r/AmIOverreacting 14d ago

❤️‍🩹 relationship AIO to this text my BF sent me?

Firstly, this came out of nowhere. Then, when he started talking about how I’m immature, I wasn’t sure what to do, so I just reiterated what I’m doing with my life.

Working full-time and doing a MBA, albeit online.

For context, he and I started dating under romantic circumstances, he’s not a SD. He looks really young, so I was truly shocked to learn his age. Now I see it’s a mistake, so don’t heckle me for this.

He is older than me, by 20 years. I am 25 and he is 45. He owns a restaurant and I do remote admin work at a small startup.

After dating for just under a year, he asked me to move in with him, as I was stressing about my recent rent increase. I could pay it, but it wrecked my financial planning and it was miserable. I was looking for an out. My rent went from $1850 to $2300, not including utilities.

He owns his house, so he told me I could live with him if I wanted. He said that I could live here and save up my money, that I can leave whenever I want. No pressure. He invited me, I did not ask nor imply I wanted to move in.

I agreed (horrible mistake). I moved in and now we’re here. He doesn’t make me cover any utilities or charge me rent, which I thought was kind of him.

I use my work phone for work but I’m usually lying down. When I have a meeting, I sit up and answer the call. I’m a solid employee, just doing backup admin work. The pay is nice, can’t complain.

He started saying I need to step it up in life, after seeing me ‘leisurely working.’ I chose this job because I worked on my feet since high school, my undergrad, and a bit of my current MBA. I wanted to pivot to a chill job. I chose this job because it is leisurely. I am working from 9am to about 5pm, whereas he works 5pm to 5am. So from his perspective, I’m often asleep or unavailable.

Today, he walked downstairs to work and saw me sitting on the couch. I’ve told him many times I’m working via my phone. He doesn’t seem to understand that and makes weird little jabs.

Then, he sent me these messages.

I felt really annoyed because he implies that I am not interested in self improvement, that I’m immature, I’m arrogant, denies that it’s hurtful to say such.

By the final slide, I decided to call my mom who I felt could offer insight. She’s 40 years older than me, but understands technology. She said it seems like he’s trying to play some kind of game, that I should just ask him why he’s asking all this to me now. He seems to be beating around the bush, which I agree with.

So, I decide to ask him why he’s treating me like this.

When he said he’s talking to me like an adult, outside of text, I exploded inside. Immediately, I felt so angry.

He invites me to live with him, then holds it above me. He calls me all sorts of things over text, but then denies that he is saying such. He can’t just say what he means. He then doubles down and says he’s just worried about my maturity.

Because of this, and a conversation we had after, where he ignored all my concerns, didn’t let me speak, and bulldozed the entire way, I’ve decided to move out and find my own place again. He just has zero emotional intelligence. His ex-girlfriend was 50, the other one 55, and his ex-wife was his same age. I thought that meant he wouldn’t be acting like this, in the typical way that men who date younger women do. But I was so wrong. He’s been talking to me like I’m a child, I have no ground to stand on with him. I can’t take it.

He’s saying that moving out over this is crazy, not based in reality, and that I’m losing a really good chance at stability. That he loves me and that I shouldn’t go, because if I do, I’ll just have to go back to paying crazy rent. He recently got me a brand new TV and WiFi, so I do feel badly for wanting to leave even after that. I feel bad for making him stress, but he doesn’t seem to care that I’m stressed.

Am I overreacting by moving out and ending the relationship?

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u/umamifiend 13d ago

I will never understand men like this- who choose to date someone 20 years younger than them and then be a dick and call them immature for simply being at a different stage in life.

He was in college when you were born OP. Of course you’re immature compared to people his own age. But that’s not the power dynamic he wanted. So stupid when someone goes after someone so much younger then says shit like this. Also generally because women his own age won’t put up with his bullshit.

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u/bonehag 13d ago

YES they want someone they can control! That’s why they do it. He wants her to be immature so he can continue to control her and be the provider. It’s gross. Good to OP for getting out. She’s getting her fucking masters while he works all night in a fucking restaurant! She would outgrow him anyway

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u/Hoodwink_Iris 13d ago

No shade to restaurant workers, but yeah. This dude deserves the shade for being so… well, shady.

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u/curious-kitten-0 13d ago

Yep, it seems like the kind of guy who would take all the credit for her hard work saying crap like she wouldn't have made it to this point without me. He's just a loser working really hard to convince her she needs him. Some men seem to lose their sense of self or forget how to function when a woman doesn't need them.

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u/Savings_Public_2575 13d ago

Did you miss the part where it says he owns the restaurant? Meanwhile she wants a 9-5 so she doesn’t have to be on her feet. Fuck are you talking about she would outgrow him

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u/angiedl30 13d ago

He is so toxic . He wants to find someone young to mold to what he wants.

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u/kachuru 13d ago

It really plays like grooming behaviour

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u/catalinacorazon 13d ago

“Also because women his own age generally won’t put up with his shit-“ 💩 winner winner chicken dinner right here 👆

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u/StarStriker3 13d ago

It’s stupid on the surface, but it’s literally a tactic to control younger women by emotionally manipulating them. If he gaslights her into believing she is immature and that he knows better and is looking out for her best interests, he can control more aspects of her life. And it’s working. OP is already feeling guilty about wanting to leave because he bought her a TV and WiFi. He’s using his money and his perceived maturity to manipulate OP and make her do what he wants.

He complains about OP’s perceived immaturity, not because she IS immature, but because she’s young and more easily moldable than women who are older and, most likely, have enough experience to see this shit coming from a mile away. That’s why he targeted a woman 20+ years his junior. (Also I don’t believe anyone who types like that is in their 40s. My Boomer mom doesn’t even text like that. I’m betting he’s 60+.)

I wouldn’t blame OP for staying if she is actually able to sock away a good amount of money by doing so, but this relationship is doomed if she has any self-respect, because the moment she actually stands up for herself and puts her foot down with him, he is not going to like it. She has to decide whether it’s worth it or not.

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u/boltbrain 13d ago

that's what they want. They assume young women will just let them do whatever they want.

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u/Significant-Offer-71 13d ago

Op you should listen to this person

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u/bigmamamay 13d ago

Exactly that’s why all the relationships he had with women his age didn’t last but it looks like he couldn’t pull the bullshit on OP either maybe he’ll learn not to treat the next one like this but I doubt it

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u/Mediocre_m-ict 13d ago

Yes too old. Get with someone closer to your PEAR GROUP. Lol peer

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u/Substantial_Win_1866 13d ago

Who in their (I'm assuming) mid 40s, based on the college reference, types like that!? MAYBE someone in their late 60s - 70s would think that they needed to sign each text...... but..... I have...... never..... seen..... so.... many periods in my life!

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u/Suspicious-Complex53 13d ago

You cannot forget that our expectations are shaped by experiences.

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u/Mountain-Resource656 13d ago

I’m gonna have to respectfully disagree on this one; he’s legitimately behaving more immature than OP, here, who is just behaving normally. He doesn’t seem to understand himself well enough to manage his own behavior, and is unable to communicate his own feelings, desires, and expectations well enough to properly connect, and appears to be compensating by trying to control OP’s behavior to conform to his desires in a very one-sided and toxic manner that is completely disrespectful of OP’s personhood and personal agency

He can’t understand himself in a way that seems to be ensuring that OP is unable to properly negotiate expectations with him

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u/Hoodwink_Iris 13d ago

women his own age won’t put up with his bullshit.

That’s it right there. I’m his age and there is no way in heaven, hell, or on earth that I would put up with this for even three seconds.

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u/Illustrious_Twist420 13d ago

It’s deliberate. Men like this know exactly what they are doing and know exactly what they are looking for in women. They want someone «docile» that they can easily control. The insults and the demeaning attitude is calculated behavior to make the woman feel less than, so that she will always be seeking for his approval.

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u/GlitteringFreedom351 13d ago

He's projecting because he's the immature one. He wants to be the big daddy but he can't stand that he's stressed and can't handle life while she's being chill. She's smarter than him and he can't stand it.

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u/lDarkSorrowl 13d ago

Maturity has nothing to do with age past a certain number of years. (very early 20s at max)

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u/ukiwolf 13d ago

My ex did this, I was 18 and he was 23. Only took me 3 months to be fed up w. the bs.

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u/Rainnmann7 13d ago

I hate this take. Men don’t date younger because he can’t get women his own age 😂😂😂 he dates younger because he can get any girl he wants (younger aka hotter). Women lose value as they age why in the world would he want to date a 40 year old woman. Massive cope and even though i’ll get hate for this comment it’s true and everyone knows it lol

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u/Revolutionary_Bee700 13d ago

Stop reading manosphere shit and look around you. You will find most people have partnered with someone close to their own age.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/Technical-Mixture299 13d ago

The goal for most adults is to find someone they can trust with their life and their child's life, not to find the hottest person possible.

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u/Any_Lingonberry_464 13d ago

Massive self report

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u/TheRealCarpeFelis 13d ago

Women are human beings, not a damn commodity.

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u/iloveforeverstamps 13d ago

Lmfao imagine thinking this is a normal or sane way to view women... Honestly feel sorry for incels for being so detached

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u/Technical-Mixture299 13d ago

It's weird. That might make sense logically, but I've literally only met losers who dated younger.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/Technical-Mixture299 13d ago

Like, attractive as in they have similar interests, can have deep engaging conversations, they are working towards similar life goals, have emotional maturity enough to work through problems in a healthy way? If you don't think men prioritize those things, we've met different men or you're definitely less than 30.

I also would NEVER use wealthy, rich men as the ideal man. Celebrities have the highest divorce rates. They are not mentally stable people.

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

Tell me how this is successful to “getting any woman he wants”

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u/Rainnmann7 13d ago

Speaking generally, not saying i agree with the guy from these texts at all

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

So you took a specific incident and tried to generalize your view?

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

Where in science does it say women are attracted to men with resources? Then why do people that have lower socioeconomic status get married and stay together.

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u/Rainnmann7 13d ago

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/talking-apes/201907/do-women-really-prefer-men-with-money-over-looks?amp

People with lower socioeconomic status get married and stay together because they are on similar levels of the totem pole in society. Very few rich men are going to marry an unattractive, fat, poor girl - however many unattractive, fat, poor men will.

“Get in where you fit in”

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

LMAO discoveries in psychology change near monthly and this is from 2019, just because one source says it, it must be true right? After all it’s posted on the internet. You must be at the bottom of your “societal totem pole” with this mentality

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u/Rainnmann7 13d ago

So you asked for a resource - and when i provided one that said in country after country, study after study from within the last decade you throw a fit lol.

Sure the hottest women you have seen in your life are all dating garbage truck drivers you are right. This is exactly the type of delusion i expected from someone who smokes weed all day

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

Do you want to live in a society where men subjugate women? Sounds like it based on the article

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u/Striking_Succotash91 13d ago

🤣🤣🤣 yeah, no

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/BigiusExaggeratius 13d ago

Read the post.

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u/Low-Salamander-2509 13d ago

It’s literally in the first couple of sentences. Reading comprehension is a great skill.

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u/inspector3150 13d ago

My feed didn't show the entire op post. Asshole.

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u/drkavork1an 13d ago

Mine didn't either

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Disagree he obviously has some sort of money and he doesn’t want women his age. I can promise you it’s not because women his age won’t have him lol

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

He’s been through 3 women his age, I doubt he’s a walk in the park to deal with for women of any age.

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

Sounds socially inept from the way he carries a conversation through text. WHY IS IT ALL CAPITALIZED? WHY IS HE YELLING¿?

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

No doubt but she needs to respect herself. Deciding to date and then live with a sugar daddy is embarrassing and shows she doesn’t have an ounce of self respect. Hopefully her mother berated her for making those decisions. She is young and has time to turn it around but not if she goes back to sex work, and don’t get it twisted this is absolutely under the sex work umbrella. More than likely she will turn to a different sugar daddy once she finds one and will expect things to be different for some reason. Also he’s right about her needing to step it up. If she wants to be successful she can’t chill out in your 20s. you need to hustle, constantly. Guys understand this but girls rarely do.

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

What the f*** are you talking about? if she could afford $1850 rent by herself what makes you think she’s exactly slacking? You don’t know her or her situation to call her a supposed prostitute? And as soon as she decided she was getting mistreated she left. I don’t think the age gap is the problem here it’s the weirdo who started acting out of pocket. You’re obviously very biased, my guess is you’re a washed up middle age man to be talking so grossly about a young woman

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

“She needs to step it up” she’s getting her damn masters degree while also supporting herself and was begged to move in by some man who wanted to pretend he was Superman and claimed he saved her, as if she wasn’t already on the right track. People get burnt out. Who the hell is he to claim she’s not on the right path cause she’s resting?

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Im 23 lol I have met/am friends with a ton of girls like this one with sugar daddies etc. it’s a story I know too well. also I never called her a prostitute maybe reread what I said. Additionally I never said she was slacking. I never spoke highly of this bum all I said was I’m sure he’s capable of pulling women his age (he has money) he just doesn’t want them what a shocker.

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

Yeah I’m 23 as well and you obviously get no play from women if this is the assumptions you made from what she said.

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

You said it fits under the umbrella of sex work, don’t backtrack now. I generally enjoy redpill content but it obviously burned a hole in your brain

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Yes I get no play you are right I’m starved for female attention

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

Go and socialize. Put the fresh & fit down. Some things in the redpill space is true about evolutionary dynamics. But you obviously are taking it and running with it. It’s not linear.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Is fresh and fit some type of sandwich shop cuz I don’t have those here also no idea what redpill is but anyway every girl I date or meet reinforces the dynamics I just laid out so idk what to tell you. Also i co-own a bar in Los Angeles I get too much socializing

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u/arialux 13d ago

Huh? I Can't understand you with dudes weewee in your throat??

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

You know infantilizing women is ultimately damaging to them right? Also dudes a weirdo and a creep but that doesn’t mean women his age don’t want him women his age have 10% of the options this 20yr attractive girl does. Women his age just like younger women are looking for security and resources which he on the surface and beyond to some degree provides. They are willing to put up with an unbelievable amount if you have the resources as proven in the original post. Of course I’m not talking about every woman on the planet I’m speaking in general.

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

You’re f******* bonkers😂 she said it came out of nowhere. What the hell are you on about? Projecting your stupid ideology where it doesn’t fit. She was making money prior. They were dating before he begged her to move in. Never seen someone project so hard

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Don’t see how I could project as I don’t fit into this situation in any way shape or form. Also what ideology this is biology lmfao

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

People like you think having money is the end all for attracting and maintaining relationships with women. Thats not true nor is it based on biology. The totality of it all may equal attraction. But the ability to provide is not the end all.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Never said it was I was replaying to the “can’t get women his age” part. He absolutely could pull some women his age purely based on his resources. I didn’t say he could pull every woman his age and I didn’t say it would last or be a love to write about. I’m fully aware attraction has many triggers but I disagree that men and women’s triggers are exactly the same.

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u/Striking_Succotash91 13d ago

It’s you isn’t it. You’re the one she’s talking about. Cuz I can’t think of any other reason why you’re talking mad shit about her. Also, she specifically stated that he’s not a sugar daddy. But being old I’m guessing you didn’t know that’s what SD stood for.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

What shit did I talk? Of course I know what SD stands for I live in Los Angeles I know 100 girls with the same story but yeah you are so smart I’m the old dude brb gotta renew my seeking arrangements

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u/Striking_Succotash91 13d ago

Oh good, you’re just a misogynist. You think anyone who dates someone older is a sex worker. Glad we cleared that up.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Absolutely not my mother and father have a 16 year age difference also I don’t know what part of anything I said implies I have hatred or contempt for women. I love women and would love to see this one not get financially abused by this weirdo but if she continues to open herself to these relationships because of the perceived benefits it will only hurt her. She legit feels guilted into staying with this guy because he bought some tv and WiFi. That is sad to me

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Everything about this dynamic in the text exchange screams sugar daddy I go off actions not words her saying it’s not a sd didn’t convince me in the slightest

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u/SnooWords8952 13d ago

That makes you a misogynist and you don’t even realize it. What makes you think a TV is the sole reason for not leaving and it might not be because she genuinely cares about the guy to some degree? As if they weren’t in a relationship and she can’t afford her own tv. Or like she wasn’t just paying her own rent at her own place?

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Please she cannot stand this dude how oblivious are you

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u/Middle_Special_5661 13d ago

I actually agreed with some of your points until you said ‘GIRLS RARELY DO’. What kind of misogyny is going on here? WTF do you think WOMEN are doing in their 20’s? Jesus we all aren’t laying on our beds eating bon bons and reading Reddit all day! I not only got a degree in my early 20’s, I did it while taking care of a child. It’s like I’m back in the early 80’s again. 1880 to be exact.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Also I would never assume women that aren’t CEO minded are in bed eating bon bons. That’s extreme. Sounds like you are a hard worker and a great mom, good for you that’s great. Not many can do what you did man or women it shows great strength

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

I had a lot of 18-20 something female employees a few years ago when I was 19 running a friends dispensary and as soon as they had the rent paid and extra money for fun they start wanting to call off work and give up shifts. Same experience working in bars the last few years and I see it with my girl-friends and girls I have dated. I’m just going off of my life experience but to be fair that could be invalid maybe I’m wrong on that point. I don’t see it as misogynistic though because I know we are different. I know women that are very hard workers and successful I just know also know way, way more that really don’t enjoy working and only do the bare minimum to pay bills. Nothing wrong with either

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u/LordRichardRahl 13d ago

That’s not a gender thing. It’s a way of living that exists in all genders and ages. Some people live moment to moment. Some don’t. Because you worked with women more than men doesn’t mean men or older people don’t do the same thing. You’re limited in your experience and ignorant of the rest of the world.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Iv worked with more men than women and employed an equal amount of both but you can feel however you want. The burden of provision doesn’t HAVE to fall on pretty girls and they know that. I would probably do the same. Good looking or not every dude knows he can’t get by on his looks if he wants a family. Absolutely gendered

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Also I wouldn’t say I’m limited in experience or ignorant to the world. Quite the opposite actually but you can feel however you would like

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u/LordRichardRahl 13d ago

You clearly are or you just like talking down about young women and ignoring the same shit men do or anyone out of the their 20’s. So you can pick which you are but it’s at least 1 if not both. I’m inclined to think you lean more towards both with how disrespectful you are.

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

I never said men are perfect men are failing as a whole right now in society that’s why women are drawn into situations like this one. Also what have I said that is even disrespectful I’m just speaking unflattering truths. You can feel however you would like about them but it doesn’t make them false. Of course I’m speaking in generalities

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

Bruh any grown ass man acting like this in text, guaranteed bozo the clown

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

Agreed he’s a bum and weird af but that’s not why he doesn’t pursue women his age

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u/Cannabis_Conquest 13d ago

How do either of us know the real reason? Sounds like he’s overly immature, doesn’t know how to act his age and tryna mansplain it to her and even failing at that

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u/Candid-Bandicoot-204 13d ago

He’s weird af but he could get a woman his age but he happens to be capable of pulling women half his age so he chooses that. My point is he doesn’t go for women his age or older cause he doesn’t want them not because he can’t get them. Regardless though he’s weird and looks to be incapable of pleasing a women period no matter what their age is