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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:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:18

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.

Yes, this is very true - and exactly why I posted as I needed balanced opinions. Thank you :-)

OP posts:
PubicZirconia · 07/03/2024 16:21

Admit you have feelings for this guy....I am absolutely not buying the 'Ooh...do I say something?' spiel when he has clearly said obnoxious things and you're sticking around because 'he doesn't seem to have anyone else'.

Mmhmmn · 07/03/2024 16:22

I mean, what are the chances that she is happy with this awful man and not just totally cowed in a bad relationship by his awful behaviour? Surely slim! He sounds like a friend you’d want to lose so it’s worth doing something to help her out - whatever she sees and experiences in her relationship, she doesn’t know he’s saying thinking and saying these things about her.

He seems to despise her. Yet wants to trap her in marriage. So tired of these awful men that do this. Do her a favour.

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:22

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.

Yes, that's why I've held off. Part of me thinks it's absolutely none of my business. It's just worried me because of how venomous he is about her to me and then soppy soppy (but in a weird, making her feel bad way) in the messages he's sent me screenshots of.

Thank you - I appreciate your input :-)

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:23

PubicZirconia · 07/03/2024 16:21

Admit you have feelings for this guy....I am absolutely not buying the 'Ooh...do I say something?' spiel when he has clearly said obnoxious things and you're sticking around because 'he doesn't seem to have anyone else'.

Lol - I'm very happily married :-) But I guessed someone would think that.

OP posts:
CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:25

Mmhmmn · 07/03/2024 16:22

I mean, what are the chances that she is happy with this awful man and not just totally cowed in a bad relationship by his awful behaviour? Surely slim! He sounds like a friend you’d want to lose so it’s worth doing something to help her out - whatever she sees and experiences in her relationship, she doesn’t know he’s saying thinking and saying these things about her.

He seems to despise her. Yet wants to trap her in marriage. So tired of these awful men that do this. Do her a favour.

Yes, it's exactly that that made me think about contacting her. If it was just the usual grumbles that I'm sure we all have on occasion, it wouldn't be an issue, but it's vile how he speaks about her!

OP posts:
Mmhmmn · 07/03/2024 16:31

Sounds like he has a personality disorder.

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:35

Mmhmmn · 07/03/2024 16:31

Sounds like he has a personality disorder.

Honestly, I suspect he has.

OP posts:
perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:36

PubicZirconia · 07/03/2024 16:21

Admit you have feelings for this guy....I am absolutely not buying the 'Ooh...do I say something?' spiel when he has clearly said obnoxious things and you're sticking around because 'he doesn't seem to have anyone else'.

oh it’s all weird isn’t it

despises him but in very frequent contact with him

interested in his views on the world 😆

and sees him when she’s “in the city” (so presumably tells him she’s coming to the city

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:36

oh and it was the OP that restarted communication when she heard about his poorly father

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:37

@CountryMumof4 It's a tricky one. I wouldn't have the nerve but I often wish I did. It is completely interfering but sometimes people need to interfere. No advice really. I suppose I'd want her to know in an ideal world. Also, him texting you so much is very peculiar. I think he is actually having an emotional affair with you although you clearly aren't having one with him.

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:39

if i was contacted by a female “friend” of my boyfriend who i have never met nor ever likely to meet, sending me a message warning me about my boyfriend…. I would probably laugh, show friends and… show my boyfriend. The woman who my friend says he suspects has a crush on him giving me a “warning” 🙄

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:40

I would wager he talks similarly about you

let me guess…. his girlfriend isn’t the only female he denigrates?

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:41

@perplexedbutok she has evidence. If you were shown evidence of derogatory messages about you would you still laugh it off?

PubicZirconia · 07/03/2024 16:42

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:36

oh it’s all weird isn’t it

despises him but in very frequent contact with him

interested in his views on the world 😆

and sees him when she’s “in the city” (so presumably tells him she’s coming to the city

Exactly my thoughts

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:42

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:36

oh and it was the OP that restarted communication when she heard about his poorly father

Yes, I find them fascinating, as they're so far beyond my own views that I'm curious.

And yes, I did message him, as any normal person would if they knew someone's father was extremely ill.

With regards to seeing him, yes I've let him know and I've seen him for coffee on a handful of occasions. As I've mentioned, he doesn't appear to have any other friends and I've tried to be a decent person. Just recent events have made me extremely concerned.

OP posts:
perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:43

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:41

@perplexedbutok she has evidence. If you were shown evidence of derogatory messages about you would you still laugh it off?

So the OP has multiples of messages slagging off his girlfriend. I’d be fascinated to read her engagement with this daily multiple messages most evenings over the past year. I imagine the screen shots sent will be somewhat… cherry picked

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:44

Yes, I find them fascinating, as they're so far beyond my own views that I'm curious.

come on other posters… surely you can see what’s going on here! 😆

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:44

And yes, I did message him, as any normal person would if they knew someone's father was extremely ill.

before you restarted contact by messaging him…. how long had there been no contact?

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:45

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:37

@CountryMumof4 It's a tricky one. I wouldn't have the nerve but I often wish I did. It is completely interfering but sometimes people need to interfere. No advice really. I suppose I'd want her to know in an ideal world. Also, him texting you so much is very peculiar. I think he is actually having an emotional affair with you although you clearly aren't having one with him.

Yes, even my best friends don't text that often!
Thanks for your thoughts - much appreciated. It's a tricky situation.

OP posts:
Mumof2teens79 · 07/03/2024 16:45

Are you sure she's real?
You've never met her and only talk to him on text.
Sounds like he's trying to impress you/make you jealous....in some weird way.

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:47

perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:43

So the OP has multiples of messages slagging off his girlfriend. I’d be fascinated to read her engagement with this daily multiple messages most evenings over the past year. I imagine the screen shots sent will be somewhat… cherry picked

Op says her messages challenge what he's been saying. While it's fine to ask people if they might be deceiving themselves I think all this innuendo that you really know what's going on while the op is lying is a bit strange.

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:48

Mumof2teens79 · 07/03/2024 16:45

Are you sure she's real?
You've never met her and only talk to him on text.
Sounds like he's trying to impress you/make you jealous....in some weird way.

He's sent pics of them together, so I'm assuming so. I guess I'd never actually thought of that! It'd have to be pretty elaborate since he's sent screenshots of their chats (which is a bit odd).

OP posts:
perplexedbutok · 07/03/2024 16:49

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:47

Op says her messages challenge what he's been saying. While it's fine to ask people if they might be deceiving themselves I think all this innuendo that you really know what's going on while the op is lying is a bit strange.

fair enough

then go for it op

we both know you won’t though

after all you’re fascinated by him. And when you do go in to the city… you must tell him if that’s when you get together with him

CountryMumof4 · 07/03/2024 16:50

emmsee · 07/03/2024 16:47

Op says her messages challenge what he's been saying. While it's fine to ask people if they might be deceiving themselves I think all this innuendo that you really know what's going on while the op is lying is a bit strange.

Thank you. Yes, I'm finding it a bit bizarre too. But there we are.

Yes, I've 100% challenged him, as some of it has been awful.

OP posts: