Hinge date dismissed her work as an anesthesia resident, saying she was paid to ‘just sit’ — then revealed what he did for a living
A first date is usually a chance to learn about each other's lives and careers with curiosity and respect. Listening can say just as much about a person as the questions they ask. For one resident doctor, however, the conversation left her questioning whether there should even be a second meeting. In a video shared on Sunday, July 26, 2026, Dr. Pao Perez, who goes by @paoperez.md on Instagram, recalled how a Hinge date repeatedly dismissed the work she does as an anesthesia resident. Even after she tried to explain her role, his comments only became more surprising, and learning about his own profession left her even more taken aback.
Dr. Perez explained that the date began with a conversation about their jobs after they met through Hinge. When she told him she was an anesthesia resident, he immediately responded that "being a doctor is easy." He claimed anesthesiologists simply put patients to sleep and even mentioned that his friend's mother had the same job, saying they joked she was paid a lot for "just sitting." She calmly explained they were being paid for their expertise and responsibility, describing it as "defending my specialty." Despite that, he continued insisting her work was easy. She was even more surprised when she later learned that he worked as an art dealer.
Dr. Perez shared that the conversation became even more frustrating because of the day she had just finished. She had been awake since 4:30 in the morning, handled multiple cases, managed an emergency patient, and worked until 7 p.m. before going straight to meet him for their 7:30 date. She also explained that she was on call every three days as part of her residency. Respect for another person's work begins with taking the time to understand what their role truly involves.
Even after hearing about her demanding schedule, the man replied, "Yeah, I get it. I am on call every day." His response left the woman speechless because she felt he continued to dismiss everything she had explained about her profession. Looking back at the date, Dr. Perez chose to laugh about the experience instead of dwelling on it. Reflecting on dating as a 28-year-old single resident doctor, she jokingly asked, "Should I give up now or try again?" While she shared the story with humor, she also showed how discouraging it can feel when someone judges a profession without understanding the skill and responsibility behind it.
A person who feels the need to put down someone else's profession reveals more about themselves than their date. In another incident, a woman shared how a match from a dating app spent several minutes criticizing his previous date, calling her career a "red flag," complaining about her dinner choices, and criticizing the fact that she was a content creator. As they continued talking, he revealed he was still unsure about his own career path and was currently working as a bodyguard. The conversation ended after he asked her to bring him a souvenir from Paris, leaving her to conclude, "Figure it out. Stop pivoting. Make a decision."
For more dating stories, follow @paoperez.md on Instagram.