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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

Mr. Inconsistent - Advice Wanted

66 replies

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:10

I met a guy a couple months ago and I need your advice. He is almost 40 years old and when we first started talking he would say how alike we are, that he’s never met anyone like me before and how good looking, smart, etc. that I am (looks like I was being love bombed). We went on one date which seemed to have gone well and he hugged me at the end and expressed all the things we will do on future dates. He also contacted me after the date.

I started noticing he would go days without contacting me (this happened a few times). I would try to fill in the silences by reaching out myself to take some initiative. I tried not to think too much of it because it is the early stages. About a week after our first date, he told me he suddenly joined a band with guys he met online from an ad (from the same place you would find a used coffee table) and how he was practicing songs for this band. He got super drunk and started drunk texting me the night he joined this band all happy that they accepted him into their group on the first day they met and professed that he liked me. He was so hung over there was no date the next day either. As a side note, the band he joined has adult men (almost 40) with no jobs and collecting government assistance – odd crew to be around considering he has a job. The weekend after, he was with the band again and I was sick. He told me these practices are going to be EVERY weekend (which takes up a big chunk of the day and then they hang out after!) but then said that he does want a second date.

He was talking to me one day last week but then suddenly just dropped off the face of the earth again for 3 days without messaging me. This time (after multiple times) I did not reach out to break the silence because I’m finding these disappearing acts unusual and I don’t want to chase someone who isn’t into me and isn’t prioritizing building a connection. I was also sick and didn’t want to deal with nonsense. He contacted me randomly on Saturday, I told him I was still sick, and he has not reached out again since. I asked him where he’s been and he said he’s just been busy with work. I’m not sure if this is his communication style or if something else is going on. He used to text me during the day as well, but he doesn’t do that anymore.

If and when he reaches out again, how would you handle this? Would would you call him out/talk to him about it or just not respond? I do not want to waste my time with someone who is inconsistent and blows hot and cold. I'm used to guys being consistent in communication when they are genuinely interested and that is not what I'm seeing here.

OP posts:
Shadesofscarlett · 01/04/2025 18:15

I would block now and not bother with him again. Are you much younger? Surely your self esteem should enable you to set the bar way higher than what this manchild is offering you? I presume he has several women on the go too btw. You are probably just another ego boost to him.

StickSeason · 01/04/2025 18:15

He's not that into you. Throw him back and start fishing again.

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:17

Shadesofscarlett · 01/04/2025 18:15

I would block now and not bother with him again. Are you much younger? Surely your self esteem should enable you to set the bar way higher than what this manchild is offering you? I presume he has several women on the go too btw. You are probably just another ego boost to him.

I am definitely much younger.

OP posts:
dddilemma · 01/04/2025 18:20

He's a loser. Block

Aworldofwonder · 01/04/2025 18:22

Oh for god's sake. Who cares why he's doing it? Does this treatment meet your standards of what's acceptable? I'm guessing (hoping) no. Next! Block and ignore.

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:22

StickSeason · 01/04/2025 18:15

He's not that into you. Throw him back and start fishing again.

It looks to me like he's slow fading and doesn't have the balls to tell me he's not interested. But if that's the case, I don't get the random re-appearances. It's just bloody odd.

OP posts:
JenniferAnistonForReals · 01/04/2025 18:22

Don’t waste a second more of your precious time on him. You deserve so much better than all this confusion and questioning.

Chezxx · 01/04/2025 18:24

He's not into you, thats why you are confused.

Block him. He's a messer.

Shadesofscarlett · 01/04/2025 18:25

the random reappearances are so you will massage his already massive ego.

Why are you even entertaining him?

JenniferAnistonForReals · 01/04/2025 18:25

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:22

It looks to me like he's slow fading and doesn't have the balls to tell me he's not interested. But if that's the case, I don't get the random re-appearances. It's just bloody odd.

The random reappearances are to keep you on the hook, just in case. Maybe even to see what you’ll put up with. I don’t know, I’m not him. But I do know that this isn’t good enough. You need to be really strict with who has access to your time and energy. Draw a line under this man.

SCWS · 01/04/2025 18:27

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:22

It looks to me like he's slow fading and doesn't have the balls to tell me he's not interested. But if that's the case, I don't get the random re-appearances. It's just bloody odd.

He potentially is already in a relationship, has other women on the go at the same time or is just a bit hopeless with communication. I have streams of texts I’ve sent to my husband over the years without a response. He’s always been awful, even when he was chasing me.

I have a feeling he has someone else and you’re potentially a bit on the side or an ego boost.

I just wouldn’t bother putting in any effort and see what happens, if you don’t want to just get rid now. He’ll either disappear completely or ramp up his contact.

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:27

JenniferAnistonForReals · 01/04/2025 18:25

The random reappearances are to keep you on the hook, just in case. Maybe even to see what you’ll put up with. I don’t know, I’m not him. But I do know that this isn’t good enough. You need to be really strict with who has access to your time and energy. Draw a line under this man.

This is what I was making of it. 3 days is way too long to go without contacting the person he claims he "likes." And he's doing it again.

OP posts:
Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:29

SCWS · 01/04/2025 18:27

He potentially is already in a relationship, has other women on the go at the same time or is just a bit hopeless with communication. I have streams of texts I’ve sent to my husband over the years without a response. He’s always been awful, even when he was chasing me.

I have a feeling he has someone else and you’re potentially a bit on the side or an ego boost.

I just wouldn’t bother putting in any effort and see what happens, if you don’t want to just get rid now. He’ll either disappear completely or ramp up his contact.

I agree. FYI to everyone - I have not reached out at all to initiate any contact. If the man is going to ghost, I'm going to respect the dead. He can fade into irrelevance.

I also noticed how long it took him to even mention a second date. It's odd. Guys are normally very up front about it.

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Octoberdreaming · 01/04/2025 18:30

I recommend that you read ‘Mr unavailable and the fallback girl’ by Natalie Lue. Sounds like this guy is textbook.

ButThisIsMyHappyFace · 01/04/2025 18:31

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:22

It looks to me like he's slow fading and doesn't have the balls to tell me he's not interested. But if that's the case, I don't get the random re-appearances. It's just bloody odd.

The random reappearances are because either a) he feels lonely b) he’s bored c) he hasn’t got a better option. I spent half my 30s being benched by people like this. Ignore him whenever he pops up - he’s only doing it to see if he can turn your head. The minute you respond, he’ll vanish again.

Men who actually want you make it very very clear and there is no room for doubt, even quite shy chaps. I wish I’d believed that when I was your age - I’d have wasted a lot less time.

thistimelastweek · 01/04/2025 18:31

A dear friend told me that whilst OLD, she automatically filtered out blokes who were members of a band.
Unfortunately I didn't ask why at the time but she might have had a point.

Shadesofscarlett · 01/04/2025 18:32

you can guarantee that he is not started paragraphs in threads about you and fretting about you like you are him. He probably is not giving you a second thought.

Who cares what 'guys' want - the idea of dating is for you to decide if they are good enough for you and if you want to continue with a relationship. Not you waiting around for them to want you?

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:32

Octoberdreaming · 01/04/2025 18:30

I recommend that you read ‘Mr unavailable and the fallback girl’ by Natalie Lue. Sounds like this guy is textbook.

Just read a brief summary right now. He mentioned something about being divorced and how his marriage only lasted something ridiculous like 5 months.

OP posts:
Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:34

thistimelastweek · 01/04/2025 18:31

A dear friend told me that whilst OLD, she automatically filtered out blokes who were members of a band.
Unfortunately I didn't ask why at the time but she might have had a point.

She's right. He wasn't in this band when we went on the date and suddenly he joins one week later. It doesn't seem like something regular almost 40 something year old guys would be investing time in.

OP posts:
GrandmasCat · 01/04/2025 18:38

Any potential partner who doesn’t get in touch for days is not a potential partner. He is simply not interested enough to be.

The inconsistency on his behaviour is quite risky for YOU, as his warm/cold attitude will mess your head, keep you wondering, make you feel like you need to do more to keep him interested and ultimately, lower your standards to accept that kind of behaviour … until he finds someone else.

If I were you, I would make a runner now, before you get too attached.

BlondeMummyto1 · 01/04/2025 18:41

I haven’t read your full post but it’s too early to be putting up with an inconsistent man that you have to chase.

Find someone better.

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:42

ButThisIsMyHappyFace · 01/04/2025 18:31

The random reappearances are because either a) he feels lonely b) he’s bored c) he hasn’t got a better option. I spent half my 30s being benched by people like this. Ignore him whenever he pops up - he’s only doing it to see if he can turn your head. The minute you respond, he’ll vanish again.

Men who actually want you make it very very clear and there is no room for doubt, even quite shy chaps. I wish I’d believed that when I was your age - I’d have wasted a lot less time.

Any guy I wound up in a relationship with in the past was very consistent in contact. This guy on the other hand just randomly goes MIA, which to me is a giant red flag flapping in the wind. I'm really happy I didn't chase or try to break the silence this time because it's very interesting to see how long someone can go without talking to you.

OP posts:
BlondeMummyto1 · 01/04/2025 18:43

OK.. I’ve read it now. You’ve had one date why are you desperately chasing a man who sounds like he couldn’t care if you spoke or not?

Revolutionno9 · 01/04/2025 18:46

GrandmasCat · 01/04/2025 18:38

Any potential partner who doesn’t get in touch for days is not a potential partner. He is simply not interested enough to be.

The inconsistency on his behaviour is quite risky for YOU, as his warm/cold attitude will mess your head, keep you wondering, make you feel like you need to do more to keep him interested and ultimately, lower your standards to accept that kind of behaviour … until he finds someone else.

If I were you, I would make a runner now, before you get too attached.

That's exactly what it was doing. At the beginning I thought "Oh maybe he's not talking because I'm not reaching out?" and that maybe I have to try harder, and now I'm realizing something definitely stinks here. He can't "like" me as he claims.

At one point he said something that he's used to women making the first move.

OP posts:
LillyPJ · 01/04/2025 18:50

I wouldn't trust him. It sounds like he's got other things going on (maybe other dates?) but whatever it is, he's unreliable and keeping you at arm's length. Try to keep yourself busy with other things and don't go chasing after him. You'll soon discover what he really thinks of you.