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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

Calling out this man for his shitty behaviour is a terrible idea isn't it.

478 replies

VotNow · 02/12/2020 22:10

Casual relationship. We agreed to be FWB. This was preceded by a couple of months heavy flirting during which he gave every impression of being very attracted to me. He even told someone else he fancied me (who then told me.) All the body language, the catching him watching me when he thought I wasn't looking, the finding excuses to be around me and stand close to me, the playful flirty joking around.

He said he only wanted sex from the start. Fine. I wanted sex with him too. But he was a dreadful FWB. The first time we hooked up he basically told me it was time for me to go after we were finished. I put my foot down and told him I expected to be treated with respect and kindness, even in a casual relationship, and he seemed to get a little better. The second time we got together he made me food and we spent more time talking etc. I was happy enough with that. But he reverted back to being disrespectful and rude again. Ignoring messages when it suited him. Texting at 11.45pm at night (which to be fair, I ignored because I'm not going round at that time.)

The last time we got together was after I had backed off a fair bit. We bumped into eachother and one thing led to another. I still fancied him a lot. But this time he came really quickly (unlike him) and then basically announced - like the first time we got together - that he was done and it was time for me to go now.

We talked and I made it clear that this was unnacceptable to me. That I had been looking forward to some hot sex with someone who would be my friend. I told him that although I was happy with casual and knew we would not be serious, that I thought we had real chemistry. He shook his head and just said we should call it a day. Basically said that I had only been a willing vagina rather than someone he felt an actual connection with.

Well of course I agree that if it's going to be like this then we should call it a day. But I remember back to when we were flirting and how he couldn't do enough for me - getting me drinks and making me coffees at our shared hobby. Always finding excuses to hang around me. The flirting. The staring as I walked past. You don't fake that sort of body language - I now feel so confused. How could I have got it so wrong? It stings and humiliates like buggery.

And I feel furious. With myself for not dumping his arse far sooner, but also with him. I feel he has treated me like shit. The only decent thing he has ever done is end things definitively rather than just ghosting me.

What I want to do is tell him off. Send him a message telling him he's a shit. That decent men are able to treat casual partners decently while maintaining the necessary boundaries. I want to tell him he's immature and that I deserved better.

But this is a terrible idea isn't it. He will probably just tell himself I'm crazy and that I lurve him (I don't.) And considering I haven't contacted him in any way for almost a week since he ended things, if I message now I'm just going to look like I'm still thinking about it (I am but perhaps he does not need to know this.)

How to handle. We're not strangers and are still going to see eachother about.

OP posts:
HaggieMaggie · 02/12/2020 22:16

Don’t contact him and block him please because he will be back when he’s horny and can’t get laid.

margaritasbythesea · 02/12/2020 22:17

I really wouldn't. You made your point, well it seems, at the time. I wouldn't waste another moment on him.

category12 · 02/12/2020 22:20

The first time he treated you disrespectfully should have been the last time. You're right to be angry, but you should never give someone who behaves like that a second chance.

I reckon he's one of those guys that thinks women are devalued by having sex.

TwentyViginti · 02/12/2020 22:22

He was all about the chase. Once he offered no strings sex and you agreed he took that at face value. He had the sex, your role in his life was done at that point.

Just nod and smile when you see him about. Don't give him any more headspace.

You both seemed confused at what a FWB arrangement is.

CodenameVillanelle · 02/12/2020 22:22

Delete and block. Keep your self esteem intact.

Frolicinameadow · 02/12/2020 22:23

I think you both went into it with different expectations. He sounds like a dick so you’ve had a lucky escape.
Don’t message him, it will achieve nothing. But definitely do block his number. If you can’t block his number because of hobby or whatever channel you know him through, please make sure you do not give in to his inevitable late night horny texts. Just ignore them. Don’t reply, don’t acknowledge, just blank completely

VotNow · 02/12/2020 22:26

I know. I'm kicking myself. Why didn't I just walk away after the first time?

Because my previous experience of him (fun, kind, couldn't do enough for me) led me to not quite be able to believe he was such a bastard. I thought underneath was a man who wanted to be decent.

OP posts:
SirMoanalot · 02/12/2020 22:26

Your expectations were casual dating not fwb.

Sn0tnose · 02/12/2020 22:29

Don’t do it. In the not too distant future, you’ll look at him with as much interest as you would look at an over filled dog poo bin. Mild revulsion and no interest in getting any closer. It will kill you if he thinks you’d developed any kind of feelings for him.

Radio silence and icy politeness is the way to play this. He’s a head fuck. Utterly unworthy of another thought and clearly someone who would struggle to be genuine friends with women.

Divebar · 02/12/2020 22:32

You know it’s a bad idea and you know why.... you would look like a needy, intense woman with the hots for him. The time to tell him was when you were with him. I should imagine he was a bit embarrassed by his poor performance and as a result told you he wasn’t that into you - you know he was and you don’t really need him to admit it. Sorry it didn’t work out though - it sounds like it could have been a fun friendship.

category12 · 02/12/2020 22:34

@SirMoanalot

Your expectations were casual dating not fwb.
I disagree - FWB isn't shag and go, there's supposed to be a friendship element to it.
VotNow · 02/12/2020 22:38

That's what I thought Category12

OP posts:
SirMoanalot · 02/12/2020 22:40

See i think friendship and great sex is basically love. That's the gold dust of a successful long term relationship.
For me that would blurr the lines too much. My idea of fwb is shag and go. Is texting at 11:45pm to see if theyre awake and dtf.

MushMonster · 02/12/2020 22:40

Do not text him OP!
If you are tempted, just delete his number.
It was nothing serious, so nothing lost. At least now you are 100% free to get some fun in future (and after covid).

Bunnymumy · 02/12/2020 22:44

He isn't your friend.
He wpuldnt even make a suitable fuck budy, let alone a fwb. He doesn't have any respect for you. Block his number and never contact him again. Itll offend his ego and thats the best punishment for ppl like him.

Honeyroar · 02/12/2020 22:45

I think he’d been pretty up front from the start. He didn’t want a relationship, just sex. A FWB isn’t a relationship with no future, it’s just a regular shag really. He said he only wanted sex from the start.. Yes there will have been attraction, chemistry, but it doesn’t sound like there was much else there for him. Brush yourself off and learn from it. You’re worth more than that.

islockdownoveryet · 02/12/2020 22:50

No do nothing , I think you've handled it really well.
You've told him your not having it so he's called it a day .
To be honest the whole flirting and if it was fake or not I can't help with that I'm no dating expert but I think he fancied you wanted to sleep with you ,Is happy to sleep with you but that's it .
Drop him and move on the fyb thing hardly ever works at least it didn't go on too long .

Cam2020 · 02/12/2020 22:52

See i think friendship and great sex is basically love. That's the gold dust of a successful long term relationship.
For me that would blurr the lines too much. My idea of fwb is shag and go. Is texting at 11:45pm to see if theyre awake and dtf.

I actually thought the same thing.

He obviously had different expectations to you, OP. Not that that's a get out of jail free for him, you told him you found his behaviour disrespectful and he didn't care - there's not even friendship there. Block, forget and don't blame yourself.

VotNow · 02/12/2020 22:54

Honeyroar that's where I'm confused. Yes, he wanted a sexual relationship only. I was fine with that. I wasn't texting him to chat. I was happy to hook up once a fortnight or so and have a nice evening revolving around sex.

If he had said to me, "What I want is to have sex in which I focus mainly on my own needs and then to have you leave without a word afterwards, at any time of my choosing, night or day, with the freedom to ignore you whenever I please"... I would have said no to that. Because who would say yes?

OP posts:
GreenlandTheMovie · 02/12/2020 22:55

I think in this situation, completely ignoring and blanking him would be the best bet. Pretend he doesn't exist. That will send a message loud and clear that his behaviour was awful.

He really is dreadful. Even a ONS with a total stranger would see you being treated better than that and invited to stay the night.

All the faking of genuine interest is quite psychopathic really. He sounds as if he has a lot of issues and is someone best avoided in case he drags you back in when he's bored.

RollneckJumper · 02/12/2020 22:56

You saw him as a FRIEND with benefits.
He saw you as a friend with BENEFITS.

Do not, under any circumstances, waste anymore of your time on him. Your frustration and anger will pass.

Realise he is a user and move on with your life. Onwards and upwards. When you see him, don't let him see that you think he is a dick, just act breezy and unfazed by him, let him see that you are happy and getting on with your life.
...I guarantee he will try and get back in your pants! Then you can shut him down!! (Make sure you do!)

pumpkinpie01 · 02/12/2020 22:57

Exactly , who would say yes to that ! By the sound of it he was super flirty to lead to what he wanted , sex, but he really didn't want anything more. No need for him to be rude and disrespectful thou , please don't contact him .

aeiouaeiouaeiou · 02/12/2020 22:59

In this situation the best reaction is no reaction. Don't let him know you're bothered.

VotNow · 02/12/2020 22:59

Bunnymumy that is what is stopping me from sending him anything.

The conversation when we last saw eachother went like this:

Me: I was hoping for some hot sex with a friend. I knew we wouldn't be anything serious but I did think there was a spark there.

Him: No blah blah I think we should call it day

Me: (After a short conversation about something else) So you don't want to carry on.

Him: No, sorry.

Me: (In an not upset, accepting tone) ach, it's alright.

He walks me home. We get to my house. I make to say tada.

Him: So we're going to call it a day then yeah?

It's a question. I nod, tell him to take care, and go up my path. I wondered then if he wasn't wondering if I might try to fight to keep things going. I didn't and I've ignored him since.

OP posts:
VotNow · 02/12/2020 23:00

If there's any justice in the world this might get to his ego a little bit.

OP posts: