Seriously, advice.

L (this boy who liked me) texted me earlier about hanging out. And I was like, I am doing stuff at school, I can't. And he said, well how about later? And I was like, maybe but why? And he said he had to tell me something in person, so I asked is it about the me situation? And he got kind of snappy towards me and was like, kind of freaking out. I met him in University Park a bit ago.

So he told me that when I told him how he had been coercive towards me and making me feel really pressured into dating him, it's fucked with him. He said that I compared him to the sexual assault thing we went to at school in April. I remember saying that, however I wasn't referring to him sexually, I was referring to him acting coercive towards me. From the trying to kiss me all the time to putting his arms around to dropping by my apartment unannounced to telling me all the time he likes me to all that stuff. He kept trying to tell me that we'd be a good couple and that I can trust him. And I told him I think I need to make that decision myself and I had told him several times that I don't want to be in a relationship with him. This has been going on since October. He also said he doesn't want to continue our friendship because he can't handle it. He said I never hang out with him and it's awkward when we hang out.

Well. I have a child and I can't hang out with people all the time, I am also in school and doing independent research with a professor. I also will not hang out with the same people over and over when I do have time to hang out with people. It's awkward because I knew he liked me and he even told me that. I didn't know how to act about that, he tried kissing me all the fucking time.

And I actually like someone - R.

L and R are friends. R said that he knew L was still hung up on me and didn't want to hurt him. But we both like each other and so I am kind of confused on what to do.

Also, all the community building stuff I've been doing with the collective and others - L is involved. I no longer can do that garden because it's at his house.

That is always a problem

That is always a problem when dating someone in your own activist community, luckily the space you have created is designed for talking about these issues. Maybe you could talk to him and tell him that you want to move on with your life and share space respectfully and if he doesn't get it you could have a meeting with your community in which you talk about what abuse might look like in an activist setting. It is frustrating because the spaces you build with your activist friends are supposed to be safe spaces, and he is making it emotionally unsafe for you. As for being interested in R, go for it. You don't need to stop living your life for someone who wasn't being respectful to you.

Seriously, he has no right

Seriously, he has no right to be upset about any of this. You gave it to him straight, he can't accuse you of trying to mess with him. He makes you uncomfortable and that is not YOUR problem to deal with, that is HIS problem to change how he deals with/approaches you, and the fact that he's continually invading your space and being creepy. That's not cool, and he should know it, and it's not your issue if it "fucks him up." It's also not right for either you or R to put your feelings on hold because this person who won't back off....won't back off. Talk to R about what's going on. He'll probably end up changing his mind once he hears the way L is acting. No one wants a friend who would treat someone they care about that way. And if you and R end up together, then L will most likely back off and go pout somewhere and that will be that.

Ya, L needs to own their

Ya, L needs to own their feelings. You don't make someone "this" or "that" and you are totally doing your best to be clear and communicate your end of the deal. It sounds like this person is really insecure and looking for someone to latch onto

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