History Main / PleaseDumpMe

* Done repeatedly on ''{{Seinfeld}}''. Tactics included suggesting a threesome, nosepicking, smoking and asking for a [[PrenupBlowup prenuptial agreement]]. Sometimes it worked, but more often than not, it backfired.

-->'''Dick''': Watch as I become the most obnoxious, repulsive creep any woman has ever met.\\

'''Dick''': I haven't done it yet!\\
-- ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''

* This is also the plot of nearly every ''JeevesAndWooster'' novel. Bertie is a... can't remember the word, start's with a ''p'', but he's got this thing where he can never say "no" to a woman. It's French. Anyway, Jeeves usually ends up doing something amazing to solve both his problem and the problem of the week at the same time. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertie_Wooster Preux chevalier]]'', that was it.

Reasons for this vary. Alan might know the relationship has to end, but he doesn't want to be the bad guy, especially if what's turning him off could be seen as shallow or insignificant by others. He might genuinely want to spare Barbara's feelings, and figures that she won't be heartbroken if she's the one who initiates the breakup. He might realize that [[RomanticFalseLead he's not the one she belongs with]], and does this to make her see that.

* Meredith thinks Derek is doing this at one stage in [[{{Ptitlespennt48}} Grey's Anatomy]], when he flirts with [[{{TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry}} her sister]]. It turns out he ''does'' want her to dump him, but it's because [[spoiler: she's always walking away from him and then coming back, and he loves her too much to leave her when she's a bitch to him.]] This is a bit rich, though - I mean, [[spoiler: who had the secret wife here, huh?]]

* [[HarryPotter Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown]], possibly.

Examples:

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Alan wants to end a relationship, but doesn't have the nerve to ''just say so.'' So he tries to get Barbara to break up first, [[JerkassFacade usually by engaging in unattractive behavior.]]

Almost always backfires; in fact, [[SpringtimeForHitler sometimes]] [[FetishFuel it just]] [[GeekyTurnOn makes things worse]]. Success typically results in NoReallyItsOkay if Alan hasn't pissed off Barbara too much.

NeedsABetterDescription

* Lucas tries this on [[DatingCatwoman Nadira]] in ''PowerRangersTimeForce''. They get back together after her HeelFaceTurn.

Alan wants to end a relationship, but doesn't have the nerve to ''just say so.'' So he tries to get Barbara to break up first, [[JerkAssFacade usually by engaging in unattractive behavior.]]

* ''[=~Ranma ½~=]'' had Ranma trying to do this to Ukyou in the "Secret Sauce" arc by pretending to be even more coarse and callous than he actually was. She saw right through his pathetic acting.

* [[spoiler: Yuno]] tires this in MiraiNikki, since she comes to want [[spoiler: Yukiteru]] to ''hate'' her.

* In ''Melinda&Melinda'', one of WoodyAllen's worse movies, the plot is told twice, once as a comedy and once as a tragedy. In the comic version, WillFerrell plays a husband who desperately wants to break up with his wife to run off with the eponymous Melinda, but can't think of an excuse to. He walks in, preparing to tell his wife that he was dumping her...only to find her in bed with another man. Will Ferrell immediately demands a divorce and leaves happier than he'd been the whole movie.

Almost always backfires; in fact, [[SpringtimeForHitler sometimes]] [[FetishFuel it just]] [[GeekyTurnOn makes things worse]].

* Since Alex is incapable of picking her nose without magic in WizardsOfWaverlyPlace she does this to get rid of Dean, backfires when he wants to help her get herself together, but when she finally blurts out the truth he agrees to dump her anyway.

* Morrigan does this in DragonAge.

Almost always backfires; in fact, [[SpringtimeForHitler Sometimes]] [[FetishFuel it just]] [[GeekyTurnOn makes things worse]].

* {{Johnny Bravo}} did this when he realized the mail order bride was a hefty swede girl, taking her to wrestling matches and other nontraditional dates to scare her off, only to find she loves the guy. [[SpringtimeForHitler Then he realizes he loves that she's not ashamed of her interest]], then he [[LeisureSuitLarry went back to his own self]] to impress her, only to get dumped.

[[AC:{{Webc Original}}]]
* TVGoHome has NathanBarley, who in one episode of his eponymous show "Cunt" tried to let his girlfriend down gently over a six month period, an endeavour which eventually results in his happy and lively girlfriend being sectioned (hospitalised against her will) under the 1986 Mental Health Act.

Alan wants to end a relationship, but doesn't have the nerve to ''just say so.'' So he tries to get Barbara to break up first, usually by engaging in unattractive behavior.

* Alan from the webcomic ''Avalon'' drew this out for ''three years'' with Helène.

* This was the entire plot of the movie ''HowToLoseAGuyInTenDays''.

* ''PennyAndAggie'' just had a page about it, with TheLibby advising the guy on what to say to drive her off.