Scientist who worked at NASA slams sexist Hinge match who asked if she was 'the receptionist'

A planetary scientist who worked for NASA had to call out a man she matched with on a dating app after he, in peak sexist fashion, "joked" that she was probably "the receptionist." Dr. Lauren McKeown, a lecturer in planetary surfaces from Ireland who previously worked at the NASA space center in California, took to Twitter a few years ago to share the cringeworthy exchange. Pointing to the definitely-not-funny conversation, she wrote: "And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am single." She also revealed how she fired back at the failed flirtation attempt with a response that's sure to have left a lasting impression on him.

McKeown shared two screenshots of her conversation with a man identified only as Mikey on the dating app Hinge after he left a comment on her profile where she mentions the part about having worked for NASA. "That's cool, wait 'til I tell my parents," Mikey wrote, following which McKeown invited him to start a conversation with her, an option within the app that lets users tell other people that they are open to talking to them. However, Mikey blew his chance royally as once he was invited to start the conversation, his opening line was: "So what are you, like the receptionist?"

Seemingly harboring gross misconceptions about his own supposed charm, he added: "[Just kidding] you look reasonably smart." Although most women would have responded to sexist Mikey with a few choice words, Dr. McKeown was polite enough to refrain from it. Instead, she wrote: "Smart enough to know at least, that judging a woman's intelligence based on her appearance might not be the best way to initiate conversation. P.S. my mother is a primary school receptionist and is the wisest, most inspirational, and kindest person I know. So much so in fact, my Ph.D. thesis in planetary science is dedicated to her."

As you can imagine, the Twitterverse had a whole lot to say about the cringey exchange. "I think Mikey has a case of 'fragile male ego which cannot handle a smart and awesome woman being superior to him,'" wrote @ThisisLLN. "It doesn't sound like Mikey has realized that women are also human beings," commented @ZacTrolley to which McKeown replied: "I think it's something we don't talk about much on here - that people still THINK it’s a compliment to imply your appearance doesn't align with 'how a scientist looks.' The most infuriating part is this guy probably thought he was implying I looked good by that statement."

"Simultaneously insulting everything I've worked for, scientists HE might not deem conventionally attractive, and hardworking people who might not be academic, but could trump me and him in other ways," she added. Meanwhile, there were also some who attempted to defend Mikey. "He was just trying to neg you. Clearly, he's not good at it," tweeted @fabgenovese. McKeown, a clear expert in shutting down such sexist behavior, responded with a solid burn. "Ah, so there's another term for putting someone down and thinking that will attract them.. the only one I could think of was Narcissism," she wrote.

Some women also shared their own experiences with having worked at NASA and the sexist experiences they've had to go endure because of it. "Ugh. Once had a guy break up with me after I gave him a tour of where I was working on a Mars mission because he said he thought I was lying about working for NASA and he has to be the smarter one in the relationship. Wtf," revealed @PlanetaryKeri. "When I started working at a new NASA facility, someone assumed I needed directions and I was pointed in the direction of the gift shop..," tweeted @megsylhydrazine.