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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

Meeting friend's feel like spare part

82 replies

Confused2134 · 21/11/2021 23:40

Hi all.

Could do with help understanding my feelings.

So I met the other halfs friends last night for the first time. We have been dating 2 months and it's been going extremely well. I've met her work friends too and that went extremely well. But last night meeting all 8 of her closest friends and I felt invisible. For a start non of them introduced themselves to me. Only a few even said hello. And nearly all of them left without saying goodbye. I had alot of awkward moments where I clearly looked lost and no one came to talk to me. One time 4 of us were standing together. My girlfriend, her 2 friends and me. Her friend offered her boyfriend and my girlfriend something but not me. I'm standing with them and I don't get offered anything.

3 of her friends hadn't said a word to me all night.

I don't know how to feel about the situation. It's very much I have to be on board with her friends otherwise the relationship won't work. I left feeling so deflated im questioning is it worth continuing dating her.

I was under the impression that the friends should have gone out of there way to make me feel welcome. They're all extremely close and I'm the only new one. I hadn't a single decent conversation with anyone. I left for half an hour to compose myself but no one had noticed. It was a small house party confined to 1 small room.

Am I being stupid for feeling this way?
Am I even making sense?
Has anyone else experienced this? If so what did you do?

I told her her friends aren't very welcoming at the end of the night. I needed to get it of my chest. I have never felt so low in my entire life. It didn't go well, we didn't argue but it felt like she didn't want me there so I left. We're still talking but now it feels different.

OP posts:
LoverOfAllThingsPurple · 22/11/2021 00:03

That seems a bit rude to me. I’d have said excuse me, I’d like a drink too. I know in those situations it can be difficult to react straight away, but after about half an hour of that kind of behaviour I think I would have left. You are not wrong in feeling like you do at all and they didn’t need to be so rude. Your girlfriend should have made more of an effort for you too as you were in a strange place with a bunch of strangers. Try talking to her about it again and if she still doesn’t understand, then you may have your answer. Sometimes people are just shit x

SleepingStandingUp · 22/11/2021 00:08

Did you make an effort to talk to them? Did you introduce yourself and ask about them?

I think your gf should have done more personally - introducing you to her friends and telling you who's who. And if Friend offers your gf and her bf a drink and ignores you, then I think your gf (as it was a party with her friends) should have said something (oh, what do you want Jamie?)

ChargingBuck · 22/11/2021 01:22

I told her her friends aren't very welcoming at the end of the night.

And how much effort did your g/f make to involve you with her friends? Make sure you got a drink? Include you in conversations?

Crunched · 22/11/2021 01:27

I agree that your girlfriend was at fault here. For a start non of them introduced themselves to me. Only a few even said hello It should have been your gf introducing them to you and not down to them - or, indeed, you- to make introductions. I would question how much importance she placed on your relationship.

nocnoc · 22/11/2021 03:35

Your gf is at fault here. It doesn’t sound as if you are compatible

GertietheGherkin · 22/11/2021 03:53

I'd end it to be honest.

Your girlfriend made no effort to introduce you, and she stood there whilst her friend offered her and another friend a drink and you were snubbed.

Obviously they are going to tell your girlfriend they think you are standoffish, rude, antisocial etc. If they are important in her life and they influence her, she'll take their opinions onboard.

It doesn't sound like it's going to work out really does it?

Unless you just date her, and accept that socialising with her friends won't happen, but would she be happy with that?

If you felt lonely and excluded in a room full of people that says it all really. It seems nobody made you welcome, your girlfriend especially.

SarahBellam · 22/11/2021 04:32

How do you normally feel in situations like this? If you normally find it easy to get along with new people then these ones are just rude. If you’re normally reserved ask your GF to introduce you to other people and try to engage you in conversation. As it is, you look sulky - you cleared off for half an hour and left early.

Graphista · 22/11/2021 04:32

Is it just me or are manners rapidly vanishing?!

Such rude behaviour! I'd have walked out tbh but then I'm 49 and tolerate very little in the way of rude behaviour these days

SHE should have introduced them to you with a short piece of info about them to break the ice

THEY Should have said hello, shown an interest they certainly should have said goodbye before leaving

One time 4 of us were standing together. My girlfriend, her 2 friends and me. Her friend offered her boyfriend and my girlfriend something but not me. I'm standing with them and I don't get offered anything.

In order to be diplomatic I'd have stepped in here and said something like

"I fancy a drink too why don't I get this round and you guys get the next one?"

Ah house party in which case

"Oh great I'm gasping for an x! Would you please fetch me one/it?"

That way you're being polite but their rudeness is lit up

3 of her friends hadn't said a word to me all night.

Rude rude rude!

I would highlight this to her and say you found their manners lacking

It's very much I have to be on board with her friends otherwise the relationship won't work.

Tbh if these are her closest friends and she didn't apparently even NOTICE the rudeness and your discomfort this may well be a case of you can probably surmise this is a case of her being reflected in the company she keeps

I'd end it to be honest.

Me too - hate bad manners

It sounds like a very insular, self selecting and ostracising group! Not one I'd be interested in joining

starrynight21 · 22/11/2021 04:45

I was under the impression that the friends should have gone out of there way to make me feel welcome.

No - your girlfriend should have done that . She was extremely rude. And now that you've mentioned how upset you are, It didn't go well, we didn't argue but it felt like she didn't want me there so I left.

That would be the end of the relationship for me. She treated you badly, then when you mentioned it she made you feel that she didn't want you around. I'd move on if I were you.

tenredthings · 22/11/2021 05:17

I wonder if there's some back story you don't know about . Was your GF with someone else who was at the party b4 you ? Has some jealous friend made a rumor about you that is not true ?
Do you often find social situations difficult ?
It sounds like your GF was inattentive to you and her friends aren't very nice.

alienbaby · 22/11/2021 06:19

Well yeah, the GF should have been responsible for taking care of you and oiling the wheels, but are adults (the friends) really this socially void today? Jesus Christ. Do parents not teach their kids how to make small talk or how to make others feel welcome? Your GF sounds like a waster, but who the hell, in a small group setting, doesnt have the empathy to realise that you must be feeling awkward? How difficult would it have been to turn to you and say "so you're Confused, right? Where are you from?" and off we go with making a conversation and discovering common ground.

Sack them all off.

category12 · 22/11/2021 06:29

Did you introduce yourself or try to get involved, or did you leave it to everyone else to come to you? Is it possible you didn't seem very approachable?

It's on both sides to make the effort. Although your gf could have oiled the wheels a bit.

SimpsonsXmasBoogie · 22/11/2021 06:42

Your girlfriend was very rude, and probably without meaning to be. She didn't consider you and your feelings at all. That's not a good sign.

BrushFlossSmile · 22/11/2021 06:46

Just out of interest, are you a man or a woman? Not that it matters, they were all horribly rude. I also think you can tell a lot about a person by who their friends are. So I'd be rethinking the relationship tbh.

PinkSyCo · 22/11/2021 06:50

What a rude lot! And your girlfriend’s no better. Why did she not say something when she and her friend’s boyfriend were offered something and you weren’t? Why did she not bother to introduce you? And she didn’t even notice when you left the room for half an hour? Fuck that. It doesn’t seem that she cares for you at all. I’d sack her off if I were you.

Evesgarden · 22/11/2021 06:57

I think you sound a bit dramatic tbh.

I was under the impression that the friends should have gone out of there way to make me feel welcome

What gave you that impression? Why should people be going out of their way for you? was the night set up for an 'audience with Confused2134'

I have never felt so low in my entire life

Really, wow a few people were not fauning over you and you had the worst night of your life. I remember when my relatives house burnt down to the ground and I was stood with her whilst she was crying her eyes out watching all her children belongings go up in smoke. That was a tough night.

I told her her friends aren't very welcoming at the end of the night. I needed to get it of my chest. I have never felt so low in my entire life. It didn't go well, we didn't argue but it felt like she didn't want me there so I left

So you have started the alienation of her friends already?

We're still talking but now it feels different

Well yeah she has probably seen you in a new light - and good for her.

Confused2134 · 22/11/2021 07:50

So the girlfriend and I get on amazingly. We instant clicked the moment we met.

I'm normally a confident guy. I'm the kind who can get on with anyone, I made a real impression on a night out with her work friends. And when I have previously invited new people into my family, brothers girlfriends for example they instantly feel welcome, I notice when they look awkward and involve them. And certainly wouldn't leave or let them leave without saying goodbye and giving a hug, saying nice to meet you etc.

This is the only time in my life I have felt I have not existed. Which is why I'm on here trying to work out why I feel so low and crap.

Maybe all I needed to feel was like I was acknowledged as a person in her life and a simple goodbye nice to meet you would have done that. Is it the lack of good byes that I'm feeling this way? Is this a rediculous thing to feel just because people didn't say goodbye?

I don't believe her friends were rude to me on purpose, I made the effort but maybe I could have made more. I would say the odd thing aloud but they never started conversations, it was extremely difficult to get involved with their conversations as they were about things that did not concern me, normal life long friend conversations I had no idea about, talking about other people they all know etc etc. I would constantly offer people drinks in hope of a small conversion but they would get there drink and go back to the comfort of what they know. 1 guy kept forgetting my name, like 1 new person is hard to remember.

She text them the night after and apparently they like me but I don't know how they came by that conclusion because I'd had not one meaningful conversation with anyone. I was basically just in the room. I spoke to the dog mostly.

She has a really Shit past with boyfriends, I'm the first man in her life that has made her feel special. As a result she's not the best at showing emotion but I can usually read her very well.
To clarify I left the morning after not at the party. She did not realise how I had felt and once they had all left I blurted it out, like I was venting, I'd never felt this way before and needed to speak about it. She's usually affectionate when we sleep, hugs, pulling me closer, kisses on the head like she can't get enough of me but that night she was cold. I couldn't sleep I knew she was off with me. In the morning I apologized about what I said about her friends but it was all very awkward. Like it definitely bothered her but she didn't want to acknowledge it. We've not had any awkward moments so far but we awkwardly sat together for a few minutes without word and that's when I decided to leave. I definitely did not feel she wanted me there, but kinda did at the same time.

Maybe I was expecting too much. I thought before the party that 8 of her extremely close friends would be interested to find out who the new boyfriend is, what's he like. Maybe I would find out lots about what my girlfriend is like from her friends perspective. But i found 1 thing in a 2 minutes conversation before her friends walked away. But this is probably down to being outside at the time.

I didn't feel like I was purposely pushed away. Just not welcomed into the group. The thing about not being offered even though I was standing there with them confused the hell out of me. That was probably the single most defining moment that made be feel invisible.
Like how does that happen. You can't forget that a person is standing right there holding hands with your best friend, I don't know how this could be an oversight. Made worse by this being her best friend and we hadnt said a word.

Definitely nobody tried to get to know me. Not a single question or conversation starter by anyone. Only 1 did introduce herself and called on me a few times for help, she said goodbye too. We didn't speak much but she was the only one that kind of made me feel welcome. Just those simple things and I thanked her for it at the end of the night. Looking back this was probably really awkward thanking her but my emotions were just off and felt thanking her gave me a slight sense of relief that stopped me from crying.

Also before the party her 2 best friends with one of their partners come by the house to drop off some food they made. This was the very first time we had met each other. I'm sitting down making something for her dog. They walk in acknowledge me by eyesight but then continue to talk about the food for the party. I stand up walk to them, shake the guys hand and day nice to meet you. The 2 girls continue to talk about food, so I nudge one of them jokingly and say hey nice to meet you and give her a hug. The other friend still continues to talk about food so I'm thinking fuck this. I didn't nudge her I just sat down again. First time meeting her best friends and I had to make the effort to say hello. Like I'm trying to point out 'hey I'm here, hellooooo' Definitely my girlfriend should have introduced us properly but she didnt. Had this been me in her friends shoes I would have thought I will go and say hello to the new boyfriend before anything else. Is this the wrong thought process?

Sorry it's a long one. Tried to get the most info in so I can get the best opinions. Had never known what relief you can get by just telling someone. Even if it's on a forum with nobody in know

OP posts:
Confused2134 · 22/11/2021 08:01

I see your point. When I say go out of their way I'm saying that because that's what I would do. I see my friends all the time, if I'm inviting someone into the family I would be making sure they feel welcome. It's awkward for the new person who's meeting all the important people in her life at the same time. The friends are in their comfort zone, surrounded by people they're already comfortable with, it's not awkward for them. The party might not be a hey meet the new boyfriend party but he's the only one that's new, doesn't know us and if he's important to her then let's make him feel important to us.

OP posts:
MammaLovesLeopard · 22/11/2021 08:06

Expectations sound quite full on for a 2 months relationship.
How old are you op?

Confused2134 · 22/11/2021 08:10

32

OP posts:
Confused2134 · 22/11/2021 08:17

And hey look. This isn't a post so I can go back to her and say look what all these people said, your friends are shit. No. I wanna know if I fucked up too. So the seemingly negative posts are helpful aswell. I'm starting to think maybe o did get carried away with expections. See this girl hasn't had the best past and now she's happy and all excited about the future with me people are wanting to meet me. Her parents are dying to meet me properly and Im assuming this is because they won't to meet the person who's putting smiles back on their daughters face.

But maybe you're correct. Maybe I expected too much and was deflated when it didn't happen as I expected. Though there is something to be said for basic behavioural etiquette. It's not normal to not say goodbye is it?

OP posts:
Confused2134 · 22/11/2021 08:17

Want*

OP posts:
WakeuptoCake · 22/11/2021 08:36

For what it’s worth I think her friends and your gf were rude. Of course, its normal to introduce boyfriends/friends to new groups. Perhaps, the lack of introduction meant the friends felt awkward and just fell into talking to those they knew.
I’m surprised though that only one friend made any kind of effort. All times I’ve met new friends or vice versa , it’s very exciting to meet (size up!) a new bf/gf. I would proactively seek them out. I also like to make people feel comfortable as I know it can be scary.
Was this party a long time in the planning and the friends hadn’t seen each other for a while? Hence the priority being each other rather than you?
They all sound like a really rude bunch though and that reflects on your gf’s choice of friends
I would be annoyed with your gf and make it clear how you felt and she shouldn’t be in a mood with you, the other way round!

SleepingStandingUp · 22/11/2021 09:40

The 2 girls continue to talk about food, so I nudge one of them jokingly and say hey nice to meet you and give her a hug.
Habg on so they're talking, you interrupt by nudging one of them (rude) and then hugging her? Did she give any indication she wanted a hug so she's like oh hi, hello, puts her arms out or you basically hugging her whilst she stands their awkwardly?

Hoppinggreen · 22/11/2021 09:45

You nudged a complete stranger and have her a hug?
Rightly or wrongly they probably have you pegged as a bit creepy now.
You don’t touch someone unless they invite it, especially if you are meeting for the first time. Plus you shook the mans hand but hugged the woman? Don’t do that