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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

Dating Thread 128: the one without a catchy title

999 replies

RunsforCake14 · 11/02/2018 11:15

Dating thread rules:

  1. The first rule about the dating thread is you don't talk about it with people you're dating.
  2. Develop a thick skin.
  3. Do not invest emotionally too soon.
  4. It's all BS until it actually happens.
  5. Trust your gut instinct.
  6. People vanishing, lying & being generally weird is not your fault.
  7. You are the prize - they should be trying to impress you.
  8. If it's not fun, stop.
  9. Loo update is mandatory.
10. No dating the thread
OP posts:
ignoringthechoc · 20/02/2018 23:31

God cover I really hope you didn't type all that on a phone! thanks for the good wishes re job and sage advice as always ( not that I am sensible enough to follow it but appreciated nonetheless! :) )

VetOnCall · 20/02/2018 23:41

Cover if I ever decide to bat for the other side and by some coincidence you do too can I date you? Grin

to do what he did so close to the date does make me wonder if he wasn’t watching from somewhere to see just how “clever” he was to take you in

I actually thought exactly the same; it was a horrible feeling and I was looking around to see if I could spot him watching me walk into the cafe and then walk back to my car - unlikely I know. It's just bizarre, he seemed so nice and normal on WhatsApp, bit of an IT geek, definitely not a player or weirdo in any way. Either my radar is way off or he hid it really fucking well. Much as I hate to admit it/know that it's not me it's him, it has knocked my self esteem a bit Sad

CoverMeLads · 20/02/2018 23:44

Yep, I did. Which has rendered my right hand useless for a while.....

Night!

CoverMeLads · 20/02/2018 23:55

Vet do you look a bit like kd lang? If so, why then yes......Wink

And could it be just shock, rather than a self-esteem knock maybe? Because wankers like that have never been in your frame of reference before, so your emotionally ill-equipped to process it?
puts down Psychoanalysis For Dummies and fucks off to bed

CoverMeLads · 20/02/2018 23:55

YOU’RE Angry

BeenThereDating · 20/02/2018 23:56

This disappearing trick just before a date seems to be a new trend Vet. We had one a couple of weeks ago on the thread and it was someone's first ever date. I can't recall who though. It's unnerving though and a really shit thing to experience.

VetOnCall · 21/02/2018 00:43

Not really Cover, I have long and madly curly hair and I really wouldn't suit a KD crop, it would turn into a 'fro Grin

Again, I think you're probably right, I guess I've been lucky so far so this has been a bit of a wtf scenario and has thrown me a bit. I just don't get why he'd bother to send a long/chatty message about his morning and confirming the place, read my reply confirming the time and then block me. It's just so goddamn weird. Maybe he was getting his kicks by watching me from somewhere, it was a busy area so it would have been entirely possible. Or he was there and spotted me driving in and thought I was such a troll he blocked me and legged it before I parked and got my phone out of my bag. Ugh.

I think I remember that too Been. It's really shitty and cowardly. Ah well, will stop going on about it now. Tomorrow is another day and undoubtedly there's another emotionally crippled fuckwit waiting to contact me Grin

Pogmella · 21/02/2018 06:58

Thanks ignoring. It's not particularly admirable or healthy but if I keep seeing him my head is sometimes full of low level angst about it. If I stop seeing him, my head is sometimes full of the searing agony that is fixating on my Ex's fabulous life with his mistress and the injustice of it all.

So I guess I'm going to be a bit unhappy either way, this way I'm less unhappy. Woo-fucking-hoo

Kinunir · 21/02/2018 07:03

Low level angst and moose burgers vs. searing agony... I know which I'd choose! Smile

Lovemusic33 · 21/02/2018 07:38

cover ,yes, I think he will expect me to serve up MB at my house. I’m unsure how it works on these sites as some of the men are married as are the woman so they would have to meet up in a hotel? Don’t worry, I wouldn’t meet up with a married man knowingly. Some people are also looking to have MB outside (not for me as this would risk my job). Others just want to meet for a coffee and get to know you before MB and before you invite them to your home. It’s all a bit scary as I don’t want Strange men coming to my house.

I’m still no closer to finding a date from POF, everyone lives too far away and my one local iron has disappeared even though he clicked on ‘meet me’ after talking to me.

MinnieMul · 21/02/2018 08:25

Hey everyone...

I am a long term lurker on this post and it seems that I am invested in all of your lives already.

I am currently dating a guy from Tinder, all going well and then he went away for three weeks, even that was fine, he sent flowers and messages regularly. He is now back, the first thing he did was see me but now I feel like a needy mess. I am not sure how this has happened with him being away for so long but I think I am over-invested. Going to try and stay distracted i.e. away from my whatsapp today and see what happens.

FreshFigs · 21/02/2018 08:44

I found a load of potential on Bumble last night and 4 matches. Have messaged all and heard nowt back yet.

It all seems awfully slow.

But I'm enjoying the lack of creepy messages I've had on the others.

My concern is that people make profiles and then get bored and stop using it. You can't see when they were last active. Boooo

Kinunir · 21/02/2018 08:46

When I used Bumble in the past I found that the notifications system didn't work well - I often discovered matches after they had already expired. Also, having the woman message first sounds good in theory but, in practice, I think many are scared to make the first move.

CoverMeLads · 21/02/2018 09:31

Vet it’s a real shame that for one moment you think it could be about your appearance; that your mind goes there at all. But let’s say that tiny possibility is true: he sees you and doesn’t fancy you. Reverse it: what would you do? You’d go in and spend the hour you’d committed to with him wouldn’t you? Because you’re polite. And normal. And not an utter fuckwit.
So whatever the reason it’s still his bloody problem.

Plus you’re clearly gorgeous, so stop with that please.

Love with my history I would never judge about seeing someone who’s married. Although I’d never do it again and my experience was the whole affair thing, utter mess that that is. And glad your focussed on staying safe. Though, as I think someone previously said, there’s probably more honesty on the hookup sites. Certainly about intent.

Minnie welcome Smile What’s changed/why dyou think you’re feeling more needy now he’s back? Sounds great so far with the contact from his time away.

Fresh my quarrel with Bumble (was in it for a month or so last year and did get a date from it) was when I signed up there were a ton of really fit men who matched me. And it seemed that the “quality” (for want of a better word: I mean ones I thought were hot and reasonably similar in age) of guys was waaaaay better than on any other site I’d seen (GSM and OKC at that point).
So I messaged all the blokes who’d initiated the match. Zilch.
Then I messaged some more. Zilch.
Got one date, as I said, but messages were VERY few and far between.
So either I’m way less of an attractive proposition to the men on Bumble than the men on POF, Match, OKC and GSM, or maybe there’s significantly less actual real living men on there and some of those profiles are fake.

I don’t need it to be the latter for my self-esteem, but either way it’s a waste of money (and I think I paid because that was the way to get the best out of it, can’t remember) and I found it really frustrating.

Let us know how you get on, cos I’d love to hear some amazing Bumble success stories Grin

MinnieMul · 21/02/2018 09:51

thanks for the welcome Cover! I am not sure why I feel more needy since he has returned. Maybe it will just take some adjusting. I am not going to push it though and just see what happens, which is easier said than done. The contact from him was just right when he was away.

Fresh I also found Bumble very slow moving when I tried to use it late last year, especially in comparison to Tinder. I also found there was a lot of overlap with the people who appeared and more people that I knew in RL.

pudding21 · 21/02/2018 10:16

Oh God, I dreamt last night about Mr Architect. He was a terrible kisser and didn't have a clue what he was doing.

I need to find out don't I?

ignoringthechoc · 21/02/2018 10:28

No Pudding we ALL need to find out! It's not all about you you know, now do the decent thing and kiss the man!
But please don't come back and tell us he leaned in, you kissed him, he explained he was just reaching for the tape measure and is actually gay.....:)

pudding21 · 21/02/2018 10:35

ignoring he is not gay, for that I am sure ;) I doubt he swings both ways either. I think its my biggest fear coming to my sub conscious, build someone up in your head then they have a lizard tongue. Hahaha! I doubt it though, I have seen him surf, he knows how to use his body to create beautiful lines (seriously, he has a real style in his surfing, you can spot him a mile off.

I am going to ask if he wants dinner tomorrow, just casually. See what he says. I will update accordingly!

ignoringthechoc · 21/02/2018 10:44

I hope he says yes as it sounds like you have already fallen hard (his body creating beautiful lines, you are smitten!)
Seriously though I hope you have a lovely dinner and this is the start of something amazing x

Vistaverde · 21/02/2018 11:06

Cover I really hope I have learnt my lesson about over investing but I fear I may not have. It's not that it feels wrong its more that I didn't expect to click with the first person I started chatting to.

Vet That really sucks. I think it would knock my confidence as well. Do you have any more potential irons?

Pog That is a tricky one. I suppose it depends how invested you are in him? I for one have learnt from experience that I struggle with casual relationships I just get too involved.

Love You have given me an education into how hook up sites work. I got really fed up of POF so have moved on to Tinder.

Minnie Welcome and sounds like things are going good so far. I think its like you say maybe you are adjusting to him being back.

Pudding I think we all want to know now. I hope you manage to find out soon.

Still chatting to Mr Music who is very easy to talk to. He is keen but I feel a bit more cautious this time round. I also wasn't expecting to get on so well with the first person I started chatting to.

I have a new iron who I shall call Mr South Africa. I wasn;t sure to start off with but the more I chat to him the more interesting he is.

I also need to pay more attention when swiping right. I was about to reply to a guy I had matched with yesterday and realised that I had been on a couple of dates with him just over a year ago. From his message I don't think he recognised me but I definitely did not want to see him again so feel pretty relieved I realised in time.

Pogmella · 21/02/2018 11:30

Vet you're a stone cold fox- dont be daft!

kin yes important context might be that he is just beautiful and the sex is a tonne of fun...

I think I'm gonna try to accept these next few months are my chrysalis time. Im not driving at anything, im just developing me and reflecting. Plus I've got two holidays coming up- they'll help for sure

RunsforCake14 · 21/02/2018 11:31

What have I done?!! In a moment of madness/boredom last night I set up a new POF account.
My stalker from Match has already found me and sent me a bunch of messages. He's now blocked on both.
A message from a nice looking guy with zero info on his profile. I replied to his request for a chat with "I'm not sure, your profile says nothing about you"
A message from a bare bum saying Hi. It's a nice bum but I'd like to see his face.
And finally I got into an argument with someone who tried to claim an hours drive wasn't that far as he would just come to me. No thanks.

OP posts:
FreshFigs · 21/02/2018 11:51

Runs - I often set up profile in a moment of loneliness / boredom. Leave it for a few days, get pissed off or freaked out by messages and then bugger off.

anitt · 21/02/2018 13:11

Figs - I had the same issue with Bumble as many of the others have said, and what Kin said matches with what the few chats I had on there said. The app doesnt notify men of matches, so then you send off the message and they expire before anything happens. While as Cover said there were lots of good looking guys on it, I gave up after a while and moved to Tinder.

Pog - I'm probably an outlier here in that I can do FWB really happily without getting attached. So perhaps just try to be really honest and embrace it for what it is. Its fun, it makes you feel good and it is hopefully also a learning experience in what you want/dont want out of a relationship. For me it always helped that my friend in this scenario lived in a different city, so there was always a very clear divide between 'real life' and 'fun times' - perhaps try and add a line like that in your head? Everything that happens with him is in a bubble, and while a pleasant and refreshing break, is not reality.

RunsforCake14 · 21/02/2018 13:34

I used Bumble a year ago and got quite a few matches, some chats and a couple of dates.
This time round I've had almost zero matches. I'll get a notification that I have a match but when I look it's not there. The 2 or 3 matches I've had I've messaged but they've never replied.
I also find the distances to be very inaccurate. I was looking at one profile that was supposed to be 15miles away. In reality it's more like 25miles.
If you look at the reviews of Bumble many are having the same issues.

OP posts:
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