My boyfriend jokingly said that he wants to dump me. How should I react?

[Anonymous]

He told me that he wants to cut me off from his life and wants to be free now... And that he's not the kind to cry over a break up, he's a practical man.

After hearing all this, I ended the phone conversation. Within minutes he called me back but I was in tears so I cut the call. He called several times and even messaged me that he was just joking and felt that I'd be cool with it.

He loves me a lot and he was been continuously sending me sorry messages. But I am very hurt.

What should I do? Am I over reacting?

Updates

+1 y

I know he doesn't want to break up with me. We were just talking about how some men get extremely emotional after break ups etc. Basically we were on the topic of break up and then he randomly said that he wants to end it.

[klg808]

Talk to him and explain why it was a hurtful thing for him to say. Sometimes guys just don't get what will offend a girl and go a bit too far with the joking (I've had a guy call me a walrus thinking it was funny, another joking that if I ate another cookie I wouldn't fit behind the desk - not funny jokes to a girl, but they seemed to find them hysterical until I started tearing up). Ask him why he would joke about that, and if he really thinks that he wants to cut you off from his life. If he's honestly considered it, I'd say break up with him, if only for a while. Show him what it would be like without you and he'll realize how stupid he was to joke about leaving you. But be prepared for the possibility that he'll want the break-up to be permanent. I don't know, maybe this is bad advice - I honestly don't have much experience with relationships! But I've seen friends go through stuff like this and it seems to work quite well.

[Anonymous]

despite the fact if he was joking its still not very funny and that's how feelings get hurt I would say to him how would he like it if you did that to him and then a few minutes later say oh I'm sorry I was just joking. breaking up isn't a joking subject and it should be serious if he doesn't want to break up with you and was joking then I guess a sorry should be fine but I would just tell him that I really like you and it really hurt my feelings to tell him how it made you feel.

[meplusabeemer]

Why would he joke about something so serious? That's really cruel and mean.

When you feel up to it, call him and let him explain his actions. I hope that he has a better excuse than it was a "joke." I don't buy that explanation and if I were you, I'd be hurt too. I would also question his respect level and trust.

I am sure if it was a "joke" then you might be able to get past the hurt and move on. Only you can determine that.

[l-hedoniste]

"It's over. We're done. HA HA HA!"

WTF?

If he was warning you he wanted a little more freedom, he was an *sshole about it. But if this was his idea of humor, he was an *sshole about it.