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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Benefit of Dating Red flags in Hindsight

14 replies

AsIfItWereMusic · 25/07/2024 06:17

I found myself switching onto a new phone this evening, and felt curious to read back to my earliest messages from my ex of 4 years ago, which seems an age ago now.

The reason I did this, is that I am now again just on the point of dating someone new again who is an almost identical persona of my ex in a lot of ways.

I have just counted through the first ten text messages of my ex, and 2 of them are lies, just small lies, so small they never registered with me, even with the passing of time as the relationship progress. Let’s say that he had said he was growing sunflowers and dahlias in his garden as an example.

The lies were about seasonal vegetation growing in his back garden.
I never grew seasonal veg, so I was none the wiser back then!

I have only just noticed that discrepancy this evening, reading back.

Anyway. his main problem which had caused lots of issues in the relationship that finally caused it to all to end, had nothing to do with compulsive lying…

but now I think it was an early red flag to that I missed, which I maybe should be paying far more closer attention to now.

How common is it for people to tell outright fabrications in the first ten text messages when getting to know someone, especially if it turns out as such you end up being together for years, and you only spot the inconsistency well after the end of the relationship?

I’m not talking about scammers or playboys or what have you, because that’s not what happened… I’m only wanting to find out her how often people here expect it’s okay to lie in the earliest text messages?

My reason for asking is the meeting of someone here who seems to be extremely similar to my ex, and I’m thinking what percentage of this coming to know each other period I should consider lies?

How much of a lie is acceptable or normal to tel as you’re first getting to know someone? And most importantly, now much does the lie you tell reveal about yourself?

*Certain details were changed to preserve anonymity

OP posts:
Walkacrossthesand · 25/07/2024 06:27

I'm not dating, but I would think that discovering little fabrications very early on would put me right off. Even if what they were about seemed trivial, they suggest a person with a tenuous relationship with the truth, and I couldn't be doing with that. Shark cage activated!

AsIfItWereMusic · 25/07/2024 06:58

Walkacrossthesand · 25/07/2024 06:27

I'm not dating, but I would think that discovering little fabrications very early on would put me right off. Even if what they were about seemed trivial, they suggest a person with a tenuous relationship with the truth, and I couldn't be doing with that. Shark cage activated!

Don’t they say that the vast majority of people tell “white lies”?

I would suspect the number of “white-like” lies told at the very beginning dating to be almost 100% of the population?

I wouldn’t want it to be like that, but that might be the reality?

I don’t know, I’m not sure.

How do posters here respond? Can the majority claim there were never any fabrications?

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 25/07/2024 07:06

No most people don't lie. The white lies line refers to v occasional lies said to eg save someone's feelings eg "What a lovely dress you're wearing for this party Sue!".

Walkacrossthesand · 25/07/2024 07:27

Exactly, @JanglyBeads . Being less than forthright to spare someone's feelings is one thing. Randomly making stuff up for no reason other than to 'impress', is quite another.

behindthemall · 25/07/2024 07:30

How many lies are you telling?

But I think none is the acceptable number

Hairyesterdaygonetoday · 25/07/2024 07:30

I try never to lie, and certainly wouldn’t lie to impress someone. I would be very wary of someone who routinely told even trivial lies (other than as JanglyBeads says, to avoid hurting someone unnecessarily).

It’s disrespectful and a kind of power game, feeling clever because they’ve tricked someone. Any relationship you have with a liar is unstable because you don’t know what else they’re lying about.

TayceOnToast · 25/07/2024 07:34

Zero lies!

The only thing my partner (together 5 years) kept from me in the first year of our relationship was his farts

that was a good year

BCBird · 25/07/2024 07:37

No to lies. Not necessary

IDontHateRainbows · 25/07/2024 07:38

I don't see why I'd need to lie about what veg I grew in my garden.

Suggests insecurity to me

IDontHateRainbows · 25/07/2024 07:39

TayceOnToast · 25/07/2024 07:34

Zero lies!

The only thing my partner (together 5 years) kept from me in the first year of our relationship was his farts

that was a good year

Ah but reaching the point where you can unashamedly fart in front of the other ( or on DH and me's case, have a fart-off) is an important relationship milestone!

TayceOnToast · 25/07/2024 07:43

IDontHateRainbows · 25/07/2024 07:39

Ah but reaching the point where you can unashamedly fart in front of the other ( or on DH and me's case, have a fart-off) is an important relationship milestone!

Edited

Oh definitely 😂

A lot of laughter is had over farts in our house

Ponoka7 · 25/07/2024 07:43

People big themselves up. Some try to impress. Many will pretend to be interested in things they've never previously took any notice of. I think to a small degree all are acceptable and can come under white lies.

ManchesterGirl2 · 25/07/2024 08:01

I might simplify an overly complicated story. Or omit information that was too personal. (E.g. when asked what you did today, choosing not to mention a doctor's trip.) But beyond that, no.

PiffleWiffleWoozle · 25/07/2024 08:05

YABU for going out with someone who is similar to an ex full of red flags. Don’t do it.

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