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Relationships

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How to ward off unwanted female attention!

27 replies

Bumblelion · 06/03/2002 14:13

I don't know where to post this message, but thought "Relationships" is as good a place as any.

I have got a good friend from school who I see quite often. Recently, she has come onto me twice (I do know when someone is "coming" onto me, and she definitely was).

We are both married and have children and, as I said, have known each other for ages. Whenever we have gone out on a "girls night out" before, we have always had a dance (as girls do) but I never thought anything of it.

Last year, my friend and her husband had a party. At the party, she had a bit too much to drink and started coming onto me. To start with, it wasn't too bad but then she started "flirting" with me, saying how nice my hair looked (while she stroked it) and how sexy I looked! She asked if I would meet her upstairs in her toilet. I didn't know how to react and as she walked out of the front room to go upstairs, she looked behind herself at me as though beckoning me to follow. Needless to say, I didn't and she came back downstairs after a short while. She asked while I hadn't met her upstairs and I just said that it was difficult for me to leave the room as both our husbands were present. Not the best excuse I know, but I was embarrassed and didn't know how to deal with the situation.

Later on, she asked me again but this time I just laughed it off.

When I next saw her, I didn't mention it and just put it down to a drunken mistake on her behalf. I am sure she is not bisexual, just may be looking for attention, although she might have got the wrong impression from when we have been out before together.

Nothing else happened until one night last week. Again we had gone out for the night and her man (she is having an affair with) didn't turn up. I drove her (and three other friends) home and on the way home asked how her evening was. She was very, very drunk (not legless but had more than just a skinful!) and she said that the evening could have been better. I asked if, by that, she meant if "so and so" (her man) had turned up and she said "no, you know what I mean". I looked at her strangely as I didn't know what she was talking about and all she said was "we will talk later". Whilst driving my car, she was stroking the back of my hair (which my other friends commented on aterwards as they thought it a bit strange). When we got to her house (she was the first drop off) she said to me "you coming indoors to collect the things I am lending you?". She had not mentioned about lending me things and I took it that she wanted to be alone with me. I just replied "oh, no tonight - I will pick them up some other time".

I have not seen her since this night but this is twice she has put me into an uncomfortable situation.

May be I am reading the situation all wrong and she is just being friendly, but I now feel it will be difficult for us to go out again (with other friends) as I don't want to give her the wrong impression.

I find situations like these quite difficult to deal with - at the end of the day, may be I have read the situation wrong, but if I haven't, I don't want to hurt her feelings.

Anyone else been in the same situation. If so, how did you deal with it?

OP posts:
winnie · 06/03/2002 15:30

Bumblelion, firstly an apology as I think I've referred to you as bubblelion on other threads... sorry! Secondly, in response to you situation: tell your friend you are not interested. Be brutally honest. She is making you feel uncomfortable and you'd like it to stop. This way your friend cannot misinterpret anything and you can (hopefully) move forward and continue your friendship although it may never be absolutely the same again. You do not need to be unkind simply honest and although you cannot predict how your friend will react, I think talking to her is the only way to clear the air and have any chance to continue a friendship that at this moment is difficult for you to deal with.HTH, Hope everything else is going ok with you Bumblelion, Winnie

Bumblelion · 06/03/2002 15:42

Winnie, everything else in my life is sh*t at the moment. Husband has moved up into the loft (bought himself new bed and mattress) and I am trying to explain to 9 year old and 5 year old why Daddy is no longer sleeping in mummy's room. (Son (5) came up with good explanation, said to daughter (9), well you have your own, the baby has her own room, I have my own room and now mummy and daddy have their own room too - good thinking for a 5 year old). I have to say that since my husband has told me it is over, he has actually been nicer to me than he has been in the last 3 years or so (even whilst pregnant). I think he no longer feels angry at me for what I did to our relationship and I am not longer worried about his mood when he comes in from work, so I would say that the atmosphere at home is actually better than it was before.

My mum is still in the middle of a nervous breakdown (I don't use the words lightly) but getting help from the Community Psychiatric Nurses so hopefully will feel better soon.

I think the trouble with my "friend" is that she knows about me and my home situation and perhaps she just feels that she is being a friend, but I don't need someone to be that "touchy feely" with me. I feel now I can no longer talk to her about my home situation, as the last thing I want is for her to give me a cuddle to make me feel better.

I have just texted (cowards way out) her and told her that I hope I haven't given her the wrong impression about me (making out that I have turned the tables and may be she thinks I was coming onto her - which I definitely wasn't!). I have told her that I think of her as a good friend but that is all she is and ever will be.

I hope this will make her think that I THINK I have come onto her - if you can understand that - but at least it gives me the opportunity to clear the situation and make her see that if I have ever come across to her that I may be interested in her, I MOST DEFINITELY AM NOT!!!

OP posts:
winnie · 06/03/2002 16:00

Oh, bumblelion, poor you!!!! Life really can be at times! How brave you are being... I can only imagine how you are feeling about everything, I hope your Mum is on the road to recovery (although I know mental illness is far from that simple), and I wish there was something constructive I could say regarding your marriage... take care of yourself, we are thinking of you, Winnie

Lindy · 08/03/2002 20:53

Winnie - I feel for you (excuse the expression!!) as I was in a similar situatuion many years ago - I was 'best friends' with another girl & we did get on extremely well, her argument was that 'as we get on so well, why don't we take it further'.

What made it worse was that we shared a student flat together, just the two of us.

I got very anxious about the whole situation - because we did get on well, I genuinely liked her & we had loads in common, I was just not inclined 'that way' - I ended up on anti-depressents for a while without telling the doctor the real reason for my anxiety.

Anyway, I wish I had just told her straight (pun!) and that is my advice to you - good luck, I know how unpleasant it is especially when you are good friends, you end up really confused yourself.

Jbr · 08/03/2002 21:44

It's no different to if a man liked you and you didn't fancy him. Why didn't you write it as "unwanted advances"?

winnie · 08/03/2002 21:45

Lindy, thanks for the sympathy but it is misdirected I am afraid; Bumblelion is the one with the problem.

Bumblelion, how is it all going?

winnie · 08/03/2002 21:46

Jbr, you've been missed. Glad you are back!

Lindy · 09/03/2002 20:56

Winnie - my apologies.

Zoe1960 · 18/04/2002 00:59

Been there... done that! Don't want to be flippant in any way but any come on, from anyone, should be treated in the same way?

Good ones are "well, you are extremely attractive but my heart belongs to another" (all the world loves a lover) or "I find I can get on with you so well as a friend, I really value the way we relate to each other without a hidden agenda" (this is a bucket of cold water to suitors of either sex)or even, to be grim, "I've got to go home cos I've got my period" (they will run for the hills!).

If you DO fancy them , then let not the gender stand in the way because love comes so rarely to us mortals we should not pass it by. But if you really don't want to go there, then I'm sure you're old enough to pass the offer off gracefully, and take it as a compliment, not harrassment.

Rhubarb · 18/04/2002 13:51

Have you actually read this thread Zoe1960?

sniksnak · 18/04/2002 15:04

Bumblelion - be careful with this 'friend'. Don't let her take advantage of your present emotional vulnerability. From your description of your home situation, it sounds as though this ongoing difficulty and pain has taken its toll on your confidence and sense of what is acceptable behaviour towards you. Be honest with her; by all means tell her how much you value her friendship and what you like about her, but that nothing further can happen. Treat the issue in the same way as if a male friend or colleague made a pass at you. Good luck.

Bumblelion · 18/04/2002 16:31

After Zoe1960's comments, I felt I couldn't be bothered to reply as what she had to say was a total waste of time. (Normally I am quite a friendly social type of girl, but not in this case I am afraid).

All I can say is it is totally different to when a person of the opposite sex comes onto you.

This since happened again last Friday night, God's honest truth, when we were all out from work (another friend's leaving do) and this particular 'friend' said she wanted to "get hold of me in the toilets". It wasn't done in a laughable manner, she was deadly serious and very, very drunk (as she has been on both previous occasions).

I do try and laugh it off - she knows my situation but, believe me, I have not been put off men for life.

Don't get me wrong, each to their own and all that, but for me, there is only one sex that hit my right buttons and they are the opposite sex to me (male!).

I only want constructive comments/criticism please.

Zoe1960 don't bother posting. You are only getting my back up.

OP posts:
sister · 18/04/2002 17:01

Promise I'm not trying to be another Zoe and I haven't read all about why your husband sleeps in the loft but is their ANY chance that you could try again with your husband? If you could give it another go then surely this woman would leave you alone although I'm not suggesting that it is a good reason to get back with your husband, just that it seems such a shame when relationships end, especially when children are involved, although I'm sure you've thought about this!

sniksnak · 18/04/2002 17:24

Bumblelion, can I ask how you responded to her unwanted advances? How would you deal with a man who was behaving in this way? Would you feel more frightened (perhaps by the possibility of some kind of assault taking place) if this was a man, and therefore handle it differently? Having re-read your original posting, it seems that you don't want to risk losing her as a friend - the only way to do this is to make it extremely obvious that you are just not interested or available. How about a kind but firm letter explaining how you feel? It's not right that you have to put up with the continuing tension and harrassment, and it's kinder for her to know the facts for sure.

Rhiannon · 18/04/2002 18:25

After watching 'the truth about lesbian sex' and having sex described as 'going on for hours and hours and hours', it sounds like too much hard work to me! Good Luck R

Rhubarb · 19/04/2002 14:28

To be honest with you Bumblelion, there would come a certain point where I would get really annoyed by this woman and I would sit her down and tell her what's what. So what if you hurt her feelings? She obviously doesn't give a damn about yours. If she was any friend worth her weight, she would back off and stop putting you in these awkward and embarrassing situations. You have been through a hell of a lot recently and friends should be supportive of you at this time, not putting you under further pressure!

You need to tell her that at first you could take her comments with humour, but now they are just not funny anymore and could she please just lay off with the sexual innuendoes as you are in no mood for them. Then at least you are not calling her a lesbian up front. You have put up with enough, it's time she backed off for good. I wish you better luck, you must have surely used up all your bad luck by now!!

Tillysmummy · 19/04/2002 14:31

Bumblelion how are you ?I've been thinking about you.

2bazookas · 31/07/2022 20:00

Stop going out drinking with her.

If she touches you , immediately say "No. Keep your hands to yourself and stop pawing me about ". Say it loud enough for others to hear.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 31/07/2022 20:02

2bazookas · 31/07/2022 20:00

Stop going out drinking with her.

If she touches you , immediately say "No. Keep your hands to yourself and stop pawing me about ". Say it loud enough for others to hear.

I think after 20 years this has probably been resolved one way or the other.

foxesinsockses · 31/07/2022 20:07

Oldest zombie ever award???

Blue4YOU · 31/07/2022 20:08

@2bazookas - this thread is 20 years old!!!

FuckMeHesFitAintHe · 31/07/2022 20:23

Lol!!!

Bun1 · 31/07/2022 21:34

I’d be pretty pissed off and wouldn’t have much patience for the way she’s carrying on!! I’d ask her, wtf are you doing and tell her you’re going through a difficult time and in light of that you’d certainly not expect a supposed friend to add to the list of things you have going on in your life! She sounds very annoying.

stayinghometoday · 31/07/2022 21:41

2bazookas · 31/07/2022 20:00

Stop going out drinking with her.

If she touches you , immediately say "No. Keep your hands to yourself and stop pawing me about ". Say it loud enough for others to hear.

What were you looking for that you resurrected a 20 year old thread? 😂

Doyoumind · 31/07/2022 21:46

Wtf! How did this get revived?Confused

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