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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

Ex Boyfriend Got in Touch - Respond With Home Truths?

120 replies

IncandescentSilver · 23/09/2020 09:13

My ex boyfriend texted me 2 days ago after cheating on me, dumping and blocking me 3 months previously. It was just a short text saying he was sorry about what happened and he "feels bad about it". He is very avoidant and doesn't normally initiate texts so this is unusual for him.

It was a LDR and I have ended up getting a new job back in his city (not a coincidence, I was trying to find one there for a while to be closer to him and I own my own flat there, which became empty due to the tenant leaving). I never got the opportunity to tell him I was moving back because he was so intent on dumping me and blocking me.

So it could be that he's found out I'm back in town and he's worried I'll tell people how badly he behaved and he wants to sweeten me up, or he wants to get back together - but it was the second time he had ended things with me and he's very on-off. I'm also not sure whether he is still seeing the woman he dumped me for, but it's quite likely that he is, at least on a FWB basis.

The thing is, I'm really disgusted with him. I didnt get any closure because he refused point blank to meet up and dumped my things on my doorstep when he knew I'd be out. He lied to me and I couldn't get an answer as to whether there had been any overlap so I had to get an std test (fortunately it was clear). The only reason he gave was that he "got bored and felt lonely" during lockdown. There had been a lot of red flags before that I had overlooked because he had been treating me well and I thought he adored me, and I was really happy.

The more I thought about the way he behaved and the more I found out about him, the more I began to go off him. I know the woman he cheated on me with and she has a pretty poor reputation (as in used to go round the back of the building where she worked to give men bjs - I heard this several years ago from one of the sources himself, who is rely embarrassed about it). Her social media, which is public, is full of swearing and hints that she's pregnant (she hints she s pregnant quite often). She was always a bit of a joke for having poor personal hygiene and being a bit smelly and unwashed and she was quite happy with that and used to laugh along with it herself. She has photos of herself with cleavage hanging out in see through clothes - it's all very attention seeking and a bit sleazy and all her "friends" are men. He's really clever and educated, whereas she left school with no qualifications and struggles to hold down a job. I felt like I'd been drawn into something from the Jeremy Kyle show when I came home to find my belongings dumped on the doorstep. He lied to me, etc..

So I really want to reply telling him what I think of him now, that I'm disgusted by him and that I would never have got involved with him if I'd known how awful a man he was. I come from a culture (northern European country, OK The Netherlands) where people are very forthright and say things as they are. Its considered good to tell people how unacceptable their behaviour is, so they know for the next time and don't get away with it without any criticism. Whereas I know in this country I would probably be told to just ignore him.

I wouldn't feel sorry for him by the way. He's very good at feigning innocence, but it's not the first time he's behaved as a rat - basically he just turns into whatever person he thinks you want him to be to get sex, and has no qualms about cutting people off who are no longer any use to him. I stupidly overlooked all those red flags in the past because I'd known him for years and because I thought I was half imagining it, but now I realise his true personality.

To reply or not?

OP posts:
IncandescentSilver · 24/09/2020 08:01

I agree that he's probably found someone on his own level now. Any woman looking for security or commitment isn't going to go near a 40 year old man who is "bad at relationships" . I only ignored the red flags because I knew his family and had known him when he was younger, when he was fresh out of uni, and perhaps not as hardened as he is now.

Of course I'm still invested a littl! I'm not in the habit of cutting people off that I was close to just 3 months ago!

I'm really not comfortable with all this blocking and so on. Whereas I am very good at ignoring the presence of someone's number in my phone. He's not going to text again - if he thinks there's any risk of him not getting what he wants, he won't waste the energy.

Anyway, I've changed his name to "Multishagger" on my phone, which is a handy reminder for what he's done. Breaking the no contact into blocks works well for me.

Lots of good advice in this thread - thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to respond. I'm going to print this thread out as a useful reminder. Sometimes it can be easier to describe what happened to strangers, as the few friends I have that met/know him have only seen his "ideal boyfriend" mask.

OP posts:
WiserOlder · 24/09/2020 08:04

Yes opening the dialogue back up again will make him feel better.

muckycat · 24/09/2020 10:57

The Brits take great satisfaction in judging someone harshly whilst giving the outward appearance of indifference, or even approval. Likewise, they hate being on the receiving end of this treatment.*

Or, showing great indifference in the face of being hurt. It really is one way of having one up on someone when you have nothing else left to fight with. Showing that you are resilient and they are inconsequential. Having the last word, silently.

This is really good advice though from PP. I'm pretty familiar with the straight talking Dutch way myself. Whilst I admire it in some ways and see the benefits, I also know that it would not be taken as straight talking here, in this situation. It would be read as bitter and a bit unhinged.

Not saying you are, but if you explained that cheating was wrong and you were hurt, this tosser would be thinking 'well, duh. I know this. I am just trying to see if I can smooth things over so you don't embarrass me in town/ I can possibly sound you out for another shag'.

Dontbeme · 24/09/2020 11:33

I'm also taking into account what my friend told me about her. No one I know has a good word to say about her

You need better people in your life OP, if they speak about another woman in this manner to you what are they saying about you to others? I notice that nobody has anything negative to say about these hordes of men lining up for sexual favours with this woman around the back of a shed, at some point it must appear as if they are exploiting a vulnerable person looking for approval or love. Why did it take your friend to throw her out of the house after she made a play for the husband, was he too shocked and distraught to say no to her advances and had to have the fainting couch and salts brought out for him?

IncandescentSilver · 24/09/2020 11:43

I think you're right. The poster who said if I replied, I would be giving the bullets to shoot him with is right too. He's got a nasty streak.

He runs a business which depends heavily on his personal reputation. Everything he does is about cultivating an image of a sensitive, single man who is reliable and trustworthy. I must admit to checking the OW's FB page for photos of them together. because being suddenly dumped for her didn't feel real at first. 5 months later, there is nothing, just lots of suggestive posts from her about "jizz on her tits" and "it hurts when you try a new position but it feels so fucking good". Sorry to be so graphic but maybe you understand why I feel disgusted. I'd lay a good bet that he is telling her to keep it secret because he's got a "crazy ex girlfriend".

She really has done me a massive favour.

OP posts:
newnameforthis123 · 24/09/2020 11:50

5 months later, there is nothing, just lots of suggestive posts from her about "jizz on her tits" and "it hurts when you try a new position but it feels so fucking good". Sorry to be so graphic but maybe you understand why I feel disgusted. I'd lay a good bet that he is telling her to keep it secret because he's got a "crazy ex girlfriend".

But it's five months on, why on earth are you proactively looking up her page to see all this?!

seensome · 24/09/2020 11:57

Hope you can keep strong and continue to ignore him. Hard as it might be for you, not looking at their fb pages will help, it only fuels hurt and sadness, occupy your time only with things that make you feel good, one day when you meet someone else your ex will be a distant memory, you will remember but the hurt will go.

IncandescentSilver · 24/09/2020 12:01

Sorry, at the beginning, when he first dumped me, were the suggestive comments. I think they got together 2 months before he ended it with me. Had a couple of looks recently and there is nothing to show them together. But I don't believe he is not still seeing her.

The more I found out, the easier it's been for me, because I thought he was a really decent guy, and none of it made any sense.

Can all British people really do this thing of suddenly switching off their emotions after a 3 minute phone call? And never have any curiosity, or questions? It's normal just to instantly block, move on and never think about it again? I find that hard to believe.

And does it really matter, all this blocking and ignoring, as long as it leads to the same result? I've been no contact for a long time now with him. I've found finding out more about what happened really cathartic for me.

OP posts:
Skyla2005 · 24/09/2020 12:06

I would just reply fuck off

muckycat · 24/09/2020 12:21

Oh no, it's not switching off emotions, of course it hurts like mad, being dumped and you feel as though you have questions unanswered and things you want to say.

The thing is though, that the dumper has the upper hand here in that they can and often will withdraw from the dialogue and leave you hanging at any time, compounding your hurt. So, the thinking is that it is better to shut it down yourself, take control of the situation and process your hurt independently of them and whatever answers they may give (which in even the nicest of break ups is likely to gloss over the truth in places. Nice people don't see any value in causing more pain than they need to).

Blocking is a practical action that reduces the temptation to get in touch or to look at what they've been doing and overanalyse their pictures etc. It sends them a dismissive message, of course, but it also draws a line for you. I'd personally only really block if someone really hurt me, not if it was an amicable split.

sweetheartyparty · 24/09/2020 12:25

I agree that telling some home truths is not a good idea. It just opens the door for him to hurt you more, you'll probably won't get the satisfaction you're hoping for.
I would also practice what you would do if you met him on the street. Act nonchalantly and distant. If he sees you content and indifferent about him then he may regret his choices. Even if he doesn't, you can imagine he does. Living well really is the best revenge.

ravenmum · 24/09/2020 13:08

Can all British people really do this thing of suddenly switching off their emotions after a 3 minute phone call? And never have any curiosity, or questions? It's normal just to instantly block, move on and never think about it again? I find that hard to believe.
Don't know where you've got that impression, but certainly not from reading the posts on Mumsnet.

Your English is unbelievable, by the way. Totally idiomatic, exactly like a native speaker. Hard to believe you are not from the UK. I've never come across such flawless grammar and vocab in 30 years living outside the UK, except perhaps my own children, who were brought up bilingual and bicultural, so understand that we are at heart all human, and just deal with our emotions differently.

Palavah · 24/09/2020 13:12

@IncandescentSilver

Sorry, at the beginning, when he first dumped me, were the suggestive comments. I think they got together 2 months before he ended it with me. Had a couple of looks recently and there is nothing to show them together. But I don't believe he is not still seeing her.

The more I found out, the easier it's been for me, because I thought he was a really decent guy, and none of it made any sense.

Can all British people really do this thing of suddenly switching off their emotions after a 3 minute phone call? And never have any curiosity, or questions? It's normal just to instantly block, move on and never think about it again? I find that hard to believe.

And does it really matter, all this blocking and ignoring, as long as it leads to the same result? I've been no contact for a long time now with him. I've found finding out more about what happened really cathartic for me.

He's not going to open up to you in response to a text full of home truths, though, so you're not going to learn anything more.

I don't know about anyone else but I find it incredibly difficult to let things like this go, so I really do empathise. I don't think we're alone.

squishee · 24/09/2020 13:55

Don't reply. Block. Move on.

IncandescentSilver · 24/09/2020 14:02

Thanks Ravensmum the benefits of the VWO education? Ive been here since I came for my Masters, stayed to work, and I'm 37 now, so for quite some time.

If I had blocked him and ignored him immediately and not found out more information, I would have been likely to make excuses for him when I received that text, or worse still, chasing him.

Now at least I know he's not really the type of man it's worth pursuing. I didnt realise that before. I had no idea.

OP posts:
ravenmum · 24/09/2020 14:10

Don't you you also get subtitled English TV? Seems a more likely explanation that any education Grin

Keep on reading the forum if you want any further insights into the British way of dealing with relationships! But honestly, people are telling you this because they know how tempting it is to rant at your ex, not because it wouldn't enter their heads.

muckycat · 24/09/2020 14:16

people are telling you this because they know how tempting it is to rant at your ex, not because it wouldn't enter their heads.

Spot on.

Sakurami · 25/09/2020 06:47

I really can't believe that there is a woman publicly putting jizz on her tits etc on her facebook page.

IncandescentSilver · 25/09/2020 08:03

At least you didn't have to read it *Sakurami" while you were trying to work out the dates your boyfriend cheated on you.

Not all women are "naice". If I gave the whole sentence it might make it possible to look it up, but it was said in the context of something feeling like..... Many of her posts are "fucking this" and "fucking that".

Waiting for someone to come along and accuse me with being uptight, or overly critical or obsessed. But I had to find out the truth.

OP posts:
Sakurami · 25/09/2020 12:53

Yeah right. Sounds completely plausible 🙄

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