LoveFAQ is a weekly advice column for geeks, by geeks about love, life and maxing out your romance meter. Got questions for LoveFAQs? Send them to [email protected].
Dear Love FAQ,
My girlfriend and I have been dating for about a year. Recently we drank together. We have done so before, but I suppose she had never seen me become that intoxicated. The next day, she told me she found it very unattractive, and now I feel like she doesn’t look at me the same way anymore.
I’m not insecure, but our physical relationship has never been the greatest, and we didn’t start doing anything until eight months into the relationship. Now I feel like this will only hurt it further.
What should I do?
Thanks,
Failed My Save vs. Poison
Dear Save vs. Poison
You say “we drank together”, as if imbibing alcohol was somehow unusual, and not an activity in which normal, well-adjusted adults indulge all the time. (Note: I’m assuming here, of course, that you are both of legal age.)
But people drink. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or apologize for. So don’t.
Everybody gets stupid-drunk sometimes. It’s not a big deal, unless you’re behind the wheel of a car or hurting yourself or others. From your letter, however, it doesn’t sound like you posed much threat to anyone – just to your pride and sense of self-dignity.
Your girlfriend obviously has issues about alcohol; maybe she grew up with an alcoholic family member, or maybe she grew up in a religious household with little exposure to drink. Be sensitive to that, of course, and feel free to help her confront her fears, should she ask for your assistance. But don’t let her make you feel guilty for what are essentially her issues, not yours.
What concerns me more is the fact that your girlfriend apparently uses sex as a means of controlling your behavior. Taking it slow is one thing, but you shouldn’t have to worry that, because you got drunk once, you two will never have sex again. (Jeez, God forbid you ever fart or burp or accidentally cough in her mouth.)
People get gross, they get ugly – and yes, they get drunk – but love is about accepting all sides of a person, even the part that drinks too much Yeager and maybe starts cursing out houseplants in ancient Icelandic.
Sex shouldn’t be a reward for good behavior, or an achievement that unlocks once you’ve invested enough hours into the relationship. It should be joyous. It should be fun. So with that in mind, you might be better off finding someone you have genuine chemistry with, who can’t keep her hands off you, no matter how much of a skÃtkarl your ficus can be.
Dear Love FAQ,
One of my best friends has fallen in love with me. However, I have no interest in her. And every time I say this she breaks down and cries. She knows that I’m pansexual, so every time I hug or otherwise touch someone, she’ll give that person the evil eye, even if it’s someone she knows I have no interest in.
I’ve tried acting like a douche, but it doesn’t work. I’ve set her up on dates, but she just dumps them. She’s even convinced most of my friends of how good it would be if we did get together. That means every time I reject her, I look like the villian. HELP ME!
Thanks,
Zevran
Dear Zevran,
Dude, she’s not your best friend. She’s your stalker.
Seriously, she’s displaying all the classic signs of Dangerous Creeper: Extreme jealousy, possessiveness, emotional manipulation, turning your friends against you. If the genders were reversed, you’d already be the star of your own after-school special.
You need to get away from her, and fast.
Stop thinking of her as your friend, because she isn’t. She doesn’t care about understanding you, or accepting that no means no. I mean, she even feels entitled to your body because you’re pansexual – seriously, who thinks like that?
So forget trying to set her up on dates, or modifying your behavior so she’ll be turned off. It won’t work. And don’t even reject her anymore, because rejecting implies that you’d listen to her proposition in the first place.
Just minimize contact as much as you can. Cut her – and any of your friends who are enabling her – out of your life. She’ll get the idea, and if she doesn’t, consider asking authority figures for further help.
Dear Love FAQ,
I’ve recently become very close, platonically, to the girl of my dreams. She’s adorable, intelligent, and we both seem to think we’d be perfect for each other. There are just two issues.
First, she lives a few states away, and she doesn’t care for online relationships. Second, when I talked with her about this, she revealed to me that she’s probably a lesbian, but that she was still trying to figure out her sexuality. She did seem to imply, however, that if she was going to be interested in any guy, it would probably be me.
The distance thing is a problem, but I’d be willing to travel to the other side of the planet for this girl, let alone a few states away. But I don’t know if I’d want to make a commitment if she’s just going to decide she isn’t attracted to me or my gender after just a few dates.
I’m kinda stuck here, and as much as I love spending time with her online platonically, I really want us to be more than just friends. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Target Is Too Far Away
Dear Target,
If she’s a lesbian-or even thinks she’s probably a lesbian-then she’s not the girl of your dreams.
Sorry, Mario. Your princess is in another castle. Look for the one who likes cock.
Disclaimer: LoveFAQ is written by Lara Crigger, who is by no means a trained psychiatrist or therapist or even a middle school guidance counselor – just a smart gal who wants to help out her fellow geek. LoveFAQ is meant for entertainment purposes only, so don’t take it as a substitute for professional advice. If you have real problems, consult your physician.
Got a burning question (or a question about burning) for LoveFAQ? Send your emails to [email protected]. All submissions are confidential and anonymous.
