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Xerox
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Member Since Jun 2020
Location: Chicago
Posts: 32
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Default Jun 30, 2020 at 09:53 PM
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeezyks View Post
Well... I'm an old man... even older than your "pursuer". Old men, particularly around your pursuer's age, sometimes get lonely perhaps even desperately so... especially if there is something about them (such as their sexual orientation or paraphilias) that sets them apart from mainstream society. I know this (or at least I think I do) because I would likely be such a person except that, for some reason... perhaps just basic fear, I've mostly been able to construct & maintain a façade of "normalcy" over the years. I could tell you a story relating to myself. But I'll spare us both that.)

So, at least from my perspective, it's perfectly possible what you're seeing from this gentleman is simply a reflection of his age, his loneliness, desperation & fear at growing older alone. On the other hand, you certainly have a whole laundry-list of unanswered questions & legitimate concerns with regard to his intentions. And it does seem to me your "friend", so to speak, is pushing the whole relationship much too hard (& much to his own detriment) thus leaving lots of opportunity for suspicion on your part.

The thing is... you've mentioned several times in your posts here in this thread, as I recall, that you're really not interested in any kind of real relationship. You're mostly just interested in sex. It seems to me that, under those circumstances, there is no up side to continuing to have any kind of interaction with this man.

Either he is, in fact, a predator in which case you are potentially in danger or, in the alternative, he's just a very lonely desperate older gentleman in which case your continuing to be willing to have sex with him might really be seen as unkind. And the reality is there's no way to know for certain which set of potential realities is the accurate one. So at least my own personal opinion is, since you're really not interested in any kind of meaningful relationship anyway, end this now once & for all before either you or he are hurt any more than you already are. To my way of thinking, no good can come from continuing to string this out any longer than it has been already.

Here's a link to an article, from PC's archives, that I think is apropos. It's about divorce. So the primary topic is not relevant to you. But I think the sentiment, as reflected in the title, is:

Thank you for your insightful response. You've given me a lot to consider.

I don't want to hurt this guys feelings. If he is simply a somewhat odd, very lonely man then I empathize with him.

I did try to 'break it to him gently', and he only seemed annoyed that I thought he would care that I would hurt his feelings.

I have thought that If I were in the right place emotionally and situationally, I might consider a 'casual friends with benefits' relationship as he expressed interest in in the beginning.

Maybe even without 'benefits'. I did send him e-mails that weren't sexual in nature at all, but about my depression. There was something about him that made me confide in him, but he didn't seem to understand what I was talking about at all. He was even alarmed when I mentioned I see a therapist, and have been hospitalized in the past. Those were big red flags for him.

As is it, I don't think I'm right for him. I'm not at all mature enough to help him with whatever troubles he has had over 63 years, as well as my own issues at 31. Like I said, I think we would only make each other more unhappy.

That I'm so conflicted, can't be sure of anything about him, and have no idea how to deal sensitively with this guy...It's obvious this wouldn't end well, and should stop before this goes any farther.

I wish I had a way of telling him these things.

ETA: I think the fact that this post is so at odds with my last one goes to show how confused I am.
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Thanks for this!
Skeezyks