When the Intimacy of Sex Is Too Much

This is a two-parter, so stick with me. My friend G. had a date the other night. He met the woman on the subway, and they chatted each other up until he had to get off at his stop.

He took her out and things went well. So he called her again and they met up for a second time. She sent him a text a few days later and invited him over to her place.

He declined, saying he had to work late. But he didn’t have to work late.

“Third date. Her place. Wine. I know where that’s headed” he said.

“I thought you liked her” I said.

“I do. I’m just not ready for the intimacy involved with sex….though I’d probably take a blow job”

After congratulating him on that comment, I pressed further. What about the intimacy of intercourse vs. oral sex would make him apprehensive?  To me, there’s intimacy and vulnerability involved with both acts. They’re just different. With intercourse,  you’re connected not just through body parts but by your senses. You’re touching each other and looking at each other. The connection and the level of vulnerability can be stronger. With oral, while still connected and still incorporating the other senses, the intimacy part isn’t as intense and there’s not as much vulnerability, in my opinion. But it’s still present.

My friend J. and I were talking Saturday night about oral vs. intercourse and which we prefer. We both said it depended on the situation, whether it was with someone we cared for or just a casual hook-up. For casual situations, while I don’t say no, I don’t care if they go down on me or not. If they do, great. I don’t brush them away.  But I prefer and enjoy it more when it’s a guy I know and trust. Same goes for my decision to head south. I prefer to save that for guys I truly like and care for. Doesn’t have to be a serious dating situation. I just have to feel comfortable with them and trust them. And I have to feel that they’ll appreciate it. I’m not wasting the pretty on someone who I don’t think will.  One of the questions on OKCupid’s About Us section asks if you’d continue to date someone who said they didn’t like giving or receiving oral sex. I said no. I don’t know many guys who will go without receiving. I’m curious to hear how men and women would feel if they dated a wo/man who didn’t like giving head or who didn’t like receiving oral. I’ll say this: If a guy told me he didn’t really enjoy getting head…I’d be suspicious. And if a woman said she doesn’t like getting head, yet still maintains how great she is in bed, I’m calling bullshit there, too. Just my opinion. If someone is uncomfortable with a man or woman going down on them, then there’s something else going on that will get in the way.

Back to my friend G.

“I just don’t want to fuck anybody right now” he said.

I know he had broken up with someone in February. It had lasted under a year. He meets women pretty easily. Was he just not over his ex?

I asked him if intimacy was always a part of sex for him. Because sometimes it’s just about the act, about getting off, getting the poison out. But maybe that wasn’t the case for him? He couldn’t explain why he felt the way he felt. He just knew that he didn’t want to have sex with anyone yet.

Earlier this year I was out with a guy who expressed a similar concern. I knew immediately after we met that he was what I refer to as “emotionally shattered.” He wasn’t in a great place in his life, sleeping on a friend’s couch while he got his finances together to find his own place.  I told him that we could just be friends and relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. It seemed to take the pressure off and got him to open up. (Yes, he said I could write about this.) He said he knew he wasn’t ready for the intimacy involved with sex or a relationship. “If I sleep with a woman, I’ll get attached, and I’ll get all fucked up.” He admitted to having done that before. A couple times. With women that were “totally cool and didn’t deserve that.” He led them to believe that they would see him again, slept with both, and then gave them both the pink slip days later when they each sent him email messages expressing interest in seeing him again. He told them that there would not be a repeat. And then he thanked them. For the sex? I have no idea. When one of them asked if he had lied when he told them he would see her again, he copped to it and said “Yes.” One took her profile down from the site almost immediately.

I grimaced when he told me that. I knew what that meant. He was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was that guy/girl. The one that comes at the end of a string of bad dates that leave people burnt out and cause them to take a dating break. And there he was, still on the site, still going out with women. Maybe he was hoping there would be one woman that fixed him, that healed him. He, too, had broken up with someone about a year before.

The day after our date he took down his profile. But not before he sent me an email and thanked me “for being real.” He said he was going to take a hiatus from the site and “work on himself.”

I guess we assume that men are always down to fuck, or DTF, as the kids say. Apparently not.

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How Do You Know If You’re a Rebound?

Name: Ashley | | Location: Washington, DC|Question: My boyfriend and I have been together for three months.  When we first met he told me that he had broken up with his last girlfriend three months earlier. I haven’t asked many questions about her or their relationship or why it ended. I do know they were together almost two and a half years and lived together for one.  My friends keep warning me about getting too serious with him in case he’s on the rebound.  Are there signs I should look for? |Age: 31

I have to be honest and say that the only sign I go by is how soon the person starts dating after the break up. As we discussed a few weeks ago, someone could have emotionally detached from a partner looooong before the actual break up occured. And everybody deal with their break up grief differently. Some people choose to retreat to lick their wounds. Other prefer to get right back in to the game and forget.

I had a date a couple months ago with a man who was recently separated. Recently as in the last 3 months. I knew this going in to the date, and decided that it would be a fun night out if nothing else. The guy was totally normal, open, friendly and engaging, lest people assume that someone just out of a relationship are all embittered and wounded. But despite how positive he seemed, I was still on guard. For me, he wasn’t separated long enough not just from his ex, but his life with his ex,  for me to think he was ready for anything remotely consistent or serious. Not only that but the last year/months/week of a marriage or a relationship are usually stressful ones, devoid of various types of intimacy – emotional and physical. So someone just coming out of that dark cave, so to speak, is going to be hungry for a number of things. Not just sex, mind you. Simplicity. Which is totally understandable. The problem, though, is that they might be suffering from a variation of good ol’ PTSD. The slightest sign of conflict or tension or difficulty – even perceived difficulty – is going to make them run, as it brings them back to those days in the cave.

I guess the first sign to look for is how you two communicate. (Note: Keep in mind that all of what I’m about to say is referring to someone newly separated from a marriage or an ex.) In 3 months, there has to have been some moments where you or he has had to compromise on something. How willing is he to compromise? Does he even offer to meet you half way on things? Does everything roll out on his terms or yours? It’s not something you’d typically notice, especially if you really like someone. You’re happy to compromise if it means spending time with them. But there’s easy…and then there’s too easy. Someone just our of a long-term relationship is either going to completely acquiesce to their new partner’s requests OR they will not budge an inch because they refuse to be coerced so they date someone who doesn’t pose much of a threat. It’s in their best interest to keep things as simple and easy as possible. So they are going to avoid drama when ever they can.

This sign is more for the person who is rebounding. Everything about the post-break up relationship is SUPER! AMAZING! DIFFERENT! The Rebounder is in a state of euphoria to some regard. They do a complete 180 in their behavior. Everything about this new relationship is incredible, simply because they’re with someone else and they’re in the honeymoon phase. Regardless of whether or not you’re rebounding, the first few months of a coupling are usually the easiest and most enjoyable, because everything is new because you’re experiencing it through someone else’s eyes. It’s kind of like when people have children and they take them to the beach for the first time. The baby squeals at the sight of a seagull or fish because that’s the first time they’ve ever seen one. But the parents have seen tons of them. Watching the child’s reaction to the oddity fills them with a renewed sense of wonder. Eventually, the newness wears off and it’s not as cute. The person rebounding is just happy to be happy, because they were unhappy for so long. They’re going to try to sustain that for as long as possible. Once the feeling of obligation sets in, that’s when they will either slowly back away or disappear completely.

What will make them feel obligated? :

1. Questions about where the relationship stands

2. Overt steps taken to make the relationship public – This does not include meeting your friends. They’ll meet your friends, possibly even your family. But they probably won’t introduce you to theirs.  Of course, Facebooking, Tweeting or otherwise making your relationship public knowledge will also make them begin to feel pressured.  Any sort of formal announcement like that is going to freak them out. Now, they could end up doing all these things and still be rebounding. Usually, when The Rebounder does engage in this kind of behavior, it’s quickly. Too soon. As in the first couple months. Personally, if I had just gotten out of a long term relationship and found myself in a new relationship just a few short months later, I wouldn’t be making it too public too soon. That might raise eyebrows. Plus I wouldn’t want to rub my ex’s face in anything. But when you’ve come from an unhealthy/unhappy situation, it’s common to compartmentalize and lock that memory away and go forward as though it didn’t really exist.

3. Disagreements of any kind – There’s a difference between someone asserting themselves and someone being confrontational. But The Rebounder usually doesn’t see the difference. They just hear someone disagreeing with them, which means a fight is imminent, which triggers the flight response.

Here’s how I approach situations like this: I apply a general rule of thumb. I prefer not to date anybody who hasn’t been out of a long term relationship (2 years or more) at least 6 months. If they’ve lived with someone, and I’m not in a particularly lonely or vulnerable place, then it’s a hard and fast “No” until the 6 months have been reached.

Somebody who gets out of one long term relationship and is back on the dating circuit within 3 months, to me, is suspect. That is someone making up for lost time and trying to forget.

How Long After a LT Relationship Ends Do You Wait To Get In To Another Serious Relationship?

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Any Port In a Storm – The Argument for Sleeping With Married People

Im going to throw this topic at you …multiple part question….and see how you tackle it.  :)
BEING SINGLE ..and SLEEPING WITH MARRIED PEOPLE.

Setting aside religious beliefs, Is it right ?  Is it wrong ?  Do you believe in the whole karma aspect ?
If you’re SINGLE and consort with and sleep with married people, is it preventing you from having a REAL relationship of your own ??  (Keep in mind, I am FINE with being single and happy.  I’m 38 and would LIKE to be in a relationship with the RIGHT person, but until THAT person comes along, I will keep doing what I’m doing  :)    )

Here is My theory:
My whole outlook about married women is: If I WANT to enjoy fucking so n so …and she is making herself available to Me …WHY not? Whether it’s only once ..or once a month, just like a good dinner or fine wine,  I like to indulge. :) :)

I can’t sit there and worry about HER marriage and why she feels the need to stray etc. Im DEF NOT the type to break up a marriage and DEF never have ..in fact, I feel my sleeping with these women HELPS their marriage.  Why?  Because they are obviously lacking SOMETHING in their relationship (not necessarily the sex)  So, if I provide whatever that may be and they are more content as a WHOLE.  They now go home and are happier people.  Miserable people tend to bail and break up.  Content people tend to hang in there.

Women make LOTS of mistakes lol ..BUT when a woman KNOWS what she wants ..she knowsss what she wants. She may not be able to UNdo (or may not WANT to UNdo the mistake of picking the wrong guy to marry..due to kids, finances, etc.) BUT she CAN choose who to fuck that makes her feel how she WANTS to feel. Enter: Me. lol  (..and I dont necessarily mean make her feel JUST physically …because when it comes to me ..its more of a connection that has nothing to do WITH sex …but eventually leads TO sex :) :) )

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, Moxie !  :)
~H

Okay, Andrew Dice Lay. I’ll take this challenge. :)

My whole outlook about married women is: If I WANT to enjoy fucking so n so …and she is making herself available to Me …WHY not?

This might not be popular, but I agree that you are not responsible for someone else’s marriage. You’re not the one who took the vows, they are. Do I believe in karma? Yep. I sure do. Listen, we can excuse it all we like. But we know that we are partaking in something that, if discovered, could destroy a relationship and someone’s ability to ever fully trust again. So while you’re not responsible for her marriage, you are responsible for your participation and the potential fall out from that. We tell ourselves whatever we need to, because usually we’re doing it for our own selfish reasons.

I feel my sleeping with these women HELPS their marriage.  Why?  Because they are obviously lacking SOMETHING in their relationship (not necessarily the sex)

I disagree with this. I think there are plenty of people – men and women – out there who cheat on their spouses for no other reason than they can and they want to have sex with someone else. I believe that many people are capable of compartmentalizing various aspects of their relationships and their lives. Meaning, they can engage in a sexual relationship with someone who isn’t their spouse and not feel guilty about it and, in some cases, actually feel entitled to it. They do it strictly because they want to. Their spouse could be servicing them nightly. They could have the strongest of emotional bonds. There doesn’t have to be a lack of  anything to compel some people to cheat. Well, that’s not true. What their primary relationship lacks is variety. Funny thing, that marriage. Traditionally it doesn’t allow you to screw other people.
I do agree that in some cases infidelity is a sign of trouble. There’s a disconnect somewhere. There have been studies saying that taking a lover can actually help your relationship. Personally, I think it’s because the guilt from cheating actually makes people remember why they fell in love with that person in the first place. They become so afraid of losing that person that they do what they can to rectify the situation – be more attentive or communicative, etc.  I feel that a lot of people who cheat want to get caught just so they’re partner will finally acknowledge and discuss the problems in their relationship.
Miserable people tend to bail and break up.  Content people tend to hang in there.
Wow. I totally disagree. When it’s between their own personal misery and the potential misery of their children or possible financial ruin, you’d be surprised how many people stick it out or try to fix their marriage.  You have a really limited view and understanding of marriage. Miserable couple stay together all the time. They just find work arounds to help them get through it.

If you’re SINGLE and consort with and sleep with married people, is it preventing you from having a REAL relationship of your own ??  (Keep in mind, I am FINE with being single and happy.  I’m 38 and would LIKE to be in a relationship with the RIGHT person, but until THAT person comes along, I will keep doing what I’m doing  :)    )

I think it depends on why you’re engaging in that particular relationship. If you’re in it strictly for the sex, then I don’t think it will prevent you from meeting someone else. That is, unless the sex is so good that all other sex pales in comparison.  If you’re getting something out of these relationships other than physical gratification, then yes, I think engaging in such arrangements will get in the way. These arrangements are placebos of sorts. They keep us going and convince of things that aren’t necessarily real or true. But we engage in these no strings situations anyway, knowing they might hurt us or keep us further from our goal. We get lonely, we’re lacking the stimulation and attention that having a partner provides. I’m certainly not justifying those instances where we get involved with someone who is taken. But loneliness is a powerful motivator sometimes. It can encourage someone to do just about anything if they don’t have the proper coping skills in place at that moment.

Women make LOTS of mistakes lol ..BUT when a woman KNOWS what she wants ..she knowsss what she wants. She may not be able to UNdo (or may not WANT to UNdo the mistake of picking the wrong guy to marry..due to kids, finances, etc.) BUT she CAN choose who to fuck that makes her feel how she WANTS to feel. Enter: Me. lol (..and I dont necessarily mean make her feel JUST physically …because when it comes to me ..its more of a connection that has nothing to do WITH sex …but eventually leads TO sex :) :) )

Just from reading your letter, there seems to be something about being The Go To Guy for these women that works for you. You like the idea of being their stud. So much so that you believe what they tell you.

Here’s the thing about people who cheat:

They lie.

They will say whatever it is they think will keep their side dish providing whatever it is that they want. Sure, maybe you’re giving it to them in ways their husbands don’t. Maybe you’re more well endowed. Whatever. They’re appealing to your ego because they feel like they have to. They know that’s why you’re doing it. It’s not just about the sex for you, I don’t think. It’s about the attention, how these women make you feel.

I think you want to believe whatever it is that makes you feel special to these women. You tell yourself, or maybe believe them when they say, that there’s something broken about their marriage. That way you can feel like a Savior of sorts. It could very well be that these women are married to men who are never around, who don’t pay them attention, etc. What you’re not getting is that they’re reaching out to you because they’re hurt. Or bored. Or horny. You’re just a port in a storm. Not so romantic or sexy when you realize it could be any warm body they’re lying next to, is it?

So this connection you say you form with them? It’s likely all in your head. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them and their relationship with their husband.  You’re filler. They’re actions are reactions to how their husbands make them feel and not so much how you make them feel. To put it bluntly, you ain’t that special. In some cases, they don’t even realize that. Anything to keep them from feeling what they’re feeling or not feeling.

Don’t kid yourself in to think you’re providing something their husband isn’t. That might be the case sometimes, but not always.

That just might be how you justify doing it in the first place.

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Under One Roof

This was mentioned in a recent post and Ifeel like it got overshadowed by the bigger topic.

I keep hearing stories about people who dated for 3, 6, 9 months and then decided to live together. Which, to me, seems fast. But then everything has been sped up, hasn’t it? The courting process, the dating process, engagements. We’re not waiting around anymore. I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or not. It used to be that people moved in together because they believed the relationship would be permanent. It seems like now people move in together because it’s convenient. Maybe it will work out, maybe it won’t. Is this a sign we’re less commitment phobic than we were or just more lackadaisical? Or is it the economy. :)

For me, living together is a step towards long term commitment. But it seems like many people nowadays live together out of some sort of convenience. A few months ago we discussed the phenomenon of how couples in the middle of a divorce who live with their exes under the same roof.

Are more people living together simply for financial reasons? Because they both live bust lives and living together allows them to spend more time together? or as a trial run for something more long term?

What are you reasons for living with someone?

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