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The joys of dating

(74 Posts)
Readandcook Thu 12-Mar-26 15:24:45

Ladies please let me know your thoughts.

I have started dating again and have met a couple of men that definitely I didn’t see again as zero chemistry!!

However Wednesday I met a lovely guy called Mark. Everything perfect and I so enjoyed chatting to him and listening to him too. He was lovely and I though he liked me too! Even gave me a quick kiss too!

Yesterday morning he just sent me a good morning text on the dating site.
I replied that it was lovely to meet yesterday and chat and I would love to see you again etc!
He replied saying exactly the same and I was delighted.!!
I then left him my mobile number to save him going into the site to converse.
But that was yesterday and I hadn’t heard anything so I thought I would check I had entered the correct number this morning.
My number was correct but he was also online!!!!

I feel so disappointed but what shall I do.

1) Do nothing and wait?
2) Do nothing but contact him again say Saturday if I haven’t heard anything?
3) Ask him straight out if he is interested in meeting up again?

What are your thoughts ladies?

Gran22boys Thu 12-Mar-26 15:27:51

Ask on Mumsnet.

fancythat Thu 12-Mar-26 15:52:53

Not sure that any of those answers are wrong.

I used to think that if DH died, I would be interested in dating again.
That thought horrified my kids!

But older I have got, not sure I could be bothered with the hassle.
But never say never.

I may be horribly old-fashioned, by I think the man should chase the woman!
I think, could be wrong, if the man is not interested enough, nothing is going to properly happen anyway.

Grandmabatty Thu 12-Mar-26 15:53:44

I would throw this frog back in the pool! Do not message him again but block his number. He is probably dating others and will get back in touch with you if he runs out of options. I don't say that to be cruel, but that's often the way these 'princes' work. He'll come up with a complicated reason as to why he ghosted you to pull on your heart strings.

Flippin2 Thu 12-Mar-26 15:57:22

Leave it to him,don't chase..having been on dating sites there are a lot of men who are chancing their arm,lots of ladies looking for love whilst the men are after something else..

Fallingstar Thu 12-Mar-26 16:06:16

The man may have just been trying to be polite when he said he’d enjoyed the date etc., of course he could be a chancer but then isn’t dating a game of chance?
Don’t lose heart, keep at it, and try not to read too much into what could just be polite replies.

Lathyrus3 Thu 12-Mar-26 16:06:59

You’ve only had one date with him. I don’t see why he can’t be arranging to meet up with others too. It’s a dating website. For dating.

I expect he prefers to connect through the website until he has met people several times. I think you would be well advised to do the same rather than handing out your contact details to people you hardly know.

It might even be that he has had a bad experience previously with harassment and that your eagerness to exchange numbers and make direct contact has made him take a step back.

I think you’ve been clear you would like to meet again. He’ll respond if he wants.

Debbi58 Thu 12-Mar-26 18:31:13

I'd wait another day , if he still doesn't text . I'm chat online again , no reason why you can't ask him to meet up again. If he doesn't want to , then you have your answer. I met my second husband online 17 years ago . Married for 15 years, both 60 now . Good luck and keep us posted

OldFrill Thu 12-Mar-26 19:45:36

If someone is in a relationship it's easier to keep communications online, if he hasn't rung I'd be suspicious.
If he's interested he'll act, if he's not he's no loss. I'd walk away.

pea007 Thu 12-Mar-26 20:02:24

I’d wait and see, if he’s worth it he’ll be in touch. If he isn’t, he won’t.

LemonJam Fri 13-Mar-26 16:51:22

Block his number, put this down to experience and look on the bright side- he's not someone that's going to treat you well so a a very lucky escape.

Internet dating, at any age, carries risks, disappointment along the way as well as potential rewards. Be confident in yourself. Either party can easily reject the other and it takes time to get to know someone and build up trust. He's no loss.

If you wish to continue internet dating be sure you can cope with losers like this, i.e. that you are able to shrug off disappointment when things like this happen and know that you deserve better and have a lot to offer the right person when they eventually come along.... if you cant cope with such disappointment perhaps internet dating is not for you....

LemonJam Fri 13-Mar-26 16:54:00

Plus if there was no agreement to meet a second time and until you get to the stage of having the conversation- "do we want to take this further and come off the dating site" both parties can continue to post and be active on the dating site, until they both feel they reach the stage of wanting to be "exclusive".

It's the fact he has not responded to you giving out your mobile number that is the red flag.....

LemonJam Fri 13-Mar-26 16:55:36

Carry on contacting other people on the site yourself- as the saying goes you may have to kiss a few frogs along the way....

keepingquiet Fri 13-Mar-26 16:58:15

I agree with LemonJam. I did a lot of dating in my fifties- some of it was fun. Most of it wasn't and I would never do it again though I am ten years older now.

Looking back I find it hard to identify with that woman I was...

I much prefer the me I am now and would never be in another relationship.

Astitchintime Fri 13-Mar-26 16:58:17

Oh dear, looks like he is sort to have his cake and eat it! Don’t chase home, and don’t dance to his tune, it only leads to disappointment

Apple3pie Fri 13-Mar-26 19:51:02

I agree with Lathyrus3. You were clear. He'll contact you if he's still interested.

He may be having conversations with other people, perhaps has dates lined up and doesn't want to cancel them just because you two had a great first date. One date is not a commitment. I wouldn't write him off yet, but certainly wouldn't chase him either.

petra Fri 13-Mar-26 20:05:59

Or maybe as what happened to me in my teens.
Had had a few dates with this person. Another date was arranged, no show.
He had been killed in a road accident.

butterandjam Fri 13-Mar-26 20:31:52

No reason he should not be online, seeing other women etc.

ONE date is not an exclusive relationship.

Perhaps he 's not yet ready to exchange phone numbers until he knows you a bit better.

cc Sat 14-Mar-26 13:35:04

I'd wait and see, don't contact him again.

Jojo1950 Sat 14-Mar-26 13:37:52

Leave it is my advise. He is obviously still looking.

Moii Sat 14-Mar-26 13:49:39

Personally I'd do nothing and wait, if he's interested he'll be in touch. If not no harm done just put it down to experience. I wouldn't block him as has been suggested, he'll probably see that as immature and think lucky escape.

MT62 Sat 14-Mar-26 13:51:53

My husband didn’t ring me for a few weeks, it kept me interested.
When he did call I didn’t make myself available.
We didn’t meet on a dating site though.
I know some of my friends have met real odd balls on there.
One wanted picking up from the airport- she hadn’t even met him 😂

HMWALES Sat 14-Mar-26 13:52:42

Definitely do not contact him again. It's incredible really whatever our age we still go through the same emotions/feelings and it can hurt but you need to move on. Good luck and enjoy yourself

butterandjam Sat 14-Mar-26 13:53:14

Jojo1950

Leave it is my advise. He is obviously still looking.

Did ANYONE recognise "The ONE" at first meeting?

I certainly didn't. For the first year I knew DH he was the most annoying idiot / idiotic annoyance I'd ever met .

Newatthis Sat 14-Mar-26 14:05:42

Never, never chase!!! If you do you will spend the rest of your relationship chasing. Play hard to get, men like a challenge. Be careful with dating sites as there are all sorts of tricksters in there .