Through online dating, I have met over 120 guys since 2010. To my disgust, 75% of the men pushed for s-x on the first date.
With friends with benefits, often one person becomes emotionally attached, usually the woman.
Oxytocin has been called the love hormone and the bonding hormone. Most women are flooded with oxytocin during orgasm. This is the same hormone that bonds us with our babies while breastfeeding.
Oxytocin sends me sideways, makes me feel relationship-y. I have to keep my head straight.
Because of this, most women bond with their lover. But it is painful to love someone who is incapable of loving you in return.
A lifelong bachelor, Dan, 63, was terrified of love and commitment after being hurt by two girlfriends in his 20s. Dan was funny, intelligent, kind, thoughtful and a great hiking partner.
We dated exclusively for 2-1/2 years. We had fun hiking, weightlifting, cooking, talking and laughing together.
I waited six months before telling Dan I loved him. We had dated for two years. Knew it would freak him out. I worded it as gently as possible. "Dan, I am beginning to love you." He predictably panicked and withdrew.
Broke up with Dan and entered counseling to learn why I was willing to accept far less than I need and deserve.
I learned about oxytocin and bonding from the fascinating book, “Women- An Intimate Geography” by Natalie Angier.
Photos:
Looking mischievous after whipping off my shirt to dry my feet. At 6,000' elevation, Lake Colchuck was freezing. Stuck my feet in for a nanosecond.
Dan poses before Dragontail Peak, 9,000 feet.
Happy and sweaty post-hike. We had a great time. August 2015
I don't understand the friends with benefits thing. I guess I am just not interested in sex outside of a monogamous committed relationship and that kind of relationship takes time to cultivate.
I have a pretty high libido so it was really nice when I had a FWB to scratch that itch. I’m also a person that needs physical contact/touch (platonic or not) for my mental health.
My issue is finding a man who is actually interested in the friends part, in addition to the benefits. I’m also pretty emotional so keeping feelings out can be a challenge
@K9Kohle789 Your sister has a great arrangemnet with her significant other. I admit, it would take a extraordinarily special guy for me to cohabitate ever again.
@Marcie1974 Yeah, I do miss physical contact too. You describe why I don't 'get' the FWB situation. If a person is sleeping with someone AND hanging out and doing things together, but are not commited ..... how is that different than an 'open' relatioship? If I was sleeping with someone just for the sake of having sex and neither of us cared if the other was sleeping with others.... then I guess as long as everyone is happy. then c'est la vie. But I can easily see that devolving into a bad situation and hurt feelings. And honestly, if I started dating a guy and he told me he had FWB relationship(s) it would not make me keen to continue seeing him.
@LizBeth that’s fair.
With my former FWB, out political views and distance made an actual relationship not really an option. We still text occasionally and check in on each other but since he retired early he no longer travels for work, this ending our benefits
If casual sexual activity does not violate your sense of integrity, or the commitments you have made to yourself, then it’s probably not going to be a problem for you. But for a lot of men and women it can complicate things between them if both are not on the same page. So I think it's something every one has to decide if it's for them or not, but more importantly I think we should always consider how it might affect the other person we are considering having casual sex with.
agreed
75%? I question that number. Mine is 100%! Men don’t want to know me for fun and hiking and whatever happens outside the bedroom. You did well to get 2 1/2 years at our age. The men our age are intent on being permanent 18 years olds with a bucket list to fuck as many women as they can before it stops working most won’t admit they need viagra.
My hope is these asswipes die lonely old men. They’re passing up on a fun good cook who really likes sex but just wants one partner. Marriage not necessary as social security pays more to us as individuals
Seventy-five percent pushed me for sex on the first date.
The rest didn't mention sex right away.
Damn. It's getting real out there. I better be extra careful not to overdo it. I have the opposite problem. I can't seem to find someone around my age or even older who likes to hike and walk the beach often. Between Netflix and reality TV. Sex has never been a problem. The older men are understanding they are on their last legs. Or leg. Lol. Hopefully I don't end up like them.
I thought the number was quite low for my experiences as well. Perhaps @literatehiker has better screening than I do before the first date
@LiterateHiker 100% first date or sooner. I’m near 75% who ask my favorite sex position when chatting to get to know each other - BEFORE MEETING.
Men also get attached, btw. Those who don't, have serious issues that must be dealt with. Excuse me for saying this but Dan had extremely serious issues that he never dealt with, he should have solved them, nobody else could have solved these psychological issues for him.
I dunno they stayed together for 2.5 years, so thats 2 years after the "i love you" incident. It sounds more like he had communication and commitment issues, than a lack of attachment. But we only know one side of the story.
Dan looks a little too old to be scarred by what happened in his 20's
You're right. Dan was 63 in 2015 when the photos were taken.
There are guys that will bond with you in return. Keep sorting through the catalog.
Couldn’t agree more.
I must have both an emotional and a physical connection with the person to share sex with them — and even to fully enjoy it. I’d personally get nothing out of a casual encounter. When two people in love know each other’s body and “soul” intimately, the passion can be incredible and explosive. Casual? No thanks.
Why is it unreasonable to expect strong affection to come BEFORE sex? I have absolutely no desire to crawl into a bunch of different beds in order to find out if I like a man or if he likes me enough to continue from there. I have never met a man who can ring my bell as well as I can ring it for myself, so it really irritates me when they try to persuade me into the sack by trying to spin it as though they intend to do me a favor.
As the comedian in a movie I saw this weekend said;
"Women look at sex the way they look at buying a car. 'Is it safe? Can I see myself in this long-term?' Men look at sex the way they look at finding a parking place. 'There's one over there, that looks good...'"
Not all are like this, but stereotypes are there for a reason. It is genetic programming to some extent, not saying people aren't more than our genetic inheritance. I know I am.
I like this a lot!
To be honest, I see nothing wrong in this.
"Women look at the way they look at buying a car. 'Is it safe? Can I see myself in this long-term?' Men look at the way they look at finding a parking place. 'There's one over there, that looks good...'"
A lot of women complain that men are like this, well so what if they are? If that's what you have to deal with then deal with that. Consent is the only real issue here. Many women are like this as well. I am. People make them out to be bad things like whores and sluts, whereas men are considered studs and ladies men. Again, consent is the only issues, IMO.
Hugs and love to you, thank you for sharing that. You are a special woman and deserve someone worthy of you
Thank you, dear. I appreciate you.
Thanks for this.. I didn't know anything about oxytocin stuff...
Someone once told me, "We have the relationships we want and make for ourselves, good or bad". I believe that.
And... There's nothing wrong with wanting sex on the first date. The only wrong thing is in in taking it or pressuring for it. Consent is the only issue.
I felt the same way about casual sex. No friends with benefits. Looking for committed relationship and found it on Match of all places. Michael couldn't commit to save his life where Bob and I are in sync. Its only been a month but we spend weekends together and one night and day during the week due to our schedules. Mine is flexible where he has the same schedule every week. I wouldn't settle for less for the first time ever. We haven't brought up the "L" word yet. We both have multiple marriages/long term relationships. Time will tell where we go from here........
I never did drug induced sex which is why I probably never married. I never let anyone hurt me and when I did find someone who though likewise did we ever have sex. 98% of it is Psychological and I don't think that most people realize this.
The mind is the best sex organ.
For me that oxytocin/bonding thing is not automatic at all. Hell - if I had bonded with every guy I had sex with - what a mess !
Sounds like Dan might have been a relationship phobic , not so uncommon. Sorry it didn't work out.
As far as sex on first meeting - I never fault anyone for trying , I'm perfectly capable of saying no thanks nicely (or not so nicely - depending). : )
As I noted, not all women are flooded with the oxytocin hormone while breastfeeding and orgasming. I am, and it's delicious.
You're right: Dan is commitment-phobic.
It's all fun and games until someone falls in love. Or loses an eye, as my mother said.
Thanks for your support.
I doubt many of us have any idea what the phrase why <one> was willing to accept far less than I need and deserve. means.
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Few have any experience with what that might be like, so its a pretty fantastical ideal. . Should be difficult enough to resolve, to keep your therapist employed forever.
I don't understand your point.
Are you saying few people want to learn and grow?
Sorry edited for clarity
Counseling is not a "fantastical idea," as you say.
I overlooked red flags (he had never married nor lived with a woman) because I was having so much fun.
With counseling, I learned and grew.
@LiterateHiker the idea that anyone could answer the question of what they want and need, is the fantastical idea. Its a great concept, but in real life theres just a whole bunch of people chasing after the idea, but I'm pretty sure no one figures it out unless theyre lying to themselves. If your therapist convinced you that she could help you fifure it out, ive got a bridge id like to sell you.
Of counseling/therapy can be beneficial. I just hope youre not buying into unbelievable ideals. Itll make your ability to connect with others, even harder.
yes men do get scarred of committment,most with out a reason, either can not handle it or do not deal with it ,I know personally i like to think about things for a bit and let it fully sink in,not the first reaction fear of the unknown,supposedly , Maybe if he had said you caught me off guard ,and let it settle in for a while and really had went over to all the amazing things you are but did not,,I hope he reliazes now what a fantastic opportunity he gave up because he could not handle his own emotions ,All i can say he was one dam lucky man up until that moment , Your a catch that needs to be earned ,you do not come lightly or quickly ,Loved your pic's as always,Thanks for sharing your emotionally story and heart ,warm hugs