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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:
Bluntness100 · 05/12/2020 14:43

Ok op. I wish you the best of luck.

pictish · 05/12/2020 15:18

I agree. Bluntness - you are making up your own version of events on this thread and persisting with it. Give the OP some respect and accept what she is saying and that you have got it wrong. It’s the decent thing to do rather than doggedly keep on with your own narrative.

TheLadyOfShallnott · 05/12/2020 15:21

I don’t think you are being fair OP. I think they’ve tried to give you advice and/or the armour to not be so hurt should you venture into fwb territory in the future.

It won’t safeguard you every time as there may well be others who won’t want the same as you.

As said, I haven’t been down that road as I don’t think I could manage it. But others have given you their experiences or takes on it to try to prevent you from getting hurt further/next time.

I don’t think that is being cruel. Sometimes being told what you know deep down does nip.

I’m sorry you were hurt. Don’t let this experience keep hurting you.

Onwards and upwards.

ReallySpicyCurry · 05/12/2020 15:31

@VotNow you poor fucker, this thread is a disgrace.

Fwiw I've had two LTRs and that's also the number of sexual partners I've had. So I've never had to negotiate ONS or FWB or anything else like that. And yet I can still manage to grasp what you're getting at, the behaviour you're describing, and why it upset you. I think posters on this thread are being deliberately obtuse and enjoying sticking the boot in at this point. I think you're right to feel let down by this man, and your expectations were in no way unreasonable. I really hope you have better luck next time

Aalvarino · 05/12/2020 19:09

I would just like to say, OP, that I think you sound great and I'm sure you will find someone much nicer, even if you are only looking for a FWB-type arrangement. Stay true to what you want, and also to your own interpretation of events, because lord knows, we've had millennia of people (even some of our own sex) telling us that we can't be trusted to understand things properly ....

buildingbridge · 05/12/2020 22:32

Reading this, it sounds like you wanted it to be a casual/dating relationship (possibly long term relationship) rather than a FWB. To be fair- for a fuck buddy, I wouldn't want the "friend" to be hanging around, it just complicates things and allows feelings to develop. I do demand respect though.

VotNow · 05/12/2020 23:04

I was happy with FriendsWB. I didn't want a long long term relationship. I wasn't happy with his coldness and his rudeness. I don't know how many times I can say it.

I've had a terrible day. On further reflection I think what might be upsetting me most is him basically saying he was never really attracted, he just got a bit carried away with it all, but I was responding and willing so may as well.

It's that that's so humiliating. I really did think he had the proper hots for me (he's younger as well so it was a huge ego boost) and I'd been feeling so confident and sexy.

Now to have to accept I could basically have been anyone... although he did generously say "I mean I wouldn't fuck anything (big of you mate Hmm)

And somehow I've got to be all light and breezy tomorrow.

OP posts:
Yohoheaveho · 05/12/2020 23:48

He's just saying that because he wants to wound you further, he's a complete POS
Vile sadistic little snake that he is

Yohoheaveho · 05/12/2020 23:51

It's not like he's god's gift to women was it🤔
I don't think he was Mr super hot in bed was he🤔
what a shame you had to waste some of your precious time on him😑
I hope you can find something to indulge yourself with to make you feel better 🌻

GreenlandTheMovie · 06/12/2020 00:07

I've had a terrible day. On further reflection I think what might be upsetting me most is him basically saying he was never really attracted, he just got a bit carried away with it all, but I was responding and willing so may as well.

Thats uncalled for. Clearly he was attracted to you, multiple times. He really does sound as though ahem he has difficulty in following social norms and boundaries in relation to his sex life.

And in view of his comments, I really wouldn't hold back. But I'd be very clever in what I said and say it without being abusive but in a way that was very, very excrutiating. And then once you've done it, hopefully you can feel some sort of release and move on.

pictish · 06/12/2020 07:49

Nah. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. He’d just see it as the willing vagina can’t take rejection. He has shown how cold he is...no telling off will make a dent. For me, the only response is indifference.

OP I feel for you...this thread can’t have helped either with strangers insisting you must have deeper feelings for this guy when really, you only wanted warm regard and basic manners. I can understand why you feel misled and humiliated...it was meant to be sexy, fun, companionable, a boost. You have ended up feeling used and humiliated.

Don’t contact him. Dismiss him as he did you. Better luck next time. X

pictish · 06/12/2020 07:59

Oh and if there is a next time, the second it feels wrong, turn your heel and walk away.

VotNow · 06/12/2020 08:20

Thanks everyone. I actually feel much better this morning. If that's the way he wants to live his life - having sex with women he isn't even that attracted to and then treating them like shit - that's his miserable look out. It's a fucked up way to behave as far as I'm concerned and it's on him, not me.

I really enjoy this hobby. I'm going to have a nice time today.

OP posts:
Thegoldplace · 06/12/2020 08:41

I think other posters are being harsh on you, are they deliberately missing the point?

My experience of a FWB situation is that it’s mutually beneficial. He sounds extremely selfish and emotionally immature. Reading your posts, you sound like you did enforce boundaries throughout and set your expectations, but he just couldn’t handle it and quit. Be glad there’s no more, very average sex.

Honeyroar · 06/12/2020 10:15

Have a good day today. While I disagreed with you earlier, I totally agree that his way is a cold way to be and he’s not worth bothering about. Look forward to something better next time.

wizzbangfizz · 06/12/2020 11:51

I hope you have a great day, please don't give this waste of space a further thought. I think men like this get a power kick out of this.

KatherineJaneway · 06/12/2020 15:10

Good luck today OP Flowers

VotNow · 06/12/2020 17:15

It was fine Smile. Absolutely fine. I'd been upsetting myself over this thread and worrying about today but I saw him and honestly felt... nothing much. I've switched off. There's some lingering pissed offness and disappointment, but all the feelings of fancying and wanting him have dissipated.

I was worried over nothing. It was bigger in my head than in reality. I'm going to be absolutely fine.

OP posts:
Itsallpointless · 06/12/2020 17:40

he was never really attracted, he just got a bit carried away with it all, but I was responding and willing so may as well.

Oh my goodness, when did he say that??? Now THAT is unkind, disrespectful and downright bloody arrogance on his part!

category12 · 06/12/2020 18:16

Yay, glad your day went well, OP.

happinessischocolate · 06/12/2020 19:32

Glad today went well, I love when you can look at them and go wait, was was all the fuss about 😁

VotNow · 18/12/2020 18:09

Update: the prediction of many posters on here seems to have been correct.

We had not seen or had any contact with eachother in a couple of weeks or so, then I saw him again yesterday at my hobby and he was back to how he was before we ever slept together: all twinkly eyed and flirty, making me a coffee, being silly trying to get my attention. At one point I was alone and busy in a different part of the building and he came walking down to where I was and plopped himself down in the chair near me. I asked was there anything he needed help with? He replied, "Nah (flirty look) just thought I'd come and annoy you for a bit."

I'd completely accepted it wasn't happening, and had begun to move on. Now it feels as though he's tentatively sniffing around again. Why??? He told me in so many words he wasn't even that attracted to me?!! So what does he want? Sex? With someone he's not that attracted to? Why?? The thought of having sex with someone I'm not that attracted to makes me feel a bit ill.

I do not understand this behaviour at all. It only makes sense if you believe men need sex in a way women do not and that any sex is better than no sex if you're a man - even if it's with someone you do not fancy. And I'm not sure I do believe that.

I was doing fine moving on. Now I feel anxious and sort of 'stirred up' again. I think he's being really unfair.

OP posts:
Kaliorphic · 18/12/2020 19:02

He is being unfair but there's not much you can do about his behaviour apart from ignore him and move on. It is about sex, that's what he wants, and he's trying to manipulate you again to get it. And if he does, he will just behave in the same way as he did before. Quite frankly the man is an arse and you'd do best for yourself by swerving away from him.

wizzbangfizz · 18/12/2020 20:41

It's about power he needs to know you still want him - as hard as it is don't give him the satisfaction.

depopsa · 18/12/2020 20:50

Yes, my first reaction as well is that it's about power. He'll be able to feel your confusion/panic emerging. Some people unfortunately get a kick from that. The only way to handle them is to not pick up the ball. Use the energy you're now using into figuring out why he does this into settling yourself back into indifference. He really doesn't like you, so why give him the satisfaction of taking up brain space?