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Relationships

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Is there still any chance with this guy or am I being ghosted?

121 replies

Helen123UK · 13/06/2026 19:40

Started chatting to a guy about a month ago I met on a dating app. We hit it off straight away messaging constantly so after about a day we switched to WhatsApp. We continued to message loads for a week both getting to know each other and landed up chatting on phone for hours a couple of times. We met up that weekend, had a great first date with drinks, the conversation was amazing and we both agreed felt like we had known each other ages. We spent the day together and I stayed over as it felt right and that side of things was great too. I stayed until the afternoon the next day and we got food together before I went home.

We both agreed we really liked each other and wanted to get to know each other more although he works most weekends so that was a rare one off so I agree that I’d take a day off when he was or we could do an evening date or something and he said he would let me know when he got his shifts when he was off next. We live about 40mins away. I’m 42 and he is 28 so I am older but he said age isn’t an issue just the connection which I agree with. We messaged loads for another week and a half and talked on phone and I did ask about his shifts a couple times but he just kept saying I do really want to see you again I’ll let you know. We were even planning stuff to watch together. Then abruptly he hardly replied like one message a day and straight to the point with no kisses anymore. Then he went silent a couple days and I just got sorry I’m not chatty I’m not good at this and a day later sorry I’ve been distant but now a week has passed and he hasn’t replied to me at all.

He said the last time we talked on phone just prior to the messages changing, that he had got bad news that his grandmother might be ill and he is really close to her so I’m thinking is he just really upset or is he busy at work and I’m hoping he does still want to meet again as we both said we would always say what we were feeling so we would be upfront if didn’t think was working and he swore he wasn’t the type to just vanish he would say if he wasn’t interested.

My friends say it’s just typical ghosting though and he was probs talking to others and maybe prefers one of them or just isn’t feeling it but not saying. I’m just really surprised as he seemed so genuine and such a nice guy and open and honest so I just keep thinking they’re just be more to it than he isn’t interested but am I kidding myself. My friends say I should just go back on apps and try again but I hate dating more than one person at a time so don’t want to if it’s feasible he could come back. This is my first date since out of a long term relationship so I’m so rusty haha with telling what is going on. If he was going to ghost why say the day before he went silent he was sorry he had been distant in the few days before with less texts than usual and apologise for not being good at this (assuming he means dating) even though the two weeks prior he had seemed like the most easy to talk to person going.

OP posts:
Inmyuggs · 13/06/2026 21:07

Dating is all fun & games.
Ego and sex on a first date...come on! You are not 28.
He reached his goal within the first date.. 28yr olds arent going to be a stable match are they.

Helen123UK · 13/06/2026 21:59

Yeah I think I am probs going to land up with a lot of stories too! The universe was never going to give me a relationship from a first date lol

OP posts:
aquashiv · 13/06/2026 22:06

Old is a minefield. Don't rely solely on words; assess actions instead. Move on quickly and meet new people—everyone isn't like him. Ghosting has become common and is often used to avoid hurting others. This isn't new—we've all done it. Don't take it personally.

It's always the granny 👵

itsnotalwaysthateasy · 13/06/2026 22:42

Never have sex on the first date.
Learn about love bombing.
Write a list of what you want in a man.
Get to know someone.
Absolutely treasure yourself. THIS You are worth far more than you believe.

There are far too many men on dating apps who are just after a quick shag.

MrsBelindaMay · 13/06/2026 22:54

I am going to be slated for this but the only way a 42-year old woman can safely date a 28-year old man is if he is the one actively pursuing her and never lets her doubt that he is very much into her.
Otherwise she is just making herself vulnerable to a heartbreak. OP, I say it with love - find your self-respect, he is a youngster and at 42 you should not be on the receiving end of his lies and crappy crumbs of attention.

Pyjamatimenow · 13/06/2026 22:59

bonjourtristesse16 · 13/06/2026 19:57

"Is there still any chance with this guy"

You are a 40+ year old woman, naïvité, as far as online dating is concerned, should not be your undoing.

Raise your bar @Helen123UK

Yes it’s worryingly naive.The guy lost interest as soon as he spent the night.

Dont sleep with men on the first date if you’re looking for a relationship.

IllBurnThatBridgeWhenIGetToIt · 13/06/2026 23:04

He will 100% be back, in around 3-6 months, when whoever he's shagging now gets fed up of him.

He will come back with a sob story about his grandmother and want another shag until he has another option again.

I would place money on it.

ThestoriesIcouldtellyou · 13/06/2026 23:11

I know one of these guys and I know how he plays it as he tells me in agonising detail, despite my telling him he is a horrible human being.
They have too many options and become like children in a sweet shop. Only have sex with them if you fancy a one night stand yourself, because that's what it may turn out to be.
Even if you met every one of his criteria, he may still ghost you. My friend literally told me that he did this. He didn't even understand why he did that himself. What I'm saying here is, it's not because it's you, that you're 42, that you look a certain way or have a certain personality. Sometimes these men are just flakey and think they want a relationship but then don't really. Men say a lot of stuff to a lot of women. It's better to go on consistent action over a long period of time.

ThestoriesIcouldtellyou · 13/06/2026 23:13

And yes, these men rotate women, return to the ones in their index list. Mr friend calls it "the aquarium". Also, where a condom. Always.

Helen123UK · 13/06/2026 23:37

He didn’t lose interest after the date though for another couple weeks he was calling and texting loads and then after that it dropped to a couple texts a day and he called upset to tell me all about his Grandma and then a few more days of less texts and the apologies about being distant and then went silent and it’s been about a week since he did that

OP posts:
Helen123UK · 13/06/2026 23:39

ThestoriesIcouldtellyou · 13/06/2026 23:11

I know one of these guys and I know how he plays it as he tells me in agonising detail, despite my telling him he is a horrible human being.
They have too many options and become like children in a sweet shop. Only have sex with them if you fancy a one night stand yourself, because that's what it may turn out to be.
Even if you met every one of his criteria, he may still ghost you. My friend literally told me that he did this. He didn't even understand why he did that himself. What I'm saying here is, it's not because it's you, that you're 42, that you look a certain way or have a certain personality. Sometimes these men are just flakey and think they want a relationship but then don't really. Men say a lot of stuff to a lot of women. It's better to go on consistent action over a long period of time.

Yeah I have often thought of online dating as a sweet shop to some people myself

OP posts:
MrsM2025 · 13/06/2026 23:42

I’ve had a ‘sick grandmother’ story too! Yes he was seeing others at the same time and found one he preferred
I’ve been ghosted twice since online dating - it is horrible but you have to be thick skinned when you’re OLD
Good Luck! Persevere - The second time I was ghosted I got back on the Apps almost immediately and found my now B/F!!

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 13/06/2026 23:53

Sick grandma! 😂

Next it'll be the dog that ate his phone 😂

He's infantile and full of BS.

Anyway OP, chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.

And btw he most definitely WILL be booty calling you again...

Flannelfeet · 14/06/2026 00:04

Humped and dumped! Shocking as it sounds but the guy pretty much used you. Forget about it and im sure theres someone out there for you 🥰 (said by 44yo ready to stab her husband for breathing).

EgregiouslyOverdressed · 14/06/2026 09:13

Don't beat yourself up, OP. You got a bit carried away. It was fun but it wasn't real.

Thebigonesgetaway · 14/06/2026 09:20

You’re a woman in her 40s who shagged a bloke in his 20s. He will be talking to others, one probably said yes, this never had legs.

Ilovelurchers · 14/06/2026 10:18

Flannelfeet · 14/06/2026 00:04

Humped and dumped! Shocking as it sounds but the guy pretty much used you. Forget about it and im sure theres someone out there for you 🥰 (said by 44yo ready to stab her husband for breathing).

Sorry, I am sure you don't mean it like this, but I find language like this really degrading to women. It suggests we are passive objects without volition.

Sex isn't a thing men do to women - women are active and willing participants in it (when they aren't, it's not sex it's rape, and nowhere has OP even hinted that the sex wasn't consensual).

OP was not "humped" - she chose to participate in sex and enjoyed it. The relationship afterwards may not have gone forward as she had hoped, but I don't see that that's a reason for anyone to use language that objectifies and degrades her.

I hope that makes sense - sorry but I feel really strongly about that. The language we use influences how we feel. Women aren't passive in sex - they don't get "humped" by men. They participate in sex if and when they want to.

Flannelfeet · 14/06/2026 11:26

Ilovelurchers · 14/06/2026 10:18

Sorry, I am sure you don't mean it like this, but I find language like this really degrading to women. It suggests we are passive objects without volition.

Sex isn't a thing men do to women - women are active and willing participants in it (when they aren't, it's not sex it's rape, and nowhere has OP even hinted that the sex wasn't consensual).

OP was not "humped" - she chose to participate in sex and enjoyed it. The relationship afterwards may not have gone forward as she had hoped, but I don't see that that's a reason for anyone to use language that objectifies and degrades her.

I hope that makes sense - sorry but I feel really strongly about that. The language we use influences how we feel. Women aren't passive in sex - they don't get "humped" by men. They participate in sex if and when they want to.

No, it was not meant with any malice at all.

ForTipsyFinch · 14/06/2026 13:36

It’s quite amazing how many sick relatives these guys have.

Thebigonesgetaway · 14/06/2026 13:39

Flannelfeet · 14/06/2026 00:04

Humped and dumped! Shocking as it sounds but the guy pretty much used you. Forget about it and im sure theres someone out there for you 🥰 (said by 44yo ready to stab her husband for breathing).

I also dislike this language, she willingly had sex. She didn’t say to him I’m onky having sex if you guarantee a relationship. Evenif he was feeling that’s what would happen at the time he’s allowed to change his mind.

the reality is most men his age are looking for a partner their age or slightly younger, life stages and goals are key. Yes for some it works out. But for most others, this is jist about sex.

BillieWiper · 14/06/2026 13:50

Yeah I think he just acted how he felt he needed to in order to obtain sex. Then didn't have the guts to just say 'it was fun but I'm not looking for anything serious so we'd best amicably part ways'.

I also wouldn't think I'd trust a man in his 20s to not be seeing lots of women and being into multiple random shags. I wouldn't date someone that age if I was in my 40s.

Unless it was ONS/ v casual FWB type situation. I can't envisage you'd really have that much in common in a life experience way.

So yeah, just forget about him. It was fun, you had sex that was enjoyable. That was it. No need to feel sad or embarrassed but he's not boyfriend material.

DaisyChain505 · 14/06/2026 13:55

If he wanted to reply to you, he would.

If he wanted to see you, he would.

If he wanted to persue a relationship with you, he would.

Don’t put in all the effort when you’re not getting it back. If someone really likes you they’ll match your effort and make it clear that they like and want you.

In future take it slower and don’t jump straight into spending over 24 hours straight with them.

Helen123UK · 14/06/2026 19:52

He has liked my fb posts this week abut has not been online at all where we used to talk on WhatsApp so womdering if that means he is more genuine in begging distressed but yes I get it that it doesn’t take much to just check in

OP posts:
Helen123UK · 14/06/2026 19:53

And yes def all consensual and don’t regret sleeping with him at all, it felt right at the time so 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
TheSunnySwan · 14/06/2026 19:56

He got what he wanted from you the first night so the chase is over for him

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