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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

Best response or just block?

98 replies

RosaMoline · 17/05/2022 15:01

Hi all,
bit of background- almost three years ago j met this bloke on a notorious dating site. We met up, and hit it off straightaway. There was an instant attraction & chemistry (or so I thought)
he told me that he’d recently broken up with someone. I just didn’t realise how recent - it had literally been two weeks before, so effectively I was the rebound.
He immediately love bombed me, wanting to see me all the time, go on holiday together, I met his mum and brother. I am a hopeless romantic & was absolutely thrilled and swept off my feet. He was effusive with his compliments and gave me flowers, wined and dined me, lovely days out.
For context, at the time, I was 52 and he was 57. No spring chickens. I really, really liked him. A lot.
He was constantly leaving gushing updates on his Facebook page about his gorgeous new GF.
Six weeks later, one morning he sent me his usual ‘hello gorgeous xx’ text. A few hours went by, he called me & was really cold. He’d literally done a 180 in a matter of hours. It was over, because he wasn’t developing feelings for me & he thought he should have by then. Although it had only been six weeks I was completely blindsided by this. Came from nowhere. I was really upset.
He ended it in person, 2 days later.
I did a bit of social media stalking and it was obvious he was back with the original woman. He wanted to make her jealous - he left his Facebook page open, so she could see his comments about me. It worked & She took the bait. Upon this discovery (there was no doubt. The evidence was overwhelming) I tried to confront him for using me so despicably. His reaction was to block me as he didn’t want to face the truth.
As I said, that was almost three years ago. I got over it, but I’m not proud to admit I social media stalked from time to time out of curiosity. It looked like they moved in together.
I know I shouldn’t be checking, but a few days ago I noticed that he’s cropped her out of his profile pic on Facebook. And selling a load of furniture that looks new.
Lo and behold, this morning I receive this message from him on WhatsApp:

‘Rosa. I’ve been thinking about contacting you for a while now. I’m really sorry about the way I treated you and have no excuses. You can just ignore me and that’s fine. I do think about our time together and wonder how you are ?

I just want to say sorry and I hope you are well.’

Ugh. I always knew this would happen. He’s such a shallow needy twat, who cannot be without someone, so he’s clearly testing the water. I’ve done a lot of work
on myself and boundaries since he did that to me, so I’ve no intention of seeing him. It’s clearly gone tits up with her (again) hence the selling of stuff and the profile pic.
I know that 99% of MN will say, block and delete, but I’m dying to fire off an absolute zinger and tell him exactly what I think of him. If I do reply, I’m going up leave it at least 24 hours. Is it ever justified to have the last word do you think?
Sorry this is so long!
Thank you all in advance xx

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 17/05/2022 15:03

“Who is this?” - and then block!

countvoncount · 17/05/2022 15:04

Nothing at all.
Radio silence, wouldn't even block and delete, just ignore.
Saying nothing says everything.

Rainbowqueeen · 17/05/2022 15:05

He craves attention. Don’t give it to him

Block and delete. Write a letter to him saying everything you want to say then burn it. And have a lovely glass of fizz

ZekeZeke · 17/05/2022 15:06

3 years on and he is still in your head even though you were only together for 6 weeks.
Block and move on. Don't lower yourself by responding.

DowntonCrabby · 17/05/2022 15:06

Block, he’s not worth even a moment of your time.

Bathroom2022 · 17/05/2022 15:08

Just say, fuck off you sad needy twat. Then block.

Zemw · 17/05/2022 15:12

Honestly, ignoring (and not blocking) speaks more than a few line of rage towards him.

He doesn't care how he treated you. You have nothing to tell him.

KettrickenSmiled · 17/05/2022 15:13

Just send him a shit-ton of cry-with-laughter emoji's - & not a single WORD else.

For amusement, I wouldn't block, because I'd need to see what he came back with.
But if you are not feeling that detatched - don't risk it or you might get pulled into 'conversation'.

Homebaby · 17/05/2022 15:13

If he is what he comes across as ie a narcissist he will feed off any attention you give him good or bad. You could tell him exactly what you think of him, be as vile as you like and to him he would still have the upper hand because you have replied. It's so hard not to though, I know. Once I understood how their minds work what stopped me replying was to imagine his smug grin when he got a reaction from me. Complete silence is the best revenge with men like this!

Knackeredmommy · 17/05/2022 15:13

Block, any response will be interaction and he's fishing to see if you're still invested at all.
Don't respond

PetersRabbitt · 17/05/2022 15:18

I’d just send laughing emojis so he knows you’ve seen the message and haven’t changed numbers but then block him so he knows you don’t care.

RosaMoline · 17/05/2022 15:21

I am loving the laughing emojis reply suggestions 😂😂

OP posts:
RosieLemonadeAndSugar · 17/05/2022 15:30

Don't respond AT ALL.

Any response will give a man like hope to think 'got her talking again' and before you know it you'll be chatting daily after he love bombs you, again.

KettrickenSmiled · 17/05/2022 15:33

RosaMoline · 17/05/2022 15:21

I am loving the laughing emojis reply suggestions 😂😂

Then do it. And then IMMEDIATELY BLOCK.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/05/2022 15:37

Do not respond at all; doing so invites further attention and or a response and that is something you really do not want from him. He's testing the water here to see how low your boundaries are.

SillyLittleBiscuit · 17/05/2022 15:39

No response! 6 weeks 3 years ago? He’s completely insignificant, or should be. He’ll love a reaction, even a negative one wil let him know he’s affected you.

ElenaSt · 17/05/2022 15:41

Hi XXXX, thank you for the apology, I had trouble remembering you for a moment and then it came back to me. You're the chap with the small penis!

Hope you are well.

Kind regards, Rosa.

Then ignore, don't even bother to block.

failingtomatoes · 17/05/2022 15:42

Do not respond. Silence is the best form of revenge. It will become a game to him to get you to reply and other posters are correct, once you reply you will give him headspace he doesn't deserve.

OldEvilOwl · 17/05/2022 15:43

I would have to say 'fuck off' and then block without waiting for a reply

MadeForThis · 17/05/2022 15:45

Ignore

Furrbabymama87 · 17/05/2022 15:48

The best way to hurt him is to not respond at all. I wouldn't block him yet either. Let him see that you've read his message and aren't arsed enough to reply. Anything else will make it look as though you're still bothered and feed his ego.

Honeyroar · 17/05/2022 15:49

If you are strong enough, don’t block, just completely ignore him. It will bug him more than anything else you could say.

heymammy · 17/05/2022 15:49

Bathroom2022 · 17/05/2022 15:08

Just say, fuck off you sad needy twat. Then block.

You should delete and ignore but if you decide to say anything say this 🙌

Neverendingmindfuck · 17/05/2022 15:53

As much as I'd be tempted to send @ElenaSt msg I do agree with others and would just completely ignore him.
He wants to get one over on the lady he was with by climbing on top of someone else.... YUCK 🤮
If you feel the need to block and delete him then maybe do that for your own sanity??

Lunificent · 17/05/2022 15:56

He will have sent the same fishing message to everyone he’s dated.
Don’t waste your energy on him.

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