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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

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:
Badtasteflump · 02/06/2022 23:50

'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.'

Maybe he's just a bit stinky?

Basketet · 02/06/2022 23:54

Oh please! Get a grip woman! He sounds like an absolute tosser. Sorry not sorry

manova366 · 03/06/2022 06:49

If he actually does sell fudge at a stately home I take it all back. Absolute keeper!

dumdumduuuummmmm · 03/06/2022 09:43

and I've never seen anyone part the waves with their maleness. Actually made me laugh out loud.

Well, thank you for assuming me to be a liar 🤷🏼‍♀️
I think that tells us quite a bit about you
Not a liar. But someone with a distorted and biased view. Ti be the 'half smile' when people talk to him screams that he's an 'arrogant, thinks he's superior' kind of knob

TossCointoYerWitcher · 03/06/2022 10:22

Ugh. Sorry OP, but your post sounds like every incel stereotype of women come to life. Others “yield” to him at the gym. He wants to public speak so he can “dominate” others. Even his self-righteousness is mighty (and dangerous!) Is his name “Chad” perchance? Thank god so many have responded calling him a tool!

The guys a narc. It’s blatantly obvious, because everything about him is about controlling others (even the good causes). I’d steer clear however that seems to be your “thing”.

TossCointoYerWitcher · 03/06/2022 10:25

PS: also ditto the strong possibility he’s (closeted) gay. All that Alpha bullshit might be overcompensation and his strangely lacking social life may be all on Grindr instead.

ToastedWaffle · 03/06/2022 10:48

This thread is gold 😂

LooseGoose22 · 03/06/2022 10:53

He sounds like a that.

He's been encouraged to do a PhD be sure of his intellectual, knowledge and general awesomeness but he doesn't approve of universities so he's going to write a book instead maybe..... riiiiiight.

He's full of shit.

He also sounds poorly adjusted.

You sound like you need to get out of crush land asap.

You're very easily impressed.

And you don't seem to be able to see through bullshit.

LooseGoose22 · 03/06/2022 10:55

(Which must be why you're also into some "cause" that's clearly too controversial to name here).

To be very blunt you appear to lack critical thinking and skepticism.

LooseGoose22 · 03/06/2022 10:56

*twat, not that

I also agree with posters who think he might be closet gay

LooseGoose22 · 03/06/2022 11:00

*He's been encouraged to do a PhD be sure of his intellectual, knowledge and general awesomeness but he doesn't approve of universities so he's going to write a book instead maybe..... riiiiiight.

Further on this, the only person I know who climbed the ladder and had an excellent job in the national trust has a PhD. Its one of the reasons she got the job. If he's so smart, capable etc .. why wouldn't he do a qualification that would aid his advancement in his workplace/industry. He doesn't have to like universities, PhD are not a taught course anyway, it's very individual.

More like he's not capable/is full of shit.

CindersCatsSister · 03/06/2022 11:04

OP, it sounds as though this man makes you feel very adolescent, because what you describe is a crush. When we feel this way, it’s a good idea to try and talk to your inner adolescent and ask yourself what shes lacking. Because you’re a grown up and grown ups don’t have these sort of fantastical crushes, they have relationships.

ShaneTwane · 03/06/2022 11:39

I feel I have seen this episode in the discovery channel

PonyPatter44 · 03/06/2022 12:36

ShaneTwane · 03/06/2022 11:39

I feel I have seen this episode in the discovery channel

You and me, baby,
Ain't nothing but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel

Sorry, that always pops into my brain when people start talking about the Discovery Channel! It seems especially apt in this case.

Sn0tnose · 03/06/2022 15:24

The things that you think make him appear interesting, charming and charismatic are the exact same things that lots of us would recognise as danger signs.

In nature it is called aposematism. If he were an animal, he’d be a poison dart frog. Most animals would recognise that it’s more trouble than it’s worth, but there will always be the odd passer by who thinks it would be nice on toast.

TossCointoYerWitcher · 03/06/2022 18:03

Sn0tnose · 03/06/2022 15:24

The things that you think make him appear interesting, charming and charismatic are the exact same things that lots of us would recognise as danger signs.

In nature it is called aposematism. If he were an animal, he’d be a poison dart frog. Most animals would recognise that it’s more trouble than it’s worth, but there will always be the odd passer by who thinks it would be nice on toast.

Not sure this guy would allow himself to be eaten on toast @Sn0tnose - don’t you know all the other frogs yield to him when he hops by? 😏

Sauce99 · 03/06/2022 19:41

This thread is fantastic. Love the fact that the guy is copping heaps and he has done nothing at all knows nothing if his participation in OPs life (or thread)

EarthSight · 03/06/2022 20:38

Sauce99 · 03/06/2022 19:41

This thread is fantastic. Love the fact that the guy is copping heaps and he has done nothing at all knows nothing if his participation in OPs life (or thread)

@Sauce99 I'm disappointed that it's slowing down. I don't have negative opinions about the man because I know that in this situation in particular, certain things might be distorted as they are being presented through the lens of the OP's sexual fantasies. I think some posters are almost enjoying shooting him down as a way of winding up the OP.

Again, disappointed this thread is slowing down because I liked this so much XD

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.

My own addition -

Sometimes, as I walk past, I smell him - I think he has an alpha male smell that the other men sense. They keep a respectful, yet watchful distance, but he carrier an aura of big dick energy.

As he walks around, sweat beading on his forehead, it reminds me of when I occasionally see him through my garden hedge, mowing his lawn, topless. There is usually a lost, pensive look on his face which makes me wonder - is he recalling the last book he read? I saw on Facebook he's trying to solve a really difficult Sudoku - not sure if I should go round and solve that together with him.

ToastedWaffle · 03/06/2022 20:47

EarthSight · 03/06/2022 20:38

@Sauce99 I'm disappointed that it's slowing down. I don't have negative opinions about the man because I know that in this situation in particular, certain things might be distorted as they are being presented through the lens of the OP's sexual fantasies. I think some posters are almost enjoying shooting him down as a way of winding up the OP.

Again, disappointed this thread is slowing down because I liked this so much XD

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.

My own addition -

Sometimes, as I walk past, I smell him - I think he has an alpha male smell that the other men sense. They keep a respectful, yet watchful distance, but he carrier an aura of big dick energy.

As he walks around, sweat beading on his forehead, it reminds me of when I occasionally see him through my garden hedge, mowing his lawn, topless. There is usually a lost, pensive look on his face which makes me wonder - is he recalling the last book he read? I saw on Facebook he's trying to solve a really difficult Sudoku - not sure if I should go round and solve that together with him.

🙌👏😂

PaddleBoardingMomma · 03/06/2022 21:05

He carries a copy of The Times neatly folded under his arm, sometimes (when I've followed him to the locally run vegan pro life coffee house) I watch him deep in thought, holding up his broadsheet and sipping on single origin ethically sourced Amazonian espresso. He finishes the cryptic crossword in it every morning before his 15km run, they actually asked him to start writing the crosswords for The Times but morally he couldn't accept their offer, he's far too cerebral for the average reader, they wouldn't be able to solve anything he wrote. He IS like a cryptic puzzle, personified. I think that's why men find him so naturally intimidating and move out of his way? He's an enigma and his looks make him even more alluring. I think he has an almost smouldering French man look about him and I told him this once (when we were protesting together at the save the badgers from the gluten powered wind farms rally) and he told me that he speaks French fluently but was sworn to never utter a word of it again, because the last time he did everyone told him it was like the voice of the archangel and they wept for hours afterwards. I'm meeting him this evening at the flat-earthers in support of tax free tinfoil hats protest and I'm running late, will update later.

EarthSight · 03/06/2022 21:26

@PaddleBoardingMomma XD Although, not sure I agree with the Frenchman bit. I think he has an air of the Scandi countries - possibly Finland.

I'm sorry OP, but I'm just going to have to dissect that paragraph because there's just so much comedy to unpack. I must indulge myself -

I've seen him chopping the trees in his garden in just his shorts - makes me think of you getting hot under the collar you you twitch your curtains....

I also notice that he's stronger than most of the guys much younger than him at the gym - irrelevant information. I can see why you'd be attracted to someone aethletic and fit, but what does it matter if he's stronger than the other guys?

Me, I look after myself, I also exercise a lot, and am pretty athletic and toned - Again, how is this relevant to the issue at hand? It's not like anyone here, after reading your post, is going to ask you 'well how MUCH do you weigh OP? Are you EVEN athletic enough for a specimen like that???' It doesn't give us any useful information. It's almost you are talking to yourself here.

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

If this was a rock concert, that last bit would be the crescendo of a drum solo. Brilliant.😂

TossCointoYerWitcher · 03/06/2022 21:42

LMAO at recent posts. 😂

I think he has an air of the Scandi countries - possibly Finland.

I agree. If I may -

He reminds me of a Viking. No, a Viking Cheiftan. Nay, Thor himself. When he walks about the gym, its as if he has launched his longboat to raid the treadmills and smite the yoga balls with his hammer. And yet, he is a viking that is also thoughtful and profound and writes haikus about hedgehogs. He told me once told me he enjoys putting up IKEA furniture, and it is something he'd like to do more of as it would allow him to dominate people's living rooms.

MissNothing1991 · 03/06/2022 22:04

TossCointoYerWitcher · 03/06/2022 21:42

LMAO at recent posts. 😂

I think he has an air of the Scandi countries - possibly Finland.

I agree. If I may -

He reminds me of a Viking. No, a Viking Cheiftan. Nay, Thor himself. When he walks about the gym, its as if he has launched his longboat to raid the treadmills and smite the yoga balls with his hammer. And yet, he is a viking that is also thoughtful and profound and writes haikus about hedgehogs. He told me once told me he enjoys putting up IKEA furniture, and it is something he'd like to do more of as it would allow him to dominate people's living rooms.

I'm actually howling at this 😅

dunpaying · 03/06/2022 22:18

I bet he's a steak bake kind of guy

No humble sausage roll for old Mr Allure

ToastedWaffle · 03/06/2022 22:27

dunpaying · 03/06/2022 22:18

I bet he's a steak bake kind of guy

No humble sausage roll for old Mr Allure

Nah, I reckon he is full on vegan and probably something to do with extinction rebellion