary: After initially apologizing and agreeing with the hosts’ assessment that his actions were delusional, the boyfriend later confessed to his friend that the mugging never happened. He claimed the OP provoked a stranger to test him, and he was only ’emasculated’ because he was forced into a fight for her honor, leading to the OP ending the relationship.
Final Red Flag Tally
Copied to clipboard!
(01:15:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The most significant red flags identified were the boyfriend fighting a knife threat and the boyfriend comparing his partner unfavorably to his mother.
  • Summary: The hosts collectively ranked the boyfriend’s insistence on fighting a knife-wielding assailant and the boyfriend telling his partner she wasn’t ‘wife material’ because she didn’t cook like his mother as the worst red flags discussed in the episode.