What does "I don't want to hold you back" mean?

[SophieSantorini]

Basically there was this guy that I have been flirting with for a while, and he always told me how much he liked me. The thing is I moved for college and Ill be in a different state than him for three years. Recently he told me that he just wanted to be friends because he didn't want to hold me back, but later said, really he is just afraid that things won't work out and doesn't want to get hurt. He never initiated contact with me, even though he'd answer whenever I did, so I started not texting him first. He then texted me and said he missed me and didn't understand why I wasn't texting him. So I texted him first today, trying to be nice and said something sweet like have a good day I've been thinking about you- and he completely ignored me. What is his deal?

[LibraPisces66]

Omg, this guy is hilarious, and transparent. What a crock, for him to try to paint himself first as not wanting to hold you back (BS), then trying to play the pity-me/potential victim card of not wanting to get hurt. Please. Gee, and what surprise, now he's basically saying why are you still contacting me, and can't be bothered with replying at all. His "deal" is that he is done with you and has mentally moved on. He just wants to be seen as mr nicey nice, rather than as a taker/user. Please don't fall for this crap. Wise up. This guy is so full of it! His actions reveal the truth of what he thinks of you, and it is not a pretty picture. Your emotions for him are not mirrored back to you. All he ever wanted was sex, and to keep emotionally stringing you along. At least till he realized your schooling was getting in the way. Now he has lost interest. Which shows you how little he thinks of you, or of having a real relationship.

[LibraPisces66]

Opps, I misread you when you said he asked why you weren't texting him. My bad. Still, it is as I said before in your other question from last night. He's an attention addict. Plain and simple. He is also shamelessly stringing you along emotionally, knowing that you have feelings for him, and using them to feed his addiction.

[notanexpert101]

1st opinion - agreeing with mooky06. 2nd opinion - some guys use this as an opportunity to get out of the relationship (or potential relationship as you have described it) with out being "hurtful" about it. IMHO - based strictly on what you said, I would go with opinion 1 on this, I think he is totally insecure, likes you a lot, knows you have a great opportunity in front of you, and probably wishes all of this were different, unfortunately he is letting his own anger at himself for his insecurity, out on you by ignoring you. Best to you.

[mooky06]

"I don't want to hold you back" is just his way of telling you that he doesn't want to be the reason why you can't do what you want to do with your life. He sounds like he really likes you, but scared that he may get hurt

[Gcoolguy]

this exactly.