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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

He doesn’t want to be boyfriend/girlfriend or exclusive yet

151 replies

Goldenhour3 · 03/07/2023 20:56

Hi everyone,

A bit of background. I’m 24, he’s 36. We met on a dating app. We’ve been dating for over two months now - and have been having sex since the fourth date. A week ago, I asked him where he thought the relationship was going (given that we’d not spoken about exclusivity yet). He said he was looking for a long term relationship and was enjoying getting to know me, but that he didn’t want to rush into a relationship yet, because it didn’t end well when he rushed into a relationship with his last girlfriend. He said he wasn’t speaking/seeing anyone else. I told him that I wasn’t happy with that and that I’d prefer to call it a day. I also raised other concerns, namely that we don’t have a lot of time to see each other because of his work commitments (and child).

Anyway, he’s since made all the right noises, saying he’d like me to be his girlfriend but he wants to ask at the right time, and that he’s going to drop some of his work commitments to see me, blah blah blah. Anyway, he’s not yet asked, and we’re still drifting along. We’re also both still on dating apps even though he’s said he’s logged out.

My last boyfriend was crazy about me, and asked me to be his girlfriend after a matter of weeks and it was a brilliant relationship (even though it ended). He told me he was falling in love shortly after. I can’t help feeling that that is what love and passion is supposed to be like rather than all these wishy-washy uncertainties.

On the one hand, he’s nice, handsome, thoughtful, introverted like me, and he was very determined to say all the right things when I said we should go our own separate ways. On the other, he takes 8 hours to respond to texts, doesn’t make me laugh, very rarely asks me questions about myself, and is wishywashy about exclusivity.

Do I just call it a day or persevere? Maybe he does just genuinely want it to “develop naturally”?

Sorry for the long ramble!

OP posts:
FireflyJar · 04/07/2023 16:45

Goldenhour3 · 04/07/2023 10:25

He’s now sent me a 500-odd word text about how he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend when we went away for the weekend. And that he’s been reluctant to rush into a relationship because of his experience with his ex 🤷🏼‍♀️ He’s also told me constant texting isn’t healthy and is actually toxic. He said he didn’t respond until 8 hours later yesterday because he was upset after going through old photos of his (deceased) parents. I don’t know what to think 🤷🏼‍♀️

What a load of bollocks

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/07/2023 16:46

Goldenhour3 · 04/07/2023 15:47

Just to update everyone 😅

We’ve since had lots of back and forths and called it a day.

Thanks for all your messages, some of them really made me laugh 😅😂

Good. Now remember this. Date men who make you laugh. Beauty fades, dumb is forever.

billy1966 · 04/07/2023 18:43

Goldenhour3 · 04/07/2023 15:47

Just to update everyone 😅

We’ve since had lots of back and forths and called it a day.

Thanks for all your messages, some of them really made me laugh 😅😂

Good for you!

The www.freedomprogramme.co.uk would be money well spent.

Every woman should do it, to strengthen their boundaries, so that they can have respectful loving relationships, thus helping them to avoid the awful twats that roam among them😁

The Freedom Programme. Learn about domestic violence and abuse

The Freedom Programme. For women who want to learn more about the reality of domestic violence and abuse

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usernother · 04/07/2023 18:55

He's 36. Way too old to be doing that asking you to be his girlfriend nonsense. He's told you he still wants the freedom to shag around until he finds someone else. He's not funny and sounds boring. Get rid.

FiddleLeaf · 04/07/2023 18:58

He’s a time waster. Good on you OP!

usernother · 04/07/2023 19:03

Sorry OP I didn't see your update. Well done you

chocobaby · 04/07/2023 21:21

I don’t care what he says. It’s his actions that matters. It doesn’t seem like he’s into you and I know he’s keeping his options open. There’s someone out there who will be crazy about you. You’ve had it before, you can have it again. 🗑🗑him

QueenBitch666 · 04/07/2023 23:05

Goldenhour3 · 04/07/2023 15:47

Just to update everyone 😅

We’ve since had lots of back and forths and called it a day.

Thanks for all your messages, some of them really made me laugh 😅😂

Wahay!!! Thanks for the update! Flowers

Greengrassoh · 05/07/2023 01:13

Thank god for that!

sommerinthecity · 05/07/2023 01:49

He sounds so grim and boring as fuck.
You are 24 you should be having fun! (I don't mean lots of mean less sex, I mean fun, spend your time with people who bring joy into your life.
Dating apps are great for fuck boys (and girls) but you have to be ruthless about not being sucked into being an option. There are men who know what to say (as identified in this thread) to get you hooked. Honestly you get wiser pretty sharpish and learn to spot the users. Please don't date guys that much older than you, especially if they bang on about their ex's and they have a child/children. You are in the prime period for finding your first marriage, don't lose the opportunity on Mr Dull.
You made the right decision and

AgentJohnson · 05/07/2023 06:14

Wait what, he’s left stuff at your place but doesn’t want to be exclusive. Urgh, he’s put his towel on the sun lounger and then he’s pissed off to the bar. He wants an exclusive friends with benefits situation but says he wants a long term relationship because he knows it’s a better sell.

Get rid and stop letting him string you along. Invite him over and present him with a box of his shit on the doorstep.

ZenNudist · 05/07/2023 06:22

I'm do glad for you. I know it must feel sad but chin up. He wasn't the one and best not waste time with someone not that into you.

Goldenhour3 · 05/07/2023 23:15

If anyone is still following this thread and wants a further update…

I’ve found out he was 42, not 36 (as stated on his dating profile). The mind boggles.

OP posts:
Muu · 05/07/2023 23:17

Bullet dodged

Greengrassoh · 05/07/2023 23:35

Wow!

Whataretheodds · 05/07/2023 23:48

I don't think you have any idea what a total catch you are.

Read your post back and ask yourself why you should spend a minute more of your precious time with him, and whether you couldn't easily meet a hundred more 'nice, handsome, thoughtful, introverted like me' guys.

Don't waste it.

BigButtons · 06/07/2023 06:58

Goldenhour3 · 05/07/2023 23:15

If anyone is still following this thread and wants a further update…

I’ve found out he was 42, not 36 (as stated on his dating profile). The mind boggles.

Blimey- how did you discover that! So glad you bummed him. Lesson learned!

Goldenhour3 · 06/07/2023 07:04

@BigButtons He told me he was a few years older than his dating profile age. I went on companies house and his year of birth is 1981 🤯

OP posts:
BigButtons · 06/07/2023 07:09

Goldenhour3 · 06/07/2023 07:04

@BigButtons He told me he was a few years older than his dating profile age. I went on companies house and his year of birth is 1981 🤯

Wow. But now you can get on with finding someone who you deserve. What a knob he is. Good luck!🙂

BigButtons · 06/07/2023 07:10

Bummed him?!😂 I hope you didn’t! Blooming typos😂

Aprilx · 06/07/2023 07:49

I am glad I am 53. I cannot imagine seeing somebody for two months, sleeping with them since fourth date and it not being a given that we are boyfriend / girlfriend and “exclusive”. No conversation would be needed, nobody would need to ask about being boyfriend / girlfriend. You just would be.

Yes bin him off. He is too old for you anyway, it doesn’t matter now but it will. I dated somebody who was 38 when I was 24. I am so glad it ended as I cannot imagine being with a 67 year old now. Thankfully I am with a 49 year old,

Aprilx · 06/07/2023 07:52

Oh I know I should have read the full thread first. ☺️. 46! Even worse, what a creep.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 06/07/2023 13:20

Get rid. You're 24! You should be having fun with someone who wants to be with you and you alone. He's too old for you and with a kid to boot. Tell him to get gone!

QueenBitch666 · 12/07/2023 09:09

Goldenhour3 · 05/07/2023 23:15

If anyone is still following this thread and wants a further update…

I’ve found out he was 42, not 36 (as stated on his dating profile). The mind boggles.

😳

Sunsetandsunrise · 12/07/2023 22:32

Goldenhour3 · 05/07/2023 23:15

If anyone is still following this thread and wants a further update…

I’ve found out he was 42, not 36 (as stated on his dating profile). The mind boggles.

Oh wow ! He shaved a whole 6 years off his age. Not that surprising though as he was clearly a deceitful person the way he was stringing you along.

Definitely did the right thing by getting rid and his initial response was predictable. Breadcrumbers always like to make the person second guess themselves and keep on holding on for another crumb, that’s what the aim of that text was .