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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think most “nice guys” only act nice because they want sex?

95 replies

SnarkyOliveCrow · 15/09/2025 13:49

When men call themselves “nice guys”, I can’t help thinking it’s less about genuine kindness and more about hoping it leads to sex. AIBU to think “niceness” is often just a strategy?

OP posts:
OonaStubbs · 15/09/2025 17:42

How low would the birth rate be if men weren't hard wired to want sex?

Nothankyov · 15/09/2025 17:57

Doornon · 15/09/2025 17:38

I found your post from the off to be focused on telling women like me that not all men are bad, we are not stupid we know this. Some men are bad. We don’t need be informed some men are good men. That doesn’t protect women. At all.

And that was you perspective. But I would argue that in online forums we don’t (well at least I don’t) put all of my ideas and thoughts in one post. I am not three dimensional online - most people aren’t. And I think we need to consider that when responding to people. I didn’t assume from your posts that you are unaware that some men are good and some are bad. I spoke as a mother of boys and my worry in that specific moment. To assume I’m not aware of women’s struggle is not in anyway pushing the conversation forward or protecting women, it’s basically trying to shame me because I’m not feminist enough in your eyes. I don’t tend to assume what are other people are about based on a handful of posts. My post was not meant to be protecting women, it was my thoughts only at the time - I feel entitled to worry for my children. Are your posts protecting women? - if you think so can you elaborate why you think so? Because from my perspective they are only about belittling what I said by accusing me of telling women things and assuming that I think women (which I am one of them) are stupid. All of those are assumptions and things that you interpreted not that I said. Again, you don’t know me and have no idea what I have done (or not done) for women. So kindly consider that when responding.

Dandelionsarepretty · 15/09/2025 18:44

A man at my hobby group recently asked me to go on a date. I declined and he complained bitterly how it wasn’t fair because he was a nice guy and i wasn’t giving him a chance. Since then his behaviour towards me has become increasingly concerning and he’s been told he’s not welcome. This isn’t the first time I’ve had problems with men who describe themselves as nice guys.

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:02

Nothankyov · 15/09/2025 15:35

Well I disagree - the very title is a generalisation of what she perceives as “Nice Guys”.

But in defining specifically what she means in her posts it’s the opposite of generalising.

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:06

OonaStubbs · 15/09/2025 15:57

All men want sex. "Nice guys" and "bad boys" alike. So isn't better to have a nice man than a bad man?

It’s better to have a man you are interested in, compatible with and attracted to in addition to them being “nice”.

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:07

Didimum · 15/09/2025 15:58

I’m sure no one thinks this either. Likely they’re annoyed at women going for fuck boys when it’s so obvious they are shitty. I always recall getting quite annoyed with then for the same!

Yet they never get this angry at men who go for terrible women.

Strange.

stayathomer · 15/09/2025 19:09

I’d say they’re just … nice?! Do we really think half of the population of the world are just conniving schemers? I feel sorry for men sometimes!

Valeyard15 · 15/09/2025 19:09

So isn't better to have a nice man than a bad man?

'Nice' isn't the same as 'good', so a nice person can still be a bad person.

Chiseltip · 15/09/2025 19:09

SnarkyOliveCrow · 15/09/2025 13:49

When men call themselves “nice guys”, I can’t help thinking it’s less about genuine kindness and more about hoping it leads to sex. AIBU to think “niceness” is often just a strategy?

😂

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:10

Disturbia81 · 15/09/2025 16:26

Most men have sex as the goal, even the nicest are working towards it. Once you see it for what it is, instead of resenting it just join them at their game.

This is why I am single with no desire to change that!

RingoJuice · 15/09/2025 19:11

we have known for a very long time that self-described ‘nice guys’ are no such thing at all.

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:12

OonaStubbs · 15/09/2025 17:42

How low would the birth rate be if men weren't hard wired to want sex?

It would be the same as it is now

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:14

Dandelionsarepretty · 15/09/2025 18:44

A man at my hobby group recently asked me to go on a date. I declined and he complained bitterly how it wasn’t fair because he was a nice guy and i wasn’t giving him a chance. Since then his behaviour towards me has become increasingly concerning and he’s been told he’s not welcome. This isn’t the first time I’ve had problems with men who describe themselves as nice guys.

I have experienced similar and also been told that being equally “nice” and friendly in response to a man’s niceness was “leading them on”.

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:14

stayathomer · 15/09/2025 19:09

I’d say they’re just … nice?! Do we really think half of the population of the world are just conniving schemers? I feel sorry for men sometimes!

“Nice Guys” not nice guys.

Didimum · 15/09/2025 19:22

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:07

Yet they never get this angry at men who go for terrible women.

Strange.

Not ever encountered the ‘anger’. Seems a bit niche.

Male anger is a problem across the board however.

Disturbia81 · 15/09/2025 19:27

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:10

This is why I am single with no desire to change that!

Yes I stay single too and just use them for what I need at a specific time, but don’t let emotions get the better of me.
To be honest all the men I’ve had relationships with have been more mushy and emotional than me, but sex is at the forefront and seems to rule all their decisions. I love sex but I don’t want my life dictated by it, or to be manipulated by a man because he wants it.

Nothankyov · 15/09/2025 19:30

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:02

But in defining specifically what she means in her posts it’s the opposite of generalising.

“ Nice Guys” is a term used to define a sub group of men that expect something of women because they say they are nice guys correct? But in fact aren’t? I don’t think I ever came across the term used as such and I now understood it (from someone else’s post who spells it out for me)

MemorableTrenchcoat · 15/09/2025 19:30

JHound · 15/09/2025 19:12

It would be the same as it is now

How do you figure that? The reason men want sex is because the ones who were less keen on it died out hundreds of thousands of years ago. That clearly wasn't a winning reproductive strategy. We know this, because men want sex!

Anchorage56 · 15/09/2025 19:37

Most nice guys I've come across are definitely nice guys. I actually think they are too nice. The only time I've noticed men describing themselves as nice is on dating apps and when they mention the whole nice guys finish last thing in their profiles. A lot of the time i think they are disgruntled that they lose out to the attractive bad boy types but I can understand that. Online dating must be a bit harder for men who are genuinely nice but perhaps a bit plain.

Account734 · 15/09/2025 20:00

I don't believe any truly nice guy would ever call himself a nice guy. Same for people who call themselves kind or generous. Never found it to be the case. People who are nice, kind or generous are called that by people who know them, not by themselves because they just think that behaviour is just normal.

I'd take any guy calling himself as a nice guy as a red flag. He is trying to manipulate your perception of him without letting you find out who he really is.

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