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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

Gossip might be clouding me

303 replies

Pollypocket89 · 12/02/2020 19:12

My DH was the subject of gossip a little while back at work. Him and a woman there accused of having an affair. It's not true but I don't think he's helping himself by still having a relationship with her bar civility. He's above her and doesn't need to interact with her but he'll still drop her name into conversation etc

To me and the RL friend I've discussed it with, out of respect for me and himself he wouldn't have anything to do with her. He doesn't see the issue but it's making me wo der if he doesn't see it because he doesn't want to

OP posts:
TellItLikeItReallyIs · 19/02/2020 19:14

He doesn't see the issue but it's making me wo der if he doesn't see it because he doesn't want to

You can't have it both ways.

Either you believe him in which case he is perfectly entitled to continue to have a civil work relationship with her and your request for him to have nothing to do with her is unreasonable. Just as it would be for you to ask another adult person to stop having a working relationship with any other person they just worked with.

Or you don't believe him in which case you do have grounds to complain about continued contact and his lack of respect for you.

It's one or the other here I'm afraid. If he's done nothing wrong, why should he stop speaking to another work colleague because of malicious gossip?

My guess is you have a deep down vibe about it and you sense there is more to it than meets the eye.

Pollypocket89 · 19/02/2020 21:38

Nope, poking a tongue out is just messing around. He told you it was her, I don't see a problem

Even with the other things? He doesn't do that to other work people if we see them

OP posts:
CalleighDoodle · 19/02/2020 22:00

Poking a tongue out is just messing around if you're a child ffs. Not a superior in a work place where there is already gossip about an affair. And not if your wife has already told you she is not happy with him ogling her near naked photos.

He has absolutely no respect for you at all

Pollypocket89 · 19/02/2020 22:05

@CalleighDoodle do you see something in it? The tongue thing

OP posts:
CalleighDoodle · 19/02/2020 22:09

It is immature. Does he act immature with any other colleagues? Female colleagues? Especially ones below him at work?

Pollypocket89 · 19/02/2020 22:13

No he's not like that at all with any one else work wise. He's nice, polite etc but not playful like that

OP posts:
Closetbeanmuncher · 19/02/2020 22:24

Do you see something in it? The tongue thing

I'd say daily perving at her in pictures if her underwear is more of an indicator op.

He obviously fancies this woman and they are crossing boundaries of some sort for people to talk.

CalleighDoodle · 19/02/2020 22:30

So he is only acting like this with her. He is perving on her photos daily. There is gossip at work they are having an affair.

Theres a lot to suggest he isnt trust worthy.

Pollypocket89 · 19/02/2020 22:31

I'm half and half. I dont know if I didn't like him sticking his tongue out because of the other things or if it really is just because they get on and it's a greeting

OP posts:
rosabug · 19/02/2020 22:53

Okay. My ex partner of 22 years was having an affair with a married woman with 2 children - she was a work colleague of his. When I found out I went a bit crazy. The other woman then told her husband I was accusing her of an affair with my partner. Yep - pretty clever - I became the lying crazy lady.

Damage control written all over this OP. When you have not been on the rough side of affairs you have absolutely no idea how imaginative and clever people become to cover themselves.

Even the staged rant - very clever. I'm sorry OP.

Luckystar20 · 19/02/2020 23:02

It's clear hes having an affair with this woman sorry no smoke without fire. It sounds like all the colleagues know about it aswell.

MsDogLady · 20/02/2020 04:48

In addition to everything else, he was blatantly playful with her in front of you, even though he knows you feel anxious about her. What kind of man would do that to his wife? He is running roughshod over your feelings and boundaries.

Robin2323 · 20/02/2020 06:20

Seems they have a 'connection'
Bad news for any marriage.
And to do that in front of you.
Bad taste.

Pollypocket89 · 20/02/2020 06:42

I'm sorry, I know I sound really focused on sticking the tongue out and it might sound minor or like nothing I'm just a bit confused

Do those who have replied so far think that IS a sign of some kind?

The I always do it when I see her driving too

OP posts:
fuzzymoon · 20/02/2020 07:13

What is bothering you about poking his tongue out at her is that it shows that they have a friendly relationship not just a work relationship.

You knew this already but this is proof.

Now what your head is doing is trying to interpret the gesture to how friendly a tongue poke is.

It may make you feel uneasy as he isn't daft like that with you. He may not be daft like that at all.

What I think you're saying is that you're seeing him do something all be it small , very out of character and that has set off a gut feeling.

PinkiOcelot · 20/02/2020 13:26

The sticking the tongue out looks very overly “friendly” to me. He doesn’t give a shit that you witnessed it either.
I would bet there’s something inappropriate going on here! Sorry!

Cheeseandwin5 · 20/02/2020 13:40

@Pollypocket69
I would ignore some of these comments, ppl are determined to find your DH guilty of an affair that they will ignore your comments and beliefs (I assume because they all know husband better).
If you what you say is true, than why should he change his behaviour. Do you really want to be dictated to by bitter petty ppl who have nothing better to do than gossip and spread lies about other ppl?
Rather than stopping his interaction, maybe you should getting to meet this person and get to know them better.
You can than judge what you think is going on and act accordingly but dont be swayed by ppl who dont know you or your husband but determined to find him guilty anyway

TellItLikeItReallyIs · 20/02/2020 14:30

Do those who have replied so far think that IS a sign of some kind?

It's impossible for anyone here to say. Everyone can say that at the very least it's a sign of a high degree of familiarity and being relaxed enough to muck around.

So it's certainly the case that it's a close friendship but you knew that already.

Whether it's a sign of something more - flirting that's tipped over into sex or an emotional affair no one on here can say. You are best placed to assess that by seeing them together.

TBH I think the fact you've started this thread and the number of questions you are asking shows this is really bothering you. As I posted before, it's probably bothering you because on some level you have a subconcious sense there is more to it than this. Think about it - if you believe your husband, truly believe him, you wouldn't be that concerned about sticking tongues out would you?

booboo24 · 20/02/2020 15:27

CalleighDoodle why the ffs?! Just because i said it was messing around? I didn't comment on whether it was immature or not, I said it was messing around, which it is!!!!

Look op, yes, in light of everything else it could be suspicious, however poking a tongue out at someone you're clearly friends with is hardly a hanging offense is it?

Like I said previously, if I was friends and ONLY friends with someone at work and i became the subject of malicious rumours then NO, I wouldn't change the way I acted around them because I would have done nothing wrong in the first place, and I'd hope that my husband would trust me enough for this not to matter. On the other hand, you could argue there's no smoke without fire.

As a pp said though, you can't have it both ways, so say he stops being friendly with her at all, stops any sort of contact except where necessary for his job, would that make you any less concerned? Wouldn't you then think well they were clearly right as he has stopped the friendship. He can't win here, and sadly it seems nor can you at present.

In order to get past this you need to stop analysing everything, him poking his tongue out is clearly friendly, but hardly the sign of a raging affair is it. I'd let that bit go. It all boils down to whether you trust his word I'm afraid. I hope you can find a way through this, but try not to let it consume you.

cosmicbabe · 26/02/2020 10:08

Bottom line here is the Trust has gone....

Musti · 26/02/2020 11:46

At best it sounds like flirting

averythinline · 26/02/2020 11:51

Yes it is a sign

Does that make it easier for you to dump this disrespectful cheating man?

MrsAgassi · 26/02/2020 12:06

Definitely flirty, may or may not be more than that.

He has no consideration for your feelings though.

BigFatLiar · 26/02/2020 12:25

I don't know what you want people to say. Nobody on here knows you or your husband (perhaps they do?).

You mention gossip at work and immediately you'll be told he's having an affair. People love to believe all men are having affairs if they so much as talk to another woman let alone act friendly (or like an idiot) with one. Stuck out his tongue, childish, sort of thing my OH would do with his friends but then they're mostly male.

You either suspect hes having an affair or you don't. If he is you're better off without him. If he isn't he may be better of without you and a life of suspicion. If you don't suspect him forget it and don't let it get to you. If you start a new relationship what are you going to do with the next bit of gossip? Affairs happen but then mistrust can be just as damaging.

There was another thread a couple of weeks ago about meals where I mentioned that my husband wouldn't eat with solo female colleagues when he was away for work and it drew lots of comments on what a terrible attitude it was. Just shows why he thought that way, gossip starts so easily and everyone is so quick to believe it.

Babooshkar · 26/02/2020 12:36

if I told my OH I was uncomfortable with how he was acting with a colleague, especially one he had been accused of having an affair with, he would absolutely listen and withdraw himself. End of story.

I would also be VERY Hmm if he was following said person on SM.

Imho he’s either having an EA or a physical one and if it’s the former he’s blatantly playing with fire and doesn’t seem to give a shit how it makes you feel.

Have you actually had a proper discussion telling him how you feel about it all?