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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is it acceptable to say another women is more attractive because she’s younger?

139 replies

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 20:32

After a year and a bit of OLD after losing my husband of 20 years I’ve had enough. I’ve met one full on narc, one womaniser, one very socially introverted and the other still in love with his ex. Plus not to mention about 50 more that have wasted my time texting just to fizzle.

so I went on Chat GPT and it told me to detox from all men for minimum of 6 weeks. Block all ex’s and dating apps. Apps had been deleted since October anyway. I’d just started and an American man added me as a friend on Instagram he’s 32 I’m 41. We’d been commenting on the same post. He described himself as very chilled out and nonchalant. Texts every day for a month but at times it’s been a bit slow or long I In-between due to time difference. Lately we started phoning each other most days, he has talked about having a fair few ex’s but has never lived with anyone, he lives with his mum and brother as rent is expensive. He’s says it’s his fault all previous relationships have ended as he didn’t prioritise the women’s needs. This was so refreshing compared to men here. If there is a pause in text time he will explain where he’s been and apologise.

he mentioned a few of his ex’s were Asian . So to cut a massive long story short, I’ve tried to end it a few times as I keep thinking logically where would-it go? I have 4 kids here 3 teenagers, I’m in my last year of nursing school. He has twice said I wish you all the best if you don’t think it will work I’m not going to convince you if your mind is made up but I’ve expressed that I think it could.

he’s also said a few times that he hopes I’m attractive to him. Plus he gushes if I say I’m starting to miss it when we don’t speak. We have a lot of jokey banter.

last night after a 3 hour phone call I said he was very cute and he said “ my looks?” I said no your personality but yes obviously I do think you’re good looking. I don't think he’s anything special I’d say a 5/6 at most but I like his personality. Then I flipped it and said “do you think I’m cute as you’ve never said”. So he phones me and said “ do I think you’re cute?” Then he said let me think about it, then he said mmmmm yes for a 41 year old but not compared to a 27 year old. I was gobsmacked, I asked what he meant and said I get loads of attention and he said yes what do men say? You’re attractive or you’re attractive for your age? He said everyone knows a women’s prime is in her 20s you can’t expect to compete. I didn’t try to compete. He said my body and long blonde hair would bump me up when I’m out that’s why I’d get attention. But he said if you looked at the face of a 24 year old and yours hers would be bette. He said if he was out with me, people would say I was attractive for my age but would say she’s 9 years older. He said if he was out with a 27 year old they would just say he was out with a 10 🤦‍♀️

every conversation is pretty much a debate. He said to me the other day that all parents have a favourite kid. When I said I don’t he said I was lying. He hasn’t got kids so he can’t know. He said from what other people have told him and what he sees he believes it’s true.

I messaged him this morning to say I was deeply offended and he said he understood and he was sorry he made me feel like that. I said that doesn’t really help to put my mind at rest. I said you could have just said I’m attractive but why the comparison and I said I just worry that he thinks I’m too old for him and every year I’d have an expiry date. He said he never said that ever but will let me think what I like.

I then left him a voice note saying I know he is a bit emotionally guarded and doesn’t like showing vunerabikity but sometimes I need reassurance especially when you’ve insulted me. I said if you message or ring me I’ll take it you want to build something still if you don’t then it’s a no. He’s had me on read for 4 hours. I’m really upset how that all turned so fast.

that was not a normal response from him was it? The more I think about it the weirder it goes. He’s also said he has no trouble cutting people off as he doesn’t feel stuff or even if he does he can still just walk away. Is this avoident behaviour? .

OP posts:
bumptybum · 08/03/2026 20:36

It may or may not be avoidant behaviour but it is 100% arse hole behaviour.

Why are you still even talking to him. Block. Move on. Don’t get stuck in the intermittent reinforcement loop.

ForAmusedHazelQuoter · 08/03/2026 20:38

It all sounds like a complete waste of time and energy.

Goditsmemargaret · 08/03/2026 20:39

OP he is an awful person. We are the same age and I'm surprised you can't see that after this amount of time dealing with men.

There was no need for him to say those things, unless he has no empathy he would have known they'd hurt you. And to be comparing you to some hypothetical 27 year old is just bizarre.

However yabu because you are still entertaining him, pursuing him in fact and trying to get him to re-engage. Really and truly after that conversation he deserved nothing more than "well this has given me a new perspective on you, I don't think we are compatible bye."

Am I correct that you haven't even met him? Block, delete and go have some fun.

ShabbaDabaDingDong · 08/03/2026 20:39

Yep, total waste of your time.

I’d also stop taking dating advice from ChatGPT.

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 08/03/2026 20:41

Life is too short for this much bloody drama.

AltitudeCheck · 08/03/2026 20:42

He is wasting your time... he lives in another country (with his mum at 32!) and you are an adult woman with kids. Never going to work, why are you even giving him the time of day?

Very basic game playing, saying something to deliberately make you feel insecure. Playing hard to get / avoidant to make you feel grateful or special when he gives you a few crumbs of attention.

Don't waste headspace trying to work him out, just decide he is not worth the effort, delete and move on.

hobbledyhoy · 08/03/2026 20:44

have a bit more respect for yourself and your time. Let him go.

OneOfEachPlease · 08/03/2026 20:45

Don't take emotional advice from chatGPT and get rid of this mad bloke!

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 20:47

I just can’t get my head around how sweet and lovely he’s been and very consistent for 4 weeks. All day every day, him chasing; him adding me, him constantly engaging.

I just can’t wrap my head around how bizarre it was. It’s like if someone asked if I thought J lo was attractive I’d say “ yes, and she looks great for her age” I wouldn’t said yes but compared to a women in her 20s no.

OP posts:
Squatbox · 08/03/2026 20:47

The fact that you are continuing to chat to and psycho analyse this absolute loser stranger after he was so unkind, socially backwards and odd shows that it honestly doesn’t matter what his problem is, you have a problem

Put the apps down. You honestly are going to be eaten alive if you see a full bunting of red flags and think it’s a party

ImmortalSnowman · 08/03/2026 20:49

Why haven't you asked Chat GPT?

Surely you aren't that desperate to be practically begging this pathetic excuse for a man for attention after he was so offensive?

Block him. Spend the time you would've wasted in him trying something new to meet someone organically.

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 20:52

I think it just confused me so much, like everything is turned into a debate. I didn’t ask for a comparison. It’s like every question you ask him he has to analyse everything.

my friends boyfriend is only 30 and he said he didn’t realise women had an expiry date 😂

OP posts:
SummerFeverVenice · 08/03/2026 20:53

I think the mask slipped, he sounds like the tinder swindler guy, a Romeo scammer. Of course a 32 yr old man who rates women from 1 to 10 on fuckabillty is going to prefer a 27yr old blonde to a 41yr old blonde.

I don’t care if he is an American living in the states or an American in London, this man is not worth your time.

Fearlesssloth · 08/03/2026 20:58

How would this even work if he’s in America and you’re here (with 4 kids)?? It just sounds like one giant waste of time. Yes of course an attractive 27 yo is going to be more attractive than an attractive 41 yo but who says that to the 41 yo they’re supposed to be flirting with?! Sounds like he’s just playing games and isn’t really that interested. If he was he wouldn’t risk offending you like that..plus he wouldn’t give a shit about your age

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 21:00

He was trying to justify it to me. Saying you know you wouid have been at your best at 25 and I said no, I had 3 kids by 25 so I’d have probably looked worse.

what’s worse “not to blow my own trumpet” I’m very attractive and get so much male attention, I’ve sent him my inbox full of weird men off Facebook that won’t leave me alone, pages of them.

the fact all his ex’s were Asians annoyed me too, as I kept saying if you prefer young Asians I’m not Asians. He said that was the preference but not all he would date.

if I’d have stayed with him I’d have constantly never felt good enough and he doesn’t speak about feelings. I’ve noticed he’s only good at reflecting on his past behaviours but not at the present to change them.

im more annoyed he’s just left me to it,I expect to be chased.

OP posts:
Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 21:05

Fearlesssloth · 08/03/2026 20:58

How would this even work if he’s in America and you’re here (with 4 kids)?? It just sounds like one giant waste of time. Yes of course an attractive 27 yo is going to be more attractive than an attractive 41 yo but who says that to the 41 yo they’re supposed to be flirting with?! Sounds like he’s just playing games and isn’t really that interested. If he was he wouldn’t risk offending you like that..plus he wouldn’t give a shit about your age

And I didn’t think it would, logically. My kids are all teenagers bar my 7 year old. 19,18 20. But at first it was just cool to speak to someone so different: the thought that even if something didn’t turn out romantically we could stay pen pals and visit each other sounded appealing.

OP posts:
Firefly1987 · 08/03/2026 21:06

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 21:00

He was trying to justify it to me. Saying you know you wouid have been at your best at 25 and I said no, I had 3 kids by 25 so I’d have probably looked worse.

what’s worse “not to blow my own trumpet” I’m very attractive and get so much male attention, I’ve sent him my inbox full of weird men off Facebook that won’t leave me alone, pages of them.

the fact all his ex’s were Asians annoyed me too, as I kept saying if you prefer young Asians I’m not Asians. He said that was the preference but not all he would date.

if I’d have stayed with him I’d have constantly never felt good enough and he doesn’t speak about feelings. I’ve noticed he’s only good at reflecting on his past behaviours but not at the present to change them.

im more annoyed he’s just left me to it,I expect to be chased.

what’s worse “not to blow my own trumpet” I’m very attractive and get so much male attention, I’ve sent him my inbox full of weird men off Facebook that won’t leave me alone, pages of them.

OMG why do you feel the need to defend yourself to this extent to this complete loser?!

MushMonster · 08/03/2026 21:10

The age gap bothers him. He thinks he can do better with a younger woman. You are cute for your age and the time being. Not for future.
Just delete his number and block in SM and turn your back on him.
Leave him to find his 27 year old.

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 21:14

Firefly1987 · 08/03/2026 21:06

what’s worse “not to blow my own trumpet” I’m very attractive and get so much male attention, I’ve sent him my inbox full of weird men off Facebook that won’t leave me alone, pages of them.

OMG why do you feel the need to defend yourself to this extent to this complete loser?!

No I did this before the comment, we were speaking about social media and I said I needed to come off Facebook because men never leave me alone and I sent him screen shots of the pages of men in my archives saying you’re gorgeous, beautiful etc etc

maybe he was trying to humble me 😂

OP posts:
Notmymarmosets · 08/03/2026 21:16

He's probably right. He's definitely a tosser. You now know he doesn't hold you in high regard so you should let him go. He is not worth a moment more of your time.

Madarch · 08/03/2026 21:21

Don't give this loser any more thought. In the bin with him.

Whoinvented · 08/03/2026 21:22

Eh- I’ll be blunt- why are you wasting time with this?! He lives abroad- he’s probably a cat fish or a scam and not real. This isn’t a real relationship- dear god move on and stop this 😅

Pluto5 · 08/03/2026 21:22

It’s so weird, a post just come up on insta that said “ why are we so shocked that a women can still be sexy at 50, women have no expiration date” and I sent it to him and blocked him!

OP posts:
crowsfleet · 08/03/2026 21:22

why are you messing around with him? Time to move on

LemonAir · 08/03/2026 21:23

He’s a incel OP.
The language he’s used, the view of women including the rating system, the “negging”. It’s all bang on, straight out of the handbook.

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