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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Got 'played' by a nice guy

90 replies

niceupthedance · 04/06/2015 19:35

Feeling very stupid and more than a bit upset at the latest online dating mug-off and wondering where I went wrong?

My history with online dating has not been good. Last two men I had sex with disappeared afterwards (I don't have sex with everyone I date), so that hit me pretty hard. The first had done the three-date 'say the right things' and then disappeared, the second I slept with on the first date (so to be expected I suppose). But I was determined not to make it a hat-trick.

So met this guy, he is totally different from my usual type; respectful, feminist, quite a deep thinker sort. He came with his own problems - namely a pregnant ex from a fling, which he told me about on the second date (just after he had presented me with a book he thought I would like). I spent a while talking to him about my expectations; that I didn't want to have sex with anyone if they were not sure about continuing to date afterwards, he reassured me that he was not a "going for the goal" type chap so date three lasted all weekend and was very pleasant. (!)

After that, I was unavailable for two weekends and then had an operation. He offered to 'keep in touch', which he did, loosely, which was fine. I did notice though that if I mentioned meeting up when I was child free (eg on a weekday) he was busy, and did not offer an alternative. This pattern has continued for six weeks. I have called him on it once, he was adamant that he was 'keen' to see me still. Yet the last message, which was a reply to my asking when he was free, was him saying he had started his course and things would be full on this week and the next. So obviously I have cut my losses and wished him well.

So in summary, how can you continue to date when you can't trust your own judgment, or believe anything anyone says? I feel like whoever I choose they end up being a game playing dickhead, whatever they say. Feeling very miserable this evening.

OP posts:
fiddlybulb · 04/06/2015 21:08

Hey OP - from one single woman to another - I know in the past I've always characterised things like this as being about my poor judgement, my mistakes, my non-understanding etc. more recently I've tried to think about it as just luck of the draw - and, as others have said, the sad fact that sometimes we really like people who just don't like us back in quite the same way. Doesn't mean they're necessarily arses (although I agree that he's been a coward about not letting you know).

Not saying this to make you feel worse! I've just realised recently that believing everything was due to my poor choices was actually disempowering and a bit depressing. And probably not true.

Online dating is for when you're feeling impregnable and Teflon coated tbh. If you're feeling sad and vulnerable, give it a rest for a few months and concentrate on your kids/pets/job/DIY/hillwalking hobby or whatever - put it on the back burner until you're feeling more bouncy about yourself?

niceupthedance · 04/06/2015 21:13

Fiddly, luck of the draw does make sense. I suppose when you are feeling low dating does make you question yourself. Actually I had already decided this guy would be my last internet date before I met him. I just don't think it's a good medium for me.

OP posts:
confusedoflondon · 04/06/2015 21:15

I agree have sex when you want. It's irrelevant. I did it first date with DP (Who I met online) and we're going strong 8 months later. I don't think he was game playing you just weren't for him and that's life, the right one hasn't arrived yet. But if you don't want to rip someone's clothes off don't sleep with them at all - sex isn't binding and won't make someone decide to stay with you or not - they already decide that before it happens I daresay (unless it's first night)

Twinklestein · 04/06/2015 21:16

I don't think when you have sex is so much about the guy - if a guy really likes you, having sex on the first date isn't going to put him off in some sexist way, and equally a player could keep chasing you for 6 months or more until you give in & then dump you.

But if you're getting upset after sleeping with these guys and it ending soon after, then don't sleep with a guy until you have a really good sense of who they are and where it's going.

It's not about any kind of 'rules' just about protecting yourself.

PamDooveOrangeJoof · 04/06/2015 21:19

It sounds like he his pregnant 'ex' may not be an ex to me?

fiddlybulb · 04/06/2015 21:20

I've given it up entirely tbh Grin - my garden is getting a lot of attention (and that isn't even a euphemism, sadly).

There was an interesting article online a while back about a new generation of dating sites designed by women - things like, men have to show their photos but women's photos are hidden until you choose to show them; men can't send the first message, only women can; or women get to leave public feedback on men's profiles (that one sounds evil...) I'm holding out for them to launch in the UK! Current dating sites are sooo skewed towards quick shags and short-term flings, and looking for a good man in that lot is a full-time job

MadeMan · 04/06/2015 21:26

I wonder if somebody will invent 'cock recognition software' that will identify when a cock photo has been sent to a woman and so replace the picture with a nice vase of flowers or something.

A bit like all that face recognition stuff that cameras do.

niceupthedance · 04/06/2015 21:28

Pam I think something must also be going on there. Having been in the same situation myself I know that negotiating a pregnancy with a casual partner throws up a lot of ethical and emotional questions. Who knows, he may have decided he feels like a shitbag for launching other relationships while his ex is coping alone. I think that's the best scenario I'd like to create for him Wink

OP posts:
niceupthedance · 04/06/2015 21:29

And thank you all for your comments.

Especially the vase of flowers Grin

OP posts:
FlabulousChix · 04/06/2015 21:32

He never played you he just lost interest. At least he hasn't been stringing you along with undying love bullshit

fiddlybulb · 04/06/2015 21:37

I'm copyrighting the cock recognition software idea right now

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 21:50

I have inbuilt cock recognition software

I can spot 'em after the first few sentences out of their mouth.

TendonQueen · 04/06/2015 21:56

You've just had a run of bad luck. I don't think it's unreasonable to feel down about it - you told him about your situation, whereas he's just been evasive, and at least if he'd been honest and said 'Actually, I don't think I want to take this any further' you would have known where you stood. There'll be better prospects along in time. Flowers

BitOutOfPractice · 04/06/2015 22:00

Hello OP.

God it's a fucking jungle out there isn't it? I've been there and so much of it makes absolutley no bloody sense at all.

It's a numbers game. It really is. You have to crunch through the crap to get to the gold. And it is there.

But in the meantime you have to have a thick skin and, to coin dating acronyms, a VGSOH.

Keep going, and good luck Thanks

BitOutOfPractice · 04/06/2015 22:02

AF with respect, the whole world has shifted on its dating axis since you were out there. It certainly had since I was out there. Honestly, it's like all bets are off. I pride myself on having pretty good knobdar but there's always one who'll have you fooled.

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:05

I hope I never have to go "out there" again

What happened to meeting somebody at work/out with friends/on the train ?

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:06

I don't think the "dating world" is any different to the rest of the world in that nobs are nobs and red flags are red flags

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 04/06/2015 22:07

I think he just lost interest! I recently dumped my online dating guy after we had sex the first time - I wasn't playing him I just lost interest. Also - and this isn't a nice thing to think but is possible - maybe he didn't enjoy the sex much or didn't feel the chemistry? That was the reason I dumped the guy - if I had promised not to dump him after sex (which I would never do, so I don't know why women still expect men to do this) I wouldn't have made myself see him again just so as not to hurt his feelings or stick to my word. Life is too short to date people you aren't interested in and that applies to men too.

However, he appears to be stringing you along which is shitty. I'd cut my losses if I were you.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 04/06/2015 22:10

What happened to meeting somebody at work/out with friends/on the train?

Work - female dominated profession, men tend to be gay or partnered up
Out with friends - single parent, don't get out much, when I do go out I tend to spend my energy on my friends not trying to pull, friends' friend networks don't include many single men either due to age demographic I am in
The train? Really? I don't take the train unless I'm taking my son on a day out or getting the last train home after a night out. Neither scenarios are ideal for meeting men.

BitOutOfPractice · 04/06/2015 22:10

That would be great AF but when you are a single parent it drastically cuts down on your "bumping into a lovely guy" options. You're not out and about at night, you're focus is elsewhere (the kids), all the nice guys are happily married so the available pool is generally of low quality and mostly after a quick shag . It's so different from when you're young free and single. Especially if you have been off the single scene for a while and not feeling mega confident.

I wouldn't wish it on anyone

Having said that, I met the kindest, funniest, most normal man I have ever known online. And he met a lot of bonkers interesting women before he met me

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:12

I am a self confessed gimmer [smile}

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:12

I am a self confessed gimmer [smile}

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:12

I am a self confessed gimmer [smile}

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:12

I am a self confessed gimmer [smile}

AnyFucker · 04/06/2015 22:12

I am a self confessed gimmer [smile}