I’m curious about the male perspective on when that distinction becomes obvious to you. Is there usually a particular feeling, behaviour or moment where you think, “I actually really like having this person around”?

For the past year or so my wife has been a bit selectively deaf for when I'm talking about myself. It's not exactly surprising, she's super focused on our kid and elected to get a second job because she's really paranoid that we'll both get laid off in this economy so she's just honestly focused on "more important" stuff, which I get, it's not a problem. However when we're on vacation or just chillaxing or I try to be vulnerable she started just spacing out and interrupting me to talk about something else. She's aware of it and knows that it's unhealthy but it still happens.

And I'm honestly quite lost. The nature of my job doesn't allow me to get a second job so that she can quit her second job. She straight up told me that she won't quit her second job, even when both of us got promotions at our "main" jobs. I've taken up all of the things that I can possibly do around the house and parenting... It just looks like an impasse and I'm stuck with a partner who treats me like a cat on occasion

inb4 "Just be a millionaire bro" or "Just get a divorce bro" from all the 12 year-old relationship experts

No, I’m not kidding.

During WWII, silk was all requisitioned for British parachutes, including from the North of Ireland, and my slightly eccentric grandma was walking through her family’s fields and encountered a crashed German pilot struggling to get out of his parachute while being harassed by curious sheep. He aimed his gun at her, so she shot him. And promptly stole his silk parachute.

When she made her wedding dress out of it, she attached all kinds of crazy Irish folklore s___e to it including about a dozen TAXIDERMIED DOVES. That, yes, she also went out and both shot AND taxidermied herself. It has now been given to me as I cannot afford to buy one. If I am not wearing it in wedding photographs, the family will be heartbroken. The dress is a complete madness of dead birds, occasional spots of German blood which is at least MOSTLY hidden under lace she made herself, and many other weird, inexplicable things.

What would you do if the doors opened and THAT was what you saw?

Looking to avoid wasting cash on overpriced marketing. What premium brands or high-end services have you tried that were completely disappointing or a total rip-off?

Thanks for all the incredible responses. It looks like the absolute consensus top 3 scams are fashion-brand watches (buy a Seiko/Casio instead), Luxottica sunglasses, and oversized logo apparel. I'm trying to reply to as many comments as I can! 🤝

And why? You're anonymous you can spill the beans 🫘

Currently having a crisis lol

Are female potheads repulsive? Instant turnoff?

Just curious. I know a lot of single guys do these things to help get women… and they can work. I’m curious what the effect is for people already in a very long term relationship… particularly those with families already.

Megaman 9.

fantastic game but it also caused a ton of steps back in terms of evolving the Megaman formula.

What makes it feel off-limits?

I can be very one track minded and terrible at small talk. For years I noticed a pattern of cashiers and waitresses going from smiley and bubbly to stone cold in a matter of seconds during interactions. Finally I was out with a girl cousin who explained it to me, “she wanted you to talk to her.” I was floored. The problem is I can’t tell when a woman is into me and when she’s just a nice person or just doing her job. Even then I don’t know what to say especially if she’s very attractive. Anyone else have this issue?

Context: I wasn't in bad shape (maybe very slighly overweight, but still quite fit) when I asked these specific girls out, so I thought their rejections were due to personal differences, no big deal, everyone has preferences, I moved on. Now that I have lost a bunch of weight, everyone's attitude is different. They are more attentive, interested, welcoming, etc... I get touched a lot more for sure. This might be because of my body, or maybe my mood is better, or as I supect, both at the same time. I recognize being fit is attractive, so I don't think it's their fault (or anyone's fault) for being warmer towards me.

Yet, I can't stop thinking that it's weird being wanted by the same women that rejected me in the past. I am torn between understanding where they come from (I'm human, I also treat good looking people better, even if subconsciously) and being pissed by this 180 turn.

Have you personally experienced something like this? Do you have any suggestion for me on how to navigate the situation?

A question to all men - what are the questions you wish you had asked your mother? And why didn't you?

Some context to my question. I am researching into a topic of preservation of family stories and memories. I've already learned many things, and one thing in particular is that many family stories disappear forever because children simply never ask the right questions to their parents or grandparents.

There are many reasons why children don't talk about important things. Sometimes, it's not being able to find the right way to ask. We are curious, but don't want to pry, and don't want to look like we're interrogating anyone. There are other reasons too - having no time, failing to prioritize important topics and instead opting for the easier things - shopping, weather, politics.

Is there anything you wished you knew or talk about, but now it's too late? Why didn't you talk about it when you had time?

Hi, as someone who isn’t very attractive myself, I want to know how other conventionally attractive people experience dating and relationships. I wear nice clothes, shower twice a day, take care of my skin, work out, and all that stuff. I’ve gotten close to a few girls, but nothing romantic has come out of it. You can’t really force it.

i’m 24M and adult life still feels like everyone else received some secret instruction manual that i somehow missed

i don’t mean serious career or financial advice. i mean those weirdly specific adulting skills everyone is suddenly expected to know

knowing how many photocopies to carry before visiting a government office. explaining a problem to the electrician like you understand what any of the words mean. speaking to a landlord confidently. bargaining without immediately feeling guilty. buying vegetables and knowing whether the price is normal or you’re getting completely cooked

nobody properly teaches you any of this. one day you’re just expected to call the plumber, understand bank forms, remember twelve documents and answer questions you barely understood 😭

what’s one random adulting skill you had to learn on your own?

TL;DR: I’m 24M and still discovering strangely specific Indian adulting skills. Which one did you have to teach yourself?

As a man, I see all the time that men should treat a woman a certain way. I genuinely am at a loss. I have been dating since I was a teen. So I am hoping to get some perspective on what other men encounter in their dating lives and how they handled the situation.

Update: Thank you all for the answers. I really do appreciate it. What about the more subtle things?

I am female mid twenties. and do use dating apps, but would ideally like to meet someone IRL. I went to an all girls school, studied a female dominated degree, and all my jobs have been majority female colleagues. My hobbies include ballet and arty stuff which is often heavily skewed female. So I acc meet very few men in my real life and have had v few male friends!

I know I can go to bars and pubs etc., but it would be nice to get to know ppl in person gradually (like through a club or regular social space).

Off the top of my head, I guess the gym would be a good place, but what sorts of hobbies/clubs do guys in this age bracket do as well? Then I’ll see if there’s any I might acc enjoy and could consider it - thanks!

I feel like I lost everything. I spent 10 years healing myself through chronic illness just to finally fully heal start looking great after 10 years of being bed ridden. Enjoyed my good looks and pain free life for 6 months and then lost it all by breaking my spine in a car accident. Currently only sleeping 3-4 days a week in extreme amounts of pain. Lost my good looks. My teeth enamel is thinned way out, gained tons of weight. Idk. I was so happy and excited to live this life. Now I'm back to my cage.

I effectively escaped chronic illness, lives in normal life for six months and then got catapulted back into chronic pain hell.

What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you that didn't need to happen?

TLDR; I used to believe everything happens for a reason (still believe in god) but now I soley just believe life just happens.

Wife and daughter will be in a girls trip and I’ll be alone for two weeks. Need some ideas to beat boredom.