Hey Everyone,
A little while back, we were talking about the times when we want someone to "prove" that they love us, and why.
This time around, I'd like to ask you about the times when someone has expected you to prove something to them, or when you've wanted someone else to prove something to you.
Several years ago, I knew a girl whose boyfriend summed up his entire dating philosophy in one sentence: "I have to prove that I'm not all the other guys (who did her wrong before me.)"
Unfortunately, I don't think that's too far off the mark. I know I've felt that myself, and from both sides.
While men might feel they have to prove they're not every other jerk from a woman's past, I constantly feel like I have to prove that I'm not some blood-sucking vampire who is after a guy's wallet. In fact, even years ago, CC changed my entire dating philosophy because of how many posts I kept reading from guys who were taken to the cleaners and are still recovering.
I can totally empathize with that (I once paid for court fees, childcare, and a good share of many of the needs of someone else's kids for 3 years), but at the same time, I don't know what else I can do to try to "prove" that I'm not whoever it was that used them as a personal ATM, and that not every woman is like that.
Therefore, now when I go on a date, I always, always offer to pay for myself, and if a guy is going to pay for me (which I always find chivalrous and appreciate, never expect it), he is going to have to be a bit insistent about it (which I find very sweet and highly respect, but I want him to know I spent the time talking to him because I wanted to.0
After reading so many posts from guys here who have been burnt to a crisp, I decided for myself (I'm not speaking for anyone else out there, just my own self) that no guy was ever going to be able to say that I used him for a free dinner. And, if he is particularly bitter (i.e., complains about women and their materialistic ways all throughout the date), I pretty much say to heck with it and just ask the waitress to bring me the entire check.
But I also never go out with the guy again, because I'm not interested in trying to prove that I'm not "like all women", or whoever it was in the past that he's fighting, if only in his own mind.
Because of this, I try very hard to look at people with a fresh slate. When I feel let down after a date, it's usually because, in my own naive mind, I'm hoping for a higher set of standards, and I'm pretty disappointed if someone makes me feel like cheap company. Several years ago, I went to meet a guy I'd been talking to on a dating site, and I admit, I was a bit hopeful. This was someone I think I could have really liked, and before we met, he'd claimed he was driving 90 minutes each way every Sunday just to go back to his home church, which he said he was quite active in.
We met for a late lunch and I was thinking on the drive home that it might be nice to go see a movie next time... That is, until I literally just walked into the house and he started texting me to ask when we could start "sharing bodies." And to be honest, it just made me feel sad. Um. No, just no.
One of the things I've had to pray for extra help with is to try to be able to see every person for who they are... and not for who or what they might remind me of from the past.
What about the rest of you?
* Do people ask you to prove to them that you're "not like the others"? How do you react? Do you take them up on their challenge, or do you walk away?
* Do you expect others to prove to you that they're not like everyone else? How have they reacted, and what happened next?
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and experiences--I'm really looking forward to reading your answers.