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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

Break Out The Red Flag Bunting, It's Dating Thread 131

999 replies

VetOnCall · 15/03/2018 19:21

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:
Thread gallery
11
SilverdaleGlen · 25/03/2018 22:50

Thank you Bant.

In which case I have 1 iron who is probably looking for FWB.

1 who I Have great hope will be an iron and not turn out to be yet another FWB.

An actual FWB

and a penpal I was intimate with once and I really should get rid of.

Hmm I think I'm giving off the wrong signals.

VetOnCall · 25/03/2018 23:46

In a fit of optimism I signed in to Match again yesterday. I think there's something wrong with the website and when you search within Devon you actually get the mugshot collection for Dartmoor prison. Dire doesn't even come close. I got the 3 day trial thing and have had 24 messages so far, 17 of which are from men aged between 45 and 56. I'm 36 and the age range on my profile is 35-43 but clearly nobody bothers to actually read that.

Back in slightly less depressing OLD-land, Mr DiamondMine has asked to meet, we're both busy next weekend so he's suggested Easter Monday. I really don't think I'm going to be his type in real life so even though I'll be bracing myself for the inevitable 'thanks but no thanks' afterwards I'm still going to be disappointed when it happens. I still really want to meet him though, damn masochistic streak Grin Keep idly thinking about Mr Real-Life Consultant but have no way of contacting him other than via his work details and Miss DesperateStalker isn't the name I'm aiming for. I have a date on Wednesday with Mr No-Name but I'm pretty much totally meh about it.

Runs apologies in advance but I have to do this - squeeeeee!!! that's so exciting!! - okay, done, as you were.

OP posts:
Queenofthedrivensnow · 26/03/2018 06:29

Vetoncall I hear you! Okcupid in Devon was even worse!

Lovemusic33 · 26/03/2018 07:30

Vet I’m in Dorset and it’s not much better here, I don’t bother paying for any sites because there’s barely anyone near by that looks normal.

So I un hid my profile on a POF and got a message this morning “fancy a shag?”, I think I might go back into hiding again.

Thenewphaseofmylife · 26/03/2018 07:50

Hi all

Thankyou all for keeping me sane and giving so much experience to us newbies.

Also advice - so had one iron MrGin (we share a love of it). We had a date planned he cancelled last minute, carried on chatting but got busy or backed off and I reacted like a newbie and kept texting him. So I last heard from him on Thursday and I last send a text on Friday - no response. But he has it blocked me on WhatsApp or Bumble.

Is there anyway I can resurrect this or do I let go?

Thenewphaseofmylife · 26/03/2018 07:51

Has not blocked me!

Lovemusic33 · 26/03/2018 07:54

Thenew I always give them 48 hours to reply, if I don’t hear anything then I move on, I never chase either, I might send one message asking if everything’s ok, if no answer then I don’t text again. It happens a lot, people vanish, often because they are talking to and dating others.

Jaxinthebox · 26/03/2018 07:56

vet dont put yourself down! Give yourself a talking to and go get your Easter Bunny.

love Ive hid my profile on Pof after this weekend.

MrSnog stayed until late last night... Ive no idea if this is going anywhere, or if I even want it to but we have a great laugh together. Im trying to just go with the flow, not over think things and not over invest!
I like him but Im not ready for the smitten bench yet. Maybe he is my rebound, not sure, but HE phoned me, took me out to dinner.

FWB?? I think I need a man's thoughts on this' bant . smeaton

Jaxinthebox · 26/03/2018 07:58

oh and I have just started WMLB - I need to read this quickly!

Thenewphaseofmylife · 26/03/2018 08:01

Thanks Love. I will do that and add it to my list of 'rules'. Gotta have some kind of boundaries other wise I'm never going to survive!

ThirdTimeUnlucky · 26/03/2018 08:15

Love - my son has ASD too and is mostly oblivious to the dates I invite home. I let him know, obviously, but he stays in his room anyway.
Sky - sorry, had to laugh at the Rod Stewart's mother haircut.
Runs - exciting! Hope he contacts you.
Loco - I get what you say about getting emotionally attached, it's hard not to.

Well I spent a lovely Sat night and Sunday with MrWow. I am defo smitten. He is open and honest, like me, and seems to really care time will tell. We've both agreed not to sleep with anyone else. Neither of us wants to move in with each other in the near future, we both need our space after our failed long-term relationships. Got plans for Easter.
Anyone remember MrSolid - the guy who future faked me and then asked if I'd just be his FB? Well after I replied in a very insulting way and he then blocked me, he msg me last night! Will tell more later.
xx

TomHardysBitontheside · 26/03/2018 08:54

The new I had a date with someone last week. We had a great time (or so I thought) and he mentioned a second date. I got a message Thursday morning asking if I was ok (we were both hungover). I replied and since then NOTHING! I posted here for advice and as hard as it has been (and I've formulated my reply several times in my head) I have not contacted him. I know he's ok I stalked him on Twitter

I've read WMLB, which has helped me enormously lately, and I realise that if he was really into me he would message. It's really hard to understand why they don't get in touch, when you think you get on. Just remember it's nothing you've done he's the arse. And why would you want to be with someone who treats you like this anyway?

Lovemusic33 · 26/03/2018 09:01

Thenew Mr camera who I went on a date with just over a week ago also didn’t have the decency to message me. I thought our date went ok, knew he was going skiing for a week so didn’t expect to hear much, he’s home now as I stalked his FB and he’s posted photos of his holiday. I haven’t taken it to heart, just annoys me that people can’t be honest and just say ‘actually I don’t think we are suitable’, it’s not fair to leave someone wondering.

I can’t date for a couple weeks due to the Easter holidays and going away next week, this has annoyed one of my irons but I’m not too bothered. Once I get home from holiday I will try a bit harder on POF and venture on to Tinder.

VetOnCall · 26/03/2018 09:08

TheNew if you sent the last message don't message him again. Personally if I hadn't heard from him since Thursday and I'd replied since then I'd have written him off by now. Tbh it sounds like he was disappearing anyway if he cancelled your date and cooled off on the messaging. Besides, unless someone has been in an unfortunate incident in which they've broken both their thumbs then to not take 30 seconds in 4 days to send one quick text to someone you've been talking to is just fucking rude.

Speaking of just fucking rude, I got the attached message from yet another silver tongued devil on POF this morning. I have long, naturally curly hair. If I enjoyed wasting my time engaging with twats I'd point out that if I gave my hair a 'bloody good brush' it'd look like Crystal Tipps Grin

Break Out The Red Flag Bunting, It's Dating Thread 131
OP posts:
Kinunir · 26/03/2018 09:17

Val Don't do it - your proposed date for tomorrow sounds the complete opposite of what you deserve and what you are looking for!!!!

TomHardysBitontheside · 26/03/2018 09:21

Jesus vet what an utter twat. That is so rude.
My opener thing on POF is "ask me what my favourite gig is". Some idiot messaged and said Gary Glitter. Twat.

Thenewphaseofmylife · 26/03/2018 09:27

Thanks everyone. Yes he's missing out - I am the prize. Ahhhhhh!

DaffoDeffo · 26/03/2018 09:35

rather than WMLB someone should write a book on why women fall for unsuitable men and are blind to the red flags Grin

I find it hard to chat to/meet more than one person at a time. I am also not replying to messages where I don't want to pursue it. I think messaging just starts the dialogue. It makes my teeth itch not replying as it does feel rude but I know it's the best path to follow. Not that I get that many messages anyway!

I had a wonderful date last week with a man who has kids a similar age to mine (i.e. quite old kids), is the same age as me and doesn't want more children. I think he must be 1 of a very few who has that dynamic! But apart from that, he came across as a very genuine, lovely bloke. I am trying very hard not to get too excited - like you Loco my brain runs away with itself. Luckily we are both very busy so can't see each other till after Easter which helps with not getting intense too quickly! ARGH. What doesn't help is there seem to be so many unsuitable men that when I meet one that looks like it might work, it's hard to remain grounded.

Smeaton · 26/03/2018 10:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thenewphaseofmylife · 26/03/2018 10:30

But Smeaton where do we find these gems?

I'm sure they exist but I can't see them anywhere on OLD.

Queenofthedrivensnow · 26/03/2018 10:55

I'm adopting the 48 hour rule that's so good!

TomHardysBitontheside · 26/03/2018 10:56

Can I just say that being ghosted is shit?

It's my first time, so I'm sure I'll get used to it. I'm just so surprised after what I thought was a good date. Just a "thanks but no thanks" would be nice. But nothing?!

It makes me so cross and confused. I really want to message but I'm not. I'll come across as desperate. This is awful!!

Lostlily · 26/03/2018 11:23

Tomhardy its so deflating and makes paranoid people like me all self conscious and critical, but as the thread rules say,
'People vanishing, lying and being generally weird is not your fault'

its just horrible though, I was lucky to find someone nice after a few months and a few dates but I am so skeptical because there are so many arses out there......

TomHardysBitontheside · 26/03/2018 11:42

Thanks lost I think I should print out these rules!

I am very sensitive and certainly a "pleaser" so I do take these things quite personally. I know I just need to toughen up.

DaffoDeffo · 26/03/2018 11:45

smeaton you are exactly right, totally right. But if I can give you a tiny bit of insight into it as after my divorce, I went to counselling as I wanted to understand what I had done wrong (or to slightly rephrase that, how i could do things differently). My exh was a perfectly decent man but we had got into a terrible rut and after him, I had fallen for a series of complete arseholes.

So basically, the falling for the drama is exactly right BUT men who bring that drama into your life also tend to be the ones that charm the pants off you. Both unsuitable boyf I had after exh came across initially as totally charming and wonderful except there were always red flags. However, what happens is that the charm is so fabulous that it blinds you to the red flags. I occasionally keep a diary and if I read it back, the red flags are there, but I was just blinded by the charm. Once I understood that I saw the red flags but ignored them, I've been a lot wiser. It is hard though, I think harder than you initially realise as people are drawn to the excitement of these charming, slightly dramatic men. And it's a danger point but at least one I recognise now!

then there's the category of the almost too nice men who are almost bowing down to you but it's clear their eye is on something else (the sort of cocklodger type bloke) who is actually a nice person on presentation but is being nice in the hope of getting themselves into a comfortable situation for them. They are easier to spot but no less charming that the ones above.

It must be frustrating for perfectly 'normal' men to sit back and see this happen especially as you are more adept at spotting these types than we are.