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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I overreacting? AIBU?

55 replies

HowNowBrownCow12 · 07/06/2019 12:05

Am I overreacting? I can't tell.

My (former) friend (male) has really poor boundaries. It's always been a bit of a problem - he asks fairly intrusive questions often (wants to know about my past, my relationships, even has asked about my sex life - that sort of thing), is known to message at all times of day and night and keep messaging until he gets a response at times, and it's not unusual to tell him I went out on a Friday night and for him to ask - where did you go? who did you go with? what did you talk about? It's always left me feeling a little odd but I've used various strategies over the years to deflect/deal/change the subject etc. We talk every day online and if I don't respond to a message he'll always follow it up with another. It's been intense, but a friendship I still gained a lot from.

About a month ago we had a fairly free and frank conversation about our love lives - he asked me a lot of questions, and we talked about his too. He didn't like some of the advice I gave him so said afterwards he was never talking to me about dating again. Fine, I said, also feeling a little relieved as I didn't like his questions about my love life anyway.

Over the past month we've still talked often (most days) about some big things too, and he has asked me about my love life. I have still not asked about his - I don't actually really care that much, and he had said he didn't want to talk about it, fine. But - it's really hard to talk to someone every day and avoid asking them what they are doing at the weekends/evenings as if he was dating I didn't want him to feel awkward about telling me. So we keep having these odd conversations about what I am doing, in which he didn't say anything about what he was up to in his spare time.

Then he started saying things like "I've been out so much recently" and "I need to drink less" "I need to get some sleep", and still I didn't ask. It came to a head yesterday when he said he'd had a great evening and I asked what he had done and he said that he wouldn't tell me because it's that thing we won't talk about.

I reacted badly - said he'd been hinting at me to ask - and that I found it really awkward and weird not feeling like I can ask him anything about his life. He said that's too bad, that's just the way it's got to be because he's not talking to me about his love life anymore.

The conversation really upset me and now I am wondering if I even want him in my life, but also wonder if I am being a hypocrite and unreasonable for not letting him assert HIS boundaries? I just don't know and would welcome advice.

OP posts:
HelenRivington · 07/06/2019 12:07

He’s an idiot. Ditch him.

TurboTeddy · 07/06/2019 12:12

Sounds like bloody hard work with a lot of mind games. Life is too short and he's consuming too much mental energy. Let the friendship slide into a decline or just cut contact and move on.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 07/06/2019 12:15

what a fucking weirdo

Piffle11 · 07/06/2019 12:16

He's a controlling loon who is trying to punish you for you 'upsetting' him during the last big conversation. Don't just take a step back - run for the hills. Whatever you think you are getting from this relationship, it cannot be worth the mind games and self doubt you are now experiencing. GET RID NOW.

ThinkPinkStink · 07/06/2019 12:19

This guy sounds like an awful, self absorbed, bore.

You're better off without him, really.

HowNowBrownCow12 · 07/06/2019 12:21

Is it controlling?

I then asked him if he wanted to meet me for lunch - my attempt to deflect a weird conversation- and I then caught him in a lie about the reason he said no.

OP posts:
RitmoRatmo · 07/06/2019 12:23

What on Earth are you doing having such a bizarrely intense “friendship” with a bloke who is clearly wildly in love/obsessed with you? He’s jealous, nosey, controlling, poor boundaries, gossipy, clingy, plays games, acts like a toddler etc.

With ‘friends’ like this, who needs enemies?

Moneybegreen · 07/06/2019 12:24

He's a twat. Why are you friends with him?

Antigon · 07/06/2019 12:27

So we keep having these odd conversations about what I am doing, in which he didn't say anything about what he was up to in his spare time.

So why didn't you just say it's tit for tat, that you won't tell him anything either?

Ideally you should dump this friend, sounds like they just want to pry into your life and sex life.

What advice did you give him that he didn't like?

billy1966 · 07/06/2019 12:29

Don't concern yourself about this twats boundaries, focus on your own!

Why are you bothering with a controlling idiot?

ellendegeneres · 07/06/2019 12:31

It sounds to me like he wants to talk about your love lives to try and work out what you like, ie do you like him, what he can do to improve his chances.
Now saying it’s something he’s not talking about tells me you’ve said something ‘wrong’ in his eyes and he’s taking a huff. I’d let him huff the fuck off, don’t have time for controlling pricks like that

Chloemol · 07/06/2019 12:38

Just stop, now. Tell him you have been reflecting, his behaviour is out of order, you are no longer prepared to talk about your live life, or indeed anything, then block him

AlexaAmbidextra · 07/06/2019 12:42

You really have the time and energy for this? Ffs.

ImSoUnoriginal · 07/06/2019 12:43

Agree with all the above. You will be much better off without him in your life. Life is way too short for this crap.

FizzyGreenWater · 07/06/2019 12:44

Oh for fuck's sake.

SO tired of hearing about yet another woman prepared to run around practically disappearing up her own backside to mould herself into what some jumped-up little male shithead wants her to be/do/say.

How about just telling this person to fuck off? Can you IMAGINE him having a 'friendship' with another man run along these lines, of him even daring to be about 100th as petulant, demanding, bossy, controlling, and selfish?

He isn't a friend!!!

You said you get a lot from the friendship. I doubt that this 'friendship' gives you a fraction as much as it takes from you in self-esteem. Stop letting this twat get satisfaction from having someone he can bully. That's about the sum of what's happening here.

Stop answering his messages and when he starts harrassing you say 'I've had enough, this friendship is a crock of shit, go away.'

Whackitupto200 · 07/06/2019 12:45

This sounds bonkers and exhausting. It isn’t friendship.

whyohwhyowhydididoit · 07/06/2019 12:45

He doesn’t sound like much of a friend. Why do you persist with him? I’d let him drift off into the ether if I were you.

Drogosnextwife · 07/06/2019 12:47

He sounds exhausting and weird, why do you bother making an effort. He's enjoying the attention.

JustHereforHarriet · 07/06/2019 12:47

We might be able to unpick this better if we know what you said that was so offensive? Although my instincts tell me he’s just an attention seeking twat and you’ve carried this friendship for far too long.

FizzyGreenWater · 07/06/2019 12:47

And when he refuses to go away and carries on needling and harassing and 'wanting answers', give him some.

'You're a shit friend. You want one rule for you and one for me - you can still ask about my life but ooooh I can't ask about yours. Well no. Doesn't suit me, so you can fuck off.'

'You're nosey and bossy and always have been. You've always had crap boundaries, you've constantly pried into my private life and seem to think I should tell you anything, but if I do the same in return you go off in a huff. You're childish.'

'You're a bully, actually. Want the friendship all going one way - your way. I don't like it and I don't really like you any more.'

There's a few for starters. If you won't say that, ask yourself why - it's all true, isn't it?

QueenofallIsee · 07/06/2019 12:52

Your ‘friend’ is a controlling bully. Find your self respect and ditch him for goodness sake!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 07/06/2019 12:52

This 'friendship' just sounds like a pain in the arse to be honest.

What do you get out of it other than feeling 'odd', 'awkward' and 'weird?

life is too short for this. Spend time talking with other friends who value your opinion.

carla1983 · 07/06/2019 12:53

My first thought upon reading your post is that he is in love with you/has a thing for you, and that's why he has been asking so many persistent/inappropriate questions about your love life, what you've been up to when you go out, who you've been with, etc. But he's not liking the answers/ feeling like he's in with a chance, so he's making the friendship difficult or next to impossible by restricting what you can talk about.

He clearly has feelings for you and unless you feel the same, I'd ditch the friendship.

carla1983 · 07/06/2019 12:54

Even if you do feel the same as he does, he sounds like an inappropriate, controlling weirdo with rubbish boundaries.

TooTrueToBeGood · 07/06/2019 12:54

Is it controlling?

Who cares? It's clearly a head-fuck you can well do without and there is one guaranteed way to un-fuck your head. Get rid of him from your life.