You’ve heard of red flags and green flags in the world of dating, but what are beige flags? Keep reading to find out all about why you should be on the lookout on dating apps for these potential dealbreakers.
“Beige flags” is a term coined by TikToker Caitlin MacPhail to describe responses on dating apps that lack originality and are basically bland, so inoffensive that they are actually offensive. Beige flags are things people list on their dating profiles without trying to stand out, the kind of general platitude that you will likely find widely posted if you spend a decent amount of time scrolling for love.
In her TikTok video describing beige flags, MacPhail calls them “more prevalent” than red flags and says they are “signs that you are probably very boring.” What do beige flags consist of? According to MacPhail, things like food preferences such as “having an opinion on coriander, whether pineapple belongs on pizza, or sauce or chocolate belongs in the fridge of cupboard.” As MacPhail puts it, “It’s not important. No one cares.”
Other culprits that can get someone tagged as having too many beige flags? Opinions on what MacPhail calls “extremely mainstream sitcoms.” Referring to The Office, she says, “If you’re looking for the Pam to your Jim, I’m just going to assume you have no deeper meaning.” She also finds fault with using puppies to show off your personality, any mention of Excel or spreadsheets, and looking for someone who can “can handle my banter.”
Of course, what’s a beige flag to one person may be catnip to another. Everyone will likely have their own barometer of what’s too boring or mainstream to tolerate in someone they may want to date.
According to Mashable:
Beige flags are signs on a dating app that someone hasn’t put much effort into their dating profile, Caitlin explains, and it typically means that the conversation and the potential date that might follow could also be dull and unsuccessful. “If someone has a lot of beige flags on their profile, you’ll probably get to the end of it without having really learnt anything about them,” she tells Mashable…
“Something about whether chocolate belongs in the fridge or the cupboard, them saying that they’ll probably love their dog more than you, or lots of gym selfies and references to the gym are typical beige flags,” she explains.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t also share a common interest with someone who has a beige flag, or that a single beige flag means you shouldn’t pursue someone. MacPhail has certainly presented a convincing case that everyone should be putting not just their best but their most interesting and unique foot forward, so they don’t get lost in a sea of others who all sound the same.
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