Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Was he joking?

222 replies

Moofreemum1 · 21/07/2019 19:05

Dating a guy for 6 weeks. Want to take things slowly as I've been really hurt in the past and usually I rush things which I don't to this time. He has just asked if I want to come to his friends birthday meal and meet all his friends. Id be the only women. So I've said I'm sorry I don't feel ready for that yet but that's not a reflection on how I feel about you. I said just want to take things slow.
His response was "Oh so clearly this is going no where then, might as well call it a day now" followed by I'm joking 😂 followed by no I understand as long as we are heading in the right direction.
I kind of feel he weren't joking but trying to mask it as a joke. What do MN think?

OP posts:
raspberryk · 22/07/2019 23:03

Not sure why you'd be so bothered about steroids in the past, hardly gateway drug of the century.
I would rather a truthful guy with a past than someone trying to cover up their previous mistakes and or choices.

rvby · 22/07/2019 23:04

See id understand more if your thread was written differently. The catalyst to your thread writing has nothing on the other 2 things, that should have been more of a concern.

Is it possible that the OP is using this thread to work through her concerns in a way that works for her, and not for you? Are you aware that threads such as these are not written purely such that you, personally, can understand them in the way you prefer?

OP is allowed to talk about a minor thing, and then reveal other things that seem more major to her.

Yes it's annoying when folk drip feed, but is it proportionate to castigate the OP and call her character / reliability into question because you're annoyed by how she structured her thread?

Have you asked yourself why they weren’t a concern until people have said they’d find it a red flag?

Are you aware that abuse thrives and is perpetuated when women are shamed for discussing things that upset them and make them feel weird? It is good and healthy for a human being to seek out the opinions of others when they are unsure of how they feel.

rvby There wasn’t any red flags to OP until people have said there are red flags from her OP.

The flags were very clear to me in the initial post. Everyone is different, but I was in a similar position to OP when I was dating after my marraige... and my now-dp would never in a million years have responded as OP's date has. Sometimes a red flag isn't that the person is an abuser... it can be as simple as "this is a sign that this person isn't right for me" and that's how I read the initial post. Her subsequent posts didn't surprise me at all.

Look at the last paragraph of the original post, that was her main concern. Not him telling her to fuck off, or his steroids- context is important, clearly didn’t bother her before.

Is it ok with you that folk develop their thoughts a bit as they speak/write?

Are you ok with other posters not serving up every detail that you personally require them to, in their initial post?

If the answer is no to either of those, perhaps don't spend too much time castigating women who have survived abuse and are trying to make their future a safer place. They may not have their ducks in a row enough not to annoy you to the point that you harangue them.

KTara · 22/07/2019 23:04

Oh my GOD, how many posts are there on this thread from Jellybeans and Petrol - you two are coming across as harassing the OP, jellybeans in particular. It really makes it hard to engage with what she is saying.

I personally would not like to meet a group of male friends as the only female, especially after eight weeks. I would be wary of someone who brushed off a quite manipulative response as a ‘joke’ and I would not like to be told to ‘fuck off’.

And if those reactions justify the level of harassment the OP has had on this thread, thank God I am not dating.

Jellybeansincognito · 22/07/2019 23:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Lunde · 22/07/2019 23:33

OP you have been treated very harshly by some on this thread who are clearly trying to twist what you write to suit their own agendas. Some posters have very narrow perspectives and seem to be totally overinvested while being unable to process any points of view that are different from their own.

I thought that there were quite a few potential red flags in your OP - and generally I think he is coming on too strong for a new relationship. I could never date the kind of person that makes passive aggressive threats when you won't do what they want and then claim to be "joking" or "just banter" when you question it. Especially in the early days of a relationship I would not regard this as a jokey thing at all.

I would also not be keen to attend a men-only birthday bash as my first meeting with with his friends. A quick drink at the local would be better without having to commit to a whole evening with people you don¨t know and no other wives/girlfriends. Why does he want you there? To parade you around like a prize pig as evidence he's pulled?

Mentioning "hating rejection" - don't we all but an odd thing to mention unless it's an implied threat for future behaviour

The f**k off/only joking - not a joke to me and sounding more aggressive.

Previous behaviour abusing steroids - no no no no - I would be out

I know that some posters seem to have delightfully Victorian values that they cannot even comprehend sleeping with someone without being formally introduced to friends and family. They seem to be clutching their pearls and throwing accusations of leading him on. Confused

Personally I don't see the issue - you have said you want to take it slower pace and get to know him more before you attend formal events as his gf. I would also be wary of the speed he is pushing things and I'm not sure I would pursue a relationship with all of these outstanding niggles and issues

HypatiaCade · 23/07/2019 00:13

I think you're a bit over invested Jellybean - 37 posts when the op herself has only posted 34 times.

MrMeSeeks · 23/07/2019 01:08

Fuck you is never a joke.
Hmm ofcourse it can, i say it to my dp he says it to me, both know we’re joking Hmm
I think he sounds like he felt very awkward and upset and made a joke ( and obviously not one the op feels is a joke).
I think the op should end things, they aren’t suited.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him wanting her to meet his friends, think by this point i’d met my dp friends ( prob in all relationships i’d met some friends).

1forAll74 · 23/07/2019 01:31

I think you should go for this night out with your man, he invited you. Unless you are ultra shy,and don't like meeting people,I don't see a problem with all this. It's not rushing into a relationship which You wan't to take slowly,by going out to socialise with your man's friends, even though they are all male. I would quite like that !

MiniTheMinx · 23/07/2019 05:04

Why is it that sitting around a table with a bunch of strangers eating food shows less caution than sharing ones address, social media contacts and bodily fluids!

What is it about meeting someone's friends that suggests commitment?

I'm more likely to accept an invitation for dinner than stay overnight on a weekday when I feel that at this early stage doing so is far too cosy. I would not make any effort to stay over when work is more important.

Obviously we all have different perspectives and experiences. I've never been in an abusive relationship. I can only assume the experience could make you hyper vigilant. In terms of my own physical and emotional well-being, I really would feel safer having dinner than staying over. But that's just me.

Dating to me is going out, doing things, not rearranging my week to fit work around staying over.....it's far too domestic and humdrum and reproduces a quasi familiarity.

As for investment, people have a different understanding of what this means. Some people (most) are talking about emotional investment, others are talking about time, others effort/willingness/intention.

People are concerned not to invest emotionally. I'm more likely to invest emotionally if I am creating a quasi domestic/commitment, staying over, having sex. I'm less likely having to invest emotionally having a nice meal out with new people. However, by having the meal I am investing time and effort, and this conveys intention. Intention to get to know someone.

And it's through investment of time, with good and honest intention (not quasi domestic or quasi intimacy) that you get to know someone.

Just walk OP. You are not happy, end of.

M0RVEN · 23/07/2019 05:31

Some posters have a LOT of difficulty with a woman saying “no” to a man. Even when it’s just “ no thanks, I don’t want to go to dinner with you and your friends “ to a man they have been dating a few weeks.

YouJustDoYou · 23/07/2019 06:46

The fk off/only joking - not a joke to me and sounding more aggressive

It's aggressive when it comes from a man you barely know, who has also said he doesn't cope with rejection.

KTara · 23/07/2019 07:23

No jellybean it is not nuts to suggest your comments were harassment. The OP asked you to stop on page 4. We are now on page 8 when you finally decide to leave the thread but not without insulting others first because the harassment has been pointed out to you. A substantial portion of your posts come after page 4.

One of the best bits of advice I have heard on MN is to see how a man reacts when you say no. The OP has done that and it is up to her to assess how she likes the results. She also said no to you in a different way, and you completely ignored her whilst telling her basically to ignore her own feelings as regards her date. It is ignoring one’s own feelings and instincts at the start which leads women into abusive relationships.

KTara · 23/07/2019 07:28

Mini for me, having been in a sexually and emotionally abusive relationship, I would find the dynamic of dinner where I was the only female, I was still getting to know someone and it was a big occasion for my date uncomfortable. I would prefer to meet his friends in smaller and less formal settings over a longer period of time. It would be nothing about commitment, it would be about comfort. I am not saying that is how the OP feels, just how I would feel.

It took me a long time to feel comfortable going out socially in a group with people I have known for a long time, and for a couple of years, I just did not do it.

Moofreemum1 · 23/07/2019 08:05

Thank you for all your replies. I told him last night I didn't want us going further. Said I needed to be alone and kind of blamed it on me saying I needed to work on myself blah blah. Que the huge long paragraphs I received from him. Him calling me, asking me to think about my decision. It was making me really uncomfortable. Then this morning on social media I see him posting loads of inspiration quotes. I hope he moves on soon.

OP posts:
Moomin8 · 23/07/2019 08:12

He sounds as though he enjoys dramatising everything. You're better off without him.

billy1966 · 23/07/2019 08:18

Good call OP.

I hope you have a lovely day👍

AFistfulofDolores1 · 23/07/2019 08:35

Judging by his reaction, your initial instinct was correct, OP. Well done.

Moofreemum1 · 23/07/2019 08:42

He does like drama. He said he loves it on the tv but I also noticed he thrives on it at work and gets involved in people's drama too

OP posts:
ContactLight · 23/07/2019 09:58

For what it's worth, the birthday meal with friends sounded like a lads' night out. So I can totally see why the op didn't want to go. I wouldn't have either.

Moofreemum1 · 23/07/2019 12:42

Just seen he hasn't gone to work today! He posted on his social media. I feel he's taking this way to far and really to heart. Concerning me a bit

OP posts:
M0RVEN · 23/07/2019 12:54

It’s only human to be concerned but you have to remember this isn’t your problem. He has plenty mates to come round and cheer him up, just like women do when someone we have been dating for a few weeks ends it.

And it’s confirming that your instincts were right.

I can’t imagine what his employer thinks of him.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 23/07/2019 12:55

Disengage, OP. It's no longer your drama - unless you want to make it yours.

readitandwept · 23/07/2019 12:56

What makes you think he didn't go to work because of our break up? Surely he wasn't so specific on social media?

CodenameVillanelle · 23/07/2019 13:01

Delete him from social media. Put your boundaries in place now.
And please don't take the posters saying you're wrong or weird or whatever to heart. You don't owe him or anyone a relationship and his behaviour was way out of line and intense. I would have dumped after that comment too.

Antibles · 23/07/2019 13:05

Hi moo. Focus on why you made the decision you did, not on how he is feeling now - or on how he might be trying to make you feel with his actions today...

Other than a reasonable consideration for his feelings, which you exercised by finishing with him nicely, you are not responsible for making or keeping this man happy from hereon in, if you've decided you're not suited.

Like any of us, when somebody finishes with us, he will deal with his feelings in his own way and get over this.

Don't look at his social media.

Have faith in your decision.