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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I say something?

82 replies

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:24

I'm having a bit of a dilemma, so thought some outside perspectives might be helpful.

I've got a friend, who I've known for a while, but generally keep a bit at arms length for various reasons - most of all because he seems to have very narcissistic tendencies. He's been seeing his current girlfriend for almost a year and, from what I can tell, it's a very up and down relationship. The main issue is that he's constantly slagging her off - bitchy about her past relationships, friends, the way she acts when she's had a drink, doesn't seem to trust her (he goes through her phone regularly, although I don't think she knows) and is incredibly dismissive of her opinions or when she defends herself. The thing is, he says all this to me, but doesn't say it in that way to her. It's more that he'll say something like "it just hurts that you had these past experiences, but I don't want you to feel guilty", but then calls her a slag to me. I call him out on it constantly, particularly if I see him face to face on occasion, but he says it's all on her. I've nearly ended our friendship over it, but I feel like I kind of need to fight her corner a bit. He's been no angel himself, so it's very hypocritical - and he's not told her anything about his history as "she doesn't need to know".

Anyway, he's told me he's planning to propose, and that she should feel honoured that he's giving her this opportunity!!! I suspect it'll be this huge romantic gesture, with no mention of that. And I suspect he's probably ground her down so much that she'll genuinely feel grateful! Otherwise, I can't see how she's stayed in the relationship!

I guess my IABU is, would it be awful of me to try to contact her (we've never met - we live at opposite ends of the country) to warn her, or should I just stay out of it - it's none of my business.

OP posts:
waterlellon · 07/03/2024 15:25

Yes you should. She might not listen.

AllEars112232 · 07/03/2024 15:27

I think I'd contact her if it was me. That of course will blow your friendship up.
But do you need a friend like him?

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:29

waterlellon · 07/03/2024 15:25

Yes you should. She might not listen.

Yes, I have thought that too. I guess at least I knew I'd tried. I'd certainly want to know if it were me.

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 07/03/2024 15:30

When he said those things like she should be honoured, are they on text, or via call? It's just if I had it in writing I'd send the relevant screenshot, if not he'll make you out to have a crush on him and that you're insanely jealous and it'll make no difference

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:30

AllEars112232 · 07/03/2024 15:27

I think I'd contact her if it was me. That of course will blow your friendship up.
But do you need a friend like him?

Thank you. Yes, it would definitely end our friendship, but quite honestly I'd be fine with that at the moment! It's really highlighted how deeply disrespectful he is towards women!

OP posts:
TwilightSkies · 07/03/2024 15:31

What do you get out of the friendship??

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:32

Sparklfairy · 07/03/2024 15:30

When he said those things like she should be honoured, are they on text, or via call? It's just if I had it in writing I'd send the relevant screenshot, if not he'll make you out to have a crush on him and that you're insanely jealous and it'll make no difference

Oh it's all on text, thank goodness! I see where you're coming from though. He could easily say "Oh, she just wants me etc.), but I have the messages he's sent and the messages I've sent in return calling him out on it.

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 07/03/2024 15:35

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:32

Oh it's all on text, thank goodness! I see where you're coming from though. He could easily say "Oh, she just wants me etc.), but I have the messages he's sent and the messages I've sent in return calling him out on it.

I would absolutely do it then if she can see it in black and white and not just have to take your word for it/listen to his lies.

It will shatter her illusion of him but she can't deny it to herself. Even if she convinced herself he didn't mean it, the only other option is he's saying those things TO YOU because he fancies you. I know you haven't indicated he does of course, but in her mind those are the only two scenarios and neither are good.

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:36

TwilightSkies · 07/03/2024 15:31

What do you get out of the friendship??

Honestly, absolutely nothing. I've literally never ended a friendship before, so I've tried to avoid it as I know I'll feel bad in some way. I did block him for a while, but then unblocked when I knew his dad was having major surgery as I thought he'd be worried about him. I've only stuck around recently as I feel someone should be fighting his gfs corner a bit.

OP posts:
AllEars112232 · 07/03/2024 15:40

I've had a couple of friends whose lives have been devastated because of their "partners" narcissistic abuse. If I had known them what I know now, I world definitely have said something to them sooner.
You might meet with resistance from this woman. Or she might be very grateful she found out about him now. Either way, you have nothing to lose.

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 15:41

I've got a friend, who I've known for a while, but generally keep a bit at arms length for various reasons - most of all because he seems to have very narcissistic tendencies.

ah one of those mumsnet friendships where the OP seems to despise the “friend” but still remains in what seems very close contact with them and knows the minutia of their life 😆

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:42

Sparklfairy · 07/03/2024 15:35

I would absolutely do it then if she can see it in black and white and not just have to take your word for it/listen to his lies.

It will shatter her illusion of him but she can't deny it to herself. Even if she convinced herself he didn't mean it, the only other option is he's saying those things TO YOU because he fancies you. I know you haven't indicated he does of course, but in her mind those are the only two scenarios and neither are good.

No, neither option is good really. He has said a couple of times that he and I should have got together back in the day, but also knows I'm very happily married and hasn't said that while they've been together. Just the thought makes me feel ill.

I'm just so worried that she's fallen for someone who, from what I can tell, despises her sometimes. He'll send me screenshots of their conversations sometimes and he's all nicey nicey, but it's very emotionally controlling.

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:44

AllEars112232 · 07/03/2024 15:40

I've had a couple of friends whose lives have been devastated because of their "partners" narcissistic abuse. If I had known them what I know now, I world definitely have said something to them sooner.
You might meet with resistance from this woman. Or she might be very grateful she found out about him now. Either way, you have nothing to lose.

Thank you. Yes, maybe better to be armed with the info at least and then she can make up her own mind.

I hope your friends are doing much better now - it's an awful position to be in.

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:48

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 15:41

I've got a friend, who I've known for a while, but generally keep a bit at arms length for various reasons - most of all because he seems to have very narcissistic tendencies.

ah one of those mumsnet friendships where the OP seems to despise the “friend” but still remains in what seems very close contact with them and knows the minutia of their life 😆

Lol - I only know everything because he tells me! I certainly don't ask. He doesn't appear to have any other friends, which is why I suspect I get bombarded.

In all honesty, I shouldn't really refer to him as a friend as I do despise him at the moment. From a psychological perspective, I've always found him a bit interesting, but now it's actually potentially affecting someone else, I'm concerned.

OP posts:
perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 15:51

Lol - I only know everything because he tells me!

You keep him at arms length? 🤔

So how does he get the opportunity to tell you so much?

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 15:53

.* I am just so worried that she's fallen for someone who, from what I can tell, despises her sometimes*

But you actually say you “Despise him” and yet…. your friends with him.

Who knows what he says about you to her

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:55

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 15:51

Lol - I only know everything because he tells me!

You keep him at arms length? 🤔

So how does he get the opportunity to tell you so much?

Arms length as in I try to avoid seeing him (which is quite easy given I work and have children). He texts every single day, sometimes for whole evenings. I end up muting him. Maybe he's lonely - I honestly don't know. I've always been a people pleaser (although I actually don't like that term), so I do tend to get back to him when I can. And sometimes his messages are actually quite normal - grumbles about work etc.

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 15:59

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 15:53

.* I am just so worried that she's fallen for someone who, from what I can tell, despises her sometimes*

But you actually say you “Despise him” and yet…. your friends with him.

Who knows what he says about you to her

I guess it's more that I despise how he is about her. And that makes me dislike him for it.

Goodness knows what he says about me! I guess she can tell me if I do get in touch.

OP posts:
perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:05

in all likelihood this woman won’t believe you (she will probably start a mumsnet thread about it!)

So in all shoes (not that i could imagine having any kind of contact with this person) i simply would stop replying to any of his messages. Just ghost him. Should be easy enough if you don’t ever see him 🤷

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:07

I guess it's more that I despise how he is about her. And that makes me dislike him for it.

So this issue aside… he is a decent guy that you keep at arms length due to various reasons mainly his narcissism?

hopscotcher · 07/03/2024 16:11

I'm erring on the side of keeping quiet. How would you put it to her? "Just to warn you X is planning a big, romantic proposal, but he calls you a slag behind your back"? I can't see that would go well...can see the moral dilemma though.

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:14

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:05

in all likelihood this woman won’t believe you (she will probably start a mumsnet thread about it!)

So in all shoes (not that i could imagine having any kind of contact with this person) i simply would stop replying to any of his messages. Just ghost him. Should be easy enough if you don’t ever see him 🤷

I do see him on occasion, but only if I'm in the city, which isn't very often. So yes, I could potentially just ghost him.

To answer your other question, I'd describe him as just quite interesting because of his views on the world. I think I've stuck around previously as it doesn't seem like he has anyone else. He works and that's it, apart from his gf. I've always tried to be supportive as best I can, but it's this situation that's just made me see an extra worrying side of him. And, as mentioned, I'm concerned for her.

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:14

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:05

in all likelihood this woman won’t believe you (she will probably start a mumsnet thread about it!)

So in all shoes (not that i could imagine having any kind of contact with this person) i simply would stop replying to any of his messages. Just ghost him. Should be easy enough if you don’t ever see him 🤷

I do see him on occasion, but only if I'm in the city, which isn't very often. So yes, I could potentially just ghost him.

To answer your other question, I'd describe him as just quite interesting because of his views on the world. I think I've stuck around previously as it doesn't seem like he has anyone else. He works and that's it, apart from his gf. I've always tried to be supportive as best I can, but it's this situation that's just made me see an extra worrying side of him. And, as mentioned, I'm concerned for her.

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:15

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:05

in all likelihood this woman won’t believe you (she will probably start a mumsnet thread about it!)

So in all shoes (not that i could imagine having any kind of contact with this person) i simply would stop replying to any of his messages. Just ghost him. Should be easy enough if you don’t ever see him 🤷

I do see him on occasion, but only if I'm in the city, which isn't very often. So yes, I could potentially just ghost him.

To answer your other question, I'd describe him as just quite interesting because of his views on the world. I think I've stuck around previously as it doesn't seem like he has anyone else. He works and that's it, apart from his gf. I've always tried to be supportive as best I can, but it's this situation that's just made me see an extra worrying side of him. And, as mentioned, I'm concerned for her.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 07/03/2024 16:16

I'd say I have been in a relationship with someone, and then vented about them to my friend. Not to the point of discomfort on their part no doubt.
But you don't really know what their relationship is like. He's telling you the bad stuff. Most people don't gush to their mates about how lovely their partner is.
He sounds a bit of an arsehole, but she must know this already. I think to confront her about it would be overstepping the mark a bit.
Tell him to stop slagging her off to you, and you will shut down any conversation about it if he tries. If he wants to propose to her, then she can decide for herself.