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^Spongers, cheats and liars - everything I have learnt about men in a lifetime of dating^

(8 Posts)
M0nica Thu 04-Jun-26 11:33:39

This is a banner heading in the DM today.

If they had written Spongers, cheats and liars - everything I have learnt about women in a lifetime of dating there would have been an uproar, uestions in Parliament the writers house stoned.

Can we blame boys and young men, if they seek refuge in the manosphere and follow obnoxious people like Andrew Tate?.

I know boys don't read papers, but they will see screaming headlines on the copy at home, even if they do not read it and on the newspaper stand in garages, and shops.

Some women, papers, groups seem to want it both ways, freedom to denigrate men as much as they like, but rushing to complain as soon as anyone makes a denigratory comment about women.

Graphite Thu 04-Jun-26 12:01:51

The DM is known for it’s click-baiting. It's very misleading and unfair:

The article is by a woman who describes herself as a “love coach and therapist” giving dating advice.

Here’s the piece with the paywall removed:

archive.is/20260603121841/https://www.dailymail.com/lifestyle/love-sex/article-15870157/LUCY-CAVENDISH-60-dating-men-women.html#selection-555.0-583.93

Starts:

When I walked down the aisle for the first time at the age of 50 nearly a decade ago now, I thought I’d won the love lottery. No more dating. No more nights wondering if I was ever going to meet someone. As a single mother of four, I gratefully welcomed the end of managing holidays by myself, carting children around the globe plus endless luggage. The sense that I would actually end my days with this person was such a relief, I almost fainted. Now, I realise, I was wrapped up in a fairy tale, hopelessly in love with a man eight years my senior who could never truly love me back. Indeed, the best way of putting it is that there were three of us in the marriage. By 54, I was divorced. And, as I turn 60 later this year, it occurs to me how wildly differently I feel about love now. These last ten years have taught me some very hard lessons. I have endured some serious knocks. But from each one I’ve learned something invaluable about men, love, fidelity and compromise. I’ve spent a fortune on therapy – and I’ve even trained to be a relationship counsellor myself. This means I’m entering my 60s feeling more clear-sighted and, yes, hopeful than ever before.

Advice No.1: Do not ignore red flags

I have always been a romantic. I would whirl around, giddy in love, saying ‘I’m going to marry him’ after date number two. Indeed, I thought I was going to marry all of my exes.

The behaviours she describes are more to do with her rushing into relationships with men with whom she was never compatible e.g.

I’ve spent so many years putting other people’s wishes ahead of my own. For example, my ex-husband was mad keen on boating holidays so instead of saying I’d rather sit on a sun lounger in the South of France, I spent countless weekends on a freezing, spider-infested narrowboat.

No evidence at all that he was a sponger, a cheat or a liar. He just liked narrowboats.

Graphite Thu 04-Jun-26 12:02:25

Its click baiting.

Galaxy Thu 04-Jun-26 12:03:14

To be fair that is a red flag.

Galaxy Thu 04-Jun-26 12:06:57

It usnt just the Mail though, there has been some constant messaging against boys in particular that I have sone level of concern about, you often see people dismissed online for being a white man, etc. I myself talk frequently about the need to look at male violence, etc but there is something in what Monica is saying.

Basgetti Thu 04-Jun-26 12:12:41

I’m sick of this sort of reporting. Our adult son is a gentle, kind young man as are his friendship group. Yes, there are some awful men, violent and misogynistic, my own father and brother bring perfect examples, but after a lifetime’s experience, I believe the majority are decent people just peaceably living their lives.

How must it feel to be a young man, especially post Covid when millions gave up so much for others, to be surrounded by the narrative that they’re toxic?

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 04-Jun-26 13:05:38

I agree absolutely Basgetti. I am a divorced woman, and that is not my view of all men.
Some men, of course, are violent, some are misogynist and some are just unpleasant.
Some women, of course , are violent ( albeit a much smaller percentage, of course), some are misandrist, and some are just unpleasant.
Reprehensible behaviour is not confined to one gender, whatever experiences endured by the writer of the article.

Basgetti Thu 04-Jun-26 13:10:57

Chocolatelovinggran

I agree absolutely Basgetti. I am a divorced woman, and that is not my view of all men.
Some men, of course, are violent, some are misogynist and some are just unpleasant.
Some women, of course , are violent ( albeit a much smaller percentage, of course), some are misandrist, and some are just unpleasant.
Reprehensible behaviour is not confined to one gender, whatever experiences endured by the writer of the article.

Thank you. It’s really a quite upsetting narrative. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be a good, kind young man surrounded by this stuff.