Top 10 Things to Never Say to a Single Person

If you are single, what lines do you hate hearing because they are condescending, thoughtless, trite, cliché, and so on?

This list was started using clichés from dating blogger Erin Meanley's post titled "19 Things You Should Never Say to a Single Person," but feel free to add lines that were not included in the original post.

1. There are plenty of fish in the sea.

   There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but none of them will ever be her, because she's the only one I will ever love. Who invented this crappy phrase anyway? I bet he never had a broken heart before.

   I always found this statement so stupid.

2. So, why are you single?

   Because I like it, and romance isn't mandatory.

3. Have you tried online dating?

   Someone: "Have you tried online dating?"

   Me: "No. I will not try online dating at all, and I don't trust it. Face-to-face dating is a lot better."

4. But you're so pretty! Why don't you have a boyfriend?

   It sounds creepy. What if the pretty person doesn't want to date?

   If we were so pretty, why wouldn't we?

5. It happens when you're not looking.

   Really? So if I'm not looking, how will I see it happening? Don't ever say that again, please. Just don't.

   How are you supposed to know?

6. Wow, I wish I were single and in your shoes!

7. It just wasn't meant to be.

8. You're too picky.

   I'm not going to lower my standards just to get a date.

   I ain't picky. I'm picky because I have had enough.

9. It was just bad timing.

10. When the time is right, you will meet someone.

    And if they want to be single their whole life, it sounds weird to tell someone that.

    I'm fine with making friends, nothing more, nothing less.

    Too tired of hearing this for the last 14 years.

The Contenders

11. You have to love yourself before anyone can love you.

    Bull. Not loving yourself doesn't make you unlovable or less deserving of love. It's a good idea to be comfortable with who you are before heading into a relationship, but I've seen others find mates who loved them enough to show them how to love themselves if they didn't know how.

    In fact, it's how the deepest relationships can develop. Often, people who grew up unloved have more difficulty finding love, whereas people who grew up loved tend to find love, marriage, etc. more easily. It's why people promote these dumb clichés. We just live in a selfish, superficial world.