Congrats! And that's a healthy attitude to have I think. like you said, regardless of how things go you still worked up the nerve to ask. Nothing ventured and all, right?
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Couldn't disagree more regarding the validity of the question - but you totally answered it in your post.
Which should settle it - you did nothing wrong. As Xapi pointed out, everyone likes to feel desirable. There's a huge chasm between harmless flirting and actually cheating.
I've tried online dating. Had more dates from that than anything else, but my luck and appeal eventually ran out and I stopped seeing any results. Never got past a first date anyways. I think I'm just inherently super repulsive in any kind of romantic sense.
If you mean, will I change who I fundamentally am, then no? Because what's the point if you have to give up everything about yourself that makes you you.
For the record, I'll ask you in a year if you decide to dump him (and proceed with the idea). And you'll owe me a chocolate if you meet someone :smallbiggrin:
However, what I meant is... there is a huge difference between "I don't usually meet people, but if I happen to meet someone who works for me I'll give it a try" and "I don't usually meet people, so I am fine with ignoring the possible romance to wait for Mr. Imperfect to finally slither to me".
And yeah, widening your social circle would be one of suggested steps if possible.
Good for you! At least you know what you don't want in a relationship!Quote:
Originally Posted by AuthorGirl
Relationships usually fail for some reasons. It's a very small probability that the reason goes away just by "getting older". Also: review the reasons why the relationship failed. Can any of these be solved just by adding time? Realistically?Quote:
Originally Posted by AuthorGirl
Or would you need a full overhaul of your/his character for it to work?
In second case, time never helps.
Well, I meant how it feels when you actually spend these few years. For no result.Quote:
Originally Posted by AuthorGirl
One more thing. I'll put it into spoilers, because it's somewhat... blunt and direct. And I will also most probably sound like a hole of a donkey :smallredface:Quote:
Originally Posted by AuthorGirl
Spoiler: The really bad part
There are usually two "issues" with relationship which can be solved by the "let's meet up in x years" thing.
First is distance (which however assumes you will work to overcome it) and second is having some previous attachments (e.g. signing up for army, etc.) which would ruin the relationship but will not ruin friendship and possible chance of relationship after it ends (but it also assumes that neither of you will look for a partner in the meantime).
This is - from what I gather - neither.
So what is the gain?
For him, it's easy to pinpoint: he has a safety belt against loneliness. In case all his future relationships fail, you'll be there for him (not as a friend, but as... supplement). And he doesn't have to be afraid of failing in relationships.
You know how people get more attractive when they are not single? Because they are not desperate to find a mate - so they are more at ease. By "staying by his side", waiting for the future relationship, you are giving him the advantage of being more attractive by not having to find a mate. After all, if it doesn't work he only has to call you.
For you... not so much. He's the one with certainty - and you're his certainty.
You know one sure way to ruin any relationship? Take someone for granted. I see relationships that burn due to this all the time - you take someone for granted, soon they become "non-special". Along comes someone special - not better, just someone who is not a certainty. The End.
But one thing - we can talk, you can read it - but the result is, unless you decide, on your own, that you want a working relationship and are willing to do something for it... yeah, it's a losing battle. It will only lead to you posting there, people offering sympathy/advice and you going deeper and deeper into the personal hell of seeing someone you want to spend your life with being with other people. And being happy.
Do you want to be happy? Do you want to have a working relationship?
Prepare to work for it.
Rant end :smallsmile:
...and by the way... it can be done. You are able - and you have right for a healthy, working relationship, in which you are happy. Don't throw it away.
I get the impression that you tend to solely blame yourself for this and that can lead to depression and does not help with your confidence. If that's the case then I can relate, because I also used to think only I was entirely to blame for my lack of success with women (granted, this was not entirely untrue), but after considerable improvement and years of experience I came to realize that I was actually not the only common factor. Contemporary dating culture tends to be toxic to both women as well as men and just as there is a set of typically male behaviors and attitudes that contribute to that toxicity, I have noticed that so too there is a set of typically female behaviors and attitudes that do that (perhaps not to the same degree or severity, but it's definitely there).
My point is: keep making improvements and building your life, but don't blame yourself so much for lack of romantic success because chances are it isn't because of you.
Honestly, if in a year I've managed to be happy in a good relationship, you get the best chocolate I can find. I suggest shaving it onto fresh strawberries and adding Devonshire cream. :smallwink:
Umm, no, I mean I haven't had a conversation with anyone I didn't already know since . . . probably Christmas? With the exception of one friend-of-a-friend who's now part of my tiny social circle.Quote:
However, what I meant is... there is a huge difference between "I don't usually meet people, but if I happen to meet someone who works for me I'll give it a try" and "I don't usually meet people, so I am fine with ignoring the possible romance to wait for Mr. Imperfect to finally slither to me".
Alternately, I could write more books. :smallbiggrin:Quote:
And yeah, widening your social circle would be one of suggested steps if possible.
No, I mean he already found and broke up with another girl since me, and I'm still having trouble with this decision.Quote:
Good for you! At least you know what you don't want in a relationship!
Yes, I'm completely disgusted with myself, why do you ask?
Actually, there's a reasonable chance for one or two, and even my common sense agrees with that.Quote:
Relationships usually fail for some reasons. It's a very small probability that the reason goes away just by "getting older". Also: review the reasons why the relationship failed. Can any of these be solved just by adding time? Realistically?
Maybe? I honestly doubt it.Quote:
Or would you need a full overhaul of your/his character for it to work?
How many years? Three, maybe? While constantly feeling pathetic and ashamed? (No, no it was not the same guy, I'm not quite that unable to look after myself.)Quote:
Well, I meant how it feels when you actually spend these few years. For no result.
A little bit like. Then again, you said all the things I'd say to my best friend if she were in my place.Quote:
One more thing. I'll put it into spoilers, because it's somewhat... blunt and direct. And I will also most probably sound like a hole of a donkey :smallredface:
I have no problem with a bet :smallsmile:. However, no idea where to get Devonshire cream :smallbiggrin:
However, my assumptions are:
- the "time limit" starts once you hit the "I'm not against new relationship but I'm fine with being single",
- you have to work towards the goal, not against it,
- you have to start meeting new people.
Agreed? :smallsmile:
Umm... so, you don't meet new people but you met new friend-of-a-friend?
Should I ask what are the reasons? Or should I leave at the fact that you actually meet new people, just rather rarely?
I have found out that my biggest bursts of creativity come at two times: when there's nothing else to do to amuse myself, and when I'm having rather powerful unhappy feelings.
It's hard to decide to stay alone.
But you forget: you are not alone. Just single.
One thing my sister always does (I'm not a big fan of this, but she's a woman and she deals with things differently than I do) is... don't be disgusted with yourself. Be disgusted with him - he's the one who's pulling you through this mud, if he were such a great catch, he wouldn't do this to you and he would be up front.
Become disgusted with him. It might help.
That's actually nice!
Let's take a look at the wider picture: One or two out of...? And will the others - the ones that stay - still make the relationship so unbearable that we'll have the same discussion later?
Ok, so why did you break up? Don't answer me. Just answer yourself - if you are compatible, what happened?
It was three years for me too.
And let me tell you - it was worth it. The three years. Because I now remember that time - and when I was again placed in unhappy relationship, I ended it. Just for the reason that it's not worth waiting for someone who does not want to work on the relationship - or be in it. Because someone else might be much better match - and will stay and work through the bad times.
Apologies.
But yes, I would do that for a friend of mine anytime.
*deleted for reasons, apologies
What people prefer really doesn't factor into it. You're the one communicating and reaching out, so the choice in how to do that is yours. If people ignore you for it, they're not the right kind of people. If they accept your calls/conversations but reply by text, that doesn't matter, because your issue is wIth people ignoring or dismissing your texts, not the other way around. If they make a point of insisting in communicating only by text or asking why you insist in using other means, you might as well take the chance to explain your apprehension/anxiety issue.If they see your point and accommodate for your choice of communication you'll know they're genuinely interested or at least nice people.If they don't, then we go back to them not really being worth your efforts on account of being out of step with you. Move on.
You're looking for a potential partner, not just a pal to hang out with. You should feel comfortable enough with them to open up about this. If you're not...well.. you get my point.
Yes, it would be better to break this pattern of anxiety, but until you do, you might as well learn to work around it
Definitely try calling since you've already texted once. I generally try the call once if no answer wait til either couple hours later or the next day and try again. If that second call there's no answer, leave a voicemail and then the ball is in the other person's court. I wouldn't try to keep communicating with basically a stranger after that.
Welp.
I guess this is serious now, with Mr. Canuckistan. I'm sorta nervous, sorta not. My nervousness probably just stems from my fear of judgement from others, like, oooh, she's just going long distance again.
What Chen said.
I'm starting to think that you're being foiled by a lack of the ability to emphatically understand what's being said to you, combined with poor planning on your part.
Could it be that you're not very good at distinguishing between when somebody says "sure, let's get in touch about hanging out... " and "sure, let's get in touch about hanging out!"?
The first case would be someone who doesn't want to say no to your face and will just never get back to you instead, skirting the obligation, whereas the second one actually means it.
The poor planning bit on your end would be that your reply should close the deal instead... something along the lines of "actually, let's decide right now the logistics of our meet up/date", pre-emptively skipping the need and barrier of a further bureaucratic call.
If they can't give you a definitive answer, the quality of their reply/reasons/excuses will tell you whether they are making excuses because they had no intention of hanging out in the first place or not.
Lots of people say something just to be polite and avoid seeing that they've upset someone. Plenty more will have vaguely good intentions, but not really be particularly arsed about followtrough. That's just something that happens. People can be easily sidetracked, and often just lazy.
(Also, if you don't mind me asking. You mention being trans. Do you generally present publicly as male or female? If the former, your experience is incredibly typical. Taking a deep breath and realizing that you're not uniquely messed up can help you stop beating yourself up for being a somehow defective human being.)
It's honestly an odd feeling to realise that I've not been this happy in a relationship since 2011-2012. I've had good relationships with good moods and all, but... the genuine happiness I feel is something I realise I've missed for the past few years. At the same time it's an incredible feeling, yet I feel sort of guilty for not feeling the same level of joy in my "in-between" relationships. Makes me question why I didn't enjoy those relationships as much from a really negative perspective.
That makes me think of depression and anxiety, I must admit. Could either of those have been a factor?
Saw this and I think it's good and relevant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtKUUkEDetI
So, minor rant.
There's a girl I know, sorta. Met on a dating site, added her on Snapchat, all well and good.
I've sent her something like three messages in the past couple months-nothing that seems (to me) ridiculous, always waiting a few weeks before sending another message (usually in response to something on her Snapchat story) and along the lines of a joke or something. Just friendly-like.
They've all gone unread. So, whatever, she's not interested. Except, today on her story...
"All I want is a relationship."
And I'm just thinking "You've given me NO CHANCE whatsoever! You've ignored every single message-you have not even READ THEM. If you were willing to give people a chance, maybe you wouldn't be single!"
I'm not saying I'm some amazing catch or anything, but I like to think I'm a nice guy, and that, even if we weren't to hit it off romantically, she could be a nice new friend. But just... I dunno. She seems kinda... Not sure what word is right, but you get my drift, I suppose.
Anyway, that's all for my rant. I have NOT read the thread up till this point, so *offers hugs* for everyone who needs them, and while I wouldn't be surprised to hear people are worse off, I sincerely hope that this minor "Ugh, whatever" is the worst thing happening right now.
No one is owed a chance in terms of dating. After your initial meeting or discussion she may simply have decided she wasn't interested. I think continuing to send messages after the first was ignored probably just cemented that in her mind. Remove this person from Snapchat and move on, it's actually a little creepy to continue to send messages (even just a few) after months of intentional no response.
My suspicion is honestly that she decided she wasn't honestly interested at around the time she added you on snapchat (which she may well have done just to be polite).
agreed. move on
Good advice. I'm just a little peeved that she never read ANY of the messages.
Judging by the responses, I'm guessing that wasn't clear. It was not "We met up, had a good chat, and then she stopped talking."
It was "I sent her a message, she never read it."
That being said, yeah, probably should remove her from Snapchat.
Edit: Did the removing.
Yeah. I'm just confused why she bothered to add me, if that's the case.
It just was a set of mixed signals, I guess? On the one hand, she added me, on the other, she never bothered to answer.
For me personally, I like to have some form of closure, if you know what I mean. I'd rather hear "Sorry, I'm not interested," from someone than just silence.
But regardless, it's in the past now.
You've got to read between the lines. When anyone says "all I want is a relationship", what it really means is "all I want is a relationship with someone who meets all or most of my criteria".
Someone can have tons of suitors, and at the same time be legitimately complaining about their inability to find someone. The apparent contradiction vanishes as soon as you add the implicit bit.