Hello! So I've been online dating for 2 nearly 3 years now. Since the start of lockdown in 2020.
I've sadly had 3 bad significant relationships, where the first 2 were in and round uni time but both used me for sex in different ways and the more longer term of the 2, I was being cheated on. I gave dating shortly afterwards, took my time to recover etc and about 7 years ago, met my ex. We were together for nearly 5 years. The majority of that was fab and good and I thought I could see a future with him. The last 6-9 months of that turned domestic abusive with gaslighting, manipulation, blackmail, coercive control and bullying. I left at the start of 2020 and 2 years later, have rebuilt my life. Hence the online dating. Most guys who message seems to be only after 1 thing, no matter how they dress it up as. I keep telling people that I don't want casual things, done a couple but want something more meaningful and substantial. I get the impression from the guys that they want casual and if it'll into something then great. Perhaps I'm old school but don't believe that's how a great relationship should start. There should be fun dates and the sex side built up slowly. I feel like I have a lot to offer someone, the right person. I'm so frustrated that I invest time into chatting with someone to then be told that they wanna get physical, it feels degrading after a while, like that's all I'm good. I know it's the old age question but how do you meet the right person? Thanks! Am I cutting off potential options by saying no? Or should I stick to my way of wanting things to work & hope that I'll meet someone my way, without compromise?
