To say that when dating, you should never tell a man you’re alone is this world?

This

Yes, an isolated, lonely woman with no support network is easier prey for a predatory or abusive man.

But you don't need an imaginary man.

You need real friends (women) and a real network of people.

And in any case, I'm not sure telling a man you are dating that you are isolated and lonely is very attractive and wouldn't suggest you say that in any case.

So I recommend not dating at all until you've built up a real life set of relationships and don't need to make up an imaginary uncle.

If the relationship goes anywhere, when do you explain he was imaginary anyway?

Don't be daft, you can't invent people. I agree that appearing vulnerable at the start of a relationship can be a problem. I also don't think women should tell new partners about any ill treatment from other men. That's completely different from inventing people, though. Do you realise how crazy that sounds?

OP, how are you able to post from the 19th century?!

Women who have 'father figures' in their lives still get raped, murdered and abused by men they date. Inventing an uncle isn't going to achieve anything except making everyone think you're insane.

The problem is being vulnerable and easy to manipulate. Women with poor self esteem and who can’t identify early red flags will be vulnerable to predatory men regardless of whether they make up a protective figure to name drop, because they can’t (or don’t want to) recognise when a man is showing poor behaviours or is just a bit of a bum and not somebody she should be continuing to date. It’s why it’s so important for women with a history of abusive or poor relationships to work through these and identify what it was that led them to those situations and why they weren’t able to leave, and spend some time single learning to be happy with themselves, before they begin dating again.

This.
Painting an "I'm alone in the world, there's only you, you're my everything" picture is vulnerable and dangerous.

Being alone but perfectly self sufficient is fine.

Inventing random protective men is nuts.

Ah yes, because every true love story is built on the immediate lack of trust and make believe "protectors"

Nonsense.

I’ve got a wonderful stepdad, and a particularly protective brother.

They were absolutely no use when my ex boyfriend tried to murder me, in the house that they didn’t live in so obviously weren’t there.

It was also my mother broke his nose, in fairness.

All well and good having protective people around you, unless they follow you everywhere you go, they’re not going to save you.

Thats crazy! I agree with the general point about not making yourself appear vulnerable to a man but inventing a male protector and dropping his name into conversation is absolutely batshit!

I don’t require a man to ‘protect’ me and therefore I wouldn’t invent one. It’s fucking weird.