Fallout
An old B&W photo of me sitting in running shorts. Running shorts are cut oddly and you don’t wear underwear with them. They’re very comfortable and light but they’re not the safest to sit in..
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Fallout
An old B&W photo of me sitting in running shorts. Running shorts are cut oddly and you don’t wear underwear with them. They’re very comfortable and light but they’re not the safest to sit in..
Cluster B fuckery
One of the manipulation tactics that Cluster B women (I'm only speaking from my experience) use could be called "weaponized retardation". Most often this is exemplified by my repeated need to explain myself and constant effort trying to be understood. For example, I may set a soft-boundary and say "I would appreciate it if you answer your phone when you know I'm coming over". And then when I arrive at 7pm as I earlier said I would, I will call...and the phone rings and goes to voicemail. This happens repeatedly until 7:10pm when they finally answer with the ocean of "oh sorry oh sorry oh sorry I am so sorry, sorry sorry, oh sorry, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened, sorry, sorry, oh sorry". I explain to them that they knew I would arrive at 7pm and I would call so that I could be let into the apartment building. Ignoring my explanation, they flood me with apologies again. I repeat myself. I'm flooded with apologies. I repeat myself a 4th time and ask if they understand. I get the barest of nods and they change the subject immediately.
The next day, the same thing happens.
This is a silly example, but I've noticed that it's the typical "normal" for dealing with the Cluster B women in my life. Weaponized retardation. I don't for a second think they're actually stupid. Whether on a conscious or subconscious level, it's a way for them to exert a feeling of control over me in an incredibly toxic, passive-aggressive and manipulative way.
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The only solution that I'm aware of is to treat people as "black boxes". I've noticed this perspective and model of interaction seems to be prevalent in Stoic philosophy. Instead of making any effort at being understood, you simply speak in statements, or boundaries with consequences. "I will arrive at 7pm" or "I will arrive at 7pm. If you do not let me in when I arrive I will enjoy my night somewhere else because my time is important to me."
Specific situations like that are easy enough to adhere to that guidance. But it's brand new territory for me to model all my interaction in a relationship to be nothing but statements & boundaries with consequences.
Something to practice going forward.
Thanks IG
Motivation
There are two motivations for people to be in a relationship:
People who are in a relationship because they love their partner
People who are in a relationship because they fear their partner abandoning them
Needless to say, the people with the latter motivation create toxic relationships by default. They're not motivated by feelings of love and they feel no motivation to show love. They will not do anything to nurture the relationship; doing only the bare minimum needed to sustain it. Their words and actions don't align. They are devious enough to talk the talk, and placate their partner with words, but when it come to actually showing through concrete action they will fail (if they attempt at all).
Additionally, the dynamic they create within the relationship is extremely toxic. They teach their partner through their own inaction that the only way to get their attention or spur them to action is to threaten (or actually) abandon them. When you have one foot already out the door, they will muster up all the willpower that had previously been missing.
I wish there was a label for these toxic people. They're not in relationships for love, they're in relationships because they fear being alone.
Multiple Personality Disorder
When I was researching Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), one of the odd things I discovered was how it overlaps Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). Maybe not a large overlap, but still enough to cause me to raise an eyebrow.
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Most people have a Public life and a Private life. I suppose if you'd like you can equate those also to Persona and (true) Self. It's very natural for us to have a Public and a Personal life. We understand that we can't walk around naked in public nor exclaim unpopular opinions without being severely judged by our peers. The Public/Private divide allows us to function an an effective and stable way with other people.
Now, let me create a hypothetical example of a person with BPD named Felicia. Felicia has a Public persona she's created for her work at the Accounting office. This Persona allows her to function productively with her coworkers. She forms a close friendship with a friend from the office and they get coffee together. Her friend Linda shares things private to her life, and Felicia, in turn, shares private facts with her friend.
But Felicia also has her college friend-group of 10 alumni. Once a week they get together at the bar and play trivia. Felicia has created a specific Persona for her college friend-group that is different from her office Persona. Amongst her college-friends is her old roommate, Tiffani. After the 10 of them meet at the bar, Felicia and Tiffany are walking to the parking lot. Tiffany confides in Felicia something private to her. Felicia does the same, but shares a private fact about herself that she has kept secret from her Office coworkers, from her office-friend Linda, and secret from her other college friends.
Felicia has now constructed 2 separate public Personas and 2 separate private selves.
Over the past year, Felicia has started a relationship with a guy named Jim. When the two of them are out in public, at restaurants, clubs, museums, Felicia has created public Persona for him. And when the two are alone in her apartment, she has created a specific Self for Jim. In private, Felicia shares secrets with Jim that she would never tell Tiffany or Linda. Additionally, Linda has heard secrets that Jim and Tiffany will never hear.
Felicia has now constructed 3 separate public Personas and 3 separate private Selves.
Not only does she wear 6 different masks, but she has to work hard to make sure she compartmentalizes her 3 private selves and the secrets that only each has heard.
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After a quick google search there's apparently a diagnosis called "OSDD" that is between BPD and MPD. I think that's what I've been describing...?
On Cheating (physical)
I don't think I agree with the common definition of "cheating" regarding what the crux of the violation is. Sadly, we are still held down by our puritanical roots in ways we're not aware of. When someone says "my spouse cheated on me", they immediately think that sex out of marriage is the violation. That's certainly an aspect of the cheating but I don't think it's the main one.
Infidelity. Breaking one's vows. Breaking a promise made to your partner. Breaking an agreement with your partner.
Unfaithful. Not being loyal to your partner. Not giving consideration to your partner and their feelings. Breaking a promise made to your partner.
While having sex with another person is often the act given as an example of cheating, I think it's the deception that happens before and after that is the true damage. First, the person has effectively lied by making a promise they either couldn't or wouldn't keep. Secondly, they person has effectively lied by expecting their partner to uphold their promises while not showing reciprocity in doing so. Thirdly, they lied by choosing not to have a conversation with their partner to disclose their desire or temptation to break the promise made. All of those effectively took place before the physical act.
Then there's the deception that usually happens in preparation for the physical act; secretive messages, secret conversations, secret plans, secret locations and times. After the act, the deception of continuing to lie to your partner by not disclosing what has happened. The deception of hiding proof, deleting messages, manufacturing cover stories and excuses. The continued lies about where they were, who they were with. And the compounded lie of withholding the truth of what happened every additional day, week, month, and year.
The physical act of "cheating" is nothing more than a point in time. The lies and deception that happened before and after are what are far more damaging.
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An contrary example may be helpful to understand my point. Say I am in a relationship with you. I decide one day that I want to have sex with my coworker. I immediately contact you via text, phone, or in person. I tell you directly, "I know I made a promise to be committed to you but that is not something that I can do right now. I am making the choice to leave this committed relationship. What you decide to do is up to you. But I am going to have sex with another person but I couldn't live with myself if I cheated on anyone."
That is in effect, the opposite of what the vast majority of people do in that situation.
"Any relationship you cannot walk away from is not a relationship. It's a hostage situation."
Nice Guy
The much maligned "nice guy". I think the phrase means two completely different things to men and women. Either way, as a guy my only concern with that phrase is, How is this perceived to be unattractive?
An example I heard recently really hit home and I've been mulling over it for the past few days.
Nice guys are (as perceived) not assertive. Instead of communicating directly what they want, they instead:
complain
criticize
judge
act passive-aggressive
sulk
All of which are perceived as being unattractive (and not masculine if we're adding that perspective).
Not-Nice guys instead of being reactive, they:
state their wants/needs/standards clearly and concisely
assert themselves
are their own advocate
They are also outcome-independent, in that they understand that stating their needs/wants is not a demand. Their partner may disagree or ignore them. At that point the not-nice guy has a choice to restate their needs/wants or leave the relationship. But complaining about their needs not being met is not an option.
I'd be remiss without adding that Not-Nice guys also:
set clear boundaries
always enforce boundaries
No fight. No argument. Simply "this is the consequence of you making that choice".
The Two Relationship Styles
While driving a few days ago I had a moment of clarity and realized that there are actually 2 different styles of relationships that I've been conflating...and has caused me a lot of confusion.
The first style, I'll call the "Relationship of Connection" is what I would call your traditional long-term committed relationship. The main theme in this relationship is connection between two people and built by different things but predominantly intimacy in all its forms.
The second style, I'll call the "Relationship of Attraction". I also call this the "Relationship of 2026" because it seems this is the preferred style for most people in this era. The main theme of this relationship is attraction, and usually built by maintaining the tension and the distance between two people.
Relationship of Attraction
Partners remain fully independent, not interdependent
See each other once a week. No more than twice.
Acknowledgement over empathy. Hold space for the other's feelings but remain separate.
Ownership over support. You fight your struggles, they fight theirs.
Present over future. No discussion of the future together.
You build a life and goals that are separate from the other.
Self-respect (over compromise) to build desire
Relationship of Connection
Partners are interdependent, not independent, not codependent.
See each other multiple times a week to build connection.
Empathy, reassure partner they're not alone.
Support each other. We will fight as a team.
Future plans. Discussion of what the relationship will be in the future.
We, not I, will build a life together. Shared goals.
Intimacy and empathy to build connection.
My confusion is that I've been taught (?) only the relationship of connection for so many years that I assumed it was the only form of a relationship and what others wanted also. I've only realized now that in 2026 that is the rarity. The vast majority of people don't want a relationship that builds a future together. The vast majority of people want what I used to call "Mr. Saturday Night": I pick up my partner on Saturday night, we have dinner, maybe see a movie, go dancing, come home and have great sex, and then do not see each other for 6 days. Rinse and Repeat.
The differences in those types of relationships goes much deeper than I originally thought. So much of the "attraction" type is built on hyper-individualization to the point that not even empathy or support is given, only acknowledgement. (Such as statements like "I can see that really hurt to be told your mom died today") The driving idea that, as the saying goes, "Distance builds desire". Not just distance of physically seeing each other only once a week, but a distance of emotional connection.
I expect there are many more differences between the two types and with luck I'll be adding to this post.
July: my cat
Today was rough. One of my friends is on their literal deathbed with a terrible infection. They expect to only live a while longer.
Additionally I received the news that my cat has a heart condition and will need to take more medicine. My cat will need a EKG to help determine the nature of the heart condition.
Daisy has been the family cat for 10 years. And I currently live alone except for her, so this is extremely painful news on a very personal level.
July with cat
An early morning photo of me and my cat (both nude). This photo is special for reasons.
Off the rails
A phrase I've always used in my relationship is "this is going off the rails". I've used this to express that I'm seeing the relationship veer off from what I feel was agreed upon or what is healthy.
But lately I've wondered if something is wrong with me and how I perceive relationships because I realized that I've used this phrase in every relationship I've ever been in.
An example that comes to mind is my relationship with J. When we started seeing each other we had sex every time we saw each other, which was 3-4 times a week. Other activities included going to dancing at the club and seeing concerts.
A few years later and our sex life had been cut in half, down to 1-2 times a week and we weren't dancing as much. Concerned, I told J that I felt our relationship had "gone off the rails" and that I'd like us to discuss and make sure we're on the same page. We had an uncomfortable discussion but in the end we both agreed that sex 1-2 times a week was good and we'd go dancing 2x a week.
A few months after that our sex life is down to once every 1-2 weeks, and I'm going dancing and to concerts by myself. Confused, as we had both agreed to what we wanted, I sat J down to express how the relationship had "gone off the rails".
Please don't get hung-up on the particular example. It's just an example. The point is that I go through life assuming:
It's healthy to have discussions in relationships around needs/wants
It's healthy to understand each other's needs/wants and work to meet them; sometimes by finding a middleground.
It's healthy to set expecations in the relationship
It's healthy to assume that when a partner agrees to something, they can be trusted
Am I naïve? Am I being an idiot? I thought these type of things were normal parts of a healthy relationship.
Ignoring everything I've been told and only looking at behavior, I see this instead:
Discussing needs/wants is pointless
Needs/wants are 100% personal and responsible for being met by the person--by any means necessary
Expectations only lead to disappointment
A partner's words cannot be trusted. They will do what they want.
Without going into detail, I've had two partners in my previous long term relationships tell me directly that meeting my sexual needs is my responsibility and it's better for me to cheat on them than to try to discuss the issue with them.
Extreme examples to be sure, but examples nonetheless.
Taking a step back from everything, what's the correct course of action? I feel like my partners keep showing me that relationships are like rivers...always twisting and turning in different directions, sometimes moving swiftly, sometimes slowly. And that I should just STFU and float down river.
But if they are the ones defining the riverbanks, where the river is headed and how fast, then aren't they simply making sure things don't "go off the rails" from their perspective?
I don't trust people when they say "just go with the flow and let things happen". When I hear that, I hear, "just STFU and do what I want"
Future Fading
I stumbled across the most wonderful phrase: Future Fading. I make a lot of videos on Narcissistic Abuse, and this was in a video I came across discussing indicators of cheating (or about to cheat). First some background.
Future Faking. This is a term used to describe the manipulation tactic narcissists will use early on in a relationship once things become a little bumpy. The tactic involves redirecting the victims attention away from the present and towards the future by saying things like, "Won't it be nice when we live together?", "What neighborhood do you think we'll live in?", "It will be so wonderful to travel the world with you after we're married!" etc. The narcissist floods the victim with false promises--usually the exact future the victim has mentioned they'd love to have. It's a dream come true! (Only it will never come true.)
Future Fading explained. This is a term to describe statements made before cheating (or after cheating on your partner has begun). In a healthy committed relationship, both partners will use phrasing like "We will have so much fun on vacation this summer!" or "Where do you want us to visit after graduation?" or "We should go camping soon!" or "We need to discuss where we want to move next year!" Notice the plural: we, we, us, us. This is natural as a healthy partner is picturing the future with their partner.
Future Fading example. What can happen is that a person who is happy in the relationship will continue using "We" and "Us". But as a person drifts away, their subconscious mind has already begun checking out. So when they picture their future, it doesn't include their current partner, it only includes themselves. So "Future Fading" would be when a partner says "I am looking forward to traveling this summer" or "I really need to look at apartments to move to" or "I need to decide what city to transfer to" or "I need to make a trip to the museum; I want to see that new exhibit". I, I, I, I.
The lesson: When a person who normally uses "we" statements about the future starts saying only "I" statements then they have subconsciously already left the relationship. If they haven't begun cheating on you they likely will soon.
Cat
A nude photo of me and my terribly rude cat that woke me up this morning
The day before
Just after midnight on 12/31/2022 I was assaulted by my girlfriend while I was driving in heavy traffic during a snowstorm. I had just told her I was leaving the relationship. Her reaction was to sucker-punch me in the face while I was I was steering the car down the road, shattering my glasses, sending my lenses flying. I tried to drive, the road blurry, blood streaming down my stinging face, dripping upon my shirt.
That and the aftermath is a long, twisted story. I've told it so many times I bore myself event thinking about it.
The day before though is a story I've shared a few times with people and their response has been...unsettling.
12/30/2022 - I'm still in a relationship with J. I'm at her townhome at night. We just finished eating pizza and watching a Neil Gaiman tv series that aired on BBC. The night is winding down and I'm thinking I should get my coat and head home. I stand up from the couch, return my empty plate to the kitchen. J grabs her iPad and asks me to sit down on the couch next to her. I'm not in a rush so I walk back to the couch and sit down.
"I want to look at engagement rings with you," she says as she turns on the iPad and brings up the website for the boutique jeweler that she adores. She sits closer to me so our bodies are touching, practically leaning upon each other. "What do you think of these?" she asks as she pulls up a photo of two white-gold rings with purple Amethysts centered in them, skeletons embraced on either side. "Oh, I like this one!" she says, pointing to a photo of a translucent coffin made of yellow Citrine, the loving skeletons intertwined within the coffin.
I know what she's doing. I've been with her for 4 years and I've learned her games, her tricks. Love-bombing, intermittent reinforcement, and what she's doing right now: future-faking. Our relationship is near death, on life-support. She is a ghost, a specter, a fluttering image of the woman that used to love me. There's no substance to her. Her words are hollow, without weight. She can sense that I've figured her out and her game. She can sense that I have one foot out the door. She no longer loves me but goddamn does she love feeling she owns me. She will do anything to keep me. Everything but love me. So she does the next best thing: pretend we have a future together. Pretend that she'll love me again...in the future.
She doesn't want me thinking about how terrible things are now. She knows she can no longer control me. She needs me to change my focus from the present to the future. A make-believe future that she paints in the air with words and photos of engagement rings she has no intention of ever wearing.
She moves her finger across the iPad and another beautiful photo comes up. When she asks me which one I like, I deflect, "I don't know. Which one do you like?" Narcissists love to hear themselves talk. She excitedly lists out what she likes about each one and says she'll have to think about them tonight and decide which she likes best.
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The day before she assaulted me she invited me to sit down with her and look at engagement rings. It was a blatant attempt at manipulation. Nothing more. If you don't understand this, consider yourself lucky. I envy you. I wish I didn't understand things so clearly.
A nude photo taken on a cold May morning
I sleep with the windows open. It must have gotten really cold last night because the house was quite chilly this morning.
May
A lazy morning nude photo taken this May