Thanks again everyone for the posts.
nerdygirl said:
Luna said:
I care SO MUCH about their feelings...but obviously, this isn't how men work so I'll just have to do the same to help me feel ******* normal for once.
See, I knew this would happen with the way people have been responding to this. All of you guys complain that women go for the jerks, and then you defend this guy acting like a jerk. Aren't you all freaking brilliant?
Looking at other women? Normal.
Repeatedly talking about wanting to screw other women? Not okay.
Especially if he knows it's hurting the girl's feelings? Not okay.
Watching porn? Normal.
Not having sex with a woman you love, and who loves you and wants to have sex with you? Not normal.
Not having sex with her because you're too busy watching porn? Not normal!
I quoted this post and bolded the part that really gets to me.
The latter part we're working on, but the former - well, it's something that he knows and it looks like he either doesn't care enough/ trivializes my feelings/ does not understand where I'm coming from or just can't help it.
I am definitely open to working on myself and am doing so currently because I admit - I am insecure! I am always open to suggestions and am willing to try new things. I've asked him if maybe I could dress a certain way/ alter my appearance etc to what he likes/ has a thing for but apparently I'm fine the way I am. I do my best to be good partner...I take care of myself and dress up, good job, car, invest time in my interests, try to set up fun dates; try to make new friends so to give my partner space; I'll cook and clean if you want me to, try to remember to say thank you and not take things for granted etc.
Granted, he doesn't do this 24/7, and in his defense, he is a very good partner in many aspects and I do love him.
I am exhausted that he keeps doing it over and over - and I have to bring it up over and over. I'm building a lot of resentment towards this and sometimes I keep quiet and don't respond...because I'm so tired after talking about how I feel over and over.
He hasn't acted on this thoughts/ words...so I guess I should be happy?
I hate myself for not being just cool with it.
I hate myself for recently forcing myself to say: "I'd **** that guy...and that guy...and that guy..." after he commented on a magazine I was reading in the grocery store. I try to not look anywhere that has attractive women because I get the stomach-sinking feeling he may comment.
I really am trying to work this issue out because from most of the responses from men here - and articles and other forums that I've searched - that this is normal and I should learn to accept it.
From women, what I found is that they usually suggest "Go dump him."
If he had blurted all of this out when I first met him -
I would have zero interest in him. I do not need to be reminded over and over that he is a sexual being and say "I'd **** her...and her...and her..." "I'd have sex with all those women.". I have not forgotten that he is a sexual being and may find other girls pretty. I only wish I didn't have to be reminded and sometimes, in such vulgar ways.
I have told him a few times that I'm his girlfriend - not his buddy.
Overall everything is great....it's only the few things that I pointed out that bother me. I don't think it's worth throwing all away if it's just me overreacting to something that is typical of men.
But it still hurts each time and it hurts more the more he does it. I did bring it up that if he thought he was desensitizing me by doing it over and over that it isn't working and it makes me only more upset.
There might be the few guys that would not do this, but from the responses I've seen here and other places though - it seems very rare and they may have other issues to bring into a RL that I don't have right now.
It does make me envious...to see these type of guys be so mesmerized by their love interest - to feel that she's the only one he sees in the room; that he smiles when just thinking of her; that he thinks she's the most beautiful thing in the world (as opposed to what I consider "calculative thinking": "She is pretty but will never be the most beautiful girl because it is fact there are more attractive girls than her"). I've read a few posts here from guys who sound like they came straight out of a romance novel - poetry and all. To any guys that fit this description:
You guys are like f***ing faeries. Whoever you fall in love with is so lucky.
So many of these type of posts were so touching and beautifully written. It's so rare to find romantics like that as I find most people I've come across think more calculatingly. I now understand why people - especially women - adore romance novels.
At least online, I've had the chance to talk to some wonderful guys (FYI, as friends) who fit this description. I wish I knew what their love interests have that I lack - but even then, maybe I'm not really the type of girl that these type of guys would fall hard for or become enamored with. I'm not really all that special. I'm nice, but not special.
I just have to come to accept is that it's unlikely someone will fall that hard for me and any partner that I have would probably stay with me because of comfort and that I am reliable.
I'm not really the prize people ultimately dream of...but am instead...just a warm consolation prize.