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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To chuck it all in and buy some cats after bad experiences of OLD?

33 replies

Heybearu · 29/07/2024 06:03

Finally free from an abusive marriage, I got to the stage where I was excited to date.
The whole chatting bit was traumatic, so many very pornsick men out there who are really bold about very niche stuff. Not a pride but still not great. And then this guilt about the soon to be incels on there, whose profiles reek of loneliness :(.
I've met two men. One told me on date 4 he has 2 extra secret kids he didn't see,he was banned from driving and he'd been in prison ( and it wasn't an I've turned my life around kind of chat). And the second who I had actually a fair amount of hope in :( was this amazing lovely man with a public sector job, who was all about being transparent, was kind and fairly romantic...said he used coke very occasionally...then started saying how fatigued he was most days..and used coke twice in a week...so I feel like the fatigue is a needing stimulants kind of thing which isn't me at all and not something I van have in my life. Also I told him about a tax rebate I'd had that I was hoping to put some away towards a weekend away together..and the next day he told me about stuff he had in the pawn shop...which I felt was a hint ...he then used coke the next night..and that was also a red flag for me.
The third bit was wed talked a lot about boundaries and id explained that if I was having sex with someone for me that would be within an exclusive relationship...he was all on board for this in the chat and all like yep I'm going to make you mine...then after the next day was like 'well we are hanging out aren't we..' which was a bit crushing when we had a good time, and all before has been like I feel like this is destiny with you etc etc....so I called that to a close.

Next steps cat rescue right?
I can't bring myself to go back on match.

OP posts:
xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 29/07/2024 06:25

Not unreasonable.

But beware cats are like four legged children, who stamp their paws and answer back, and don't come in at night, then wake you up at 5am.

Okay maybe that's just my two! 😂

I can't help with the dating as I gave up but cats are the absolute best.

PortiasBiscuit · 29/07/2024 06:28

Happily married wife with cats here, think the cat woman thing can be a bit misogynistic actually,..

unsync · 29/07/2024 06:29

If it's companionship you are after, I recommend a dog. They bring so much pleasure. Since my marriage ended nearly seven years ago, I have not felt the need for another relationship. I don't think I ever will either, I just don't see what the benefit is.

Thehillsarealivewithbutterflies · 29/07/2024 06:39

A dog gets you out and about and then you might meet someone the old-fashioned way

Whoknowswhatanymore · 29/07/2024 06:42

Get cats and a dog! You’ll never be lonely! 👍🏻

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 29/07/2024 07:22

PortiasBiscuit · 29/07/2024 06:28

Happily married wife with cats here, think the cat woman thing can be a bit misogynistic actually,..

Really? Not everything is misogynistic these days. And I can't see how the OP's comment is.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 29/07/2024 07:24

You can't go wrong with cats.

FluentRubyDog · 29/07/2024 08:03

PortiasBiscuit · 29/07/2024 06:28

Happily married wife with cats here, think the cat woman thing can be a bit misogynistic actually,..

I see somebody is channeling their inner Sheldon today...

LlynTegid · 29/07/2024 08:06

Nothing wrong with having cats and being in a relationship. Don't equate the two as being mutually exclusive.

What you describe from online dating has been noted in many other threads. I wish there could be something akin to a 'bad man' (or woman where they exist) register, and such people be not able to be on any online dating site. Will never happen though.

Shockvote · 29/07/2024 08:08

I met DH on OLD but if anything happened to him, I think I’d just go for a cat or a dog. Not sure I could be arsed with anything else.

Sundaysunshine21 · 29/07/2024 08:25

Yes get the cats, they don’t mean you can’t date but you won’t regret the cats whether you find another relationship or not.

Catza · 29/07/2024 08:37

You have to relax a bit with OLD. Don' go with the expectation of finding "the one", go expecting to meet some people and have a good time.
Weed them out and quickly. Don't spend ages chatting online. You connect, exchange a few messages to make sure the man is not a total creep, then arrange to meet for a short walk and a coffee. Schedule 2-4 dates a week to get through the pool faster, make a shortlist and go from there.
I must have gone on dates with 20+ people before I met my partner but all in the space of 6 weeks. Kept it very light, no long-term planning or trips away (too early for that in most cases). Dropped them at the sign of the first red flag which typically is apparent on the second date, then moved on to the next batch.
I met some lovely people too with whom I didn't connect for one reason or another but we are still friends.

Sideorderofchips · 29/07/2024 08:39

I gave up on dating and now have 2 cats

Never been happier as cats don't lie to you or have a hidden agenda

CocoapuffPuff · 29/07/2024 08:39

Cats improve everything. Except your furniture. And carpets. Oh, curtains get shredded too. And they vomit on your clean bed then go for a snack.

Not much different from a bloke actually but way way cuter.

Highlighta · 29/07/2024 08:50

PortiasBiscuit · 29/07/2024 06:28

Happily married wife with cats here, think the cat woman thing can be a bit misogynistic actually,..

😂knew there would be one along soon enough.

OP, I absolutely do not blame you.

Although I am a dog person and quite honestly, he is the he only other male (other than the one I birthed) that I have full trust in.

OLD is horrendous. I went on three dates. With different people. All three were awful and I vowed there and then it was the last.

(One screamed at me as I was reversing to leave, that I was too close to a flower bed - I wasn't. One left me standing in the middle of the road dumfounded as he had gone off in a strop as I wouldn't go home with him after the date, and the last, well he was 15 years older than he said and never asked me one thing about me, just spoke about how much he hates his ex wife the whole time!)

That was 2 years ago and I am quite resigned in the fact that its just me and the dog now.

Limth · 29/07/2024 08:51

YABVU because you should rescue cats, not buy them.

Sansan18 · 29/07/2024 08:54

I'm a widow and I'm currently engaging in a fun flirtation with another dog walker. When you see a man a few times a week and get to know them slowly it's much more interesting than the pressure of a dating app. The only issue is that he's very sensitive to me being a widow and I'm not sure how we progress beyond our meetings in the park.Dating when you're older is complex and people have so much baggage.Id hate to have to wait 4 dates to realise someone is totally unsuitable.

OnlyFannys · 29/07/2024 08:57

Sideorderofchips · 29/07/2024 08:39

I gave up on dating and now have 2 cats

Never been happier as cats don't lie to you or have a hidden agenda

That's what they want you to think 😸

EauNeu · 29/07/2024 09:03

It's a numbers game for sure. I think there are decent blokes on there but in a small ratio. You need to have a filter that only lets the very best people through. And be prepared to walk away when they hint at situationship. Go on lots of first dates, don't chat to any one person for too long before you meet and don't get attached until you know what they're about

I think there's a very happy life to be had without a partner though as long as you have people or pets who love you

Anyotherdude · 29/07/2024 09:39

Get a dog - they are the best way of making friends! You can even go to places like cafes and pubs with them - and that could lead to meeting like minded people who become great friends, and who knows where that might take you? (Meeting people the old-fashioned, rather than the OLD way!)

Heybearu · 30/07/2024 06:38

Thanks all,
Very good point about rescuing cats or dogs...much preferable to rescuing abandoned men 😂

OP posts:
Useruserdoubleuser · 30/07/2024 06:52

Thanks for reminding me why I don’t want to bother with it.
As to whether or not to give up - much depends on what you want.
If you want to start a family it’s worth all the effort. If you already have DC and an established life it can be harder to put yourself through the stress. Your ex is out there too somewhere. Mine has a new partner which BAFFLES me!
Happy middle aged mum of three here. One cat. 🐈

HMTheQueenMuffin · 30/07/2024 07:00

Sundaysunshine21 · 29/07/2024 08:25

Yes get the cats, they don’t mean you can’t date but you won’t regret the cats whether you find another relationship or not.

Yes this.

Everyone needs a tiny furry overlord in their life, no matter what.

🐈

DifficultBloodyWoman · 30/07/2024 07:08

Yup. Get the cats.

dottiedodah · 30/07/2024 07:08

Cocoapuffpuff Wow that made me laugh "not so different from a bloke but way cuter!"