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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

Might have scared a guy away

203 replies

StellaStreet · 31/05/2022 23:57

Hi

I'm F30, he's M48 or so. We've known each other for a few years but have got close over the past 12 months, but I think I might have messed things up. I don't know if I should have bothered showing interest in the first place. Sorry for such a long post, but this guy is so unusual and different to other men that he needs describing as well as I can.

We know each other at the gym. He looks fantastic, a lot like Daniel Craig getting out of the sea in Casino Royale – I've seen him chopping the trees in his garden in just his shorts. I also notice that he's stronger than most of the guys much younger than him at the gym. He dresses well, he's well-groomed, nothing out of place. Me, I look after myself, I also exercise a lot, and am pretty athletic and toned. He carries himself well, good posture, and I notice that he's dominant among others at the gym – the other guys move out of his way as he walks around the kit, he has that physical presence. He talks to a few people there, and I see that he's very charming with people and they seem to like him. To look at him, you'd think he was getting dozens of women into his bed, but...

He doesn't socialise, as in at all. He told me that he has no family, never married, no brothers or sisters, his parents died years ago, and doesn't do anything with his relatives. He says that he'd tried to create a relationship with them after his folks had died, but he and they found that they had so little in common that there was hardly any point, so neither he nor they keep in touch. He also won't talk about his parents or his childhood – he'll quickly change the subject with little fuss to something else.

As far as friends go, he says he has them, but I've never seen him with any on his FB feed. He does sometimes have comments on his posts, but it's very rare, and they're almost always from the same few women. Men hardly ever comment on anything he writes. He goes everywhere alone, except for protests, where he usually has the same women around him, and they all look pretty happy. He protests for a cause he's passionate about – and writes about on FB – and it's something I'm also in full agreement with. It's mostly how we got to know each other and bonded.

I see from his FB that he does visit places, and he likes history and the arts, but again, he goes everywhere alone. He took himself off for the day on his birthday last year, and I was a bit shocked when he told me that no, he hadn't gone with anyone, and that celebrating his birthday with people wasn't something he did. He wasn't upset by it, just said it as a matter of fact.

He also doesn't like sport, at least he doesn't write about it on FB and he's never spoken to me about it. He reads a hell of a lot – politics, history, philosophy, psychology, economics, artificial intelligence – and writes short reviews about them on FB.

I've never seen him in any of the pubs or bars in our small town. Nobody we both know has told me they've seen him anywhere, but I see he sometimes posts that he's sometimes at different pubs in the afternoon. So, he has no social life.

We did have great chemistry, and I love being around him. I'd tease him quite harshly, and he'd do the same back. We both know there's no malice in it. We'd also flirt quite a bit. I think he might have asked me out when he said he wanted to show me some mansion and gardens nearby – it might be where he works as a researcher. He told me he dealt a lot with various professors and other people. I'd told him I'd like to, but when he tried to arrange a date, I had to tell him it wasn't convenient. I brought it up again a few weeks later, and again he tried to arrange, but I couldn't then either. He's not mentioned it since. He's gone quiet on me after that.

I did check out his car in the gym car park to see if he had a child seat in it, or women's clothing. I think he might have seen me do it as he was on one of the treadmills overlooking it at the time. I also used to live near him, so I could see when he was at home or not, and I'd told him I knew when he was in, and how often I could see he was away.

There are so few single men like him who have the same beliefs as we do on our cause, and ever less men who look as good as him. He's got a good sense of humour, and I notice that he laughs at things he's read on his phone, so he enjoys reading comments and responding to them. But he doesn't give me much. It's as if there's a wall. He wrote some time ago that he wishes people would realise that as far as people are concerned, he's seen and heard it all repeatedly – he also mentions stoicism. He has that expression of a half smile when people talk to him, and nothing seems to faze him.

I'd like to do something with him, but there's so little going on with him, and apart from our mutual cause, we've very little in common. It's as though he's got so little to give to people, or that he doesn't care that much about them. I see he cares a lot about wildlife, and he writes about the hedgehogs in his garden. I'm from a large family, but he has none. Am I wasting my time with him?

OP posts:
chirpychirpycheepcheepy · 01/06/2022 00:02

Are you writing a short story and testing it here?

If so, it's really shit. Sorry.

PetersRabbitt · 01/06/2022 00:04

Well surly that’s what a date is for, to see if you like and click with someone. Arrange one you can do and ask him along.
He sounds weird, but so what, show me a normal person, everyone is weird really.

Suprima · 01/06/2022 00:07

OP, who is in your social circle? What do you do yourself?

I don’t see why you are putting this faux-intellectual Facebook addict on such a pedestal.

There are lots of clever men who read books and go to stately homes for the day. And know what stoicism is. And don’t post about it on social media.

You seem very naive and dazzled by this man 20 years older than you to the point of obsession and I don’t really get why?

GordonBennetttt · 01/06/2022 00:09

chirpychirpycheepcheepy · 01/06/2022 00:02

Are you writing a short story and testing it here?

If so, it's really shit. Sorry.

😂😂😂ffs

MaximumLeeway · 01/06/2022 00:09

Well you tried to arrange a date twice and both times you couldn't fit it into your calendar? I mean give over, anyone would feel a right mug after that! You can invite him out you know? Tell him "I've been thinking about the garden visit, I'm free this Saturday, can we do it?" It's not rocket science.

Agree with PP just go on a date and get to know him a bit. Maybe he's too antisocial for you, I don't know why you find him spending his birthday alone so shocking, many of us do it and enjoy it..! In any case opposites can attract so just go on the date

Marineboy67 · 01/06/2022 00:11

"He carries himself well, good posture, and I notice that he's dominant among others at the gym – the other guys move out of his way as he walks around the kit, he has that physical presence"......it was at this point I lost interest...don't really go for that "Move out of my way I'm the Top Dog shit" Boring!

Snoopypoopy123 · 01/06/2022 00:26

"I did check out his car in the gym car park to see if he had a child seat in it, or women's clothing. I think he might have seen me do it as he was on one of the treadmills overlooking it at the time. I also used to live near him, so I could see when he was at home or not, and I'd told him I knew when he was in, and how often I could see he was away."

This makes you sound like a creepy stalker, not attractive.

AlternativelyWired · 01/06/2022 00:31

Yikes. Stalker alert. He sounds like a right bore, albeit one that is well read. If his Facebook is based on reality that is, or just a fantasy works he's created for himself.

ToastedWaffle · 01/06/2022 00:34

The whole set up sounds creepy. You told him you know when he is home or not? You checked out his car?? Omg.

wellhelloitsme · 01/06/2022 00:39

I did check out his car in the gym car park to see if he had a child seat in it, or women's clothing. I think he might have seen me do it as he was on one of the treadmills overlooking it at the time. I also used to live near him, so I could see when he was at home or not, and I'd told him I knew when he was in, and how often I could see he was away.

Argh I think most people would go quiet after this OP, it's really creepy I'm afraid!

Divebar2021 · 01/06/2022 00:47

Hmmmm the things that stand out are your comments about his dominance in the gym which is slightly odd. He’s very charming and popular but doesn’t seem to have friends or perhaps doesn’t want friends. He hasn’t kept in touch with his family because he has nothing in common with them - does that not make you question what was going on in his home? Sounds like there might have been something unpleasant and he’s now very emotionally detached from everyone. I’m not sure what he’d be like as a partner but I worry it wouldn’t be good

FlissyPaps · 01/06/2022 01:26

This does seem a bit stalkerish OP. I’m sorry.

If the roles were revered, and a man was eyeing up a woman’s house and car for signs of a spouse/child it would be deemed very very creepy.

You seek to know a lot about him. His job. Where he lives. His interests. Places he likes to frequent.

Does he know the same about you?

There’s absolutely no harm in you asking him out for coffee, or a walk, or to the pub, or to check out a stately home mansion garden. You’ve got nothing to lose, go for it.

But don’t be disheartened if he says no, or is just not interested in a relationship/friendship. Some people are loners because that’s how they want to be. And some people are loners for good reasons.

sammylady37 · 01/06/2022 02:03

He sounds like a prat.
You sound like an obsessed stalker.

You being ‘shocked’ that he took himself off for his birthday alone is ridiculous. There’s nothing wrong with being happy and content in your own company and indeed it’s a far preferable trait than being needy and needing validation from others to be happy.

Soupercat · 01/06/2022 04:07

You do sound a bit invested op. Stop stalking

DangerouslyBored · 01/06/2022 05:25

He posts reviews on intellectual books he’s apparently read on Facebook? He sounds like an absolute tool. And frankly the other stuff makes
him sound insufferable.

Find yourself someone who has a couple of mates and doesn’t behave like a pretentious bellend

wanderingscot · 01/06/2022 06:01

Just ask when is it convenient to go to the gardens? And say sorry for not being available previously

LadyOfTheCanyon · 01/06/2022 06:05

Middle aged loner with what sounds like a frankly overinflated idea of his own physical prowess and intellectual ability?

No thank you. And I say that as someone who quite likes hedgehogs.

manova366 · 01/06/2022 06:11

Hm. I've never met him but my gaydar is pinging.
Even if he's not... a hot, vain, aloof, above-it-all slacktivist who's never had a relationship but is old enough to be your dad sounds.... not very appealing .... I think you should think about why you're so attracted to a man who sounds very unavailable and with some very unattractive qualities!

manova366 · 01/06/2022 06:13

Or maybe he has a dungeon....

ChaToilLeam · 01/06/2022 06:13

You think you can fix this strange, aloof man, don’t you?

You can’t. Leave it be.

Theblacksheepandme · 01/06/2022 06:14

Are you for real?

JennyForeigner · 01/06/2022 06:14

reads the bit about his dominant posture amongst other males

Was this written by a gorilla?

MrsTerryPratchett · 01/06/2022 06:19

JennyForeigner · 01/06/2022 06:14

reads the bit about his dominant posture amongst other males

Was this written by a gorilla?

It does have a decidedly anthropology vibe. The OP is good if you use a David Attenborough voice.

If it's true, and you fancy a shag, and he's not gay, fair play. But someone 20 years older than you who is perfectly happy with no one in his life is NOT going to suddenly decide he wants a relationship.

LemonPalmTree · 01/06/2022 06:25

He sounds like a real dreamboat op. He might be aloof with a supercilious half smile and a dominant swagger now, but you can work your way into his heart and change him. Two attractive people with a shared cause.

he sounds like hard hard work. I’d stop trying to snare this mysterious man and find someone else if I were you

piemaggedon · 01/06/2022 06:27

Ok so you sound like a total stalker, or much younger than your years. He sounds like an introvert who is emotionally unavailable.

You sound like you have family and friends around you and he doesn't. You don't sound compatible, if you did date and fall for him, you'll be back writing about how emotionally distant he is in your relationship, how he won't spend time with your family, won't join you for your friends birthday.

Your clearly infatuated but it won't work so move on now is my advice and find someone much more like you.