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Relationships

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Sorry, it's that old porn cliche again...

65 replies

namechange102 · 15/12/2016 12:11

Found out OH had looked at stuff years ago, was the first time I'd come up against this in a relationship and was pretty mad about it. He said he wouldn't look again. Surprise surprise. He did. A few times.

On this most recent occasion I've been able to see some of the stuff he's looked at, and although it's pretty tame really (no interaction as far as I am aware) I'm still pretty disgusted that he has spent his free time looking at this stuff, bookmarking some woman pleasuring herself with a sex toy (sorry, tmi) etc, and creating a folder to look at later. In the interests of not drip feeding, I think this is mostly while working away (most recently, though not always). I tried to change the way I thought of it by suggesting couples stuff but he's not shown any interest in that. It's all about him watching the naked 'ladies' Hmm.

Don't flame me for trying to dictate what he watches, my issue is more trying to come to terms with his dishonesty and my disgust. He says every man does it, and doesn't think it's a big thing at all. Sometimes he just clicks links from his gaming community 'just out of interest'. I don't really understand that and he can't see why I'm offended by him looking at all these pretty young attention seekers who put this stuff out there. I've tried to explain and directed him to an online article about the effects of (solo) porn on relationships but he was very dismissive about it.

I'm not going to LTB over it, but are there any advice/research/articles anyone knows of that would help me come to terms with my disgust at his habits and dismissive attitude? He has said he won't look yet again, obviously I'm not convinced, which starts off a whole new argument that I don't trust him and just keep on attacking him. I don't, that's how he perceives it. I get angry every time I think about the situation now and it's keeping me up at night!

Sorry for the ramble, needed to vent!

OP posts:
SunshineOutdoors · 16/12/2016 07:23

If things seem to be building up then we take an evening to have a good chat about it. It can be hard on both sides, in our situation he can feel the pressure of being the main earner and also like he's the one having to say yes or no to spending, whereas I feel the drudgery and frustration of feeling a little bit like life's on hold until kids are older etc. Often it is just acknowledging it that makes it easier, but also putting in plans for the future, like I've started a college course to help my career so he now has the dc and puts them to bed on his own once a week while I'm out doing this. So that's a practical change I guess.

Also if I'm telling him I'm feeling stuck in the house and things are boring etc then we'll make some dates where we or I go out and then I know they're in the calendar.

So it's accepting how things are at the moment but also making small practical changes. It works for us as we feel listened to and like a team working it out together.

Are there any small changes you think might help you to feel a bit more in control of things moving on?

AnyFucker · 16/12/2016 07:53

He blamed you for his ED ?

I like the sound of this bloke less and less. You are right, op. This isn't about the porn.

SunshineOutdoors · 16/12/2016 08:30

Yes I agree. Honesty and no blame are very important things. I'm sorry op.

SunshineOutdoors · 16/12/2016 08:34

Hate that you're being accused of 'nagging'. I hate that word. What, you're bringing up the same issues because they're not getting resolved for you? That's not nagging, that's trying to get things sorted. It takes two people to do that though.

happymumof4crazykids · 16/12/2016 09:31

I don't see porn as an issue Unless it becomes a problem in RL such as he is uninterested in sex with you or unable to perform unless watching porn or wanting something he watches on prom with you that you are uncomfortable with.
From your post you said he works away, he is using porn and toys while away from home. Regardless of your feeling about porn isn't this a much better outcome than him cheating on you?

namechange102 · 16/12/2016 09:47

Don't mean to sound rude happymum, but did you RTFT? Yes, of course watching it is better than cheating, but it's not too good if it's wrapped up in lies, with a history of intent to cheat to consider.

OP posts:
namechange102 · 16/12/2016 09:55

Thanks for your posts Sunshine. I'm obv responsible for general control of house and kids (oh, yay! Hmm) but most of our relationship has had to fit around his career. Same for a lot of ppl, I know, but it can be very restricted when he works away for months on end. I feel quite limited in what I could work towards, especially when I don't feel I have support for the bigger things (has been an ongoing theme really) . Have to think on that...Nice idea to plan dates, know I'd be the one doing all that tho Angry

OP posts:
876TaylorMade · 16/12/2016 10:06

OP I think you should focus on the trust issues you have with your DH.

You clearly worry about him being away and finding someone to fuck.

SheSaidNoFuckThat · 16/12/2016 10:38

A marriage with someone who works away will never work without trust. Yes it's often shit being the one at home with the kids, dealing with the everyday drudgery - but sorry to be blunt, either suck it up or split. Life's not straightforward with a work away DH and compromises have to be made, and yes, that's my life too. I knew what DH did when I met him and made the choices accordingly.

You say it's not about the porn, why does it matter if he's watching couples or women only? Working away spending nights in hotel rooms gets lonely, it's not as glamorous as it sounds. If you can't/won't trust him you need to leave as it won't work.

SunshineOutdoors · 16/12/2016 10:48

Ok, to be clear we plan 'date' dates but also times when I can go out without him. Make sure you get that too.

Adora10 · 16/12/2016 10:55

I just don't get how a man is willing to throw his relationship away over watching what I believe is basically a load of crap - it would signify to me two things:

  1. he doesn't give a fuck about the relationship
  2. and/or he's got a problem
namechange102 · 16/12/2016 11:36

SheSaidNo, just to be clear, he wasn't in the profession when I met him, so I wasn't expecting to have to spend half our lives apart. And believe me, he spends a good deal of those days and evenings out socialising, it's not all boring nights in hotels. It's not about whether he watches couples or singles, I maybe wasn't too clear on this. He only seems to be interested in watching (individual women) alone, and not with me as a couple.
Adora, I guess time will tell how much of a problem he has!

OP posts:
SheSaidNoFuckThat · 16/12/2016 12:38

Then it's even more important that you have trust OP, if not you either need to rethink the relationship or he needs to rethink his career

DrScholl · 16/12/2016 17:34

op - find some nice female based porn for yourself.
Dont tell him what to do

namechange102 · 17/12/2016 12:37

Not the point, Drscholl. He can watch whatever he likes, I just don't want to be lied to, thanks.

OP posts:
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