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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

Received anonymous letter about my new bf. WWYD?

326 replies

torquewench · 16/04/2019 13:41

Hi, apologies if this rambles on a bit but here goes.

Im in a newish relationship (4 months or thereabouts) with someone who lives about 200 miles away. We met via a mutual friend (he sees this friend maybe once or twice a year).

I see him every couple of weeks. We always have a nice time. He always comes down to visit me and I havent met any of his other friends or family. He's seemed absolutely wonderful so far,very attentive, eg buying flowers at valentines and on my birthday recently. This was also the day after his dads funeral and I was actually a bit surprised that he chose to spend time with me rather than his mum and siblings/family. Im mentioning this as someone may think its relevant (not sure if thats the right word).

However in todays post Ive received an anonymous letter (sent to my business address) that says its not being sent maliciously but is giving me some genuine advice and that I should steer clear of him because, among other things: theres a reason he's still single (never married but a couple of LTRs) in his early 50s; I should ask myself why hes picked someone who lives somewhere that no one else knows him; he's a narcissist; hes an alcoholic (he does drink quite a bit when he's with me), bipolar and depressed but wont get help and a few other things. Ive also been sent screenshots of his OLD profiles and the detail behind the screenshot, apparently showing him as being online whilst we were out celebrating my bithday. Also, the letter mentions that he "targets" ladies who had children very young - I had a child when I was 16.

Id not previously worried about anything as regards his behaviour, but on reflection, he does hide his phone a lot - its always face down and he always takes it with him to the toilet and Ive noticed hes been on whatsapp while hes in there. His Facebook friends list is also hidden and Ive noticed that one of his exes (I asked who she is, its his ex fiancee) comments on all his photos, usually really inane comments but shes always the first to pipe up. There is also, now I think about it, some strange bedroom behaviour but i dont know if its appropriate to mention it here so apologies - he never ejaculates, just stops "for a rest". He doesnt have any children.

The letter also bizarrely suggests contacting any one of his ex gfs (and listed a LOT of names over the last 5 years) via Facebook to find out what hes really like.

So ... do I ignore this and assume its from a jealous ex, or do I tell him about whats happened and see what he says? The tone of the letter doesnt strike me as being particularly spiteful or jealous - it does say theyre not interested in getting him back.

Letter also suggests maybe i should set up an anonymous OLD profile to try and "flush him out" as they put it.

My track record with men isnt the happiest to be honest and now Im wondering if my judgment has let me down yet again. But he does seem lovely so far. I cant talk to any of my friends about this as id be mortified.

OP posts:
WatchingFromTheWings · 16/04/2019 14:34

@CabbageHippy OLD = online dating

CrotchetyQuaver · 16/04/2019 14:35

OLD - on line dating
I think the letter is probably true.

If he drinks too much and it's crap sex why are you continuing with the relationship? I'd be checking with a few of the exes now you've got their names. I wouldn't be inclined to ignore a letter like that.

Twisique · 16/04/2019 14:35

He doesn't sound like much of a catch?

Why women who had children young?

FifisLovelyApron · 16/04/2019 14:36

They've given you a lot of detail. It seems genuinely to be about helping you and not about hurting him. Contact some of the women.

LaughingCow99 · 16/04/2019 14:39

what's an OLD profile?

Online dating profile.

I'd run for the hills. 4 months and he hasn't invited you to his, has his phone with him in the loo..... He's hiding something

Prettyvase · 16/04/2019 14:41

A lucky escape op.

As long as you ditch him quick!

howmanyusernames · 16/04/2019 14:41

I would be aware but wouldn't just end things.

What if this is a jealous ex? If you do really like him then give him the benefit of the doubt? Obviously be cautious, but you could say something like 'I'll come up to your place next time we meet!' and see how he reacts.

Definitely speak to the mutual friend though, just be honest with them and show them what you have received, and ask if there is any truth in any of it, or if they know why someone might have sent it.

When I started dating my husband, who lived in a different country at the time, a male 'friend' would say 'How do you know he isn't cheating on you? How do you know he isn't seeing other people over there?' and basically try and put doubt in my mind. It did start to work, made me question things that happened (like you now are) but in the end I trusted my boyfriend (at the time) and chose to ignore my 'friend'.
My 'friend', which I didn't know at the time, wanted to be with me....

My husband would also get emails from his ex for the first YEAR we were together saying she wanted him back, that she'd be a better girlfriend next time, that they would have so much fun together etc, send him videos of them on trips.....oh and 'like' any photo of me and him on Facebook....

Some people will try and split you up for whatever reason, and you have to decide if you like/trust your partner enough to give them the benefit of the doubt.

hellsbellsmelons · 16/04/2019 14:41

Soooo.....
He hides his phone a lot - its always face down
He always takes his phone to the toilet
He goes on whatsapp while hes with you
His Facebook friends list is hidden
There is also some strange bedroom behaviour
He's never been married
He's doesn't have any children

You've now got this letter outlining exactly why all of the above is relevant.
Honestly. 2 hours away and all this crap.
I'd dump him and run - fast!!!

NaturatintGoldenChestnut · 16/04/2019 14:42

FFS, I'd have dumped him for the heavy drinking and crap sex alone. Don't get me wrong, I love good wine, it's fun to share an excellent bottle over a good meal on a weekend afternoon or on a date night or on holiday. I drink a bottle or so a week myself, as a food accompaniment, but heavy drinkers started to become very unattractive when I was about 30. As for crap sex, that's been dealbreaker since I lost my virginity.

You have some weak boundaries and low standards.

I'd get rid of this one and work on that before dating again.

howmanyusernames · 16/04/2019 14:43

When I say 'at the time' I mean he was my boyfriend at the time, not that I don't trust him now!! LOL!
We are now married (for 4 years), been together for 8 years and have a 1 year old! ☺

Boysey45 · 16/04/2019 14:44

Even without the letter I'd dump him, sexual problems alone would make me run for the hills.

NottonightJosepheen · 16/04/2019 14:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluntness100 · 16/04/2019 14:46

If you only see each other every two weeks, you've met this man romantically what eight times or so?

And on those handful of dates, what he drinks heavily, hides his phone, uses it secretly, is shit in bed, hasn't introduced you to any of his friends or family, doesn't invite you to where he lives, and you've received a letter about him, which appears to be trying to protect you.

I think I'd be concerned. I don't think I'd tell him about the letter though, because he will guess who it's from, and he could cause that person a lot of pain, be it emotional or otherwise.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/04/2019 14:49

I would not think this is from some jealous ex nor would I mention this letter to this man. Whoever wrote this took a lot of time to find you. I would employ a third option now and that is to dump him.

Sadly I think your judgment re this bloke has let you down yet again. That letter you received is telling you a lot more about him and does not come across as being written with a malicious intent. There's a lot of red flags here that you have yourself seen (his behaviour in the bedroom, his behaviour re his phone, he being with you who lives 200 miles away) aside from the content of this letter.

You do have a low set bar here OP: you need to unlearn all the crap you have learnt about relationships and rebuild from the ground up.

torquewench · 16/04/2019 14:50

Im not saying the sex isnt good - it is, he just never ejaculates, says hes just stopping for a rest and we carry on again but it still never happens, and thats what i think is a bit strange, and not something ive ever experienced before. However good sex isnt a reason not to tell him to get lost if needs be.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/04/2019 14:54

"However good sex isnt a reason not to tell him to get lost if needs be".

You may think that but I would think otherwise. The rest of it are red flag behaviours that you ignore at your own emotional peril.

You can simply state that this is no longer working for you and that you wish him well. He does not need or warrant any other explanation in any greater detail.

Connieston · 16/04/2019 14:54

I'd be taking that letter seriously.

downcasteyes · 16/04/2019 14:56

Hmmmm.

In all honesty, I would take the letter to him and talk it through. I'd ask if he minded me having a chat to his exes on Facebook, and then I'd contact the entire list!! :)

There is a difference between someone who is serially toxic and someone who has been in a relationship with a couple of people who are wrong for them. Given that you'd probably assume that there wasn't much wrong if you hadn't got this letter, I think you should leave yourself some space to exercise your own judgement.

AventaRizon · 16/04/2019 14:56

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. At least you now know to be a little wary. Something's not quite right is it?

Fjfs · 16/04/2019 14:56

The suggestion that he is hiding by dating someone far from his home could be something sinister. I feel like a PP poster mentioned, that the sender hasn't disclosed everything and the juiciest detail is what she hasn't disclosed for whatever reason. Pity she didn't set up an anonymous email address for you to ask further questions.

Is it multiple dating websites he's on or just one?

sonjadog · 16/04/2019 14:57

I actually wouldn't take that letter all that seriously. It sounds pretty malicious to me.

Why is him dating someone living far away a bad sign? It is what you are doing too after all. Being single and not having kids in his 50s is not a red flag in any way. Has he mentioned you having had your child very early? Why would be target you for that in particular when I am guessing you are now a lot older than 16?

The alcohol and the crap sex are a problem. Only you can decide how much of a problem. The phone thing could be suspicious or not. Again, only you can decide.

I would maybe be cautious and aware for the future, but my main response to a letter like that would be that the writer was poisonous rather than the guy.

Timewarpdancer · 16/04/2019 14:57

Stopping for a rest? Really? Do men do that?
The drinking alone would put me off too

Babynamess · 16/04/2019 14:58

Speak to mutual friend.

higgyhog · 16/04/2019 15:01

He might have got a problem with ejaculation that he is shy about being open about. There are however far to many other odd issues that would make me be very wary of him. I agree with those who have suggested you ask about meeting his friends and/or family and see what response you get. The being very nice to you at this stage in the relationship might
tie in with narcissism, he might also be using another woman through OLD for triangulation, though tha tis very speculative.

Myusernameismud · 16/04/2019 15:01

Torquewench at the risk of this sounding odd, are his initials KB? Because I dated a man who sounds very similar to that, and I had a similar message although it was via Facebook. I stupidly chose to ignore it, and it was the biggest mistake of my life.

Even if it's not the same guy, from previous experience, I'd run a mile.

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