The Red Flag Spectrum

Not every concerning behavior is a dealbreaker. Red flags are warning signs that warrant attention and conversation — showing up late, being rude to waitstaff, talking only about themselves. They might indicate character flaws, or they might indicate a bad day.

A single red flag is data. A pattern of red flags is a verdict. The person who was rude to one waiter might have been having a terrible day. The person who's rude to every service worker is showing you who they are. Context matters, but patterns don't lie.