Could you please slap me, or at best throw harsh words my way?

[whywhywhywhywhywhy]

So... recently split with DP of four years. It was a blah relationship, long-distance, very little time spent together and no love. I'm moving on, I have a couple of profiles on dating sites because I have no idea how normal people meet each other and I don't trust easily- I prefer to get to know people anonymously before actually meeting, so it works.

I met someone. I like him. Seemingly he likes me. I met him IRL last Sunday, we spent hours together talking. He was nervous, I was nervous. We met again Wednesday, he drove to a pub near me and met me after work. All good thus far, yes? Lots on common, good kisser.... yup.

He texted me every day since Sunday, we've had long conversations, talked about a future, made plans. But now I haven't heard from him since Thursday. I've text twice, I've messaged on the site we met. Nothing. I'm kicking myself, I'm wondering what I've done wrong, how I could have been better. Urgh.

Either he's off, not keen. Or is keen but not able to answer. I can't get it out of my head that I've buggered it up somehow, been too keen, not keen enough, or he's realised what he's gotten into- I'm obese, I'm no catch. Urgh urgh.

Someone tell me to bloody stop. Either he's not worth it or I'm being an idiot. Probably both.

Urgh. I liked this one more in two weeks of chatting and meeting than the previous DP in four years.

Urgh.

[Flipper924]

I'm on the dating thread, and I haven't got kids! Come over, we love new faces!

[whywhywhywhywhywhy]

Oh dear, or oh good, I'm not sure!

He texted me. Apparently his phone was out of order all weekend so he didn't know I'd texted til he saw my message on POF. I got the text at work and didn't get a chance to reply til I was home, by which time he had also sent a message on POF to ask if I'd seen the text! So I've replied and it's still on, the agreed date three on Weds.

I don't want to be the same old, negative, always assuming the worst person. I don't want to bin him off because of a lack of contact that comes with a reasonable explanation! So chance two.... not that he knows it, all is well with him! I mean I like him a lot, just because we have a lot in common and he seems open minded. I'm not going to be all neurotic and demand why he didn't text as he said he would, or reply or anything. He says he never got any of my texts as the phone doesn't work. In all fairness he did drop it in liquid last week and had had it in rice all day before we met, but it seemed to be sorted. Guess not..... or my little mind is thinking 'did that happen or did he set out a plausible escape clause in advance?'

See, neurotic. Think positive! Date Weds. Lets see.

[chocmallow]

In this instance I would give him the benefit of the doubt, these things happen. It's only been two dates (and I hope you have a great third date - what are your plans?)so try not to invest too heavily, just enjoy

[Hissy]

PLEASE, FFS, would you reign it in a bit? This panic ought to have taught you that you're out of control here somehow.

Calm down. 3 dates is not even close to understanding someone!

[pumpkinsweetie]

Delete the number and never even thinking of phoning a man first!!! If they don't phone you, then yes you are right, he is not interested.
Don't take it to heart, it was only 3 dates.
Do not sit around worrying about this, there are more fish in the sea, that may be more than happy to phone you back. Think of this as if he is mouldy fish, don't sit waiting and obsessing when there are fresh ones waiting!

[whywhywhywhywhywhy]

hissy I wasn't panicking! I just wanted a second opinion, I don't have any friends who I can talk to about stuff like this. Just wanted to present the facts and see what others thought. I have no experience in stuff like this, I've spent maybe 3 months total time with my ex during the four years together and that in the sum total of my dating experience. I can't look to my parents for guidance- they've been stuck in a loveless, PA marriage for 30 years.

I just wanted some guidance- no wait, I wanted some experience. I wanted a chance to talk with someone else who is unsure. My two best mates have been with their OH since teens and both recently wed, they couldn't help me as they've never 'dated'. they met 'the one' and just stayed together. As did my sister too. So where do I go for help? Anonymous strangers on t'internet!

He hasn't texted today but left a message on POF, phone still out of commission. I'm going for benefit of the doubt- my automatic response is always to assume I've buggered it up, I just wanted to hear other people have been through it.

[Tryharder]

Eh? I don't get the problem.

You've had 2 dates and on the 5th which was Sunday(?), you said you hadn't heard from him since Thursday, so only 3 days. And a number of posters jump in and say, oh he's married, he's not into you etc etc. I mean, come on ladies.....

In reality, he was away on a hobby weekend, he's busy, his phone was broken, which happens and now he has made contact. They have had a few dates, why should he call every day?

Sounds all good to me.

You need to calm right down and play it a bit cool, IMVHO.

[Lweji]

I'd give the benefit of the doubt, unless he does it again soon.
But I wouldn't expect every day texts unless you really become an item.

And yes, mobile phone accidents do happen (it did to me and even today to a colleague) and sometimes we do have trouble making contact.

[whywhywhywhywhywhy]

I literally have no experience. I just wanted some advice. He has texted me every day, whole conversations, for over two weeks before we met for date one. Then suddenly one day no contact and ignoring my two texts and the POF message.... just wanted another perspective, is all.

I'll admit I never thought he may be married or have kids til it was mentioned on this thread. I just assumed I'd managed to bugger it up.

[cjel]

my thought would be you haven't heard from him over a bank holiday weekend.He has other comittments, wife/family?
Nothing to do with you at allx

[WhiteBirdBlueSky]

Seems odd that after that amount of contact he seems to barely have registered that his phone was broken.

I would give him the benefit of the doubt, but remain slightly wary.

You don't know this man, and you won't for a while yet.

Good luck!

[Hissy]

I get all the second guessing, the wondering waht you'd done. This is what I refer to as panicking.

Because it is.

You jumped to a conclusion, you are over invested, over sensitive and over critical of yourseelf.

You seem to NEED him to approve of you.

Well honey, YOU are the one who gets to decide who gets to be your boyfriend! You are NOT sitting by the wall hoping someone will take pity on you ang pick you as his girlfriend! This is your choice too.

Please calm this down. For your own sake. Ou don't know him.

He might be OK, but you going through anguish will weaken you, and make you vulnerable.

Take a deep breath. Tell yourself it's ok, and it will be OK. Even if it doesn't work out, it'll still be ok.

You are a good person, kind, friendly and caring, who in their right mind wouldn't be pleased to date you. If they can't see your value, they don't deserve you!

[whywhywhywhywhywhy]

Honest, honest, it isn't anguish. I'd be peeved if I never heard from him again but not devastated! We just have more in common than anyone I've ever met, friend or whatever.

I'm not overcritical, I'm exactly critical enough! I know my worth, and it isn't much. People say work on your self esteem but I think mine is sky-high, I know my place in the world.

[Scarletohello]

There is an excellent book ( with a crap title ) called " Why men love bitches". It's not about being a bitch, it's about knowing your worth and holding onto your dignity and sense of self around men. Check out the reviews on Amazon, if you haven't much experience of dating I highly recommend it. Hope you have a great third date..!!

[Walkacrossthesand]

*Whywhy', I may be speaking out of turn here, but an assumption that the man stops contact because you've 'managed to bugger it up', and 'your worth isn't much', doesn't sit well with you having 'sky high self-esteem'. There are all sorts of reasons why text contact may have faltered - ranging from his phone genuinely having stopped working, to him having a life that you as yet know nothing about which may include wife and children. At the moment it sounds like he's trying to stay in touch via POF messages - you know that there was a hiccup over the weekend so you'll be on your guard slightly, but hey - just let it roll and see where it goes. It's not like the guy I had a bit of a dialogue with from OD, who claimed to work from home in IT, disappeared for more than a week, then claimed he'd had computer problems - really? No Internet for more than a week when it's your job? I don't think so, sunshine - I didn't bother to reply!!

[WafflyVersatile]

If I liked a guy I would go to an internet cafe rather than sudden radio silence for a week, unless I wasn't that into him.

Anyway OP. Just go with it and see how it works out.

[VelvetSpoon]

Let's face it, OD is a massive head-fuck. The majority of men doing it are either not single, not looking for a relationship (despite claiming they are), or single for a bloody good reason, if not many reasons. I have never met so many rude, arrogant and downright disingenuous men in any other part of my life, such men are disproportionately represented in OD.

It's hard I think because if you're a decent, honest person (as I am, and I expect the OP is) you expect people to treat you as you would them. However the normal rules of politeness and courtesy largely go out the window with all this stuff - hence many men thinking they're entitled to send you a barrage of smutty comments, lewd suggestions, photos of their cocks etc - which I'm sure they wouldn't do to a woman they met through friends, or at work, in the pub, or via some means other than the internet!

Most of the time when they are all texttexttext at first, then stop, it's because they're not interested in pursuing it further. Mainly because they are married/in a relationship, and/or just looking for a one-off shag, or like a kid in a sweetshop rushing round messaging and dating as many women as they can. But because there is such an absence of honesty in most men who OD, you'll never know this, and be left wondering.

OP, this guy's explanation could be true. However given he was constantly texting before, you would expect him to have sent a POF message before your prompt. It might be genuine, but I would be wary. See how contact continues after tomorrow, but don't be surprised if he disappears again, either permanently, or only to reappear after a few days or whatever. I hope that isn't the case, but it's happened many times to me, and others I know and seems to be the pattern with many men.

And re the self esteem point, I have massive self esteem. I think more of myself than anyone I know. Despite that I have found this significantly eroded in my dealings with a constant stream of fuckwits and wannabe players when OD, and I think it would be the same for anyone!

[Walkacrossthesand]

Exactly, waffly - if we want to stay in touch, we do. A couple of days of silence maybe, especially for guys -' love is for a man a thing apart - for a woman 'tis her whole existence' as someone commented a couple of hundred years ago!

[Walkacrossthesand]

Before I dabbled in OD, I used to think that at least it removed the 'already attached' men from the picture, unlike meeting people IRL. Now I know better...

[Hissy]

With respect love, you're the one posting on an internet forum, for a 'relationship' of only 2 dates duration, worrying after radio silence for 2 days!

That's panicking! Who cares if he calls/texts. Why on earth are you placing all your eggs in one basket for the sake of a few hours in this stranger's company?

GO OUT with others! It'll help you to stop fixating on one person! I bet he's not exclusive yet, which is probably why you didn't hear from him over the BH weekend.

You don't have the experience to safely navigate this, not with your current mindset. Any Tom Dick or Harry can be who you need them to be in the first few weeks/months. Give it 3m before you decide if it's serious/exclusive or not.