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Feeling a bit of an ick

14 replies

Crossedhare · 03/11/2026 19:09

We met with some of my BF's friends over the weekend, some who he hadn't seen in years. There was some teasing and joking after some drinks, but all good until someone referred to my BF's dating history and calling him a slut. He didn't seem to care to be fair and just shrugged and laughed it off, but I think he was a bit uncomfortable because I was there hearing it all.

Slept with his private tutor as a teenager, slept with at least one of his university lecturers, and one of them mentioned that they stopped introducing him to their colleagues because it would "always end up the same way", cheated on his long term girlfriend with a woman he met on a plane and started going out with her, etc etc.

I'm usually fine with people having a bit of a history (we all do), but it was a bit much I felt a bit grossed out. I might just need a kick up the bum because if someone criticised a woman like that I'd feel offended on her behalf but I can't really explain why I feel so judgy about him having sone lots of shit. I mean he was young, and it should be fine, but here I am wondering if he's really grown up and changed.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/11/2026 19:11

Why are you wondering if he’s really grown up? Are you both still under 25? Is he acting like a child? It’s fine if his sexual history isn’t for you, just end the relationship. But he’s not done anything wrong by having sex before you

OneTealMentor · 03/11/2026 19:13

All of that would have put me off him too to be honest, says a lot about his personality

ToddlersAreBananas · 03/11/2026 19:17

ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/11/2026 19:11

Why are you wondering if he’s really grown up? Are you both still under 25? Is he acting like a child? It’s fine if his sexual history isn’t for you, just end the relationship. But he’s not done anything wrong by having sex before you

Well, he has done wrong by cheating on previous partners

ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/11/2026 19:18

ToddlersAreBananas · 03/11/2026 19:17

Well, he has done wrong by cheating on previous partners

Everyone has done something wrong in life. If it was years ago then he hasn’t done anything wrong to OP has he? He hasn’t cheated on her?

ToddlersAreBananas · 03/11/2026 19:21

ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/11/2026 19:18

Everyone has done something wrong in life. If it was years ago then he hasn’t done anything wrong to OP has he? He hasn’t cheated on her?

But it says volumes about his moral compass

Crossedhare · 03/11/2026 19:24

I know that none of this is a deal breaker because it's history. I'm happy with him. But it's not landed well with me and it's on my mind and I'm not sure if I'm insecure. Probably a bit of both.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/11/2026 19:28

ToddlersAreBananas · 03/11/2026 19:21

But it says volumes about his moral compass

It says volumes about him when he was younger. Doesn’t tell OP whether or not he’s grown up since. It’s fine if it’s a deal breaker for you, you aren’t the OP.

Nofeckingway · 03/11/2026 19:31

If a woman had this kind of history would we condemn her . Apart from the cheating when he was younger . Is it a deal breaker for you .

Lookingforwardtospringnextyear · 03/11/2026 19:33

ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/11/2026 19:28

It says volumes about him when he was younger. Doesn’t tell OP whether or not he’s grown up since. It’s fine if it’s a deal breaker for you, you aren’t the OP.

Funny isn't it that normally the MN view point is once a cheater always a cheater.

I wonder why you are giving this guy the benefit of the doubt when his past behaviour seems to show anyone was fair game even when he was in a relationship.

Of course this was before OP was in a relationship with him. But I think she would be very naive not to wonder how much he is to be trusted.

Penguinbiscuitfortea · 03/11/2026 19:35

He's a different person now though, surely? I'm in the reverse of this position right now with my bf's head spinning about MY past. And from this end I just wish he'd see that I can only be what I am now, and I'm not like that anymore (i.e. young, irresponsible, without a responsibility or care in the world, you know). Just go on his character now, with you. Because he may well have grown since those times.
Oh, and it has no bearing on my moral compass, pp.

WitchesBritches · 03/11/2026 19:36

The best predictor of future befavour is passed behaviour.

The tutor and the university lecturer wouldn't bother me, but the cheating on the past girlfriend would,

It would certainly be enough to make me have a really hard think about the relationship

Bigtrapeze · 03/11/2026 19:43

i think if everyone was judged for daft mistakes in their late teens/early twenties, there would be lots of people with 'moral compass' issues. I think always a cheater isn't true if you did it once when you were young-that's how you learn. I also think you should judge him on how he treats you, not how he behaved growing up. I have two male friends who sound similar in their early twenties, both of whom met a girl they then married and have behaved completely differently since. His mates sound a bit jealous and having a laugh at his expense.

Trust your own experience of him, OP.

SilenceLaySteadily · 04/11/2026 22:54

Nofeckingway · 03/11/2026 19:31

If a woman had this kind of history would we condemn her . Apart from the cheating when he was younger . Is it a deal breaker for you .

"Stop slutshaming. It's none of your business and none of it matters."

I think that's the usual response.

Rainbowlou0001 · 04/11/2026 23:02

His past is just that, his friends bringing it all up to a new girlfriend is horrible, embarrassing for the both of you on a night out,
Why would they think you want to hear all that?
I’ve been with my husband for 20+ years and have no interest in his past sex life!

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