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Author Topic: My current problem(s).  (Read 1768 times)

Projeck37

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My current problem(s).
« on: January 13, 2014, 12:33:26 am »

Hey Bay12,
So I've been dating my current girlfriend for roughly 3 months now, and I've come across an issue. I noticed how for only a week shorter than how long my girlfriend and I have been dating, I've felt attraction to one of my friends. Now I've asked a close friend of mine what I should do, whenever I first felt these feelings. He told me to just let them run their course and eventually they'll just go away, and to be around this person just a little less often. I've tried this for the past 2 months and to no avail. It's gotten to the point where I don't feel as happy in my relationship, and I've grown ever more distant. So, I've come for your help, Bay12.
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Vector

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2014, 02:43:55 am »

Why did you date this girlfriend in the first place?
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Nightscar982

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2014, 05:46:48 am »

So to clarify, you feel attraction to both your current girlfriend and this other person, or just the friend?
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Projeck37

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2014, 08:22:05 am »

Why did you date this girlfriend in the first place?
Well, I started dating her just sorta out of nowhere. I mean, not to mention that we've known eachother for awhile and have had feelings for eachother off and on.

So to clarify, you feel attraction to both your current girlfriend and this other person, or just the friend?
Both of them.
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LordBucket

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2014, 01:59:37 pm »


Standard advice: be honest with relevant parties. However awkward it might be, in most cases it tends to result in less misery in the long run.

Related: I advice against "making discreet inquiries" if the friend would be receptive while keeping the girlfriend on hand in case he/she isn't. That might tend to end up with you alone and untrusted by everyone.

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I noticed how for only a week shorter than how long my girlfriend and I have been dating, I've felt attraction to one of my friends.

So you didn't notice attraction to your friend until you started dating this girl? I advise you to very closely examine why that is. It won't particularly benefit any of you if dump the girl for your friend only to discover that because of some social dynamic, you're no longer attracted to the friend when you're not with the girl. Or worse, find yourself attracted back like a ping pong to the girl you dumped once you're with your friend.

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I first felt these feelings. He told me to just let them run their course and eventually they'll just go away

I wouldn't count on that, and it probably sets an unhealthy precident for later in life if you learn to just ignore your feelings and hope they'll go away.

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So, I've come for your help, Bay12.

What do you want? What is the desired end result?

LeoLeonardoIII

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2014, 02:30:19 pm »

I'd go with Bucket's Standard Advice. You risk both of them going, "That's not cool, I don't want to be with you unless you can only ever be attracted to just me." There's also the risk they'll look at each other and go, "OK, we can work with this."
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Projeck37

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2014, 04:04:54 pm »

Quote
So, I've come for your help, Bay12.

What do you want? What is the desired end result?
Well, maybe some clarity, seeming as I have none as of right now.
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LordBucket

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2014, 09:15:30 pm »

Well, maybe some clarity, seeming as I have none as of right now.

Clarity about what? Your own desires? That's not something any of us will be able to give you.

There are many possible resolutions here. I will assume for purposes of pronouns that the "friend" is female.

1) You ignore your feelings and stay with the girlfriend.
 - a) Everyone is happy with this
 - b) The friend is silently wishing to be with you but not saying anything because you have a girlfriend. You're unhappy because you want the friend. The friend is unhappy because she wants you, then finds a boyfriend. You respond to her getting a boyfriend by internally giving up on your desires for her and trying to make the relationship with the girlfriend fill your needs. But it doesn't because you wanted qualities from both girls, so expecting what you were idealizing from the friend from the girlfriend doesn't work and the relationship falls apart. But now the friend has a boyfriend and you're now in her position of the person you want to be with is involved with somebody.
 - c) The girlfriend is happy with this and the friend is completely unaware that you were ever unattracted to her, continues to spend time with you which drives a stake into your heart at how much you want her and how close she is but you can't have her.

2) You give up the girlfriend to be with the friend.
 - a) It works, everyone is happy.
 - b) The friend isn't interested, but you already gave up the girlfriend so you end up alone. But at least you have a clear conscience because you didn't cheat on anyone.
 - c) The girlfriend is clingy and doesn't give up and destroys your relationship with the friend
 - d) The girlfriend is clingy and doesn't give up, and the friend accept this and you end up with an official girlfriend and an unofficial one.

3) You covertly attempt to liaison with the friend without the girlfriend knowing
 - a) The girlfriend finds out and leaves you then spreads nasty rumors about what a jerk you are. The friend thinks it's slimy and stops talking to you. You lose them both.
 - b) The friend isn't interested and the girlfriend finds out, gets clingy and jealous, and stays with you and makes your life miserable.
 - c) The friend isn't interested but the girlfriend doesn't find out, and you learn to become a sneaky cheater, probably carrying that habit into your next relationship where it will either bring you much joy and stress, or destroy you.
 - d) The friend is interested and the girlfriend isn't smart enough to realize that you're cheating on her. Everyone knows, lots of people try to tell her, but she never really gets it and continues being a good, dependable girlfriend for you. Eventually you lose all respect for her, leave her and she spends the rest of her life in misery and self-doubt because she did everything she could to make you happy and ended up being abandoned with nothing because of it.
 - e) You succeed in making the friend your mistress and the girlfriend never finds out. You have a girlfriend and a mistress, and yet somehow become a karma houdini and it all works out.
 - f) They find out but they're ok with it, you have two girlfriends.

4) You tell the girlfriend that you want to keep her, but also want to start seeing the friend.
 - a) It works, everyone is happy.
 - b) It works, but everyone is unhappy and resentful.
 - c) The friend is interested but the girlfriend gets angry and leaves you
 - d) The girlfriend is willing, but the friend isn't. The status quo is more or less maintained, but you have some closure and a girlfriend you feel you can trust with the truth.
 - e) Neither of them are willing, but because you're honest about it the girlfriend doesn't get angry and you keep her.
 - f) Neither of them are willing, and the attempt causes the relationship with the girlfriend to fall apart
 - g) The girlfriend is interested, but only if she get to be with other guys. You agree, it works and you have an open relationship.
 - h) The girlfriend is interested but only if she get to be with other guys. That was totally not what you wanted at all, you're totally not comfortable with it, but the genie has been released and it spirals out of your control.

5) You tell the girlfriend openly and honestly that since you started dating her you've suddenly become attracted to a friend who you weren't previously attracted to, and then you invite her to participate in the process of deciding what to do about it.
 - a) She freaks out and leaves you. You are then free to pursue the friend with a clear conscience.
 - b) She's vague and unclear on how she feel about the situation, leaving you uncertain how to proceed, but at least knowing that you weren't deceptive about the situation.
 - c) She is in such shock that you were actually honest about it that she doesn't know how to react, it doesn't trigger any "cheater" vibes because you told her and that's not what cheaters do, so you are able to pursue the friend while keeping the girlfriend. She i aware of this, but doesn't really know how to feel and for an uncertain time you have two girlfriends while everyone sorts out their feelings.
 - d) She' totally ok with it and you have two girlfriends.
 - e) She's either ok with it, or not strongly opposed, but you open dialogue with the friend and she's not interested, leaving you with a girlfriend you feel you can be open and honest with.
 - f) She understands that there's something peculiar going on because you didn't start feeling attraction to the friend until you started dating her, she is curious about this and the two of you explore your psychology together openly and honestly, resulting in only one girlfriend but knowing more about yourself, and a girlfriend who knows you in ways few people are honest enough to share with each other.



I'm sure I've missed a few possibilities, but I think the above probably covers are good portion of how this could work out. I suggest either going through the list and picking a resolution you like more than the others, and trying to make it happen, or making your own list and doing same.






Projeck37

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2014, 09:37:07 pm »

You know, that list actually helped in the sense that I know what I can do and what I can't, which was what I was initially looking for, I just wasn't too sure on what it was myself. I'll see about telling my girlfriend by the end of the week.
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LeoLeonardoIII

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2014, 06:45:37 pm »

5D, baby.
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gimlet

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2014, 05:42:51 pm »

5D is definitely the best.  You can tell GF1 you'll be busy with GF2, give GF2 the impression that you're out with GF1, and get a big chunk of time to play games with your buddies!
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LeoLeonardoIII

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2014, 05:48:11 pm »

5D is definitely the best.  You can tell GF1 you'll be busy with GF2, give GF2 the impression that you're out with GF1, and get a big chunk of time to play games with your buddies!
Oh man, so unscrupulous. Although there's the off chance they end up together that night (movie, whatever, you know) and are like, "Hey I thought Gimlet was going out with you tonight!"
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Catsup

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2014, 05:38:27 am »

when my body pisses me off i go to war and beat it up until i can no longer move by running and lifting, that should get rid of any stiff muscles or butterflies. When my mind wanders and thinks thoughts i'd rather not think, i think about music in my head or try to empty it.

the rest are all about your own actions, what do you think is right or wrong? if you want my opinion, the only rule you have to abide by is to try to not hurt anyone. Do w/e you want, just dont make it end up like school days.

DJ

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2014, 05:47:42 am »

Flip a coin, heads you stay with current girlfriend, tails you leave her and pursue the other interest. Note how you feel when the coin lands, if you're happy with it than do what it says, if you wish it landed differently than that's what you really want and that's what you should do. Whatever you do, don't attempt to be with both at once and try to keep it secret, that is a douche thing to do and 100% guaranteed to blow up in your face.
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Sigulbard

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Re: My current problem(s).
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2014, 06:07:41 pm »

OP a playa
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