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Relationships

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

Am I being paranoid or do you reckon I'm right?

301 replies

donnattella · 19/11/2015 18:04

I'm not sure if my imagination is running away with me here.

Relatively new man, we've been seeing each other about 6 weeks and a we're exclusive but it's early days.

A had a nagging annoyance throughout in that he seems to be online on whatsapp quite often and very late at night. We're late twenties, but even I don't get 1am or 2am texts from friends on a daily basis so it made me a bit Hmm wondring who the heck he is talking to all the time.

He's not weird about his phone, and he doesn't use it at all when he's with me, and have noticed he aslo doesn't really get late night texts when he's with me either. I did notice a text from one girl a couple of weeks ago, and it was just friend stuff but it came at midnight. He'd just left the phone on the table and it flashed up. Nothing funny on the text, no kisses, just a contuinance of a conversation.

I was a bit Hmm so I checked on that girl and found she lives overseas in a place he used to live, and maybe the time diferrence might be why all the late night texting. He does hve a lot of female friends. She's not especially pretty, but he "likes" a lot of her photos. More than he does mine actually.

Anyway, he booked a holiday to go over to see friends. Says he has a lot from when he used to live there and obviously this girl lives there too. I didn't ask where he was going or who he was staying with - we're not at that stage yet and would not know who the people were anyway- but we made a date for the day after he gets home.

Not heard from him much, and I have noticed a couple of things that would indicate he's with this girl. Same photos being posted from both of them, that sort of thing. Also noticed he's never online texting since he's been away.

Am I being totally paranoid? Is he likely shagging this girl or is there a good chance they are just good friends? I've no reason to find him not trustworthy but it's nagging at me.

OP posts:
missybct · 22/11/2015 18:08

Honestly, it sounds as if no matter what this bloke has or hasn't done, you're now at the stage where you're blaming or projecting onto the other woman. You're now sort of justifying his behaviour and started to state things like;
"He has never texted her when he is with me. she texts him. He don't even go for the phone or want to read it"

  • which isn't quite true, because your first message implied that you had issues with him on whatsapp late at night texting? Confused It's crossed the line where you're not longer as angry at him, but seem to be jealous of her? The whole "I've met his friends and she hasn't" and "she's overweight and has kids" statements just smacks of playground one upmanship to try and make yourself feel better that your boyfriend isn't giving you what you want/need.

Instead of focusing on the fact your boyfriend of six weeks has, in your own words, made you feel 'iffy' and is quite possibly running rings around you/other woman, you are systematically checking, rechecking and now stalking his/her walls, their interaction together and the meaning behind what has been written in comments from people you don't know.

It sounds like you are quite literally tying yourself up in knots trying to infer answers to something you should be able to just ask this boyfriend-of-six-weeks-about - if you can't, and you're having this doubts, then you need to cut your losses and stop analysing who said what, when they said it, how many likes on FB, what a selfie means in the context of you and him and step away from the computer/FB.

I mean this sincerely, but you need to step away from this guy and perhaps relationships in general for a while. From what you've said, the horribleness of finding your fiance was cheating on you has had a very deep impact on leveling out your trust in a relationship. It's a nasty thing for anyone to experience, but for a relationship of 6 weeks to be ringing alarm bells for you and making you this upset, either isn't worth it or that you've still got enough baggage from your previous relationship to cloud whatever good you could have with this guy.

Natalieday1 · 22/11/2015 18:11

I'm going to jump in there, I don't think at any point she has blamed the other woman at all so don't know how u or anyone else have picked that up?
Also if u read what she's wrote properly she said he's been on whatsapp late at night when they aren't together not while he is with her..

missybct · 22/11/2015 18:18

Natalie you're right, I'll retract that statement about whatsapp - forgive me, my stepson is trying to make me watch every last move on Minecraft Grin - OP, sorry for getting my facts wrong there.

I do stand by what I said about the overanalysing and one upmanship, but those things are VERY common in people who have had their trust broken and lack, at times (not always) confidence in relationships - so again, this wasn't a criticism but an observation - hell, I've been there too!

Either way, I really think some time out may do you good. It's so trite, but no bloke you've been with for six weeks is worth allowing yourself to feel super shit over - and especially doesn't need comparison or remarks made about the other woman he may or may not be shagging - at that early stage, it's just a massive no go. From what you've said, it sounds as if you're going to cut him loose which sounds like the best option, so I'm merely suggesting for future reference.

LovelyFriend · 22/11/2015 18:19

Well whether he's in the ops bed or his own, he's still likely to be laying it on this woman via what's app or wherever, while he had declared himself to be in a relationship with the op

Alconleigh · 22/11/2015 18:49

I knowing this is irrelevant but you really can't use Hugh Jackman as a good example of true love conquering all...I mean come on!

CakeForBreakfast · 22/11/2015 20:23

Oh come on! OP is not shallow or wrong for saying looks and age affect a persons desire, she wasn't saying it's the only factor! I know who I'd choose between Chris Helmsworth and John Cleese

If you or I were at a big dinner party gathering and our dps were seated next to Scarlett Johannsen, Wouldnt we be looking over to see how they were getting along just a teeny bit more often than if he was sat next to Ann Widdecomb? Of course!! Looks matter to some extent, why pretend otherwise.

OP has been trying to gauge if her new boyfriend might have had an intention to play away. The staying with an older lady not his type with her kids there suggests no, but the high volume of late night texts and cosy Fb photos and being ignored, suggests, well, yes.

Sorry you have felt chased away donnatella but I'm impressed at your clued up radar for arsehole behaviour... You don't have proof, but you know that this early on, you aren't as happy or secure as you should be and that's his failing. You don't need proof.

Well done and all the best.

aurynne · 23/11/2015 04:55

Well well well... she is not that attractive, old, fat and has kids.

Still, he went abroad to shag her.

Must sting...

donnattella · 23/11/2015 07:56

Ahhh, I get it.

Because I'm young, thin and pretty I deserve to be cheated on, right?

If I was the old, fat and unnattractive one and it were the other way round I'd deserve your sympathy, right?

Who's shallow here?

For all you actually know, she might be a vile human being and I might be a wonderful one. For all you know, she might know about me and be trying to cause this.

At the very least, all you know 100% for sure is that I am a human being who has just been potentially betrayed, lied to and hurt and your best effort at contribution on a help forum is to smugly gloat.

How dare I mention how she looks! How old she is! What her demographic is! None of that is clearly relevant to sexual attraction!!!! Excuse me for pointing out the fucking obvious.

Shame on you, and on anyone else on this thread who has given me shit for not pretending reality isn't reality.

Who is jealous and spiteful on this thread?

Me or you lot?

OP posts:
donnattella · 23/11/2015 07:57

Oh, and no.

Would have stung 10 times more if it had been someone younger and prettier.

Sorry to disappoint.

OP posts:
lavenderhoney · 23/11/2015 08:11

What struck me was the online dating you did with this guy, then straight to bed for 3 days on your first date. It does sound exactly the same as his behaviour of this other woman, lots of texting etc then sex. She's probably been taken for a ride as well.

Online texting isn't dating. It's texting. dont fall for that again.

Whythehellnot · 23/11/2015 08:34

I would have thought it was completely irrelevant that she is overweight or unattractive (in your opinion, obviously not his.) The point is he has chosen to go abroad to spend time in her company when you thought he was your boyfriend. Why don't you just leave them to it now?

donnattella · 23/11/2015 08:50

No. I did not find out he was cheating and then say "but she is unnattractive and overweight".

No.

I was unsure if he was cheating or not, I had a mild paranoia about him being with a female friend and the fact that she was making posts to show them together, and I was assessing the likelyhood that it was platonic or not.

In assessing that likelyhood her sexual attractiveness was obviously a factor. One of many, but a factor.

whether certain people care to admit it or not, the physical aspect is a mssive part of sexual attraction. In short-term, one-off sexual escapades it's actually the primary factor. There is no long build up here or time together.

Wikepedia Says:

A person's physical appearance has a critical impact on their sexual attractiveness. This involves the impact one's appearance has on the senses, especially in the beginning of a relationship

It also says men have a preference for younger and more beautiful women. We know this. This is part of society and the world we live in.

Therefore someone's age and looks is massively relevant when assessing the odds that your boyfriend has a relationship with them that is less than platonic.

Doesn't mean it can't happen, but most certainly means it's less likely.

The people on this thread know little about me, but from the age of 11 to the age of 22 I was massively overweight. A size 22 actually.

I can tell you without hesitation that the number of men who were sexually attracted to me was more than a hundred times greater when I went down to a size 10 and starte wearing makeup and dressing a certain way.

This woman simply did not look like someone you would be cheating with. She looked tomboyish. She looked outside of the body type he historically has dated. She was a diferrent age. She seemed to have personal circumstances that seemed to make having an affair partner stay in her home unlikely. All of that was relevant.

Incidentally, I also have no idea if he is shagging her.

He could very well have told me he was going anywhere and not posted anything online or made it so I could not see. He could have hidden her existence from me had he wished.

She might well be just a friend, who has posted photos of him. She might fancy him, she might not. He might be texting her late at night, or he might be texting someone else.

I've actually not a clue.

All I know for sure is that he came home a day late from holiday and cancelled a date with me to do that.

He stayed with a woman on holiday.

She has posted a photo of them together and been vague about whether or not it's romantic.

It's suspicious, but nothing is certain and it's very difficult for me to know the truth. It would have been nice if people could have focussed on helping me figure out the truth, or know how to proceed instead of focussing on trying to pretend that the way she looks was irrelevant.

OP posts:
sminkypinky · 23/11/2015 08:51

How dare I mention how she looks! How old she is! What her demographic is! None of that is clearly relevant to sexual attraction!!!! Excuse me for pointing out the fucking obvious

But it is irrelevant to your issue. Regardless of how she looks, your "boyfriend" went abroad to shag her. He obviously found her attractive enough to do that, even if you don't think she is.

I think part of the problem some posters have with your posts is how you can't seem to believe he he could be with someone who is overweight, or not very attractive (your opinion). For all you actually know, she might be a vile human being, for all you know, she may be a wonderful person with an awesome personality.

No, I'm not one of life's lookers, and after having a baby earlier this year, I could do with losing more than a few pounds, but FWIW I think you have been treated appallingly by this loser, I'm glad you're not giving him the time of day now because you are worth more than him. I just think it sounds like you're directing your bitterness at the wrong person.

RedMapleLeaf · 23/11/2015 08:57

I'll say it.

All I know for sure is that he came home a day late from holiday and cancelled a date with me to do that.

Yes, and this comes as a shock to you because you were shallow enough to not deem her a threat. Yet despite her age, lack of looks and children he chose to spend time with her over you.

donnattella · 23/11/2015 09:03

No. You're completely wrong. I was assessing likelyhood, not saying it was impossible. If I felt it was impossible I'd not have started the thread, would I? Confused

I have never said I didnt believe it. Or expressed any bitterness at all towards this woman. Sorry...I think you're all equating the fact that I believe she is overweight and unnattractive with bitterness. I could look at 1000 photos and tell you which ones were overweight or not. Not expressing bitterness...expressing observable fact.

Also, as I said...I've no idea if he went abroad to shag her or if he finds her attractive. That remains to be seen.

Anyone here who does not admit that it's far more likely to be texting an old friend and think "oh yes, just go and visit her for a one of week of shagging" that believes what that person looks like is irrelevant is absolutely lying for the sake of it.

A someone said earlier....if your husband had a female friend who looked like Scarlett Johannsen and he went to stay with her for a week as friends and posted photos of them doign things together can you honestly sit there and that that would be no more thratening than if the female friend looked like Anne Widdecomb?

You're just not being honest.

OP posts:
donnattella · 23/11/2015 09:06

Bull shit RedMapleLeaf

It comes as a fucking shock to me because I trusted him, and believed he cared about me. It has fuck all to do with what she looks like.

If I hadn't deemed her a threat, I would not have started the thread would I?

i think you're shallow and bitter, not me. It reeks off yor posts like a bad smell.

OP posts:
Joysmum · 23/11/2015 09:08

You're judging his attraction to her by your standards, not his.

Your standards are right where you're concerned, you were somebody he wanted to duck, but they weren't right where she is concerned or about you being a keeper to him.

I appreciate your thoughts re weight and attractiveness etc (been there done that got the t-shirt). The sooner you stop being so shallow about it the better though.

My DH and I got together when I was a size 10 (back in the days when 10 was and 8) and I was 20. I'm now 42 and a 16-18 (have been a 22). How many men should choose to be strategy to a 42/43 year old heading for a size 18? Answer: my DH!

We don't stay young and thin forever but we don't all look to replace our partners with the next young/slim model!

Keep looking at the world your way and you'll never be settled and relaxed in a long term relationship and always comparing yourself to others.

I feel sorry for you.

RedMapleLeaf · 23/11/2015 09:09

if your husband had a female friend who looked like Scarlett Johannsen and he yada yada yada

What this situation needs more than anything else is more objectification of women and this woman in particular.

RedMapleLeaf · 23/11/2015 09:10

It has fuck all to do with what she looks like.

So why did you bring it up?

sminkypinky · 23/11/2015 09:13

Honestly, if my husband fucked off abroad without telling me where he was going and conveniently "missed a flight" to spend more time with the woman who had been posting photos of them cuddling up together I wouldn't care what she looked like, because it would be irrelevant.

Just because, in your opinion, it is less likely that someone will sleep with someone who is overweight/unattractive it doesn't mean they won't do it.

donnattella · 23/11/2015 09:16

No JoysMum, I know what I look like and what all his exes look like. I know what we dress like, what age group we are and she doesn't fit even remotely with his standards. Mine are completely diferrent actually.

I am not remotely shallow. If I had made a thread saying that my wife had gained weight and I didn't fancy her anymore and wanted to leave her for someone younger that would be shallow.

All I have done is pointed out the proven, scientific fact that men tend to be more sexually attractive to prettier women. Nothing shallow in that at all.

What you appear to be is completely unable to accept facts because it doesn't fit in with your fantasy of a world where all women are as attractive as others. This is not true. Open any magazine to see it. Open any 18th century poetry book. Look to Helen of Troy. Look to the FHM list of the 100 sexiext women. Look on MTV.

Some people are less physically attractive than others.

Some people are less intelligent than others.

Some people are less strong than others.

It's reality. Stating that is not shallow.

It seems to me that a lot of you have insecurity about your looks and weight that you are projecting onto me.

OP posts:
donnattella · 23/11/2015 09:20

I am honestly sitting here laughing now at some of these stupid posts.

you know what a cliche is?

So when men have affairs and leave their wives is it typically for someone oldr, fatter, less attractive?

No. The opposite.

Men are shallow.

Not me.

If it turns out he is shagging her, it is completely irrelevant to me what she looks like. However in fuguring out if he was shagging her, it was absolutely relevant.

Just as it would have been relevant if she were a man. Or a Granny. Or a relative. Certain factors beyond "a nice personality" do affect in some way the chances of us wanting to have sex with someone!!!!!!!

OP posts:
allyjay · 23/11/2015 09:32

Morning op, how are you feeling today? Have you heard from the dickhead at all since his text about the missed flight?

donnattella · 23/11/2015 09:35

Morning alljay.

Thanks for a nice post.

Have heard from him, he's home, not really wanting to post on here about what's hapenning or what's been said or how I feel to be honest because it's been derailed.

OP posts:
allyjay · 23/11/2015 09:40

Yes I noticed that. I dont really want to get into that debate so im largely ignoring it. I'm sorry your thread was derailed, I hope you manage to sort it all out and can move on from this. You deserve better than him. Wishing you the best of luck.