Why would a guy get jealous of a girl he isn't even dating?

[Anonymous]

There is a guy I was talking to (we were just friends and had just met), but he had stopped talking to me for a little bit, during that time, I thought he wasn't going to ever talk to me again. So I decided to move on and have been hanging out with my other guy friend. Then the other guy reached out to me again, a few weeks later and when I had told him i had been spending time with that guy, he got jealous. Why do guys get jealous of a girl they aren't dating, does it always mean he likes her? He said he knows he shouldn't be, but he feels cheated out on. He said he wants to see me but is worried it might be pointless because he is afraid I'll talk to other people if we were to be more than just friends. He said he gets attached really easily and doesn't want to be hurt. He seems to be very afraid of being hurt, but wants something. What are ways I can help this guy overcome his feelings of being afraid and show him I don't want to hurt him?

[V_Injector]

What is Jealousy?

ChatGPT is like my best friend

For me, it's a rival that is taking something away from me. That could easily apply to a girl I'm not even dating. This could be someone that had friend status, but they've done something that now has me not patting them on the back for their achievements.

Imagine for a moment your #1 best bro that you had lots of good times hanging out with, is suddenly being smothered by some chick and he no longer acts how he used to because she's always there... watching... judging... and turning him into what she wants him to be. Imagine being at work and this chick basically used you to get ahead in the workplace and gave you no credit. Et cetera, and I could keep coming up with scenarios.

The point is, the feeling isn't restrained to her getting you to give up your options and she verbally is promising the same in return but you can see she's going to keep her options open, is shopping for men, and is going to cheat eventually. Yeah, it's not restrained to non-platonic relationships.

Jealousy is just another way of describing the feeling of getting ripped off in my humble opinion.

[imtiaz45]

A guy might get jealous of a girl he isn't dating due to emotional attachment, unspoken romantic feelings, or a sense of protectiveness. Even if the relationship is purely platonic, he may feel possessive or threatened by the attention she receives from others, especially if he values their connection deeply. Jealousy can also stem from insecurities or fear of losing her friendship to someone else. Sometimes, the guy might not consciously realize his deeper feelings, and jealousy surfaces as an unexpected response to perceived competition or the possibility of losing his place in her life

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LtCmSF_gHCw

[alice55]

feeling of ownership doesn't mean he love her or want any relationship with her

[DishLady]

(Jealous of her or jealous for her attention?)

[Asker]

For her attention. He's jealous of the other guy

[DishLady]

Oh, ok, I get you….

Some guys get so used to having a particular girl’s undivided attention that when she gets occupied (with work, school, projects, life, bf… anything), he becomes jealous for the attention that she’s now offering this other person/thing…

Same happens with siblings/close family. They feel as if you e abandoned them for this other person or thing….

[Finchie40]

You pretty much answered your own question. He is jealous , because you are not his. People can only get jealous over something or someone that isn’t theirs’ to begin with , the fact that you were spending time with another guy l? made him jealous , because you weren’t spending time with him instead. Which clearly is his fault, for not having the balls to ask you out to begin with , so you did no wrong whatsoever , he is just shy and has low self esteem about himself , and that’s up to you, if you want to date a guy that is that way? From my experiences with females ’ most females’ want to be with a guy that is confident and masculine that she can look up to , that will make her feel safe and secure , so more than likely this guy doesn’t sound like he has those traits whatsoever , which may lead you to not wanting to be with him. Even though he might be nice to you , he will also be weak to you? Please correct me if I am wrong , I am just giving you advice as to what kind of guy you might end up with.

[serious]

Well, usually such feelings of jealousy will arise when a person likes someone or have always liked them from a distance at least.

In your case, yes it is possible that he always liked you but maybe he was waiting for you to confess to him or he did not have the courage to confess to you but now that you have moved on and dating other men he is getting jealous of other guys.

[Billlewis]

It's not you he's jealous of, but rather, the lucky guy you're dating.

[Asker]

But why would he be jealous of him? Could it be he likes me?

[Billlewis]

Men are fascinated, indeed, practically obsessed with the sex you're having with other guys, especially when we're very attracted to you but have never enjoyed sex with you ourselves.

[Anonymous]

He feels cheated on? CHEATED on? Is "talking to" some kind of euphemism for "sucking his dick?"

[Asker]

No, I never did anything sexual with this guy. Talking to as in we would just chat with each other

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah--it's kinda hard for cheating to have occurred if the D isn't involved at all. This guy is a dipshit.

[Asker]

Ya, I don't know what he meant by that. He said it bothers him if I'm with someone else, but I don't get why if we aren't dating and he hasn't asked me to be his

[Opinion Owner]

You should start telling him how hot you find other guys. See what he does.

[Asker]

I would feel bad to do that, it night hurt him. When I told him how I hung out with the other guy, he got jealous, so I'm assuming he would just get upset

[Opinion Owner]

You should've said, "I didn't say I hung out with him! I said he was HUNG!" lol!

[Asker]

Oh my lol!

[Opinion Owner]

How hilarious would that be? I mean after all--you ARE friends. That's the kind of thing friends would talk about! ;)

[Anonymous]

Seems like he has low self-esteem. He probably jealous that he's not the one with you.

[Ladsin2]

He wants her, and thinks he's put in work.

[Asker]

Put in work?

[Ladsin2]

Chasing women is work. Being friends with women is work. When men do both they think they deserve some reciprocation. Women frequently don't think so. This is the dilemma.

[NOTHINGEVERHAPPENS]

Cause men often do silly stuff like that.

[paledreams]

Grass is always greener

[DrPepper12]

Cuz he's insecure, controlling and manipulative?

[LiamJHayden]

Because he wishes he were.

[FarmBoy13]

He has a crush on her

[jahaims]

Immaturity