Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think I need to end this, he's messing me about

40 replies

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 18:56

Someone I've been 'seeing' if you can even call it that.
In the beginning he was good at texting, now doesn't reply to lots of them or takes over a day.

It's not that I mind, it's just that he didn't used to. I did ask him about it and he said 'oh I'm just rubbish at texting' but like I say he didn't used to.

Not saying at all that someone has to text constantly and reply immediately, not in the slightest. But when they ignore almost 50% of your texts, it's hard to feel special.

So I stop texting for a bit then he's friendly/flirty again.

We've been out a few times for drinks and to a film etc. I was going on a day trip to a city about an hour and a half from where we live. I casually asked him if he wanted to come and he looked at me like I had two heads or something. Made me feel embarrassed tbh.

I feel like it's mainly me initiating tbh. He's never said anything sweet or really bought me much other than a drink.
It's only been around 6 weeks, but it's just not making me feel special at all, quite the opposite. He's 31, you'd think he'd be a little more mature but maybe not.
He said 'i'll try and get better and texting you back ' , wow I can see where I am on the priority list.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
IcyPenguin101 · 08/06/2024 12:55

Sorry to say, he’s just not that into you. It’s been mere weeks and if you are already feeling like that, it’s not great. Next!!

pikkumyy77 · 08/06/2024 12:41

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 19:05

That's what I've seen advocated on here soo many times.

"play it a bit cooler and you'll get him interested/wanting you more".

No, you have misunderstood. You can’t make anyone do anything. Avoidant or uninterested guys will avoid, pursuers will pursue. Just be yourself. Let him be himself. Or if you do get together with the fake/ forced version you will both be miserable.

Flowerpower2022 · 08/06/2024 10:32

I think this is about valuing yourself more highly than you are doing currently. You know what good looks like, you know how you want to be treated and what you deserve. His behaviour doesn’t meet the bar. Don’t lower the bar. Get rid. It’s a bit old now but I found the book “He’s just not into you” very helpful in situations like this. And there will be men out there who are into you and will make the effort. Good Luck!

AgreeableDragon · 07/06/2024 23:01

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 20:44

I don't get why women are conditioned to act like this. It's on here constantly, apparently men love it when women let them lead, make the first move etc etc. It's sad.

Not sure what you've been reading, but I've never seen that type of advice on here.

StormingNorman · 07/06/2024 22:08

It’s not supposed to be this hard this early on. Cut your losses and find someone who’s excited to chat to you. You deserve more than this guy can give you.

WaltzingWaters · 07/06/2024 22:00

I used to put up with this shit. Feel so stupid about it now. Find someone who treats you better and doesn’t make you second guess everything.

pictoosh · 07/06/2024 21:45

Must agree with @ahagiraffe to an extent...I'm not particularly interested in texting. I don't value it as a means of communication other than to relay information. I cba tapping out chatty texts just to say hello etc.

However, that asides, I'm more persuaded by his reaction to the suggestion of a trip away. If he was in it to win it, he'd have jumped at the chance.
I wouldn't have liked that reaction at all. Cold water moment.

JamSandle · 07/06/2024 21:43

If they're lazy in the beginning, I don't see much point.

Spirallingdownwards · 07/06/2024 21:33

WilliamButt · 07/06/2024 20:46

Oh ffs. Someone always has to come out with something like this. It is not normal in the early days of dating someone that you like to take a day to respond to a simple text. It just isn't.

In your world maybe but in the normal world people have work and other things happening and aren't constantly staring at a screen. 🤣

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 20:56

ahagiraffe · 07/06/2024 20:55

From a different perspective I would hate all the texting between dates, I'd feel like someome was really insecure and needy if they kept doing this.

I understand that, I don't constantly text at all and I don't reply immediately to anything. I mean it's taken him 30 hours to reply to one sentence kinda thing.

OP posts:
ahagiraffe · 07/06/2024 20:55

From a different perspective I would hate all the texting between dates, I'd feel like someome was really insecure and needy if they kept doing this.

DaisyChain505 · 07/06/2024 20:52

You shouldn’t have to second guess how someone feels about you.

If they like you they’ll show it with respect, attention and affection.

You shouldn’t have to be working so hard for something as basic as text communication.

He’s showing you who he is and how he thinks you deserve to be treated. Listen to him and move on.

WilliamButt · 07/06/2024 20:46

Spirallingdownwards · 07/06/2024 19:03

Doesn't text for a whole day. Good grief no wonder phones and social media is wrecking young people's mental health.

Oh ffs. Someone always has to come out with something like this. It is not normal in the early days of dating someone that you like to take a day to respond to a simple text. It just isn't.

Cherrysoup · 07/06/2024 20:46

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 19:05

That's what I've seen advocated on here soo many times.

"play it a bit cooler and you'll get him interested/wanting you more".

Ffs, it shouldn’t be like this. Is he even vaguely bothered? It’s not meant to be hard work 6 weeks in. Clearly he doesn’t care enough.

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 20:44

LizzieBennett73 · 07/06/2024 20:43

You're not his doormat, don't let him treat you like one.

You're worth better.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 20:44

ManchesterLu · 07/06/2024 20:40

Don't play games by not texting him, or waiting for him to text first. Your communication ideals do not align. It's not going to work in the long term.

I don't get why women are conditioned to act like this. It's on here constantly, apparently men love it when women let them lead, make the first move etc etc. It's sad.

OP posts:
LizzieBennett73 · 07/06/2024 20:43

You're not his doormat, don't let him treat you like one.

You're worth better.

ManchesterLu · 07/06/2024 20:40

Don't play games by not texting him, or waiting for him to text first. Your communication ideals do not align. It's not going to work in the long term.

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 20:33

RedHelenB · 07/06/2024 20:21

You're the one that keeps messaging not him.

He has also initiated sometimes. Also he's capable of ending it himself, he's not some poor weak man who's being coerced into it.

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 07/06/2024 20:21

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 19:24

I guess they keep you dangling on like this in case there's nothing better 🙄

You're the one that keeps messaging not him.

Noseybookworm · 07/06/2024 20:10

It doesn't sound like he's that into you. Don't waste any more time on this! You deserve someone who's keen to spend time with you, and have fun with!

WigglyVonWaggly · 07/06/2024 19:38

I think an entire day is quite a long time to not reply when you’re in the early stages, just because this is normally when it’s the most exciting to hear from each other and he’d only need 60 seconds to send a reply. It sounds like it massages his ego to feel a bit in charge which is why you withdrawing a bit makes him suddenly get keen again. It might be that at this point he’s not sure how keen he is so he’s casual about messaging and sees no urgency - a bit like he might be with a mate - whereas you might place more weight on a quick reply. That would explain why he started off sending more and is now tailing off a bit. You have to be yourself: like you say, if you find you need to play mind games and treat him mean then you aren’t being authentic.

TheRomanticOutlaw · 07/06/2024 19:31

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 19:24

I guess they keep you dangling on like this in case there's nothing better 🙄

Yes, especially if you met on a dating app. All that choice, and it's so easy to find someone to date that some people never truly settle for what they have, even if you're a great match. Not saying he's definitely one of those but he's not relationship material.

Overpluckedmyeyebrows · 07/06/2024 19:28

TheRomanticOutlaw · 07/06/2024 19:26

He's not that interested in you, sounds like he wants to keep you on the back-burner. I bet if you stopped initiating stuff and texted less he'd step it up a bit, but only so he doesn't lose you completely. Obviously if you're an obsessive texter sending umpteen texts a day then it stands to reason he's not going to keep up, but doesn't sound like that. Just cut him loose, it's not going anywhere as a relationship.

Yeah exactly, I highly doubt me texting less would make him realise, wait a minute, I have feelings for this woman! Deffo doesn't work like that.

OP posts:
TheRomanticOutlaw · 07/06/2024 19:26

He's not that interested in you, sounds like he wants to keep you on the back-burner. I bet if you stopped initiating stuff and texted less he'd step it up a bit, but only so he doesn't lose you completely. Obviously if you're an obsessive texter sending umpteen texts a day then it stands to reason he's not going to keep up, but doesn't sound like that. Just cut him loose, it's not going anywhere as a relationship.

Swipe left for the next trending thread