because like, unless you're both really bad at following directions, that's hella easy?

I would say take a road trip together, hours in an enclosed space with limited stops & climate control that will test a relationship

now if it was 'build unlabeled Ikea furniture without directions' sure, that would be something

am I just too Aspec + adhdtism spectrum to get why this is a (potential) challenge?

i’ve always enjoyed assembling furniture

yeah! And like, Ikeas especially aren't challenging, all the parts are labeled!

the most of a challenge I had with an Ikea was when I built a shelf that was taller than me, and had to figure out how to stand it up by myself

yeah the pictures are usually pretty understandable to me

but i do get how it could be a frustrating experience. it just isn’t for me

yeah, same

though someone in the server I'm in when I posted the same confusion pointed out that a lot of people see 'a relationship' as just getting together for meals and/or sex

so the worst challenge they would have to face is where to eat

which at least puts a little perspective on the initial sentiment, but like, it's suddenly being quoted everywhere (which was also part of my confusion) like it's some kind of gospel

so I guess maybe it's another case of 'are The Straights okay?'

It’s another case of “Are the Straights Okay”

For the less artistic/visual folks among us it can beca good way to figure out if your prospective man is faking the smooth or ifvthe nice guy front dissolves under frustration

In theory at least

IDK maybe it's a skill issue, but I have always struggled with IKEA furniture.

going to the Ikea to pick up the furniture would be more stressful for me

(too many people, too much open space that's somehow still too crowded together, fluorescent light hell, weird warehouse echo noise, still too many people)

Ah, this is one I can explain well.

When trying to do online dating, the best advice I got was that if the fella picks the time and place, make one small change - a different venue, a different day, etc.

Just to see how he reacts to not getting 100% his way from the get go.

...and there are a surprising(?) number of dudes that will Flip Their Shit about it, even if they've come across as reasonable up to that point.

I think the IKEA furniture thing is because that at some point, in nearly every construction, there's a point where someone needs to say 'oh, hey, it's upside down?' or 'I think you need the C screw instead of the AA' or whatever.

And, right or wrong, you wanna know how they react.

^it's this. if a dude flips his shit over assembling furniture, it's a red flag

Right! If he's actually wrong, and flips out, bad news. If he's right, and then is a shitty dude about it? Also bad news.

yep that's what is about

but yes. put together ikea something. road trip. a holiday season.

yeah, holiday dinner with their family seems like a better test to me

if only because then you've got relatives going 'yeah no don't date that'

(or alternately 'you better marry that one')

and other stresser yes