Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my friend is projecting?

143 replies

settlement1414 · 19/10/2026 21:18

I’ve been for lunch with a friend today and we were talking about Christmas plans. I told her I’m going abroad on Boxing Day for a few nights with a male friend. We have done this for a few years now. We sometimes go away during the year too. If it’s just the two of us we share a twin room. Sometimes another (female) friend comes and we get an Air B&B.

My friend was adamant that DP must be upset and jealous and not letting on. DP could not care less. She’s said similar in the past and I let it go but today it has really annoyed me for some reason. She might not like her DP doing that which is entirely reasonable, but my DP is not at all bothered.

She kept insisting that DP is putting some sort of brave face on to hide his distress. But he isn’t.

AIBU to think DP is fine with it and therefore no one else needs to worry about it?

OP posts:
settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 13:16

PammyPrang · 20/10/2026 12:55

The thing is I would like to think that a spouse/partner believes their oh to be an attractive catch. Even if the partner is absolutely faithful, do they not suspect that their friendly roommate might be eyeing them appreciatively?

I have male friends that are not dh. I go for walks/activity with them, but sharing a room? Dh is not the most passionate of men, but I think he thinks me enough of a siren to be a bit put out if I were cosied up in my pjs next to Brian in his boxers.

I’m not in bed with him.

I suspect DP trusts I’d say no if my friend took leave of his senses.

OP posts:
settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 13:16

theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 12:57

Ok then, if you say so. In that case I can't imagine why she's troubled by it.

Maybe she finds you annoying because you tend to think you're superior and special?

Hard to say.

Maybe. Thank you!

OP posts:
theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 13:23

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 13:13

I have never felt jealous of my DP. If he was flirting with other women, chatting them up, kissing them, having sex with them, then yes I’d be jealous. But jealous of platonic friendships? No.

But maybe he does feel jealous but understands that it’s not reasonable to act on it. That’ll do for me.

Well, as I say, it's still a very normal trait, most people do feel it to some extent or other.

But that's not to say there's anything wrong with how you interact or feel either, of course. To each their own.

theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 13:24

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 13:16

Maybe. Thank you!

Oh, are you pretending you think that was a compliment? That's ok, whatever works :)

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 13:52

theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 13:24

Oh, are you pretending you think that was a compliment? That's ok, whatever works :)

I was thanking you for taking the time to post your opinion (lots of times).

OP posts:
theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 14:28

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 13:52

I was thanking you for taking the time to post your opinion (lots of times).

You've posted 55 times on this thread alone - so far 😂 Oh yes, I know it's your thread, clearly, you do enjoy the sound of your own voice, but that is still an unusually high number of mainly defensive responses.

On the other hand, you very definitely do not believe my 4 responses to you and 2 to others is excessive. Projection is a recognised defence mechanism.

You're feeling quite snippy because I pointed out you were, factually, incorrect, in two comments - and you're not accustomed to not getting the last word.

So, you have my permission to take it.

I will leave you with this - the great majority of people consider your behaviour odd. And you are presenting here as petulant, with an unwarranted believe in your own superiority. I suspect that's what's driving your friend's irritation with you.

Most of the world, however, doesn't actually care enough about anything you do to bother telling you, or trying to prevent you, so just crack on.

If you cannot bear the opposite opinon of your "friend" simply don't hang out with her.

I certainly don't care enough to check for more attempted zingers or further petulance on your behalf. Hopefully you've learned something, but I rather doubt you're capable of much introspection, let alone altering your feelpinions based on mere facts.

So goodbye forever :)

Sartre · 20/10/2026 14:31

theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 12:54

Well, no. Jealousy is, actually extremely normal and not weird at all. The vast, vast majority of people in sexual relationships do feel jealousy and it is exceptionally unusual to feel none - which is why some are wondering if your husband just doesn't actually have strong feelings for you at all.

Obviously, excessive jealousy can be problematic. But no, it's not unusual, it's a standard and very normal human trait - that's simply a fact. Obviously, we're not just apes and we can certainly control our emotions and do not have to give in to damaging impulses, but no it's definitely not strange to feel jealous in a romantic relationship.

But it is, in fact, very strange not to. You are conflating feeling jealousy with acting on it. Nearly everyone does, in fact, feel it in circumstances such as the one you are describing. But of course that doesn't mean we have to do anything concerning because of it.

There are good evolutionary reasons for why most humans in monogamous relationships feel jealousy, it's a well studied field.

https://scienceinsights.org/why-does-jealousy-exist-evolution-and-psychology/

"Jealousy exists because it solved a critical survival problem: keeping relationships and resources from being taken by someone else. It evolved as an emotional alarm system that detects threats to valued bonds, whether romantic partnerships, parental attention, or social standing. Far from being a flaw in human psychology, jealousy is one of the oldest and most deeply wired emotions, appearing in infants as young as six months old and sharing biological roots with other social species"

https://scienceinsights.org/why-does-jealousy-exist-evolution-and-psychology/

"No doubt, jealousy is shaped in part by learning and culture. But did culture really create jealousy out of nothing? Could we really just as easily learn to be overjoyed about our partners cheating on us as to have our hearts torn in two? And are there really cultures where people are indifferent to their partner's "extracurricular" sexual activities? According to evolutionary psychologists, the answer to all these questions is no. Jealousy is part of our nature, found in people all over the world. Claims to the contrary, argue the evolutionary psychologists, tend to crumble on closer inspection...

So, no, it's simply not true that someone pointing out that a total and complete lack of jealousy might signal apathy or indifference is "worrying" - it's just an observation based on the majority of relationships.

Unless, of course, you consider the great majority of all hetero relationships worrying.

Edited

Agreed. Unless excessive to the extent of abuse, it’s perfectly normal and natural if you actually care about the person. Then again, I’m obviously not a “cool wife” because I would not allow my husband to share a bedroom with a heterosexual woman.

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 14:34

theearthsayshello · 20/10/2026 14:28

You've posted 55 times on this thread alone - so far 😂 Oh yes, I know it's your thread, clearly, you do enjoy the sound of your own voice, but that is still an unusually high number of mainly defensive responses.

On the other hand, you very definitely do not believe my 4 responses to you and 2 to others is excessive. Projection is a recognised defence mechanism.

You're feeling quite snippy because I pointed out you were, factually, incorrect, in two comments - and you're not accustomed to not getting the last word.

So, you have my permission to take it.

I will leave you with this - the great majority of people consider your behaviour odd. And you are presenting here as petulant, with an unwarranted believe in your own superiority. I suspect that's what's driving your friend's irritation with you.

Most of the world, however, doesn't actually care enough about anything you do to bother telling you, or trying to prevent you, so just crack on.

If you cannot bear the opposite opinon of your "friend" simply don't hang out with her.

I certainly don't care enough to check for more attempted zingers or further petulance on your behalf. Hopefully you've learned something, but I rather doubt you're capable of much introspection, let alone altering your feelpinions based on mere facts.

So goodbye forever :)

It’s my thread.

Thanks anyway.

OP posts:
settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 14:39

Sartre · 20/10/2026 14:31

Agreed. Unless excessive to the extent of abuse, it’s perfectly normal and natural if you actually care about the person. Then again, I’m obviously not a “cool wife” because I would not allow my husband to share a bedroom with a heterosexual woman.

If your husband is going to shag another woman, he doesn’t need to share a room with them.

That said, I can entirely understand why people wouldn’t like it. I’m not sure I’d like if DP said he was going to do it. But it doesn’t bother DP and he’s the only one who should care really.

The insistence that a man has to be jealous to care is, IMO, wrong.

OP posts:
Error404FucksNotFound · 20/10/2026 14:42

next time she made her claim you should get out your phone, dial your partner, put him on speakerphone and say hi x, you're on speakerphone, im with Y. She's going on again about me going away with Z. She insists you are jealous, care to comment?

Ponoka7 · 20/10/2026 14:43

You live seperate lives, you call him your DP, but it seems you haven't joined families, so he's a boyfriend. In that case, it isn't that unusual. I don't know how old you are, but younger and older couples don't need to live together in the way some do. I'm nearly 60 and my peer group go on seperate holidays, because health issues are at play. But they also go away together. A lot of people don't have the time off work, or income to be able to fit trips with friends, family and their partner, so that changes people's opinion. Boxing day this year is all day sport, being a Saturday. If I wasn't planning on drinking, I'd be finding something to do and leave my DP to it.

Tracesofopp · 20/10/2026 14:53

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 15:05

Error404FucksNotFound · 20/10/2026 14:42

next time she made her claim you should get out your phone, dial your partner, put him on speakerphone and say hi x, you're on speakerphone, im with Y. She's going on again about me going away with Z. She insists you are jealous, care to comment?

Tempting but it wouldn’t matter. She thinks he is bothered but is just telling me he’s not.

OP posts:
settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 15:08

Ponoka7 · 20/10/2026 14:43

You live seperate lives, you call him your DP, but it seems you haven't joined families, so he's a boyfriend. In that case, it isn't that unusual. I don't know how old you are, but younger and older couples don't need to live together in the way some do. I'm nearly 60 and my peer group go on seperate holidays, because health issues are at play. But they also go away together. A lot of people don't have the time off work, or income to be able to fit trips with friends, family and their partner, so that changes people's opinion. Boxing day this year is all day sport, being a Saturday. If I wasn't planning on drinking, I'd be finding something to do and leave my DP to it.

We don’t live separate lives and he is my partner. I have no idea why so many Mumsnet posters believe they have been given editorial status over the dictionary.

Yes, I go away with DP, my friends, and my family at different times of the year. I go away with DP in a couple of weeks.

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 20/10/2026 17:58

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 15:08

We don’t live separate lives and he is my partner. I have no idea why so many Mumsnet posters believe they have been given editorial status over the dictionary.

Yes, I go away with DP, my friends, and my family at different times of the year. I go away with DP in a couple of weeks.

I think then just accept that you are outside the norm, not spending Christmas day, or Boxing day with a partner and not combining family visits. It isn't for your friend to comment on a relationship that suits you.

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 18:04

Ponoka7 · 20/10/2026 17:58

I think then just accept that you are outside the norm, not spending Christmas day, or Boxing day with a partner and not combining family visits. It isn't for your friend to comment on a relationship that suits you.

I do accept it. I have no issue with it. It’s my friend’s repeated insistence that DP secretly has an issue when it doesn’t that’s annoying me.

OP posts:
Lightlyshatofficechair · 20/10/2026 19:24

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 14:39

If your husband is going to shag another woman, he doesn’t need to share a room with them.

That said, I can entirely understand why people wouldn’t like it. I’m not sure I’d like if DP said he was going to do it. But it doesn’t bother DP and he’s the only one who should care really.

The insistence that a man has to be jealous to care is, IMO, wrong.

I was totally with you OP til you said you wouldn’t like it if your partner did the same - that’s completely hypocritical!

settlement1414 · 20/10/2026 19:31

Lightlyshatofficechair · 20/10/2026 19:24

I was totally with you OP til you said you wouldn’t like it if your partner did the same - that’s completely hypocritical!

I said I’m not sure I would. I don’t know because he’s never wanted to do it. And I can’t imagine he ever will really. He does have one longstanding straight woman friend but they don’t go on holiday together. I’m trying to think of how if feel if he wanted to go on holiday with her. If it was to somewhere I didn’t want to go I don’t think I’d have a problem but I guess I don’t know until it happens.

I’d never try and stop him though.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread