Two Hot Takes - 254: MORE Updates!

Episode Date: February 5, 2026

Two Hot Takes host, Morgan, is joined by guest co-host Michaela! We needed one more week of closure - whether good or bad. So coming at you with chaotic updates on someone who calls out his wife for b...eing jealous, a dad who sent his daughter's bf to the store for an inappropriate shirt, an OP whose partner has a crush on the personal trainer, and more! Buckle up and get ready to share your own takes in the comments. Partners: State Farm: Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the Personal Price Plan! Credit Karma: https://www.creditkarma.com/ Bonus Content on Patreon including FREE stories: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TwoHotTakes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NEW MERCH:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.twohottakes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a letter? Our PO Box!! Two Hot Takes. 5042 Wilshire BLVD. #470. Los Angeles, CA 90036  WRITE IN TO US!!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reddit.app.link/twohottakes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Full length Video episodes available on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoHotTakes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Index: 00:00 -- Start Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 I was guilty of multiple skin care crimes. Two counts of sleeping in makeup, one count of using disposable wipes. I knew my routine had to change. So I switched to Garnier-Missler water. It gently cleanses, perfectly removes makeup, and provides 24-hour hydration. Clear away the evidence with the number one Missler water worldwide by Garnier. With Amex Platinum, almost every purchase made with your card can be covered with points, including new tastes, new food.
Starting point is 00:00:30 new fits, and virtually everything in between. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. We rolling. We are up running, rolling, hop, skipping, a jump in? On a river. Rolling on a river. Dude, every time I hear river, all I hear is that, I think it was Wendy Williams.
Starting point is 00:00:53 Denial is a river in Egypt. I have seen that one. Your husband is gay. I have seen that one. good. I don't know. Every time I hear River or like denial, like I just hear Wendy in my ear. That's kind of a beautiful earworm to have. Is that the right? Yeah. Audio stim. It's an interesting one. It's not one I would say out loud unless it's to my closest nearest and dearest friends, you guys. But yeah, I don't know. I'm just like, I'm in a weird funk right now. I feel like everyone's kind of in a thunk.
Starting point is 00:01:26 Yeah. With everything going on. Like it's so crazy. to recording something and then like, okay, this comes out two weeks later or three weeks later. Yeah, we don't know what's going to be happening. We don't even know. So it's like, it's so hard with the podcast and like banking episodes because like a lot of my episodes that I'm recording in the next couple weeks, like won't even be seen for months. And it's just like. Yeah. And so much is happening every day. Every day. It's crazy. Each and every day. So we're kind of continuing on our theme. We did updates. Happy. endings with Jenna last week. We're going to do another update episode. Like I, but not happy endings.
Starting point is 00:02:07 Not happy endings. A lot of them I haven't read the endings actually. Oh, okay. So it could, it could conceivably have a happy ending. Could. Okay. And it also depends on your definition of a happy ending. Oh, wow. Is breaking up a happy ending if it's for the best? Yeah, a lot of the time. That counts for me. So these are just a lot of chaotic, crazy stories with updates. We just need some than another week of predictability and chaos, but closure. I love updates. I just like leave the story feeling more like, okay. Well, at least I know.
Starting point is 00:02:41 At least you know. Mm-hmm. I feel the same way. Even if it's bad, like at least it's resolved. At least you know. Yeah. I'm with you. So let's just hop right into it.
Starting point is 00:02:51 Okay. I don't know if I have anything else to say. You guys are about to hear me talk enough. So. Yeah. Let's just get to the intro song. That's been as many stories in as possible. Ooh.
Starting point is 00:03:00 Okay. Let's dive in. This episode of two outtakes is presented by State Farm. It can be hard choosing the juiciest story for you guys on this podcast. And if you need help making a choice, State Farm helps you choose the coverage that matters most to you. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on ratings plans that vary by state.
Starting point is 00:03:59 Coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state. Up first. And again, I'm checking all of my Reddit master doc sheets for all of these stories. So if you feel like you've heard this story, don't just say I've heard this story, Morgan. Give me the timestamps of the episode because I go crazy. I feel like we're all in this Mandela effect. And I'm like, did I read it?
Starting point is 00:04:28 I don't know. I feel like I would think that whether I just read it myself on Reddit, whether I listened to another podcast, whether I saw it on Facebook. Like, I feel like if it especially was a long time ago, you would mix up in your head where you heard it from me. It happens. And honestly, you guys, my memory is horrible these days. I'm getting a brain scan, so.
Starting point is 00:04:46 Memory is very unreliable. It's crazy, actually. I don't know. I just feel like I'm like, I have weird, almost like expressive aphasia. And I'm just like, the words I'm saying, it's just like, what the hell are you trying to say most of the time? And watching back the edits has been brutal lately. And I'm like, okay, I'm going to get a brain scan and just make sure we're good.
Starting point is 00:05:08 I haven't seen that at all. Okay. I'll tell you that. Thank you. I'm just. But do whatever makes you feel, you know, safe than comfortable. Yeah. Oh, and if you haven't tummy issues, colon cancer rates just shot up again.
Starting point is 00:05:20 So eat your fiber, get your colonoscopy. Story one. It's like my soapbox. That out of the way. Yeah, we're good. We're good. We're locked in now. So this is coming from Am I the Asshole?
Starting point is 00:05:35 It's titled, Am I the asshole for telling my wife to stop being so jealous of my friend's fiancé? My wife, 35 female, and I, 36 male, are good friends with another couple, my best friend, Matt, 36 male, and his fiance, Rachel, 24 female. Rachel models and is very attractive. My wife is less conventionally attractive, but I fell in love with her for her humor and good spirit, which I personally find more attractive than good looks. Recently, I've noticed my wife making a lot of comments about Rachel, calling her an airhead, and just kind of being mean.
Starting point is 00:06:14 When my wife makes these comments in private, I'm able to stand up for Rachel, but when they're made in public, I obviously don't want to embarrass my wife by calling her out. My wife and I went on a trip away with Matt and Rachel last weekend, which we had been planning for a while and really looking forward to it. At dinner one night, my wife made a really mean comment after we started talking about the economy. She remarked, don't worry, Rachel, you can join in the conversation once the smart people are done. She was the only one that left. I was completely embarrassed. And once we were alone, I told my wife she had been really rude and I was ashamed of her. I told her she needs to stop making nasty comments. And she agreed. However, the next night we all went
Starting point is 00:07:02 out to a bar. Rachel was getting a lot of attention from guys there who were sending over drinks. My wife was looking visibly annoyed that she wasn't receiving the same attention, so I tried to lift her spirits by paying for all of her drinks and making a fuss of her. One guy came over and said that Rachel looked just like the model Zendaya. My wife led out a massive laugh and said, did you mean to say Whoopi Goldberg? What? I turned to my wife and straight up. said, you really are so jealous, aren't you? She looked hurt, but didn't have time to respond, as Rachel had left the table in tears. I followed Matt and told Rachel directly that I was so sorry for my wife's words and that I was ashamed of her behavior. When I reunited with my wife,
Starting point is 00:07:51 she told me I was horrible for calling her jealous in front of everyone and embarrassing her. I told her straight up that she was jealous of Rachel, as Rachel is more attractive than her. I realize in hindsight this was a very heavy thing to say and can see why she would be hurt by it. However, I stand by the fact it was said in anger. Am I the asshole? This is a doozy. This is like, oh my God. This was a journey to take me on. This woman sounds horrible to be around though. First of all, yeah, this also, wait, what was their ages again? Um, O.P. is 36, white. is 35, his friend is 36. So all of them are around the same age. And then friend's fiance is 24. Rachel is 24? Rachel. Yeah. Oh my God. So that's another whole layer of this.
Starting point is 00:08:45 A little baby. This whole thing. Get her out of there actually. Get Rachel safe. Rachel needs to be marked as safe. I'm like worried about her. Yeah. I think this is tough. This is very high school behavior. First of all, like it brings me back. to just like being in friendships with people who were actually like didn't like you and this is how they acted. And I guess these people aren't really friends by choice. They're friends by like husband's friendships or something. Yeah, like association, not your choosing. Yeah, I don't know. Again, like in the start of the story, it was one of those situations where I was like, I do think there needs to be a deeper conversation between O.P. and his wife about this. And like,
Starting point is 00:09:32 to have a conversation of why do you feel so insecure about Rachel? Like, you are the person that I'm married to. I love you. I do think, though, at the end, saying, like, you're jealous because she's more attractive than you. Oh. I don't know how you come back from that either. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:09:54 It's unhealthy. Like, you shouldn't keep bringing your wife around. Like, you can have a relationship with your friend. Like your wife is a mean girl. Like that's just the reality that you're dealing with. And if you want to stay married to her, then you're going to have to think long and hard about the relationships you want to have with everyone else
Starting point is 00:10:12 and how you want your social circle to look because your wife is a bully. People are going to get to a point where they don't want her around. And she is clearly insecure. Anyone can read this. This is like reading the brown fox jumped over the log. Like it's rudimentary. Like it is so simple.
Starting point is 00:10:29 It doesn't make her look like smarter or better. more interesting. It's like very clearly from anyone watching that would be like, oh yeah, she is jealous and insecure of this girl. Well, and like have someone
Starting point is 00:10:41 compliment her and be like, you look like Zendaya. Zendaya is gorgeous. Like top model, gorgeous, beautiful. And then for you to clap back and be like, don't you mean Whoopi Goldberg? First of all, ma'am,
Starting point is 00:10:56 did you see Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act one and two? Even in that nun habit, Whoopi was. slayin. Fuck you. Fuck you. I'm not as familiar with Whoopi Goldberg's like illustrious career, but I... Oh man. But I trust I will be looking into it later. Wuppie's always had those cheekbones. And in that little nun habit, she worked it. Okay. Like, and... She worked it. She went in a hiding. But then, yeah, it's so sad. Like, Rachel runs away crying. She's also, like,
Starting point is 00:11:24 over a decade younger than all of these people is a fiancé. They've all been, like, probably friends for a very long time. That's like married couples. She's like new to the group. It just, I think Rachel is the most blameless one in all of this. Yeah. I think the husband was like trying to do the right thing for a long time. But it but then also that last comment is like, you're not an asshole like in the grand scheme of everything that's happened based on her actions. Yeah. But I also like don't know how you come back from that comment. Well, and I think you can call someone jealous, but then you kind of went a step further, and it's like, you're jealous because Rachel's hotter than you. Yeah. And it's like, clearly she's insecure. Clearly, she's struggling with
Starting point is 00:12:10 something. Well, and just, his original, like, comment on this Reddit thing was about how his wife is not conventionally attractive. I know. So I do think there's probably a dynamic at play here that could be contributing to her insecurity. You wonder? But, I don't know. I mean, neither of them are right. I know. Well, and I think from her point, like, O.P.'s friend is 36, Rachel's 24. Like, that age gap is a big age gap. It's a 12-year age gap. Yeah. And so in her head, she's like, okay, this is when it begins. Like, we get replaced by hot and younger models. Like, true. I'm sure she's coming at this from just so many angles of attack, but here's the thing. Like, this girl is with your husband's best friend. She's not trying to go for your husband. this could be your friend. Like, why are you being cruel? And to that point, if you, even though it is valid to be like, oh, here come the younger models and like here, like, I'm insecure about this.
Starting point is 00:13:10 Like, then still Rachel wouldn't be the subject of the anger in that situation. She is the only one who was like innocent of that. And if you're mad about it, like, make a comment to the friend about how like, oh, like, you love younger. Like, you know, make your little snide, petty comments to him. He's the one bringing the young girl around. Yeah. Like she didn't do anything.
Starting point is 00:13:35 No. Top comments. Not the asshole. Aside from the way you handled it at the end, she's the asshole. Stop bringing her around when you hang out with Matt and Rachel. Don't lie to her, though. Just don't bring her anywhere they're going to be. If she doesn't like it, then oh well.
Starting point is 00:13:50 She doesn't get to bully people and get rewarded. Yeah, totally. I'm hearing that comment, though, and I'm like, are they going to stay together? Like, like, I don't know. This is crazy to just like, this seems like such a difference of morals on one hand. And then also such a like slap in the face at the end. And it's also like now his friend has a young girlfriend and he's also like privately taking her side. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:14:19 I just feel like there's a weird. I don't know if I have a lot of hope for this relationship. But I guess people get through things. So I'm curious if they have like. kids or what their history is, how long they've been together. Yeah. Or are they, you know, 36, 35? I know.
Starting point is 00:14:36 But recently got married after a year of dating. Like, I'm so curious what the backstory is here. Has this happened before? Has there ever been something with anyone else? Does she have any female friends? Right. Or is she a mean girl and doesn't have friends? Because I do think, like, it's hard to have a lot of friends nowadays.
Starting point is 00:14:53 I think, like, socially we just seem like really disconnected. but if someone doesn't have any friends or like a woman, like if they don't have any like girlfriends, like I do think that's kind of a little bit of a red flag. And then like you have to suss it out obviously. There's a lot of nuance there. But it's just like if someone doesn't have close friends, it's kind of like, well, why? Like do you have a history of bad behavior and treating people bad? And that's why you're not close with anyone. It just gets you wondering, like, what is this guy's wife? Like, what does she really love? look like outside of this? Like, is it really just Rachel? I do feel like, or is it everyone?
Starting point is 00:15:31 Yeah, usually in these stories, we do get a moment of like, I've never seen this before or on the opposite hand, it would be like, she has done this before with this person or that person. So I would love like, yeah, more context on that. You know, O.P does have an edit. Okay. I forgot to mention that since the trip, Matt has messaged me to let me know that my wife is no longer welcome at their wedding and that as a couple himself and Rachel have decided that they aren't interested in our friendship anymore if my wife is around. Wow. Rachel feels as if my wife has bullied her and has even suggested that some of the comments were racially motivated. I was wondering that. Like, I was wondering what the race of O.P. and his wife were because it did feel like microaggressions. Like,
Starting point is 00:16:17 she's specifically very bothered by this woman and like all the attention that this woman. And like all the attention that this woman is getting. And it's like, yeah, that could be an age thing, but sometimes it's also like a microaggression. I mean the Zendaya to, you mean, Whoopi Goldberg? I mean, that's kind of, there's a lie you can read in on that.
Starting point is 00:16:35 Yeah. O.P. ends that edit with, I am so humiliated. And then there is another edit underneath. Sorry, another edit. Just wanted to clarify. My wife is stunning. I wouldn't have married her
Starting point is 00:16:47 if I didn't think she was beautiful. She is just not as conveyor. Eventually attractive. To me, she's the most beautiful woman on the planet. But objectively, Rachel is better looking. I'm very open to being the asshole in this situation, but I definitely wouldn't want people to think I'm not attracted to my wife. Well, thank you for saying it finally. I mean, I don't think. What does it even mean, though? Like, what does it even mean? Beauty is like, yes, okay, there's conventionally attractive, but beauty is so in the eye of the beholder. Yeah. I don't understand. I mean, here, I'm single. So there are some things that I don't always immediately understand. But to say, like, she's the most beautiful woman in the world to me, but obviously, very clearly, Rachel is hotter. That's what I'm saying. What does it mean?
Starting point is 00:17:35 Like, to me, like, that doesn't make sense. Dude, I'm fucking, I'm lost. And it's also, like, it's not a comment about, like, you know, some random actress and, like, celebrity or something. It's, like, your friend's fiance, who is one of, like, the people you hang out with most. So it's just... I honestly don't know how I'd proceed forward. It's obviously a lot more complex if they have kids and stuff like that. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:18:01 If you're kind of starting to have like your blinders come off and see this other side of your wife, like, oh, she's mean and maybe this is racially motivated. Like, oh, you're going to like, I'd have a tough time proceeding forward with this person. and they're kind of just not nice and just... Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I'm excited to hear the update on this one.
Starting point is 00:18:29 Update. Yay. Thanks for the feedback, guys. Just to add, although I didn't call out my wife in public, I regularly called her out in private after she made the comments. The reason we continued to hang out as a group is because my wife reassured me, her and Rachel got on well. and the comments were in good spirit.
Starting point is 00:18:50 Matt would also continue to invite us out, so I didn't think it was too much of a problem. Also, in regards to the free drinks, Rachel accepted them for the table. We all shared the drinks and were joking around. The drinks were sent from the same two creepy guys, and it wasn't like the whole bar was buying Rachel drinks. Matt isn't insecure and would rather accept the free alcohol, ha-ha.
Starting point is 00:19:15 Also, my wife earns more than me, so we split costs 50-50 most of the time. I paid for her drinks this time to make her feel better. I was not going to make her feel better. Before I update, I also want to make it clear that I don't have feelings for Rachel. I think she is conventionally... How many times can you be like... But conventionally, she is the most beautiful woman in the world that I've ever seen, and anyone would agree with that.
Starting point is 00:19:39 But I don't... But like, my wife, in my eyes, I love her. How many times can you say that? That's what we get to. I think she is a conventionally attractive girl and she is a model. I'm not even really friends with Rachel, as some of you pointed out, she's younger, so we don't have much in common. I also want to make it clear that my wife is conventionally attractive, also just less so than Rachel. Rachel is a model. My wife is not. This doesn't mean I don't think my wife is more attractive than Rachel to me. I just mean objectively. Rachel is. better looking. I swear like, King, you have made that clear. I don't you do not need to reword that for us one more time. We're good. Yeah. Rachel, model, young, hot, gorgeous.
Starting point is 00:20:29 Looks like the most beautiful woman in the world. Conventionally attractive. Anyone would say this. I feel like he's just like, people must have been attacking him. Be like, damn, you don't even like your wife. Damn, you think your wife's ugly? And he's like, no, no, no, no. My wife's beautiful. I just, I'm just, she's just not. She's, she's conventionally attractive actually, too. It's just like he's just panicked. I know.
Starting point is 00:20:48 Well, because in the original, he sort of, yeah, didn't ever. Maybe his wife found the post. Right. My wife is hot too. That's what the edit sounded like when he was like, my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world to me. I was like, did the wife find this? Blink if you're okay, King. I agree with the comment that both my wife and I were the assholes in the situation.
Starting point is 00:21:08 My wife's behavior is unacceptable and mine was cruel and has probably done lasting damage to my wife's self-esteem. She was already a little wrecked though. That's me. I don't think I'm the asshole for failing to call out my wife sooner. In my opinion, you should never publicly criticize your partner. So for me, telling her privately that the jokes were inappropriate is enough. I also want to point out my wife and I have already had couples counseling and my wife individual therapy. When I initially made the comment that Rachel is more attractive than her, my wife was furious and rightly so.
Starting point is 00:21:43 She said that it was a cruel thing to say and that she wasn't jealous of Rachel and insisted that the jokes were not offensive and everyone was just tiptoeing around the pretty girl. When we returned home from the trip and I received Matt's message, I let my wife know. At first she was hurt, but she eventually came around and said her behavior was inappropriate. She admitted that she is jealous of Rachel due to her looks and was embarrassed by her behavior. I also asked her if she felt as if I found Rachel more attractive than her, but she said she didn't think that it was that. It was just difficult seeing a younger, prettier girl get treated way better than her, and she felt like second best. I think my wife noticed Rachel getting special treatment from other people and was jealous she didn't receive the same.
Starting point is 00:22:30 My wife has sent an apology to Rachel, but I don't think the friendship is salvageable. I will still attend the wedding, but my wife won't be coming along, even if she's. is re-invited. I think it's worth my wife having some more therapy and I'll have to rethink things. This has definitely made me see things in a different light and I'm really disappointed. Thanks again, everyone, for the feedback. Yeah, I mean, I do think it depends on the person, but if you were, like, at a bar with two men and one other woman and the other woman was constantly getting free drinks sent to her and, like, you're just kind of standing there, like, chopped liver, you would feel very insecure. Like it would be a shitty feeling. Yeah. That does not
Starting point is 00:23:15 make it okay to try to then tear her down and embarrass her and humiliate her in front of everybody. And like, it's never okay to have your reaction to bad feelings be like, oh, now I'm going to like ruin someone else. I'm going to make someone else feel awful and seem awful to everyone else. But I can see why she was insecure, especially given how the whole. husband was writing about it for the whole time. It's just that doesn't excuse then how you act about it. I don't know. Honestly, though, I think his writing is just him like almost overthinking it. And then the comments being like, do you even like your wife? Like I'm curious what the comments on the original were and I'm just going to peek because it just feels like he over explained way more
Starting point is 00:24:04 than he had to. And the over explaining was clearly overthinking and anxiety. to me at least, and then it almost dug him in a hole. And it's like, I don't even know if, based on this, like, I don't even feel like he was necessarily giving her a reason to be insecure. I am curious why they went to couples therapy, like what was kind of a motivating factor there. Yeah. But she's also an individual's therapy.
Starting point is 00:24:28 So it's like, it's kind of clear that she's dealing with insecurity or, you know, some other issues with confidence or something. I mean, I don't know. Yeah. I don't know if someone being in therapy individually, like automatically means that they're the one with more issues. I think that like sometimes that's just, that's just, yeah. And also, I do. I feel like he mentioned her being less attractive in like the first two sentences. I'm sure he didn't like noticeably like say anything to her before to make her feel that way.
Starting point is 00:25:02 But I think there was some kind of vibe. I'm curious what everyone thinks. I don't know. Like I'm looking at my. and like I have always had issues with like my like body image and how comfortable I feel in my own skin. And my partner has never ever done anything to make me feel like I'm not beautiful. Like he's the only one that's made me feel good ever. But I'm still insecure. So it's like I'm kind of putting myself at it like from that perspective. Am I mean to other people that are conventionally more attractive than me? No, because I've done some self work. But like I'm I still feel insecure in my own head.
Starting point is 00:25:43 I want to, like, put the power more on her in this because I do think her behavior is horrible. No, totally. I think the reason I'm coming at from not even, like, her not being an asshole, just saying that I think part of it also might have been... There's more there. That she could tell him feeling that way is because he said it to her very loudly and assuredly at the end. So, like, I don't think it's a huge leap to be like, maybe he's. was dropping any kind of like nonverbal hints of that before saying it because he felt that way and he said it. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like it's not like it's making up that he thinks that
Starting point is 00:26:20 about her. He's said it like four times now and said it to her face. Which I will say a lot of people in the comments are actually like I'm not seen a lot of people say you're the asshole O.P. Actually like no I don't think he is the asshole. A lot of people love that he clapped back at her. Like a lot of people are like you actually should have said something in public sooner. I think he should have said something, but not that. I think he should have said, hey, that's not really kind. Or like he should have said something that is like more conducive to making everyone feel better. I don't think he needed to say the worst thing he could possibly say.
Starting point is 00:26:58 It's definitely a low blow. But a lot of people point to it and they say, not the asshole OP, the only person here who is not acting like a mature adult is your wife. you talk to her in private and she didn't listen. Unfortunately, sometimes people have to be called out in public in order for them to get the point. Jumping on here to add that the wife had no problem embarrassing Rachel in public but got mad when hubby did the same to her. So a lot of people... I do think it's different between two kind of like associates versus a husband to his wife calling another woman right there more attractive. I don't know. The thing is like, yes, saying something made sense, but he didn't need to say, well, it's because she's hotter than you.
Starting point is 00:27:37 that you feel this way to like I think there's there's an in-between place here where we can meet and like yeah he says something to to kind of scold her in public and be like hey that's not okay you know that's not true she's a beautiful even just saying like you know she's a beautiful woman you don't need to tear her down anything would be fine i feel like if he would have just said you're jealous of her yeah that's also fine that's still like there's the stop sign after that yeah because It's driving the point home. Or you don't need to be jealous of the attention she's getting. Because it's not about like, it shouldn't be to him that she's hotter.
Starting point is 00:28:15 It should just be like, okay, clearly you're insecure about the way other people are treating her. I just, I still don't think that between spouses, you need to say you're doing this because she's hotter than you. Yeah. In an ideal world, he would have just said, you're jealous. Mm-hmm. But, like, I do think it's time he said something in public. Like, hey, babe, not okay. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:40 Your jealousy is showing. Like, it's time to reprimand her in front of people. I do kind of agree with that because you were saying everything in private and she wasn't getting the message and she was going to continue this forever until you said something or, you know, Rachel and her fiance, O.P's friend, said, no, enough is enough. We don't even want to be around her. And that's where we're at. So now O.P.'s got to move forward and evaluate how this goes from here.
Starting point is 00:29:12 And the wife has some work to do. Like, really. Like, what? You're just never going to be friends with, like, an attractive person ever in your life? I mean, how many Reddit stories have we had on here, though, where people are like, my sister picked all of her bridesmaids that were less attractive friends. She didn't even ask her best friends because all of her best friends are prettier than hers. Like people are so insecure and it's easy to be insecure. Like I'm insecure about stuff. Like it's just like this little venom bug. And it's just like it's hard.
Starting point is 00:29:47 But at the same time, I think you said you had a comment where you're like, just because you're dealing with something doesn't mean you can make everyone miserable because of it. Yeah. And that's the reality. It's like we all have our own issues. We're all battling something. But you need to address it. It's not everyone else's problem.
Starting point is 00:30:03 and they shouldn't suffer and be made to feel like shit because you feel inadequate and less than. Yeah, especially this poor 24-year-old girl who's just trying to become friends with her fiance's friends. I know, and how hard would that be? Yeah. I'm so curious how they met, but that's besides the point in this story. I know. Why can't, like, when we read a Reddit story, every single person involved also write their version of events and then we can put it together. And need a full synopsis of the friend group.
Starting point is 00:30:33 how everyone met a full timeline. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Okay, moving on to this next one. This episode is brought to you by Credit Karma. When it comes to your money, Credit Karma keeps you ahead of the game. And you can count on Credit Karma to keep up with your financial needs as they evolve. They'll help you monitor your progress and give personalized recommendations so you can make strides towards your goals and find your way to money. Make sure you're on the right track, no matter where you are on your financial journey. Into it credit karma. Karma you can count on.
Starting point is 00:31:08 Okay, so this one is coming from A-I-T-A-H. It is titled, Am I the Asshole, for making my daughter's boyfriend buy a new t-shirt? Okay, can you please settle a mild dispute for my family? The 23rd of December, my daughter's 19, boyfriend, 19, came over for dinner. We had a dinner then because he's going away with his family for Christmas. He arrived, rang the bell, and I answered the door. He came in, took off his jacket, and that's when I saw it.
Starting point is 00:31:41 He was wearing a t-shirt that said, quote, It's not going to suck itself. That is not what I was expecting. I took one look at that shirt and asked him if he had any money. He said no and asked why. I told him that that shirt showed a marked lack of respect for both my daughter and my wife. I pulled two 20s out of my wallet and quietly ushered him back out the door and towards the Walmart three miles away and told him to buy a more respectful shirt and then come back with it on. Mind you, this whole exchange took place between him and I without an audience.
Starting point is 00:32:27 He was gone for 15 minutes, came back with a nice polo shirt on. We had a nice dinner together, and nothing was mentioned about the incident. The next day, my daughter came to me and her mother and told us what I did, how I humiliated him. Oh my God. They aren't in breakup territory or anything, and no yelling or anything of the sort went on. My wife did tell me I could have handled it differently. So Reddit, am I wrong for handling it this way? And if so, how could I have handled it? He handled it perfectly. Splendidly. Are you kidding? This was an eloquent way to teach him a lesson about tact, appropriateness. Do you have any fucking respect showing up to your girlfriend's family's house in a shirt that says it's not going to suck itself? Are you kidding me? In front of her parents?
Starting point is 00:33:23 In front, yeah, in front of her parents and in front of anyone, I like, I hate that. I hate that. That's so disrespect. Like, and you're with your girlfriend, like, ugh. Insane. I'm Googling pictures of the shirt. From what I can find online, especially- I've seen that before. Well, given the context, like, this is the holidays, too. I'm assuming it's this one that has, like, a big candy cane on it. And it just says it ain't going to suck itself with like a candy cane kind of wrapped up. Yeah. We all know what it means, though, right? Like, it doesn't matter if it's a candy king. I mean, it could be that one. Yeah, I don't know. It could be this lollipop version. There's also one that just has the text on it and an arrow pointing down. Like, it could be any version of that shirt. They're all bad. I mean, like maybe it's a seasonal one. Sounds like this kid doesn't, like, potentially have the money to be just buying seasonal specific shirts in that way, though. I feel like I wasn't doing that when I was younger. Getting a Christmas themed. It's not going to be. going to suck itself. This is insane. Like, there's another version of it with, like, a guy in a sombrero doing a dab with a tequila lime shot thing in his hand. Like, it's just, either way, it's a reference to suck my dick. And you are at your daughter's family's house. And I am shocked that the daughter and the mom are both like, oh, you could have handled it better. Like, what? He could have been way worse. I would have punched him in the face. You come to, you come with my child in tow wearing a shirt that says it's not going to suck itself i am beating your
Starting point is 00:35:00 ass what i am like you're leaving with bruises like i i don't understand who do you think you are i don't understand in what world he ever thought that would be appropriate have some respect for my child this is also how old are they again like 17 they're not even 19 okay well still that's young yeah first year of college even if your kids even if your kids are out of the house, old enough to be sexually active. Like, I feel like it's not one of those things you want to envision. They can be 35 and it's still inappropriate and disrespectful. Dude, it's so, it's so interesting.
Starting point is 00:35:35 And this is like a conversation that's come up a lot lately when people like start trying to get pregnant. They're like, yeah, we're, you know, we're actively trying. And like they have these like intense conversations. Yeah. It's like, so you're coming inside. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, okay, thanks.
Starting point is 00:35:50 Great. Uh-huh. And it's like, okay, everyone be mature. but it's like, still, it's just not my ideal vision. And this is, this is much worse. I also just feel like how much could he care about and respect his partner if he like looked at himself in the mirror and didn't even think, oh, this might come off as disrespectful. Or like, oh, I want to, I want to make a good impression on her parents.
Starting point is 00:36:14 You know what I mean? Like, when my parents met my last boyfriend after he left, they were like, yeah, it was good. He seemed nervous, which made us feel. better because it shows he cared and like you know like all of those things it's like there are things that people do if they really value the person they're with and i don't know weren't that's just on so many levels the dad could have done worse and i support him in all future endeavors i think he did great he didn't even mention the incident yeah he kept it discreet he was gone he went to walmart 15 minutes away there and back. He's prim and proper. Like, this is a win-win and then he'll think twice
Starting point is 00:36:57 because it wasn't appropriate. This was you going to your girlfriend's house and celebrating Christmas with her family. Put a nice shirt on. Like, you're showing a lack of respect for your girlfriend, her body, your girlfriend's family. And he could have worn like probably the most raggedy shirt as long as it didn't say something sexually offensive about their daughter. Yeah. You know, like it's not even about it being a nice. He should have worn just a nice shirt, but it's not even about it being a nice shirt or not. It's about what it said. It's the message. Yeah. Top comment. You were very classy about it and even gave him the opportunity to get a new shirt instead of just going home and changing. Not the asshole. Next comment. And paid for the new shirt. Kid probably spent $15 on the shirt. So he's probably up $25, too. Yeah. Yeah. Giving him $40 for a shirt at Walmart, he's got change. I hope he gave him the change. You probably pocketed it.
Starting point is 00:37:53 Asshole. I was actually, I did some angel tree shopping at Walmart this year. I didn't know you could take the angel tree things and go to other stores. So I just did it there. But like, especially if you've got a little kid, kids go through clothes so quickly. Their clothes, kids' clothes prices were so good. Yeah. No, children's clothes prices are very affordable. And they're cute. Yeah. It's nice because I do have like a niece and a nephew and I've been getting them stuff. And it's like, some of it is more. but it's such little fabric compared to adult clothes.
Starting point is 00:38:24 So it's like able to be less expensive. I had a good time. I love shopping. And I know everyone like, it's like, I get confused where you can and can't shop these days. I love shopping. So drop any good racks. Not that I need baby clothes. My mom's got all my baby clothes in bins.
Starting point is 00:38:40 So I'm hopefully not going to have to buy anything. Okay. We do get an edit. Oh, wait. Oh my God. I forgot. It was the updates episode. This is my Christmas.
Starting point is 00:38:49 I'm 57. and a long-haul truck driver, so I've had my share of bad moments. Most of us guys here can remember stupid things that we did as a teen, even into our 20s. The one that stands out for me are the ones where someone didn't react with anger or malice. They were the ones that someone reacted with constructive kindness, one where a quiet redemption was offered, where a mirror was quietly held up to my behavior. Those are the ones I learned from and appreciated the most. Hopefully, he comes out the other side with a new appreciation for kindness,
Starting point is 00:39:20 offered quietly and without fanfare, just my thoughts. I mean, that's all nice to say, but I do think the boyfriend's reaction to all of it and, like, complaining to the girlfriend in private kind of shows that he, like, isn't taking this in a way that makes me feel hopeful that this was a moment for change. I mean, like, he needed a kick in the butt, but I don't know if he heard it. You know what I mean? We get more updates. That was just the edit.
Starting point is 00:39:50 Oh, okay, that was the edit. So update one. After reading these comments and listening to everyone's point of view, I sat my daughter down this morning and asked what her boyfriend actually said to her. This changes my opinion of him, too. Apparently, he had not told my daughter what the phrase was on the shirt, but did tell her accurately what I said to him and asked him to do. He didn't use the word humiliated. That was my daughter's interpretation. Her rush to defend him came from our examples.
Starting point is 00:40:22 Apparently, she took notes of times I've defended my wife and vice versa. She also took note of our disagreements in private after the fact. She's going to talk to him when he gets back tomorrow to follow up on why he thought the shirt was appropriate for a family setting. I'll update again after that conversation. Okay, this explains so much because I was so confused why the daughter and the wife were like coming at him with that energy. And now it's like, oh, he didn't tell her what the shirt said. Which is the whole context of, hey, your dad made me go to Walmart to go get a new shirt. What was up with
Starting point is 00:40:59 that? He humiliated me. What was on your shirt? Why would he make you change? Yeah. And him not saying that shows he knows there's a problem with it. Uh-huh. So like, what are we doing? Update two. My daughter called him about an hour ago, and this will be informative. She asked him why he had not told her what the shirt said when he talked to her. His reply was telling, quote, because it was embarrassing. Right. So now why are you trying to, like, oh my God, you could have just skirted by this incident then if you hadn't brought the dad into it like this? Then she went on to ask him why he wore it originally, and he admitted that the
Starting point is 00:41:42 shirt had been a gift from his older brother, 21, and that the older brother had dared him to and called him a chicken when he objected. Grow up. Oh, my God. Dumb sibling crap, apparently. She went on to tell him that none of what he'd done was cool and that she really liked him and that he had always been kind to her. She said she wasn't breaking up with him, but that these steps needed to be done.
Starting point is 00:42:07 First, he needed to explain to his parents the entire situation. second, he needed to show up in person to our home and bring the money for the shirt, and, as she put it, put in a whole ass-kissing session that included the explanation of the dare, etc. She said that if this was handled well, they could talk about moving forward and what that looked like. After the phone call, she talked to her mom and I and admitted that she forgot her worth. She said that I, as long as she had been alive, had never gone out of my way to embarrass her mom, and that I had always been respectful and not let anyone be disrespectful to her mom. That made me feel good.
Starting point is 00:42:45 So she wasn't going to settle for less. Good for her. I'll update after his visit later tomorrow afternoon. Good for her. Putting down those rules. I love it. Oh, my God. My brother dared me and said I'd be a chicken.
Starting point is 00:42:59 Say, okay, then I'm a chicken asshole. I don't want to disrespect my girlfriend in front of her parents. Or you wear it out of the house and then change in your car. But also just like doing a dare to not be called a chicken makes you a chicken. Like that makes you a bitch. Like are you kidding? You can't handle your brother being like, oh, you're a chicken. Stand up for something.
Starting point is 00:43:22 Be a man. Yeah. Update three. Oh. This will make most of you following this saga laugh. I received a call this evening from Mr. Boyfriend's parents. Firstly, they are mortified. and extremely apologetic.
Starting point is 00:43:40 Also, I feel like these kids are still in high school. Like, with the parents being involved? I know, but 19 is really young. They could be seniors in high school and just old for their grade. They could be or like going to a community college. Still living at home. Still living at home. Yeah, like a nearby college.
Starting point is 00:43:56 True, very true. Secondly, and the whole best part of this update, I have their permission to squeal, is that his parents are on Reddit and commented on my post in support of the way I handled the situation. What? You're kidding. They told me that they love my daughter and that we had raised her right
Starting point is 00:44:17 and had not raised their sons to show this level of disrespect for anyone, let alone his girlfriend. Apparently boyfriend was following up on one of my daughter's conditions and went to talk to his parents. As the story unfolded, his mom reached for her phone, opened Reddit, and yelled, is this about fucking you? To quote his dad, quote,
Starting point is 00:44:40 as the son read the first half paragraph, he died a little inside. So anyways, they are going to come to dinner tomorrow evening with boyfriend. More updates tomorrow night. That's great. This is very vindicating, I'll tell you, because in the original post, I was like, why is everyone saying that the dad was wrong?
Starting point is 00:44:59 But once they heard the actual story, it sounds like every single person, including the kids' parents, Yeah. Yeah. No, this is good. Update four. Dinner was very pleasant. Let me say that his parents are great. Boyfriend showed up with red roses for my daughter and yellow roses for my wife. He offered what I thought was a very sincere apology and a card with the entire $40 in it, even though he'd given me the change and receipt on the original night. I cooked tonight to give my wife a break. I made an Indian dish called butter chicken with basmati rice. Neither had eaten curry before, but loved it. Woo-hoo! As it turns out, older brother is the family athlete, JV Soccer, varsity soccer, and sports scholarship for soccer, the quintessential jock.
Starting point is 00:45:48 Little brother is the exact opposite, artistic. He's got real talent, sensitive, quiet, and felt like he never measured up to Big Brother and works to gain Big Brother's respect. Brother takes full advantage of this and exploits his little brother for shits and giggles. Near the end of dinner, daughter says, I think I'll keep him around for a little longer. You guys okay with that? We are good with that for now. His mom is the boss, though, for thinking outside the box.
Starting point is 00:46:15 As punishment to older brother, mom went into his clothing, drawers and closet, took every shirt off of him and bought him eight very bright pink t-shirts that he'll wear until he realizes just how damaging exploiting someone anyone is. His access to cash is also cut off. until the lesson is learned. Wait, how old are they? I keep getting so confused. Older brother's 21.
Starting point is 00:46:40 Oh, oh, she's... They're cutting off the older one. Okay. Pink shirts. No cash. I was cut off at 20... I was living my life at 21st. But okay, sure, right.
Starting point is 00:46:52 Yeah. Again, take over what you will. Anyways, a successful night with new friends was enjoyed. Hope this was the update you hoped for. Yeah. I mean, listen, I'm open to change. It looks like, you know, if everything works out from here, their families have a great relationship. That's always fun.
Starting point is 00:47:16 It's nice that he was vindicated on all sides in this way. I think so too. And it's kind of nice like older brothers getting a taste of his own medicine. Like someone on the best of Reddit or update comments, oh, what a delicious punishment for the older brother. I know plenty of guys who. could have confidently rocked pink, but if his mom specifically chose it, you know it's going to hurt him. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:40 And he's probably in college, like, he's getting a ride or whatever for soccer in college, but I'm sure mom and dad are still sending him money for everything else. I feel like guys can wear pink in college and everyone's like, oh, that's so cool that you're doing that, bro. Like, I, I, frack guys, they're wearing the hell out of salmon. Are you kidding me? They love pink. They love fucking salmon.
Starting point is 00:48:03 pink shirts. But his mama knows. Seen it left, right center. She said, my son don't rock pink. Yeah. And now he's got eight t-shirts. That's all he's got is pink. Yeah. It's sort of like, it's a good punishment, but it's really not like that, like terrible, yeah. No, no. I mean, it could have been worse for him. But all around, everyone wins. Lessons were learned. Lessons were learned. Showing up with the flowers after. That's so funny. I mean, it's clearly his parents money. It's really. It's cute, though. Yeah, sure, of course. I mean, I remember, I don't know, I started working really young.
Starting point is 00:48:38 I was like 15 when I got my first job at Perkins. And so like I bought everything with my own money, high school, college. Like I had some help with rent here and there, but I don't know. I just feel like he's using his parents money because they're talking about cutting off their 21-year-old son. True. So I just like, I don't think these kids are, yeah, I don't know. It doesn't sound like anyone has a job. I mean, he didn't have money to go buy the new show.
Starting point is 00:49:03 shirt in the first place, but I like it. I think this is a happy ending by... Totally. No, my means. Yeah, it's a happy ending. Happy for all of them. You know, stay on track, stay the course, follow the lessons your parents have given you. Don't follow the lessons of that older brother. And I hope the older brother also, you know. Like, why are you messing with your... Local news is in decline across Canada. And this is bad news for all of us. With less local news, noise, rumors, and misinformation fill the void, and it gets harder to separate truth from fiction. That's why CBC News is putting more journalists in more places across Canada, reporting on the ground from where you live, telling the stories that matter to all of us,
Starting point is 00:49:49 because local news is big news. Choose news, not noise. CBC News. The secret to Charlotte Cardin's captivating eyes? Panorama Masgara by L'Oreal Paris. The multi-level bristle brush catches every lash from inner to outer corner. For panoramic volume with lashes that are so fanned out, eyes appear 1.4 times bigger. See life in panorama because you're worth it. Shop L'Oreal-Paris panorama mascara on Amazon now. Younger brother like that.
Starting point is 00:50:21 Why are you setting them up? Older siblings are mean. Yeah. I got tortured. My brother hated me. My older siblings were pretty nice to me. I didn't get that experience. I did not get that.
Starting point is 00:50:35 Okay, moving on to this next one. This is a weird one. Hmm, could be a little scary. I don't know. Okay. I don't know. This third story is coming from R slash relationship advice. Just posted about a week ago, a little less, six days ago.
Starting point is 00:50:58 Wow. It is titled, My 38 male, wife, 38 female. admitted to me that she has quite an intense crush on her personal trainer. What's the next step? I hope, you know, I hope that the personal trainer is objectively hotter than the husband. Conventionally more attractive. We've been together for 15 years, married for 10. In that time, she's always done something fitness-wise, be it running or the gym or cycling.
Starting point is 00:51:31 About a year ago, she decided she wanted to be stronger. She started doing weights at the gym, and she was getting there, but around four months ago, she said she needed some guidance and started doing sessions with one of the gym's personal trainers. She was really enjoying it, and about a month ago, she upped it from two sessions a week to three. There has been a noticeable change in her strength, and I was happy for her, as she seemed really proud of herself. Then, this weekend, she dropped a bombshell on me. I had noticed our sex life had pretty much come to a stop a couple of months ago, and I spoke to her about it, and she said that she was sorry. It was just the stress of starting a new job, mixed with the cold weather, and she just wasn't in the mood. I thought that was fair enough, and I'd leave it at that, and let her lead the pace when she was ready to again.
Starting point is 00:52:20 Well, this weekend she told me that she has developed a very intense crush on her personal trainer, and that while she knows crushes happen in relationships, This feels like it's more. She said she finds herself constantly seeking his attention, either at the gym or on social media. She has started tagging him in all of her posts, but I just assumed it was more of a giving credit thing. Then she admitted she has started wearing less and less at the gym to get his attention, which is something I hadn't noticed as she always takes a gym bag with her and gets changed there. She admitted that the last few times we had sex, she fantasized that it was him, and that's why she stopped having sex as she felt too guilty. Probably the worst thing she told me was that a few days
Starting point is 00:53:09 ago she saw him having a personal session with someone else, a younger woman more his age, and she saw them laughing together, and that she got jealous and upset, and she had to leave the gym and go cry in her car. She said he has done nothing to encourage this, and has been nothing but professional throughout all of this, and he is not at fault. I don't know what to do. I'm crushed. Do I sit back and wait for the crush to stop? Do I demand she changes gyms and blocks this guy? We've all had crushes in relationships, and eventually they go, but I feel like this one won't. She's being alone with him three times a week and follows him on all of her social media accounts. I feel like distance is how you get over this, but I don't want to come to come up.
Starting point is 00:53:56 across as controlling. What do you think? She doesn't want to change anything and thinks it will just go away on its own. Can I ask you something? Do you think that there's a time when like that is too honest? Like the details she was giving him. Like it kept going. It kept going. And like I actually don't think you need to tell him you're thinking of him when you're having sex with him. Like maybe it made her feel better to get this all off her chest, but I don't think it actually helps him to know all that. I think, like, obviously, you do have to be honest to an extent of like, but you could just really be basic about it and be like, I have had feelings for my trainer and I'm very, her being like, and I've been trying to dress slutty too. Like, why do you need to tell him that? Yeah, the last time we had sex, I was envisioning fucking him and hoping he would get.
Starting point is 00:54:56 me off, but it was you and I just felt so guilty about envisioning him. So that's why I stopped fucking you. And then I saw him laughing with someone and I went to the car and cried. That's delusional. Like what? Why are you telling all of this to him? Because it makes her feel better. It's just going to make him feel worse. Yeah. And I think a lot of times you need to ask yourself that like when you're sharing information with people or apologizing or being honest, is it for you or them? Like you can be honest, but like to an extent, right? Like, honey, I just, I feel guilty about this crush I have on my trainer at the gym. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:55:33 I think I need to change gyms. Yes. Yeah. Because I was going to say, like, if you have a crush on someone but technically, like, haven't actually done anything, like, at that point, do you say something? If you genuinely think it's going to pass and you're not going to act on it and nothing's going to, like, I don't know what the right thing to do is in that, in that situation. I don't know either. Like even now, I mean, obviously these two have been together for 15 years, married for 10. I've been with Justin for seven. But like, I don't have co-workers. I don't have workplace crush. I haven't had a crush. But like I feel like we both have crushes on the same people. Like oddly where we're like, oh, that TV announcer, we love him. He's so great. He's so cute. It's different. It's different. Like, I don't have a.
Starting point is 00:56:23 crush on someone. I don't think in my last two, they were very, like, a lot shorter than a marriage, but like in my last two relationships, there wasn't a point where I had a crush on someone else either. I feel like for me, a crush when I'm in a relationship is just like a, oh, I think you're cute in like a teddy bear way. Like I don't find you physically attractive, but I haven't had that type of crush yet. If I did have this type of crush, I'm a very solution-based person. I would be in my head, this isn't good. Yeah. I'm not healthy in the way I'm feeling. Yeah. This isn't right. I'm going to switch gyms. This could ruin my life. I'm going to remove myself from this. Yeah. I love my husband. This clearly isn't healthy for me. Yeah. Going in my car and crying because I saw I'm laughing with
Starting point is 00:57:05 someone. No, that's crazy. I need to go talk to someone. Like, that's not good. But would I mention it to my partner? It's interesting because it feels like almost like, was she telling him this for permission to be like, you should explore it. Babe, let's open the relationship. I don't know. I guess like I don't know. Like are there any of you out there that you would share this with your partner and be like, I have this intense crush. I'm crying when I see him with other people. I don't think one or the other is like right or wrong. I think like either option could be right in both situations. Like I think it could be right to just move jims, never say anything. And I think it also could be right in another relationship to be like, I just wanted you to know.
Starting point is 00:57:49 I was feeling this way and I knew it was wrong and I value our relationship more. So I stopped seeing this person. I don't know. It's interesting because O.P. also said we've all had crushes in all of our relationships or whatever. So it sounds like maybe he also has had a crush. But I don't think it would ever have been to like the extent that he's talking about in this situation. No. And like even if you did have a crush, like it's a crush is like more innocent.
Starting point is 00:58:18 Like it doesn't mean you see that person with someone else. This is more deep, yeah. And you're so emotionally torn up about it. You have to leave to go cry privately. You're married. Not to that person. Like, if you saw your husband flirting with someone else, okay. But like, I will.
Starting point is 00:58:37 Ma'am, this has gone too far. I will say when he is writing in this, I'm wondering if it's even up to him at this point. And it almost sounds like she's trying to leave him. That's what I'm like, why? Because he's like, what should I do? And I'm like, how many options do you have? Like, just she even still want to be in this relationship?
Starting point is 00:58:58 Or was that like a goodbye? It almost sounded like a goodbye. A goodbye or like she's trying to test the waters of like opening things up. I haven't read the update for this one. I have no idea what we're about to encounter. I'm just like, I'm blown away. Because I totally agree. It's like you don't really have an option besides setting a boundary and being like,
Starting point is 00:59:16 I would appreciate it if you switch gyms. Yeah. But at the end of the day, if she doesn't want to switch gyms, you can't control her. And then you have to say, I'm uncomfortable with this. Let's go to couples counseling. Let's move towards separation because clearly something's up. Yeah. And if you're going to keep seeing someone that you have said you have this extremely intense crush on,
Starting point is 00:59:38 then that is not valuing the commitment to our marriage over this other thing. 100%. So I'm so curious. Top comment on this one. Crying in her car because he talked to another client. That sounds like a lot more than just a crush. Someone responds and they go, sounds like limerence. When a crush crosses over into unhealthy obsession territory, it usually isn't about the person. It's a coping mechanism in order to fill a deficit, so to speak, in her own life through
Starting point is 01:00:15 someone else. That makes a lot of sense to me because even hearing that, I was like, I don't think she would even feel that way if she saw her husband like laughing with a co-worker, you know? So this just feels like it just doesn't feel like real almost. Yeah. And I don't. It's totally, I think it's totally one-sided. Oh, of course. Like I am not getting- Well, I mean, maybe he'd have sex with her, but I don't. Or she's just lying about it being one-sided and there is something more going on, but she doesn't want him to take any... I know. It's so weird.
Starting point is 01:00:50 It's so odd. I did click because the person in that comment about limerence linked another subreddit, and there is a subreddit for limerence, support, and information. Apparently, it's a term invented by psychologist Dorothy Tenov, and it's from her book, Love and Limerance. It describes the state of being madly in love or intensely infatuated when reciprocated when reciprocation is uncertain. Yes. Okay. I was going to say, I tweeted this once. I was like, I wish someone would love me the way people on catfish love strangers that won't video chat with them.
Starting point is 01:01:26 And it's such a thing of like this intense obsession where it's like you wouldn't even feel that way about someone you had an actual healthy, perfect, incredible relationship with. And it's like the fantasy of it all. And I absolutely think that that might be what's at play here. I don't think like the reality of a relationship with anybody would really be as intense as what you're making it out to be like in your mind. But then where does that leave the person that's actually in a relationship with you? So I don't know. The third wheel. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:02:00 Like the third wheel to your unhealthy obsession. Yeah. And your infatuation with a reality that doesn't exist. O.P. has an edit on the original post. Okay. Thank you all for the replies. There's too many to keep up with. spoke to her last night and got a bit more information and then went and spoke to him and got some more.
Starting point is 01:02:21 The drama. He has done nothing wrong. I'll post an update after work tonight. Ooh. Oh, I'm seated. He spoke to him? Yeah. Wait, I feel like something must have, I don't know, like she must have tried something in order for him to have gone and talked to him. Or he just wanted to know the truth from his perspective. Right. Because what she's saying is a little... Oh my God. Out there. So the update comes three days later. Okay. So that's like three days ago. Three days. It came on the 24th. Yeah. Wow. Three days ago. So I spoke to my wife the night after my original post. I said she needs to leave her personal trainer, quit that gym, and we need to start going to couples counseling. She wasn't happy and started arguing saying it's only a
Starting point is 01:03:11 crush and it'll pass, and she's making good progress, and then started to frame it as me not caring about her health. Once she realized I wasn't budging, she started trying to bargain with me and saying, what if she stopped seeing the personal trainer? Could she still go to the gym? And if she started having sex with me again, we don't need couples counseling. I lost my temper at this point, I admit, and I shouted, enough. I want to know everything. Tell me everything you've done. I want to read your messages with him. I want to see these outfits you are wearing. I need to know everything now.
Starting point is 01:03:46 She said fine and stormed off upstairs. She came back down wearing an outfit that was a bit much, to be fair, for the gym in a cold country. But I didn't say anything, and I asked to see her phone. Putting on the outfit and coming back downstairs is so funny. Like, I'm picturing her just like storming down in this, like... It's a fashion show. Okay. She said she deleted the messages.
Starting point is 01:04:12 Oh, of course. When I asked why she was honest and said she sent him a topless selfie on Christmas Day when I was downstairs cooking the dinner for her bloody family. Oh, that just escalated so much. She then said that while she's confessing, she also kissed another man on a night out in the first year of our relationship. Oh my God. 15 fucking years ago This lady's just like Here let's just
Starting point is 01:04:41 Let's get it all out Yeah I already knew this Because her friend Who fancied me At the time Told me about it I asked her
Starting point is 01:04:51 Why him and not me What's he got that I haven't She said nothing And it was more About this situation than him She said she's starting to feel a regret And like she missed out On her youth
Starting point is 01:05:02 She had a boyfriend From school to her early 20s Was single for a year and then met me. She said she started to regret not having more fun, and she's starting to enjoy attention from other men more and more, especially younger men. So this is just a midlife crisis, but for a woman. When she was telling me originally, she said a couple of times, quote, I'm not planning on doing anything. It's just a fantasy, unless you want me to do something. Wait, you were right. With a nervous laughter. And at the time,
Starting point is 01:05:37 It felt a bit like she wanted to do something, but was trying to frame it as my idea, but I never really clicked properly. I asked her if when she told me, she was expecting me to give her permission. And she said she genuinely thought, because I don't get jealous, I would be okay with it.
Starting point is 01:05:55 I fucking knew it. I still feel like I wasn't being given everything, though. The outfit and the kiss confession felt like distractions, and something was missing. Even telling me about all of this in the first place felt a bit like she was trying to get her story in before someone else told me. I said I'm going for a drive and then I went to the gym to speak to her personal trainer. I approached him and said I'm not here for trouble. I understand my wife has been harassing you.
Starting point is 01:06:25 He wasn't happy being approached this way, which I get, but he asked me who my wife was and when I told him, he's like, there's a few. He said he knew something like this was going to happen. He told me that he hadn't trained her since Christmas as he let her go after she had been sending pictures. Oh, plural. Plural. Plural. Plural. Not just the one she told me about. He said, since then, she had kept messaging, but he ignored her. He let me read the messages, and she had sent 12 pictures over a three-month period. One was fully naked. And when he told her not to, send them, she said she was just showing her progress. The worst part was that she was messaging him stuff like, quote, we've had another argument, could really do with a session to burn off some anger. And, quote, he's out drinking with his friends, again, ignoring me.
Starting point is 01:07:27 I'm so lonely. Neither of which are true. And then she told him mid-December that she had kicked me out and we were divorcing. With the Christmas Day picture, she even said, quote, first Christmas alone. This girl's crazy. And just last week, she messaged him saying I was already seen someone else. I thanked him and asked him to send me them and I went home. When I got home, she was already gone and just wrote me a note saying sorry.
Starting point is 01:08:01 She's at her friend's house and we've been texting a bit the last couple of days and have a marriage counselor booked for next week, but I think it's done. I'm not even that bothered about the pictures or the flirting or the outfit. The lying about me and our marital status. I don't drink, and we haven't argued in years. I'm downstairs entertaining her family while she's sending nudes. She's never sent me one, and telling him she's alone. I'm working all this weekend to try and keep my mind busy. Sorry if I don't reply quick enough, and thank you to everyone who took the time. to read and reply to my last post. I have so many thoughts.
Starting point is 01:08:41 And may I start with, okay, so now it does make sense that she was oversharing so much in the beginning because actually there was so much more? That's why I'm like, for what? Yeah. Why do you feel so guilty if it's just a little crush? Yeah, like, why would you tell him every single, like, thought you've had that, like, hasn't been acted on? But it's because she was overcompensating.
Starting point is 01:09:06 with those details to cover like the bigger details. It was almost like a magician being like, look over here. Look over here. Look over here. Not over here. It's over here. Yep, right here. I feel like, I mean, and then, yeah, him saying like, I wasn't even bothered by the news.
Starting point is 01:09:21 I was like, I guess she's right about him not being a very jealous person. Like, I'm so confused. But like, she was like sexually harassing this guy. Yeah, no, that is horrible. Getting unsolicited nudes from someone. It's just my progress pictures. Especially a client. Like you're trying to keep it so professional.
Starting point is 01:09:39 This is your job. And then now you're getting harassed through your work. And she's like obsessed with him. It's very scary. Yeah, that limerence, that's a new one for me. I think that that comment was very illuminating. Yeah. I was going to say illuminative.
Starting point is 01:09:53 But I was like, there's no way that's. You can make up a word. Illuminating. Yeah. I mean, that's crazy. I just, I don't know how also you would like look at the messages. of your wife sending to someone else, like, unanswered, like, desperate for them and then, like, not feel like they were settling with you or, like, I don't know, it would just be like an ick also?
Starting point is 01:10:22 Yeah. Like, ugh. Like, you are sexually harassing this man and he is not interested in you. Like, this is icky. No. And, like, the thing is with her, this guy kept it really professional. he was not interested but she was actively trying to cheat.
Starting point is 01:10:41 That's the thing. That's the thing. If he would have said yes, she'd been having an affair for months. Yeah. I mean, my friend's boyfriend tried to cheat on her, but the girl he tried to cheat with replied no. And then it's like, well, I didn't cheat, babe.
Starting point is 01:10:54 It's like, yeah, but that's... You tried. You tried. And it's more embarrassing than no one wanted to sleep with you. You're like... So why do I want to now? And her like also bringing up the kiss from 15 years ago. Honestly, I bet it felt good as fuck to finally say that.
Starting point is 01:11:10 Like, Jesus Christ, holding onto that for 15 years. It's interesting because he almost seems like not 100% sure it's over. I know he had that little comment at the end. Like, I'm pretty sure it's over. But sometimes like, sometimes people get pulled back in after like, oh, we've been texting again. I know. We've been talking, especially if he's already not a very jealous person in general. The only thing that bothers him is her lying about him and their marriage, which was crazy, by the way.
Starting point is 01:11:40 He's drunk again with his friends. Like, you're slandering his name. He's already with another woman. Like, the drama of this girl. Also, like, I just can't even imagine this text. Ma'am, first Christmas alone. Yes. Here's my tits.
Starting point is 01:11:59 What? I don't know. Like, it's crazy. The first couple nudes didn't work. You think number 12 on Christmas with a sad caption? Also, I definitely have regrets about like having a boyfriend in college. But like I fully enjoyed my 20s, like my early 20s and dating and getting out there. I'm so thankful for that. But like her coming at this perspective of like I feel like I missed out. It's like well. Yeah. I feel like a lot of people say that though. Like I feel like we hear that a lot. that then? Like, how do you can ban those feelings? If you're married, you have kids, and now you're looking back at your life and you're like, damn, I missed out. Like, why do you feel like you need to resort to like unhealthy habits and cheating? Why can't you be like, hey, I'm going to go on a girls
Starting point is 01:12:46 trip to, I don't know, Vegas or Cancun or wherever you want to go and like have a good girls trip? Why do you have to ruin your life? When I was like 15, 16 years old, I dabbled in some emotional cheating. Okay. And let me just, to be honest about that, because I was very, very insecure at the time and like it just meant so much to me that like someone cared about me in that way. And then I grew up a little bit, stopped feeling insecure, hadn't done that in any relationship after that. And I'm almost wondering if like, if it's this level of like security versus insecurity and it like feeling better at certain points in your life like because you're not feeling your best to then get that outside attention because you don't have as much of it like
Starting point is 01:13:35 internally yeah i don't know like that's just kind of my guess with how this like trends sometimes with like people's aging and stuff yeah but it's just like this is an extreme like i mean you don't have to harass someone like this about it no we do have one final edit from opi thank you all for all of the replies. I really do appreciate it. There's been so many. I just can't keep up. Thank you to the people who have DM'd me as well. I really appreciate it. I've decided to not bother with marriage counseling and just start divorce proceedings this week. Wow. Life really can turn upside in a week. I never thought I'd be single again, but here we are. And I mean, like, you know who's not going to be waiting for her when those divorce papers are signed? The personal trainer.
Starting point is 01:14:24 No, he's going to get a restraining order. Yeah. I mean, that's insane. I know. Like, insane. She really needs to go to therapy and get some help and just. I mean, she, yeah, she isn't fit to be in a relationship or a marriage right now. Like, this is really the best thing for both of them.
Starting point is 01:14:50 I don't think, like what, even if you were to work on. the marriage and like try to stay together, is that feeling she's having going to go away? No. And all of a sudden she's going to be like so fulfilled by this relationship and not want to like cheat on you anymore? No, and someone does point out here like, like, wait, your wife started arguing with you about leaving a personal trainer, but he had already fired her as a client. She was arguing to get to stay just to keep harassing him. She's a troubled person. Please protect yourself. And O.P. replies and says, as soon as she said she'll stop going to him, but still use the gym, it flicked an alarm in my head.
Starting point is 01:15:28 That something wasn't right. And that to me is like, she doesn't even need to talk to him. She just wants to see him from afar. What does that sound like? A stalker. It's very joe from you. She's just giving really mentally unhealthy right now. And I get a midlife crisis. I don't know. Like, I can see how it happens. But like, you had a really seemingly great supportive husband. And you need to now, like, kind of scale back, get some help. Maybe find yourself. Go eat, pray, love. Go, I don't know.
Starting point is 01:16:00 But like, don't sexually harass people that are just trying to do their jobs. Yeah, leave that, Jim. Leave that man alone. Also, like, just a quick aside, the fact that when the husband came, he was like, which wife is yours? I know. And didn't immediately know for sure is kind of crazy, given all the context that we know now. Well, she's probably never been like, this is my husband.
Starting point is 01:16:20 This is a picture of him. This is me and him. Like, I know. But you would hope that. That's the old... Boarding for flight 246 to Toronto is delayed 50 minutes. Ugh, what? Sounds like Ojo time.
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Starting point is 01:17:21 please go to conicsontario.ca. The wife of someone that, like, he would imagine would come to him that way, you know? Honestly, I wonder if that's a job, like, where you deal with a lot of, like, inappropriate behaviors from... I don't know, my trainers have always been inappropriate to me. Yeah. What the hell? What, maybe? I don't know.
Starting point is 01:17:46 Someone let me know. Moving on to this next one. Did we have the siblings but our cousins? No, what was that story we just had? Yes. And like, please don't do another incest story with me. Like, I really like, I hate them. Literally, their mothers were twins.
Starting point is 01:18:05 So this one, I let my step-sister move into my apartment and now she's trying to seduce me. No. Not that one. Why is it every single one's about a girl this episode? I know. We've had a lot of, like, bad women. Am I the asshole for refusing to attend my best friend's engagement party after she uninvited my husband? I'm interested.
Starting point is 01:18:29 Okay. This is coming from AIT-A-H titled, Am I the Asshole for Refusing to Attend My Best Friend's Engagement Party after she uninvited my husband. I, 30 female, never expected my best friend's engagement to end our friendship. But that's what happened. We've been close for years. A few months before her engagement party, she asked me not to bring my baby. I agreed. I understood her reasons.
Starting point is 01:18:57 Then, about a week before the party, she told me not to bring my husband. Her reasoning was that if I came with him, other guests would ask why I was allowed to bring my husband while they weren't. The problem is, some of our male friends were invited. My husband and I have been together for 10 years, were married, and he isn't a certain. stranger to anyone. He's known her for years. We're a friend group. We've spent entire days together, had game nights with mutual friends, and everyone knows us as a couple. I didn't argue or create a scene. I simply told her I wasn't comfortable attending an event celebrating her relationship while being asked to exclude mine. So I didn't go. The reaction was extreme. She accused me of being passive
Starting point is 01:19:43 aggressive, sent long messages listing every good thing she had done for me, and told me to forget she ever existed. She ignored my attempts to discuss it. Later, I learned that other babies had been at the party, despite her rule for mine months earlier. Eventually, she sent a crying voice note saying that she was hurt and that she waited for me to come to her party. I never insulted her. I never insulted her. I didn't retaliate. I just didn't attend the party. I simply stayed home because I refused to exclude my husband. So, am I the asshole? I kind of like, I just, I wish I could hear both sides. Like, why, I don't know. It is weird that she allowed other babies and didn't allow her baby. Yeah, what beef do you have like my baby? Now, why is the baby in it? Like, I don't. Keep my baby's name out of
Starting point is 01:20:43 your mouth. But like, I don't know. I would be interested. I mean, I think the thing is I tend to agree with, like, the person getting married on if there are certain people they don't want at the wedding, like that's sort of, or at like a certain party that's a smaller group of people. Like, that can be really hard. I tend to think like they should be able to do whatever they want. And I think, you know, if that's a friend group, you're probably fine going without your husband. And it is a pretty big statement to like just not go. But I don't know. Like, I don't know. What, like, what the reasoning was about the husband? Like, is there some secret beef? Is there, like, behavior that he does when he's drunk? Like, or is it just a personal vendetta? I'm, I'm confused by it. What do you think? I'm curious.
Starting point is 01:21:29 It doesn't seem like there's any behavior, but, like, you know, it's Reddit. O.P. could be an unreliable narrator. To me, though, given, like, here's all the good things I did for you. But I could. Forget I ever existed. it just seems like such an insane hurt reaction. Like she seems really hurt. And I don't know why my mind goes here.
Starting point is 01:21:54 I don't, dude, I don't know what shows I've been watching heated rivalries about it. You think this is toxic Uri? Or like, I don't know, like tell me lies or like, I don't know. I'm like, is she in love with her friend? And it's like, don't bring your baby because I don't want you to pay attention to your baby. I want you to pay attention to me. And don't bring your husband because you should be paying attention to me because you're my friend and I love you and you love me. So you can't have anyone else. Like you should just be just be focusing on me. Interesting. Morgan, you should write fan fiction. Like maybe. Like honestly, that'd be a great story. And it would I hope that that is what it is. Because like maybe they'll end up together and it'll be great. But I do. But I get that. I think I kind of came to that conclusion because of the voicemail. Like she calls and leaves her a voicemail. Like, I was waiting for you to come to my party.
Starting point is 01:22:46 You told her to forget you ever existed. That almost to me sounds more like manipulation of like trying to make someone feel bad. Oh, it's emotional warfare for sure. But can I also say like there are things like she wrote a list of every good thing she's ever done for me. That's a certain thing where it sounds really bad. But then I could also see from her the other girl's side that she just wrote like, you know, I showed up for your party even though blah, blah, blah. or I did and like we did this and it could have actually been more normal than the way that it was written by a O.P.
Starting point is 01:23:17 Yeah. So that's one of those things where I try to like, I try to think from the other person's perspective of like, is there a way that this could be like turned into more of a negative than it actually was intended to be? But yeah, I'm curious about like, I just wish that they would give us some look into like what the reasons could be and maybe there's no reason because it's because they're in love. My one, like, info question would be info. Is this only a girlfriend's engagement party or is her fiancé and all of his friends going to be there as well?
Starting point is 01:23:52 Right. Because if that's the case, then it's kind of weird. But I understand if it's like, oh, no, this is just like an engagement party for her. And so it's only her girlfriends. Yeah. And then it's like, I can't go anywhere without my husband. Like people have those types of friends too where they're like, damn, can't we just have a girl's You don't bring your boyfriend?
Starting point is 01:24:12 Yeah. I, yeah, my first question would be like, so why could so and so and so and so and so's baby come? But that wasn't like what you were comfortable with for me. What's wrong with my baby? Yeah. What's wrong with my baby? It always comes back to the baby.
Starting point is 01:24:28 Like, what's going on? Like, why isn't the baby invited? So Opie does have an edit on the original post. People seem to think she only invited me and not my husband. That's not true. She invited him from the start. Oh. She discussed the party with us, telling us where, when, and who she was going to invite, and even said, quote, I want you guys to be there, my favorite couple.
Starting point is 01:24:52 Then, a week before the event, she suddenly asked me to uninvite him without even telling him herself. What is the drama? Like, what happens? Like, what's the drama? Did he send her a nude? Did he send her a topless photo saying, first Christmas alone? What happened? What happened?
Starting point is 01:25:08 Top comment on the post. Sometimes relationships don't end. They are just complete. Sorry this happened to you, but this relationship is complete. I actually really like looking at it that way versus like a friendship ended. Like no, no, no. The relationship just finished its cycle. Yeah. No, that is, that is a nice way of looking at it. No, hey, no bad blood. We're just, we're complete. We're good. I just, I would love more context on this. I hate it when they don't tell us like, this happened and maybe it's about this or like, this is the reason they gave or I don't know. I'm so, give me more. I know. Someone comments, an O.P actually responds to it. Someone goes, I'm curious. Were there other single guys around she might think fit better with you? Weird. And O.P. responds, no, that wouldn't be appropriate since I'm married and just had a baby. Yeah, I do think sometimes comments are on something and other times they're projecting a very specific situation that happened to
Starting point is 01:26:12 them. You know what I mean? Someone goes, if other babies were there, were other spouses? Try to understand why you were targeted. I would go nuclear in a friend group that you didn't attend because she excluded both you and your baby and spouse. Have her explain herself to the group. Yeah. O.P. responds, yes, there were other spouses. She just excluded my husband. And like, on its surface, I'm saying that's fucked up, but I'd love to know if there's a reason. Like, you're telling me it's completely out of nowhere? Like, what's, what is the cause? I know. Someone goes, wait, so other babies and other spouses were invited?
Starting point is 01:26:53 Girl, it sounds like she's just jealous of you and where you're at in life if she's choosing to only single your husband and baby out. Oh, move on and never acknowledge her again. It isn't worth it. Not the asshole. I mean, sure, yeah. I think you could end any situation that you have negatively with someone by saying, you know what? I think they're just jealous of me. I mean, a lot of cases, like, today, it's been quite true in a few of our stories today. Yeah, yeah, actually. But, yeah, there's been a lot of jealousy. Update. What? Okay, I want, I need to know more. I need to know more. Tell me that I'll know more. I have no idea what we're about to encounter. Okay. A lot has happened since my original post. So this is a real update rather than,
Starting point is 01:27:36 than a clarification. After taking some space, I reached out to address the situation directly. I explained my perspective and the reason behind my decision, particularly being put in a position where I was expected to attend an event while my husband was deliberately excluded. My intention was to be clear and honest, not confrontational. The conversation made it clear that there was no willingness to acknowledge how her actions affected me or to take responsibility for the situation. At that point, I chose to block her and cut contact completely. It was not an impulsive decision or done out of anger. It was a boundary. What happened next is what truly solidified my choice. I found out that within our shared friend group, a very different narrative
Starting point is 01:28:25 had been circulating. Several people believed I did not want to attend because I was jealous, which felt both inaccurate and insulting. My decision had nothing to do with envy and everything to do with principle and self-respect. Because of that, I explained the situation clearly to our friend group, so there would be no confusion. I was not trying to turn anyone against her. I simply refused to let a false narrative to find my actions. With some distance, I can now see that this friendship had unhealthy patterns long before this incident, including emotional pressure and a lack of respect for boundaries. The situation was not the cause of the breakdown.
Starting point is 01:29:09 It was the breaking point. I have accepted that this friendship is over. I stood by my partner. I protected my family. And I chose to walk away rather than continue a dynamic. that no longer felt healthy or respectful. Thank you to everyone who offered perspective on my original post. The feedback helped me understand that choosing distance is not cruelty.
Starting point is 01:29:31 It is self-respect. Okay. All right. A little dramatic. I protected my family. Okay. You come from my baby. We're done.
Starting point is 01:29:42 Right. Okay. I get it. I'd be pissed. Yeah, no. And it's weird that she's now going around being like, she's jealous of me. I know I also just so funny like off the back of the Reddit comments is like they're telling her she's jealous of her now in this one they're like she's jealous of her who's jealous to who are they just jealous of each other because they're in love kiss each other already I'm on board I'm on board I'm on board unhealthy emotional boundaries yeah or whatever got said like yep sounds like a very intense homoerotic friendship to me I don't know why I came to that but it's still I'm like I'm like like, yeah, I don't know. I just like, I'm confused. I'm confused that like the friend's way of
Starting point is 01:30:28 excusing it was just saying she was jealous of her instead of like saying, oh, I didn't want her husband there because he's X, Y, Z or he's creepy. Or, oh, we hit capacity. I don't know. It's just like confusing to me. It feels like there was something that happened between them. I honestly feel like this is just a situation where the one girl who's now engaged and about to be married is just kind of competing with her friend. And even if it's like a one-sided competition, like have you, I don't know, I've had a friendship where I felt like I was just trying to be a good friend and be her friend and I loved her. And like I looked at her like a sister. But we had like a big fight and she was like, I feel like you're always competing with me. And I was like, I'm not competing with you at all. Like,
Starting point is 01:31:16 were friends. And hearing that, it felt like a projection. It felt like she always had to compete with me. And I didn't get it. Like, I didn't understand it. And so I feel like that's this. Like, it feels like they're almost frenemies. Yeah. I had, I didn't have like this. I had like friends in college like makeup, mean, embarrassing things about me to the guys they were dating. But it never bothered me because I was like, if you, that's so weird. Because I was like, because I was, I was, like if you want that man to see me as less like desirable, that's your provocative girl. But that's weird. I know.
Starting point is 01:31:55 In hindsight, I'm like, all right. It probably wasn't good. But I just, you don't want to cheat on me with my friend Michaela because she's, she's disgusting. And like, what? What? Dude. I was like, I don't really care what he thinks about me. So if that's what they got to do to keep.
Starting point is 01:32:15 Send, can some. Oh, my God. can't talk. I'm so flustered. Can some psychologists chime in? Like, how do you make sure that you just raise, like, strong, secure kids? Like, how do you, like, you know what I mean? Because, like, being insecure sucks.
Starting point is 01:32:30 Like, how do we raise... I just feel like it's so unavoidable, like, at least in certain parts of your life. With media, especially, you're constantly comparing. You're pit against each other. And, like, why? I don't... I just want to be friends with everyone. And hopefully that's not, like, a lifelong thing for most people and it's just like, you know, a teenage thing or like a this
Starting point is 01:32:52 phase of your life thing. But oh my God, like, I don't know. And, you know, we've said this before weddings really do bring out like these extreme versions of emotions towards people, I think, whether that's like, I mean, I think competing would be probably like the biggest one that it would like really magnify. It's just hard to know. when it's like, it doesn't feel finished. It doesn't feel like, oh, we had this falling out and that's why she feels this way. Or this thing happened between us and things have been awkward since then. It's just confusing.
Starting point is 01:33:30 It's like all of a sudden like she's the one who she doesn't want her husband and baby there. Like a week before the wedding when seemingly all the way up until the wedding it was fine and she was talking about it to them. Well, engagement party. But yeah, like why now? Yeah. I don't know. Like she was happily. ring clarity and now she's like, I really want you to love me, choose me, pick me. Right, we have
Starting point is 01:33:52 to go back to that. I don't know other, I literally don't understand another reason. I don't know. No, it doesn't make sense. And even just her response where she's like, yeah, she didn't come because she's jealous of me. Why would she be jealous of you? She has everything seemingly that, yeah, like she's got her marriage. She's got a baby. Like, what do you have that she would want? Surely it's so much easier to just say we were at capacity. And I couldn't extend that. invite to her husband, unfortunately. But no, she did invite. Yeah, anyway.
Starting point is 01:34:21 I kind of want a friendship like that. What is wrong with you? No. And then like at the end, and then like at the end we fall in love. Oh, well. I was like, oh, that's why we've like, that's why we've always had this. Have you watched Teeter rivalry yet? No.
Starting point is 01:34:38 We're done. I'm sorry. I've been playing video games. Get off the games. I'm sorry. Episode one, two night. Remember how long I talked to you about. watching K-pop demon hunters and it took you
Starting point is 01:34:48 forever and then you watched and you were like I loved it but I'm not not watching it because I like I know that I'm gonna love it Have you seen Yuri on Ice? That's also gay figure skaters And it's been around much longer And it's great What can I watch it on?
Starting point is 01:35:06 Crunchyroll Don't know what that is Anime Streaming service Okay, yeah you watch heat rivalries And I'll give Yuri a chance There we go. Okay, moving along.
Starting point is 01:35:19 We got one last one for us here. Give me something. Give me something fucked up. Give me something disgusting. I'm just kidding. Don't do that. Give me something messy. Boyfriend says my cooking proves I'm not a gold digger.
Starting point is 01:35:34 Oh. Well, that's specific. We have that. What does that mean? Am I the asshole for refusing to promise my best friend? 100% that I won't sleep with a mutual friend? Oh, well, I kind of like both of those. I'm kind of interesting.
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Starting point is 01:36:46 They'll have to happen. So whatever you think is going to happen in the future, you can invest in it at WealthSimple. Start now at WealthSimple.com. A coin? We haven't brought out the coin flip in a while. Okay, what do you want Heads to be? Heads, gold digger, and tails sleeping with Mutual. Dun-da-da-da-da-da-ton.
Starting point is 01:37:08 Heads. I kind of want the other one. That's how you know. But I initially was really interested in the gold digging one, but I think I need to know about not so. They'll still get it. Yeah. Eventually. Okay.
Starting point is 01:37:23 So here we go. This is coming from Am I the Asshole. Again, it's titled, Am I the Asshole for refusing to promise my best friend 100% that I wouldn't sleep with a mutual friend? I'm on her side. Like, what if they have an amazing sexual tension? I, 30 female. have a best friend, 29 female, of 13 years. She is in a long-term committed relationship, seven-plus years, and lives with her partner.
Starting point is 01:37:55 We also share a mutual friend, Aaron, 30 male. About eight years ago, my friend and Aaron had a brief situationhip. Oh, different. This is what I thought. Okay. They slept together once and then tried to date very briefly long distance, but it ended because he did not want to pursue anything further. She was upset at the time and it never became a mutual relationship. After that, they stayed friendly for a while, then lost touch for several years and reconnected as friends about a year ago.
Starting point is 01:38:26 There has been nothing romantic between them since. Recently, Aaron broke up with his long-term girlfriend. Before that happened, my friend and I had already planned a trip to visit him together, which we have done before. This time we were planning to stay at his place instead of a hotel. After his breakup, my friend started making comments like, quote, ha ha, just please don't sleep with each other. It was framed as a joke, but it was clear that she was anxious.
Starting point is 01:38:56 I asked her directly if something was bothering her. I told her two things clearly. One, I was not planning to sleep with him. And two, I was not comfortable promising 100, 100% that I would not because I do not like my potential or hypothetical relationships being policed, and I did not feel okay making absolute promises about future situations just to manage someone else's anxiety. I was not trying to be evasive. I was trying to be honest, while also setting a boundary. The next day, I reiterated that I was still not planning to sleep with
Starting point is 01:39:34 him. Her response was essentially that she was canceling the trip. She said, she was canceling because of the uncertainty, and it made her anxious and she needed to take care of herself. From my perspective, this felt like my word was not trusted unless I gave a 100% guarantee, and when I did not, the entire plan was shut down. I understand that anxiety is real, but it also feels unfair to expect me to give up autonomy or make absolute promises about hypothetical scenarios, especially when nothing inappropriate had happened, and the history in question was many years ago. She did not clearly say what she expected me to do differently.
Starting point is 01:40:15 She canceled the trip without further discussion. I feel like I was honest, respectful, and that my boundary was reasonable. Am I the asshole for refusing to promise 100% that I wouldn't sleep with him? Even though I said I wasn't planning to? I don't know if this is going to be a hot take. I am not on O.P. side. First of all, like, it made me feel like she didn't trust my word. word. You just said the whole thing is that you wouldn't give your word that you wouldn't. And I feel like I got a
Starting point is 01:40:44 little whiplash there. I also just have to say like if you don't have any feelings for this person and like, this is your friend of 13 years and they have a history and sure it was a long time ago, I don't think you can police how they feel about someone that they actually have history with and just like not sleep with this guy. And honestly, if someone to me was like, well, I'm not planning on it, but no promises. Like that sounds like you want to. Yeah. I don't know. I'm not saying it's like the end of the world to like sleep with someone. I don't know. I wouldn't. I wouldn't hook up with someone that has had a previous relationship with one of my friends personally. I think it causes like a negative dynamic between you and that friend. I like, I had this happen with one of my close friends. I'd like not even had a relationship with the guy, but like had been talking to him for a while. Many years later she started seeing him. And during the time she was. seeing him, she was very weird to me. Like, she acted very different to me during that time. And, like, just knowing how it can affect a friendship. I'm like, I don't think it's worth it to just,
Starting point is 01:41:48 like, sleep with a guy and, like, put this dress on it, you know? Like, she feels strongly about this. Whether you think it's reasonable or logical or not, that's your friend. And I would just not do it. Yeah. I just promise. I'm, well, I'm usually in the boat of, like, you shouldn't sleep with your friend's exes. Yeah. And it seems like O.P. is kind of trying to brush this off as, like, oh, well, it never became a mutual relationship. But that doesn't change her feelings. No, and they did have a situation ship. Yeah. They tried to date very briefly, long distance. Those are O.P.'s words. So they did try to do something. And I think a lot of times women are just like people get put into a box and like especially with situationships, right? Like I'm thinking about
Starting point is 01:42:30 myself and like, I was in love with this guy. Loved him. If you would have asked me to be his girlfriend, I would have been like, yep, yep, down, down. Yeah. But it was just. a situation ship. And we slept together and like we never officially dated. Absolutely. But my head was in it. Yeah. And so even though it's been, you know, a couple years, I can imagine being like, oh, well, he wants to date my friend now. Like, why wasn't I enough? Like, yeah. And I don't, I don't know if I would think that way now because it would still be weird. It would still be weird. Like, regardless of how I feel now, it's just like there's so many people out there. Why do you have to go after like my ex.
Starting point is 01:43:11 Especially when she's visibly uncomfortable about it. And I do think O.P. is kind of like shading her friend a few times throughout the way she's writing this. Like, oh, and she wanted more, but he didn't. And he ended it. And like, I don't know. I'm just like, okay, clearly for her this was like a, she didn't want it to end. This is very emotionally divisive for her.
Starting point is 01:43:30 She's got maybe some of like insecurities caught up in this again. Maybe like feelings caught up in this, whatever it is. Like, just leave it alone. You don't have a history with this guy. You have no reason or need to push it. And also... You don't even know if he's interested in you. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:43:47 You don't even know if you like him in that way, unless you know you like him in that way. Right. And you want something to happen. That's why you won't promise. I don't know. It is weird. Like, I think it is interesting.
Starting point is 01:43:58 Like, she has a long-term committed relationship seven years. Right. And is still kind of feeling this way? Like, to me, I'd be like, is there something that your relationship? is lacking or is this just a normal feeling? It's just like, hey, please don't eat where I shit. Yeah. It's just like, can we not? Like, there's other people out there. But even then, that's like her business with her partner, not really with her friend who she's telling. Like, this will upset me. Yeah. And I think Opie's being dramatic to be like she's trying to take my autonomy away. And like,
Starting point is 01:44:28 I just don't. She's just asking, please don't sleep with this guy I really liked and tried to have a relationship with. Yeah. And I think that's a very respectful conversation for her to have. Like, Especially before the trip. They weren't on the trip. Like, it's before the trip. And now she's like, it doesn't even seem like O.P. Is that close with Aaron? It really does seem like the friend is close with Aaron.
Starting point is 01:44:51 Yeah. And it's kind of facilitated through the friend. Mm-hmm. Because otherwise, O.P., you could just go visit Aaron still, even if the trip was canceled. Totally. And if the friend does have these, like, unresolved feelings for Aaron and is now Aaron single and is kind of wanting for something to happen with him. Again, like, that's her business with her partner. It's really, like, not up to you to be like, well, she's dating someone. Like, you're the friend in this
Starting point is 01:45:18 situation. Yeah. You can, like, try to get her to talk about it and, like, see how she feels and be like, is there something more to this? But I don't know. I'm sure there are people out there listening who are like, this is a dramatic response. This happened so long ago. You should be able to sleep with this. It shouldn't matter if you've moved on. I just don't think it matters. I just don't think it matters. matters enough to like put the dynamic of my 13 year friendship at risk just to sleep with someone. And that's the thing. And like my dad would have a very different take. Like if you listen to my dad's show, father knows something. He's like, eh, who cares? You're done. It didn't work out for you. Why should you stop your friend from being happy? And I've had to like ask myself this because it's come up so
Starting point is 01:45:56 much on his show. But like I'm married. I've been with Justin's seven years. I'm happy. I'm healed from all of the situationships. And it's not that I'm not healed or like, jealous or I'm not any of like anything. I don't have any feelings towards those people. Like the one person like I'm good friends with. We chat. We connect. Like me and Justin ran in him at the airport and we said hi. I saw his fiance. Like we're good. But I still wouldn't want my friends to date anyone that like I've previously dated because it's like I also don't want to be around them all the time. Yeah. You're my best friend. Yeah. And then I have to see him all the time again. No. If one of my friends now slept with one of my exes, I would just be so confused and uncomfortable
Starting point is 01:46:41 about it. And it's like, you only... Or am I weird. I don't know. I don't think it's weird to feel that. Like, I don't think that that's indicative of any, like, deeper feelings about anything. I think it's just like that there is just like a line being, like, it's like things touch, like foods touching like should be touching. And also, like, I think it's a different situation. And also, like, I think it's a different situation if you all went to high school together and have all known each other and he dated this person at one point and then dated someone else at another point or whatever that might be like if you've all met at the same time. But if you're only like knowing of someone through them having something with your friend, like there's no preexisting relationship that you can look back to and be like,
Starting point is 01:47:23 well, I also kind of had feelings at this time. And even though you did, that didn't stop me. You know, it can get more complicated in other situations, I think, when there's high school or college or that kind of overlap involved. But in sort of adult relationships and situationships and whatever that might be, you really only know of that person through your friend. There's no time that you would have been developing your own feelings before knowing that they slept together. That's true.
Starting point is 01:47:52 We do get a lot more contacts from OPE. No way. Oh my God. O.P. is just dishing it out. Okay. Let's see if O.P. can swing me to her side. Clarification. One, this was not limited to this specific trip. My friend told me she did not want me to hook up with Aaron at all,
Starting point is 01:48:11 not now, and not in the future. And she also said she'd be uncomfortable with me having any kind of romantic relationship with him, not just sex. Two, many people asked why I couldn't just say, sure, no problem, I won't do it. Yeah. The reason is that this was not framed as a one-time reassurance about the trip, but as a blanket expectation about my relationships going forward.
Starting point is 01:48:32 I was being asked to promise that I would not pursue anything with Aaron at all indefinitely. My response, I'm not planning to, but I'm not comfortable with my relationships being policed, was intentional. There is prior context where my friend has tried to restrict my relationships based on her feelings, even when nothing was actively happening, which is why agreeing to a blanket promise felt important to push back on. That sounds like OP has slept with her exes before. In one case during university, I would, was starting to talk to a guy we both knew. She asked me not to pursue anything because she wanted to keep him, quote, as an option. I agreed and stepped back. She later started dating him about two
Starting point is 01:49:15 years after that, and they are still together. In another case, she stopped speaking to me for about two months over a guy she had liked years earlier in school, even though nothing had happened between them, and I explicitly asked if she wanted me to stay away. I was told, do whatever you want, and then ignored. After over a week of no communication, I eventually dated him. That relationship later became my long-term relationship and engagement. Because of this history, I do not feel comfortable agreeing to a pre-promise that would restrict my relationships in general, even though I was clear that I was not planning to pursue anything. Three, my friend's partner is aware that she and Aaron had a brief situation ship many years ago. He is under the impression that this is
Starting point is 01:50:02 long over and not an issue. Because of that, he has been okay with her staying in touch with Aaron and us traveling to his city. These visits have never involved the two of them alone. Every time she visited Aaron, I was also there, except for one occasion when his girlfriend was present the entire time. There has been no one-on-one time between them since they reconnected. This is why the request for a 100% promise felt like an escalation rather than a simple reassurance. Someone goes deep diving again, and O.P's commenting everywhere. And they go, you were dating her high school crush, which you did not discuss beforehand and led to a two-month break. Doesn't sound like a very considerate friend to me. O.P. responds, her crush from the eighth grade while on the third year of uni. So it was her crush from
Starting point is 01:50:51 eighth grade and they were already juniors in college. Okay. And I did proactively come to her after he showed interest, and I noticed that she might have a problem with it. I asked her to talk to me and went as far as promising I won't date him if she tells me to, which, by the way, right now, I won't do. That was crazy considering the timeline, the level of the relationship, or albeit its absence. But she was upset about the fact he liked me overall and said, do whatever you want, which was followed up by weeks of silence. I'm sorry, but again, at that point I was convinced that the friendship is over, and only then did I go out with him. And again, I would understand if it It was a one-off, but it's a pattern that repeats itself.
Starting point is 01:51:30 This didn't swing me over to O.P.'s side. I'm still, I think, okay, so the friend is overreacting if it were a one-off, but even O.P. herself is listing three instances where she's been the one doing this to her friend. So, like, I understand why she's like, please just don't sleep with him. It'll make me feel weird. Like, you've done it twice. I'm kind of swayed. Okay, good. Let's disagree. Okay, here's my thoughts. So, O.P. responds to another comment here. Someone asked, like, has O.P., have you slept with other guys besides your ex? Who was the guy from high school, started dating junior year. O.P. goes, no, I've only slept with my ex in our long-term relationship. So it's like, O.P. is not even sleeping around. Op. is not even really into casual hookups. It seems like this girl is just like trying to dibs everyone that's. hot, keep her options open. And if guys like her friends and don't find her to be the hottest,
Starting point is 01:52:31 most attractive, desirable one, she then has a problem with it. But she's dibsing this guy that she's already slept with and had a relationship with. That, I think Aaron, Aaron's like in a box over here. Like, Aaron, I get, like, she's just asking you're not to sleep with him. But I think it comes down to like, overall the policing of like other guys. I mean, I think the thing with like her having a crush on him in eighth grade. I think it probably started in eighth grade. I think she probably had a crush on him for a while. You can't have a crush on everyone. No, I know. You don't get to dibs everyone. But then the ones that I do have a crush on, you've dated too. Like, that's crazy. But literally the guy that O.P. was like, I like, I like this guy. The friend was like, oh, well, can you not date him because I want to keep him as an
Starting point is 01:53:18 option? Because I think the-year dates him. But that's from O.P.'s perspective, which is why I think that like the friend had already been like talking to that guy. I don't know. Like that one, it does sound suss from O.P.'s perspective. But I'm also just like, I think that that was a situation where she was talking to that guy and then was like, can you not? And because she actually did date him. So I don't know. I think, I think maybe we can get more in the weeds about the earlier two situations. But I just like don't, I don't see the issue with story number three or like, I guess the original one. Like story three in their timeline, I guess it would be.
Starting point is 01:53:58 Because like, I don't think she's... I don't think these two should be friends. I mean, maybe that. Again, they're competing with each other. It's just like... It's a 13-year friendship, though. I do... That's true.
Starting point is 01:54:08 If you've known someone like through middle school, through high school, through college, through adult years, like, this is bound to happen, I feel. Like, because middle school and high school are such small, like, you have out with the same people if you're friends. I don't think... That's true. I don't think I ever had the same, like, I don't think anyone I was friends with I've had a crush on anyone I dated or, like, I had a crush on any of my friends' partners or ex-partners. But again, I'm just like, from this perspective of, like, knowing how weird it can make the dynamic between friends, I just, again, don't think it's worth it. And I don't
Starting point is 01:54:45 think she's asking to police your relationships. I think she's asking about this specific one. And this happens what like once every four years? Aw, but it's still, I don't know. I don't know. We do get an update. Okay. I just want to say like it is really, really, really nice when you and like some of your best friends have totally different taste in like what you're looking for. Totally.
Starting point is 01:55:10 Let me tell you. I have very unique. We are like the best little wing girls when we were going out and like dating because like two very different tastes. Yeah, that's awesome. It's nice. I can't imagine this competition and like my friend being like dibs. Dibs. No, this does sort of seem like an ill-fated.
Starting point is 01:55:28 But they're dibs on people in the sense of like she had a crush on the guy. And she didn't. They're juniors in college. They still remained friends. She just like didn't talk to her for a few weeks because she was upset about it. Stonewalling, very unhealthy communication style. Sure. But that's not really the same as stonewalling.
Starting point is 01:55:46 Like I do feel like that was just a re-at, like a sad. reaction to it and they did date. Like she was allowed to date him and they remained friends. I don't know. Let's see what we have in store for these updates. Yeah, I'm interested. Update. We talked again. She said she panicked because she interpreted our previous conversation as me preparing the ground. I would too. To hook up with him and reacted to that fear rather than anything that had actually happened. She framed it as a misunderstanding. What's important for context is that by that point, I had already said multiple times that I'm not planning to sleep with him. I reiterated this again very clearly during that conversation.
Starting point is 01:56:27 Nothing has happened. I'm not being sneaky, and this was never something I was actively pursuing. After that, the trip was back on. So she's not that crazy! That said, I'm still left feeling pretty uncomfortable about how this played out. Not because I want him, but because I don't understand why I had to repeatedly convince someone that nothing will ever happen when there was not. concrete grounds to suspect that it would, other than the fact that we are both single now.
Starting point is 01:56:54 I am also still not okay with my relationships being policed in principle. This is not about this specific person. It is about the expectation that I should provide guarantees or reassurance indefinitely to manage someone else's anxiety, which I do not think is normal or healthy between adults. We agreed to put the broader conversation about boundaries and control on hold for now and deal with it later. The trip is back on. because many people asked I'm not planning to go to her partner about it at this point. Nothing concrete has happened.
Starting point is 01:57:24 And while I have my own thoughts about why she reacted the way she did, those are still subjective interpretations. I do not think it is my place to escalate things or put ideas in his head when no clear lines have been crossed. My plan is to see how things actually play out this weekend. And then, afterwards, have an honest conversation with her as a friend about why this situation affected her so strongly. especially given that their history was eight years ago and she is in a committed relationship now. Wish us all luck. I will update everyone after this weekend. I don't like her. I don't like her. I think she's mean. I really kind of like I get it. I don't. Like her the way that she like words everything. And I think part of this is me just trying to be more suspicious of OP and like the person writing in in general because it's like all we get is their perspective.
Starting point is 01:58:15 and I think that that already gives bias in their favor. So if there's something like a little bit off in what they're saying, like I'm going to jump on it more, I think. And I'm the opposite. I'm like, this is all we have. Like you can kind of, you can kind of be like, maybe an unreliable narrator. But like for me, I'm like, I believe her.
Starting point is 01:58:35 Her, I mean, I believe that the situation is what she's saying. I just don't think she's really right in this situation. Like, I think her saying that she had no reason to believe I wouldn't. It's probably because you just kept not saying you wouldn't. I understand, though. But like she is saying, like, I don't have plans on sleeping with him, girl. That to me sounds like you want to, though, like, setting the stage. Like, I would also take it that way.
Starting point is 01:59:00 That's how it read in my mind when I was hearing it. And I think for her, she's just like, I'm tired of being told what to do. Like, I think based on that, like, we are going to have a conversation. It sounds like there's other things. Like, we agreed to put the broader conversation about boundaries and control on hold for now. That's because she's calling this control. She's saying she's controlling her by saying don't sleep with my ex.
Starting point is 01:59:22 So I'm wondering if there's other instances that are going into this. I don't know why I feel so strongly about this. I'm like I need to take it down a flight. I need to take it down. Because it does seem like it seems like our writer is very triggered by this request of like, hey, please don't sleep with this guy that I had a situation ship with. Which I think is, I think it's. I think it's fair, but it seems like O.P. is, like, responding based on her triggers and it's like, I'm not planning on sleeping with him, but I also don't want to be controlled.
Starting point is 01:59:54 Yeah. It seems like they're just... It's like, I don't think that is controlling. I think that's a very normal request for a friend to make of another friend. And honestly, I don't think it should even have to be a request. It shouldn't, but like, it's nice that it got set up front. It's fine for O.P. to be like, yeah, I'm not planning on sleep with him, but like... But I'm not going to promise I won't. Like, how would you take that? I'm not planning on. it, but I'm not going to promise I won't. I, you know, it's, they're two adults. I, I do think it's kind of interesting. She even said it based on having a seven-year-long relationship. Yeah. I go back and forth on this one. Like, I'm honestly really, really torn.
Starting point is 02:00:30 And there's one final update. We'll see if it lands us anywhere else. That would shock me if I, if I switch sides. Final update, which is coming 11 days from that last post I just read. The weekend ended up going. really well. Nothing happened between me and Aaron. There were no weird vibes, no tension, and honestly, everything felt very normal and relaxed. I also didn't sense any lingering or inappropriate energy from my friend towards him during the trip. After we got back, my friend and I talked again.
Starting point is 02:01:02 She clarified that she would probably be okay if we were ever aiming at something serious, but what she was afraid of was us sleeping together casually and then creating awkwardness or damaging the group dynamic. I still feel like this was a bit of backtracking compared to how things were framed before the weekend. But at this point, I'm choosing not to dig further into that. In the end, I actually got what I needed from the situation. While we are both going through breakups, it isn't just about that. I realized we're quite similar as people and talking to him felt easy and natural. It made me see that there's a potential for genuine friendship there. As a bonus, he helped me set up a Tinder profile, and I already have a few
Starting point is 02:01:41 dates lined up, so that part worked out pretty well. One surprising detail was that my my friend's boyfriend was aware of the whole situation and fully on her side, which honestly confused me a bit. I still have questions about that dynamic, but I'm not planning to get into that further. Sorry for the less than underwhelming update, and my apologies to everyone who was rooting for me to sleep with him. I am going to throw down on these comments. I'm going to find this Reddit post. I'm just like, I don't think it's crazy at all that the boyfriend was okay with it. I think this is a normal way to feel without having feelings for your ex. I think it's very normal to be like I think so. I don't want one like maybe my best friend or any of my friends, but especially not my best friend,
Starting point is 02:02:28 to sleep with my ex. Again, if one of my friends were to start seeing one of my exes, like they met somewhere and they really had feelings for each other and I was like, okay, I need to find a way to be okay with it. I guess that is different. I wouldn't want it to happen though. And I would, You know, if I had a chance I would request for it to not happen and be like, this is going to make me feel weird. But, you know, if you're in love with this person, I'm not with him anymore. I'll find a way to be okay with it. I don't think it was weird for the boyfriend to be okay with it. I don't think it was ever like sneaky or suspicious for her to feel that way.
Starting point is 02:03:02 I think it's... It could have been. I'm curious what she's telling the boyfriend. Like, I think there's, again, you kind of question, like, the boyfriend and the t-shirt story. Like, he didn't even tell the girlfriend what t-shirt he was wearing. But what other way could she, it's such a simple thing. Like, I just don't want her to sleep with him. I feel like that'd be weird. I mean, if I told Justin, oh, I have this ex and like someone's starting to date him, I just find it weird. Like, he would be on my side. Yeah. But I don't know. This whole story, I'm just like, I actually kind of am back on board for their friendship. Can I say the last. I have a whiplash. I'm just over it. I like, I don't care about them. I think they are, they deserve. They all deserve each other. They should just have a threesome.
Starting point is 02:03:50 Fuck it. The last story, the last update I was sort of like, okay, so everything's fine. They were just sort of having like a brief friendship. Like the trip was back on after like one conversation. They went. They had a great time. Everything's fine. People crash out over less.
Starting point is 02:04:03 I know. That's what it's like. People crash out over like nothing, especially, I don't know. I feel like these days everyone's like emotionally heightened and rightfully so. So I mean, maybe maybe they do have to have a bigger conversation of like I do have securities with you and people that I have feelings for. And it made me feel weird 10 years ago when it happened and I don't want it to happen again. It's like a fear of mine. Like maybe they just need to have a conversation about this clearly like preexisting fear or insecurity with each other.
Starting point is 02:04:34 But I think at a certain point though, you need to also grow up. Like if you're upset that your friend, like you're in college and some boy you had a crush on in middle school and your friend start dating. Like, I think at a certain point, you do have to grow up. Absolutely. But I think it adds on to like, now it's someone that I had like an actual thing with and I'm scared of it, scared of history preying itself in like in a bigger way. Yeah. I don't know because I go back and forth because the friend is in a seven year long relationship with someone that OP had a crush on initially and was close with and wanted to start dating. But it sounded like they just both had a crush on him as opposed to like there being pre-existing history. And why did it take her two years?
Starting point is 02:05:15 to get around. Because she was fucking Aaron. She was busy with Aaron. But she wanted to keep that guy as an option. I don't know. The timelines are really confusing to me. They're both competing with each other. And it's just like, God, just develop different tastes than your friend.
Starting point is 02:05:32 Or just like, expand your circle. Very ill-fated the way they have the exact same taste in men. Like, go meet other people outside of your friend group. And like, oh, just come. on. Like there's, you don't have to compete with friends. You don't have to. Go, she's on Tinder now. Things are going to happen. She's got dates lined up. We're good. Yeah. We're good here. Both of them are, I think, soon going to be in long-term relationships with no chance of overlap. And they're never going to have a problem again. I think they're great friends. I think
Starting point is 02:06:09 I think these are kind of small disagreements in the grand scheme of it. Like, it seems to like these things like haven't lasted that long. Like three weeks, they had an issue 10 years ago and then like this lasted what like one week, you know, and you've been friends for 13 years. You're fine. Well, there's a stat that's like if you've been friends with someone for seven years, you're likely to be friends with them the rest of your life or something like that. You have to get through like friendship breaking events. I think it's the same with romantic relationships. Like just because there are issues, like you kind of have to face. issues and like work past them for long lasting relationships. Now that doesn't mean if someone's like
Starting point is 02:06:50 constantly awful to you that that's the same thing. No, but I mean every relationship, romantic, friend, whatever, you do need to go through some tiffs. You do need to like have hard conversations and disagreements to then further the strength of your communication and trust and love and whatever. Like fighting is not inherently bad. It's how you fight. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And get a colonoscopy. Get your colonoscopy. I'm pretty sure colon cancer awareness is in May. March, actually, my birthday month.
Starting point is 02:07:26 Colon cancer awareness is in March. So we're just getting a jump on it early. But eat your freaking fiber, my friends. Like, I just saw this new thing that it literally just, I think, came out today or yesterday. Colon cancer is like the leading cancer cause of death or something. Oh, wow. And it's most common in those under 50. But of course, the colonoscopy recommendation isn't until 45, which by that point can be too late to catch it.
Starting point is 02:07:55 And this is where we need to like really put pressure on insurance companies. So just like make sure you're looking out for yourself, knowing the symptoms of colon cancer advocating for yourself. Like unfortunately, health care in America and some other places, like it is about advocating. for yourself. Anywhere as bad as America is crazy. I don't even know. I don't know a lot about other health care systems. I had a lot of Canadians come to my hospital in Palm Springs to get their knees and hips replaced, but I don't know. I would take free versus 40K out of pocket, but it couldn't be time consuming. You could live through pain. I don't know their health care system. God, I mean, the difference between like paying out right to get a colonoscopy versus not paying
Starting point is 02:08:40 and then you just didn't get checked and now you don't know. You know. I think, everyone needs to really keep an eye on that. And I know a lot of people are scared about doing the colonoscopy. There are other methods out there where you can just poop in a box. And if that's the only thing you're willing to do, please do it. But also be aware that everything can have false positives and false negatives. So look after yourself. Okay, friends. We need you here. We need you're here. We're here for a good time and a long time, I hope. Why can't we have it all? Why can't we have our cake and eat it too? But thank you. See you over on Patreon if you want any more content. We had three really good episodes for January. True. February is going to be
Starting point is 02:09:28 rocking too. I loved our Patreon episode. So good. So good. The comments on it have been amazing. Oh, I need to go look. Amazing. I have to subscribe. No, I'll give you a moderator thing. Okay. Bye friends. Until next time.

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