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Relationships

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The Dating Thread 58 - will you swoon in June? 🌸🌼🌸

447 replies

Nosdacariad · 21/05/2026 20:39

The Rules:
-The first rule about the dating thread is don't talk about it with people you're dating
-Develop a thick skin
-Do not invest emotionally too soon
-It’s all BS until it actually happens
-Trust your gut instinct
-People vanishing, lying & being generally weird is not your fault
-Know your worth
-If it's not fun, stop
-Loo update is mandatory
-No dating the thread
-Treat others as you'd like to be treated
-Any relationship you have that could get ruined by having a conversation about your feelings, standards and/or expectations wasn't really stable enough to begin with
-The things you choose to ignore/ tolerate now are the reasons you will break up in the future

  • If you're wondering if you're being too picky/should give another chance after the second chance/should try harder - the answer is invariably NO! You're not and you shouldn't. If this, now, is as good as it's going to get, the A game, then do you want what comes next?!
-OLD can get very time consuming. Keep doing other activities you enjoy Optional: Please give your irons (potential dates you are talking to) nicknames like Mr Scottish. Initials are allowed (Mr S) when you are an item*
OP posts:
Nosdacariad · Yesterday 16:34

CleanShirt · Yesterday 12:33

Well this thread has taken a turn 🫣 love @ElleintheWoods's post!

How are you feeling today about things @Nosdacariad ?

I'm on holiday with my friend and we're getting all the same people liking us on Feeld 🤣 we've turned it into a game.

Mr Mullet has left me on read today, trying not to think too much into it but think I'm a little put out after him messaging someone when we were on our date...

I would be annoyed too!
I've seen planes and it was all good. He is MUCH better in person 😁

OP posts:
Nosdacariad · Yesterday 16:35

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 12:58

So, my packed weekend of dating is now just one date! Later today, with Mr Horsebox, the guy whose life I described as a "train wreck". This is probably unfair - bascially he is living in his camper. I know some people do this as a lifestyle choice (and I can see the appeal to be quite honest) but I have also known men who do this in between relationships where they can move in and essentially be bankrolled by the woman. This is what my ex did basically - he owned a whole house, but he rented that out, and lived in a camper until I foolishly let him move in with me..... Financially it was a complete nightmare, and that's actually the reason I left him despite still loving him in many ways.

So as soon as Horsebox told me this I just thought, oh God, here we go again .....

But perhaps I am being unfair? I am broadminded generally l, I'm not demanding two point four children and a picket fence, and I am certainly no gold digger, but it's just the fact that it sounds so much like my ex chilla me a bit. (And I could NEVER tell my mom or my daughter - they would go mental, after all the problems ex's financial behaviour caused!).

It's no worse than renting a room...

OP posts:
ElleintheWoods · Yesterday 17:45

OneShyQuail · Yesterday 12:15

Oh my days. What a post ❤️ i was about to write very similar.

I would also add - attractiveness changes through a relationship too. Noone stays the same, people gain weight, people lose weight, men with hair go bald, people get health issues. My DP is loosing his hair at quite a young age. I couldnt give a rats ass. It was obvious when I met him. Didn't put me off in the slightest. And im short (5'2) so wasnt out there looking for 6ft men on OLD either!

attractiveness is very subjective. I can guarantee out of the 20 women on this thread or whatever we would not find the same man attractive. My best mates version of attractive men makes me die inside 😂😂

So get off the incel content and protect your mental health and get outside and mingle with real people 🌞

Oh thank you, I really do appreciate your feedback as I was quite nervous posting this ♥️

You’re right, I see most people’s other halves and they don’t attract me, but they have clearly attracted the woman they’re with. Different women look for different qualities. I know some beautiful, kind, clever women whose other halves really surprised me when I first met them - they’re in really happy relationships.

The more I see real-life couples, the more I realise looks are just a small part of the equation. Many conventionally good-looking men (tall, well groomed, fit, harmonious facial features) are with women who aren’t conventionally good-looking. In fact, one of my friends is quite a famous lingerie model, her partner is a scruffy-looking scientist and she loves him to bits. I have definitely been deeply obsessed with scruffy-looking chubby men in the past. It’s just who you click with.

You may get lots of first dates as an ‘ridiculously good-looking’ (IYKYK) person, but if the goal is a relationship, forming a deeper connection is based on other things entirely.

ElleintheWoods · Yesterday 18:06

TheThingOnTheIce · Yesterday 12:31

I actually swipe left on conventionally attractive men .
my last ex , and these were his own words ‘a chubby ginger nerd with jam jar glasses’ used to tell me all the time he was punching above his weight and that his friends agreed. Used to say he didn’t know what I saw in him or why I was with him .
but you know what, I loved him . I think we could have been forever if there wasn’t something clearly going on behind my back .
it really not about looks

Why do you think it didn’t work out? Do you think his insecurities played a part?

I often come across this issue, sadly.

It’s not just looks related either. I recently went the other way a dated an extremely good-looking guy (modelled part-time and played semi-pro sport), and he had similar confidence issues. Objectively he knew he was good-looking, but his thing was ‘women won’t be interested me because I’m not rich’. He talked so much about how difficult it would be for him to find a girlfriend and how women are materialistic that it became quite exhausting 🙈 Funny enough all the actual women in his life seemed lovely and normal and he had a great relationship with them and respected them!

In fact, I do think confidence and feeling at ease with yourself is key to dating. I used to feel insecure and like I wasn’t good enough when I was a young woman, and dating was quite stressful and draining.

I’m probably at peak confidence now and extremely at ease with who I am, bordering arrogant. I care very little about what some guy I’m not invested in or who doesn’t consistently show they care about me, and interacting and socialising with men is zero stress. I can see how they get nervous and try to please me and just surf that wave.

Whereas previously I’d have been overthinking my every move.

TheThingOnTheIce · Yesterday 18:16

@ElleintheWoods I don’t know exactly what was going on but evidence points to his much older female ‘best friend’ actually being his dominatrix. It pisses me off so much as I want exactly what I had with him just minus the bullshit and I don’t think I’ll find it again

OneShyQuail · Yesterday 18:41

ElleintheWoods · Yesterday 17:45

Oh thank you, I really do appreciate your feedback as I was quite nervous posting this ♥️

You’re right, I see most people’s other halves and they don’t attract me, but they have clearly attracted the woman they’re with. Different women look for different qualities. I know some beautiful, kind, clever women whose other halves really surprised me when I first met them - they’re in really happy relationships.

The more I see real-life couples, the more I realise looks are just a small part of the equation. Many conventionally good-looking men (tall, well groomed, fit, harmonious facial features) are with women who aren’t conventionally good-looking. In fact, one of my friends is quite a famous lingerie model, her partner is a scruffy-looking scientist and she loves him to bits. I have definitely been deeply obsessed with scruffy-looking chubby men in the past. It’s just who you click with.

You may get lots of first dates as an ‘ridiculously good-looking’ (IYKYK) person, but if the goal is a relationship, forming a deeper connection is based on other things entirely.

You wrote it very well ❤️

All this "women always pick the 20% top attractive men" is utter shite. My ex's look nothing alike.
And I made a mistake with a controlling narc first time round and thankfully learnt from my mistakes moving forward.

The joke is, all this incel talk focuses on looks and entitlement, but once they do meet someone its their attitude/vibe not their looks that will put a woman off 🤦‍♀️

OneShyQuail · Yesterday 18:43

@Nosdacariad my darling, sorry ive missed out the "I love you" exchange how lovely for you....but then what have I missed, about him not replying? Whats going on xxxx

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 18:55

Just finished my first date with Mr Horsebox - found him a lot more attractive in real life than in his pictures. And he was generally interesting and easy to talk to. I wasn't having to stop myself leaving the table in desire, but I'd definitely be open to seeing him again.

I have messaged and said as much. Waiting to hear back.

Otherwise, got a few guys I am chatting to who have mentioned taking me out tomorrow - but nobody seems man enough to admit to an actual time and location!

VictoriaLynn · Yesterday 19:00

Hi, sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place. I ended my most recent relationship yesterday. We had only started seeing each other 8 wks ago and it was going quite well but became clear quickly that he was flaky enough, very poor at planning and sometimes at communicating too
I'd experienced this in my last relationship so I decided to exit politely this time as soon as I saw a pattern. I got a text a few hrs later which seemed very sincere, acknowledging his below par behaviour and I was quite impressed at his accountability to be honest. He messaged again later to say he was glad we cleared the air and wished me a fab weekend (after suggesting we try again). I then got another message to say he was going back on Tinder last night as I didn't want him.
I cannot get my head around how some people behave these days.

empirebiscuits12 · Yesterday 19:49

So I’ve got a coffee date tomorrow with Mr Finance! Started chatting 2 days ago and it’s been the best chat I’ve had so far since venturing into OLD. Funny, asks questions, long messages. He just sprung it on me asking to meet tomorrow, so I’m going!

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 20:06

empirebiscuits12 · Yesterday 19:49

So I’ve got a coffee date tomorrow with Mr Finance! Started chatting 2 days ago and it’s been the best chat I’ve had so far since venturing into OLD. Funny, asks questions, long messages. He just sprung it on me asking to meet tomorrow, so I’m going!

That sounds promising! What type of date?

LiquidSquid · Yesterday 20:44

VictoriaLynn Sorry you had this experience. It is baffling how some people behave, isn't it. I expect that you bruised his ego with what you said, so he thought that it would be easier to just go back on Tinder, rather than put any effort in.

It's definitely not youFlowers

ElleintheWoods · Yesterday 21:01

TheThingOnTheIce · Yesterday 18:16

@ElleintheWoods I don’t know exactly what was going on but evidence points to his much older female ‘best friend’ actually being his dominatrix. It pisses me off so much as I want exactly what I had with him just minus the bullshit and I don’t think I’ll find it again

Oh! Not the story I expected!! I’m sorry you had to deal with this!

At least you can be fairly certain it won’t happen again! Silver linings eh…

What did you enjoy about that relationship that you’d like to bring into the next one?

ElleintheWoods · Yesterday 21:16

VictoriaLynn · Yesterday 19:00

Hi, sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place. I ended my most recent relationship yesterday. We had only started seeing each other 8 wks ago and it was going quite well but became clear quickly that he was flaky enough, very poor at planning and sometimes at communicating too
I'd experienced this in my last relationship so I decided to exit politely this time as soon as I saw a pattern. I got a text a few hrs later which seemed very sincere, acknowledging his below par behaviour and I was quite impressed at his accountability to be honest. He messaged again later to say he was glad we cleared the air and wished me a fab weekend (after suggesting we try again). I then got another message to say he was going back on Tinder last night as I didn't want him.
I cannot get my head around how some people behave these days.

Unfortunately I do think it’s quite typical of guys.

When you send them the ‘I don’t think it’s going to work out’ text, they don’t see it as the end, they see it as a challenge.

Some people are also just sour losers that get very dramatic when rejected. I once had one guy essentially hint at ending it all when I told him it wasn’t going anywhere with us - a few dates in! Some people like drama and attention and someone to tell them they didn’t really mean what they said and have another go.

More balanced people also exist.

TheThingOnTheIce · Yesterday 21:28

ElleintheWoods · Yesterday 21:01

Oh! Not the story I expected!! I’m sorry you had to deal with this!

At least you can be fairly certain it won’t happen again! Silver linings eh…

What did you enjoy about that relationship that you’d like to bring into the next one?

Well I’m not naive enough not to think most of this was probably an act but he would do anything for me, anything for my son who adored him . He lives round the corner so it was handy to have someone around to help out and vice versa .
just seemed to adore me . Honestly I can’t get my head around the whole thing . I do wonder if she was blackmailing him maybe. But more likely he was just addicted to getting his grubby kinks met with her

BoxOfCats · Yesterday 21:54

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 18:55

Just finished my first date with Mr Horsebox - found him a lot more attractive in real life than in his pictures. And he was generally interesting and easy to talk to. I wasn't having to stop myself leaving the table in desire, but I'd definitely be open to seeing him again.

I have messaged and said as much. Waiting to hear back.

Otherwise, got a few guys I am chatting to who have mentioned taking me out tomorrow - but nobody seems man enough to admit to an actual time and location!

Oh nice, that sounds really lovely!!! So pleased for you 😊 I think if there is at least something there then there’s potential.

BoxOfCats · Yesterday 22:00

Nosdacariad · Yesterday 08:37

@BoxOfCats will you see ☔️☂️🌂 again?

No, I messaged him last night to say so. He had messaged to say he was keen to meet again.

Meanwhile Mr Charismatic and I had a change of plan, we ended up at his place for the evening. Went for a lovely afternoon walk, went back to his place and made pasta from scratch which was a lot of fun, especially as we drank way too much wine as well. Something has definitely changed slightly - he asked me if I was free to go to a film at a film festival tomorrow, and also if I’d be keen to do a long weekend in Melbourne sometime (3 hours flight from us). Unsure what to make of it.

BoxOfCats · Yesterday 23:57

empirebiscuits12 · Yesterday 19:49

So I’ve got a coffee date tomorrow with Mr Finance! Started chatting 2 days ago and it’s been the best chat I’ve had so far since venturing into OLD. Funny, asks questions, long messages. He just sprung it on me asking to meet tomorrow, so I’m going!

Amazing! Hope it goes well…. Keep us posted

BoxOfCats · Yesterday 23:59

VictoriaLynn · Yesterday 19:00

Hi, sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place. I ended my most recent relationship yesterday. We had only started seeing each other 8 wks ago and it was going quite well but became clear quickly that he was flaky enough, very poor at planning and sometimes at communicating too
I'd experienced this in my last relationship so I decided to exit politely this time as soon as I saw a pattern. I got a text a few hrs later which seemed very sincere, acknowledging his below par behaviour and I was quite impressed at his accountability to be honest. He messaged again later to say he was glad we cleared the air and wished me a fab weekend (after suggesting we try again). I then got another message to say he was going back on Tinder last night as I didn't want him.
I cannot get my head around how some people behave these days.

Sounds very dramatic and bitter. I think some people just lack he emotional maturity to deal with these kinds of things. I think it’s best you found this out now. And good for you for spotting the signs early on.

VictoriaLynn · Today 00:01

@ElleintheWoods thanks, I hope you're right about the balanced ones. I'm 50 and my bulls@%t button is well and truly burned out so I wouldn't have the patience for repeats of this.
I want to invest in something with someone who also values a proper connection
Also can't get why they all circle back after a while too ....do others find this too

BoxOfCats · Today 00:01

CleanShirt · Yesterday 16:04

He was showing me something on his phone and it popped up! Very awkward all round and now I wish I'd said something. No chat yet but might have to have it soon. I only really have the fireman that I'm still occasionally seeing.

Also I sent a message on Thursday saying "thanks for another fun night, I really like hanging out with you" and he hearted it and went about his day 🫠

Edited

Ahhhh so awkward. How do you think you might approach it with him? I think it’s fine to be dating others so long as you’re on the same page. But it’s always an awkward conversation topic to raise.

BoxOfCats · Today 00:03

Ilovelurchers · Yesterday 12:58

So, my packed weekend of dating is now just one date! Later today, with Mr Horsebox, the guy whose life I described as a "train wreck". This is probably unfair - bascially he is living in his camper. I know some people do this as a lifestyle choice (and I can see the appeal to be quite honest) but I have also known men who do this in between relationships where they can move in and essentially be bankrolled by the woman. This is what my ex did basically - he owned a whole house, but he rented that out, and lived in a camper until I foolishly let him move in with me..... Financially it was a complete nightmare, and that's actually the reason I left him despite still loving him in many ways.

So as soon as Horsebox told me this I just thought, oh God, here we go again .....

But perhaps I am being unfair? I am broadminded generally l, I'm not demanding two point four children and a picket fence, and I am certainly no gold digger, but it's just the fact that it sounds so much like my ex chilla me a bit. (And I could NEVER tell my mom or my daughter - they would go mental, after all the problems ex's financial behaviour caused!).

I think it’s fine so long a the other person pulls their own weight and has no expectation of being subsidised by their partner.

VictoriaLynn · Today 00:05

Thanks @BoxOfCats, yes tbh I was aware from my last experience. It was just so weird to go from what seemed a very sincere apology to I basically forced him back to Tinder. There is zero serious lack of proper investment these days, everyone's so replaceable and there are so many options. I've a busy summer planned so I might not rush back to the apps.

VictoriaLynn · Today 00:06

Apologies dunno where the zero came from 😁

coolpattern · Today 00:56

BoxOfCats · Yesterday 22:00

No, I messaged him last night to say so. He had messaged to say he was keen to meet again.

Meanwhile Mr Charismatic and I had a change of plan, we ended up at his place for the evening. Went for a lovely afternoon walk, went back to his place and made pasta from scratch which was a lot of fun, especially as we drank way too much wine as well. Something has definitely changed slightly - he asked me if I was free to go to a film at a film festival tomorrow, and also if I’d be keen to do a long weekend in Melbourne sometime (3 hours flight from us). Unsure what to make of it.

This is exciting for you, how’re you feeling? Will you have an exclusivity chat with him at some stage before Mr Nomad returns?

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