ADVERTISEMENT

What would you say if someone asked you what it means to be a good man? Some may say it’s caring, others would say it’s about being honest. But what if the question were a little different—what does it mean to be a real man? Taking charge and risks, suppressing weaknesses, and talking like a man may pop into your mind.

This is in fact the real test Prof. Michael Kimmel, a leading scholar on masculinity, runs on his students when the classes start. The simple warm-up activity shows how confusing the messages that boys get from society about manhood are. And it’s not just boys, the notion of masculinity in our society often represses men, claiming that strength is manly, and emotions are weak.

In order to see how truly damaging these narrow cultural ideals of manliness can be, we have to look at the real-life stories from men who experienced it firsthand. So when someone asked on r/AskMen “What was the worst reaction to letting down your emotional shield?” the unsettling responses came in one after another, as they shed light on just how lonely and misunderstood some men really are.

#1

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings You guys must have pretty terrible girlfriends. My wife and I share most things we feel vulnerable about. I am not going out of my way to be emotional, but I'm not hiding it behind some shield either.

If you show your true colors to a partner and she breaks up with you, it wasn't meant to last anyway.

KtG_80 , Kim Siever Report

#2

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings In college a couple friends (both f) noticed I (m) was having a bad week and insisted I tell them what was going on.

After 15 minutes of me ranting about my grades, professors, my job, my family, I was starting to feel better getting it all off my chest. But then one of them, making no attempt to hide it, leans to the other and says “damn I wish we never asked” and they both start laughing with each other about how much they didn’t want to be there listening to me.

Now whenever people ask how I’m doing I just say I’m fine or I’m tired to save the time and energy.

stressedRAPHAEL Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thats low. Dont ask unless u genuinely want to know. And dont diss other ppl when they open up:bring down ur wall is hard, and if it has to go back up it's fortified now

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#3

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I don’t like opening up to anyone even today, after two years of anti depressants and six months of therapy. I can’t open up to my mom because she would end up using it against me, maybe immediately, maybe later. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom. She’s been through a great deal and tried her level best to not let that [stuff] reach us ( my brother and I),but to err is human. My dad is what your typical Indian dad is, a stoic guy, not expressing himself( kind of like the meme of that dog sitting in a room on fire). Add to that his emotionally distant parents and him joining the army at 17 to become an officer and you have this absolutely thick exterior that doesn’t let anything through. I work as a doctor in Delhi. Everyone around is dying. Bright eyed juniors I knew, people I said goodbye to not knowing it would be the last opportunity I’d get, patients and their hapless families, grieving mothers/ fathers/ wives/ husbands/ parents/ children. None of them deserved it and I feel that somehow I’m to blame. I can’t just man up every time. Sorry I started this diatribe. Had to get it out somewhere.

trastmaanus , Mulyadi Report

Add photo comments
POST
K Witmer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So so so sorry. I feel so awful for you. I hope you heal from this and find a person you trust enough to confide in soon.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#4

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings In my family I - as the father - am the rock and immovable point where everything hinges on. The stoic calm eye of the storm.

I once started to open up to my wife about what worries me and she almost had a nervous breakdown and I ended up consoling her for an hour. And it was some of the rather tame [stuff] I deal with all the time.

I stopped opening up about my worries towards her after that. I have a friend or two I can share heavy stuff with, but not with my partner. I tell her about stuff once it is solved.

"You should open up to me more!"

No.

Example of something current? The smell of desinfectant triggers painful memories of the death of my first daughter (NICU, 27 days old). Luckily you can't see my face under the mask in public, where there is a desinfectant station at every shop. I barely flinch at the pain anymore.

"You look grumpy today?"

"Grocery shopping was... exhausting. Everything is fine."

Horst665 , Polycart Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How heartbreaking for 2 reasons. One for not being able to open up to your wife and two for the loss of your daughter.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Told my dad I was on brain meds for anxiety.

“Mental weakling” were the words I believe.

auxilary , mhouge Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No wonder men's suicide rates are so high when men get reactions like this. Things need to change.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I went to therapy and my therapist advised me to let down my guard to my girlfriend. She lost all attraction to me, shared my issues with her whole friend group for “her support”, and then broke up with me. Life will teach you lessons the hard way whenever possible.

BreakerMark78 , Nik Shuliahin Report

#7

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I opened up to my mother twice about how I feel about my life and she is still using it against me 5 years later. I’ll never forgive her for that

Wooshmeister55 , Mike Boening Photography Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sarcastic Cow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the biggest fears - tell something painful about yourself and they will use it against you.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I opened up about my home situation in primary school to my teachers. it was about how my dad has a fuse the size of a microbe and can be verbally..abusive. my teacher told my parents what I told her. needless to say my dad was pissed and I didnt dare to talk about this stuff to “trust persons” till last year (16 years later)

Riganthor , Bart Everson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Aunt Messy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happened to me when I told a guidance counselor about the way my father beat me. I showed him the bruises. That SOB was on the phone to him telling him about my "lies" before I'd even left the building. ...///... When I got home, my father broke at least three ribs and bruised my kidneys to the point where I urinated blood for days. I was not permitted to go to a doctor.

Billy The Kid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

REALLY!? So what your teacher done was caused more crap for you. Hope you reported the teacher about this. And not being allowed to go to the doctors. Your dad is a sad bully and a coward!

Load More Replies...
Leo Domitrix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Mandatory reporting" doesn't mean "report to the people accused".... I ran into this, then my dad's rage, 40 years ago. *sigh*

Rick Seiden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teachers are mandated reporters. That teacher should have gone to the principal or to CPS.

Queen Jackson.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve been visited by DCF and CPS. If they’re ever ally d not physically they may not do anything, because they didn’t do anything for us. They didn’t help us because my mom didn’t abuse us everyday, it’s for discipline, and we didn’t have abuse bruises.

Load More Replies...
El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teachers, in my country, still don't have a duty to intervene. Mostly what happens when they have a real concern is that they'll wait until the VERY end of the school year before reporting it, if they do at all. Many of them care less about the children than they do about getting blowback..

Nikki Sevven
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teachers are mandatory reporters. They should have reported your concerns to child protective services. Failure to do so is a crime, at least in the US.

Vicki Thill
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom and dad got into a heated argument when I was a kid and it scared me. It didn't happen often, but Dad had a habit of taking it too far with name calling. I told my teacher the next day and she called my dad at work, not my mom, who would have understood. Nope, she called my dad. He yelled at me about keeping our home life private and my nine year old little girl self told him that every single time he calls my mother names, that I'm going to tell every one I see that he did that, forever, including calling grandma and nothing was going to stop me. Not much arguing after that, that I can recall. Your dad owes you an apology. His job is to keep you safe, that is his job, verbal abuse is not keeping you safe, even if it's not directed at you. Shame on him for not hearing the teachers concerns and using it to make you feel safe. Shame on him.

Celena Camps
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sorry you had to go through that. I hope you are safe and supported now.

Lena Flising
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Informing an abuser that the victim has talked about the abuse can be REALLY dangerous, even life-threatening.

Fieke Engelen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is so wrong! I presume they get training for this now. I genuinely hope so

Luuta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My swimming instructor at school told me to trust him, he wouldn't let go of me, and I did, and he did. It felt like he was deliberately killing me with the whole class bobbing around. He told me he had hoped the shock would kick in some kind of survival instinct. It didn't, i just swallowed a hell of a lot of water. Last time i trusted a person in authority.

Tame panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The teacher must be fired and should not be allowed to be a teacher or babysitter or child caretaker.

Nikki
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I told my uncle about the fact that my sister would hit me and call me horrid things and he told my dad so now I am grounded.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My mother passed when I was 15, cried my eyes out to my girlfriend at the time – she called me a little b**** and said she didn’t get why I was crying – behind my back to her group of friends, and my best friend, who told me. So I broke up with her, then she spread a bunch of rumors about me. Yep, Teenagers are [messed] up

Vakiand , StockSnap Report

#10

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings The one person I looked up to and wanted to be proud of me told me how worthless I was to him in a way that left no room for doubt.

IFinallyDidItMom , Cristian Ungureanu Report

#11

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My ex never reacted well to me opening up to her. I think it scared her or something. Getting a real, raw glimpse inside someone who is struggling with mental health issues can really freak people out, especially when they have this idea of who their partner should be or, how they want their life to be.

SirZachofThames , danielle_blue Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need to stop picturing men to be these robotic, emotionless beings. They have emotions just like everyone else and deserve to be heard.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My biological father is a [jerk], and a lot of my depression and self esteem issues stem from my relationship with him. I tried opening up to a college girlfriend about it, and she called me “Captain Daddy Issues” and laughed at me. I laughed it off at the time, but it seriously broke my heart and led to me shutting down emotionally until I met the women I wound up marrying.

Scungilli-Man69 , Tony Alter Report

#13

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Grew up in the hood. Lost friends to violence or prison, lost people to drugs, saw some [stuff] that really [messed] me up.

Met a girl who told me I could tell her anything and she was always there if I needed to talk. One night it got to me and I opened up to her and you could just see all the attraction leave her face. She ended up distancing herself from me afterwards and we lost contact.

Learned a harsh but blunt truth that night. When women say they want you to open up, what they really mean is the romanticized version their favorite romance flicks show, not what it actually looks like to open up.

BigTiddyOrc , Polina Zimmerman Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry she did that. Just know not every woman is like that. If I tell someone that I am here for them and that they can open up to me, I mean it. Even if I find some situations awkward and don't know what to say, I will still be there to listen.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My wife started sleeping with someone else. Lesson learned.

RAHL3 , Alex Green Report

#15

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My grandfather who was like my father died. Then for the next 3 weeks I was very sad and aloof. My girlfriend at the time just found another guy because I couldn't be fun.

blacksmy , Andrew Neel Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a way to kick a man when he's down. I know it's not much consolation but at least you found out the kind of person she was before you committed a lifetime with her. You deserve better.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings For me, it was when I needed her to be the strong one. Got super stressed out from first deployment, expressed that I needed a day or two of my own time to chill out from my gf at the time due to her insatiable desire to either be horny or problematic or how she would constantly express her horniness and then dump a really tough conversation on me (she was very back and forth about wanting kids, huge topic for me). Like she’d butter me up and then mention her mother wants us to date for 7 years before marriage and that’s the only way it could happen like wHAT. So. During the time I needed to clear my head, I didn’t do anything that’d hurt her I just went to work and focused on me and coping. Turns out, she lost interest in me pretty much immediately and then left me the two days later once I felt okay again because I wasn’t good enough. It’s cool, I was fine all alone out there and I learned that I am not dating a manipulative wreck who uses relationships to feel better about themself and uses me as a therapist. I’m a grown ass man and sometimes if I’m really stressed I need space away from the stress and not more crying or problems or complicated shenanigans.

No-Pilot-2870 , Pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Billy The Kid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

stress can be a big mental problem and the last thing anybody needs is having more added to it.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#17

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I found out the person I wanted to be proud of me was just using me for their own personal gain. It was one of two people I fully let my guard down and man it stung.

ajl987 , Pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Billy The Kid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not nice when someone you look up to kicks you down just when you needed them.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings A friend of mine told me I should open up more, and to share more with her. She promptly decided to drop all her problems on me, while also telling me to [sod] off when I had my own problems because “you should go deal with your problems yourself, I’m not your therapist”. She then used my issues to try and gaslight me into thinking I was insane. Nice gal, we ain’t friends anymore.134

T_JUS665 , Peggy_Marco Report

#19

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My wife asked me what I said at counselling and I told her about my suicidal thoughts. She wondered aloud what else I hadn’t told her, and why I was keeping secrets, and does she really know me, and how can she trust me…

mcshaggy , Alex Green Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#20

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings When I've opened up to women about my abusive childhood (because they ask me to "open up more"), they 9/10 times attempt to win gold in the "Victim Olympics". They compare traumas and somehow make it about them. Yet when they tell me about their struggles/traumas I always listen, show compassion, and validate them if applicable. I never compare.

My ex even got mad at me after I opened up. Not in the moment. It was about 3 weeks later. She said "I feel like I can't even open up to you anymore". When I asked why? she said "When I think about what you've been through, I feel like I can't complain about my situation". She was upset at me for this and wanted me to apologize for having "worse" (it's all subjective) trauma than her own.

I've found that many women want more for you to communicate how something made you feel. As opposed to hearing what actually happened. I've had the most success when I omit details and only discuss the feeling. For example "Childhood I felt helpless and alone but I'm good now". Rather than "When I was 11 my brother held a metal fork to the stove and branded me with it for fun".

Less details the better. Oh and for the record, you'll never out victim them.

Praws12 , Keira Burton Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do so many people have to make things into a competition. Especially about who is the biggest victim. I'm sorry but that is just f****d up. We all have our stories and we all deserve someone to hear us and I don't mean just listen but to actually acknowledge what they are saying and showing compassion.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#21

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I got my ass beat for trying to talk to my mom about being abused. Then getting s**t on every time I’ve tried to relate to someone since. I don’t really want to live in a world like this but I guess I don’t have a choice.

Acerimmerr , StockSnap Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are worthy, you just haven't found the right people to have in your life, to listen, love and support you.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Once, I told my friends about my high insecurities regarding my physical appearance and my “attractivness” (or lack of thereof in my case), and they laughed at me and made joke about it not being a “big deal” and implying that I was acting/thinking like a girl. I never shared anything more with those friends lol.

AgentJhon , Tim Dorr Report

#23

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings The number of times I’ve been told “Ah you’re like a girl” and ignored is pathetic.

garlic_bread_thief , StockSnap Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sarcastic Cow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You´re like a girl - you have to be strong in a world full of a**holes. That´s true, innit?

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#24

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Opened up about how I felt about being dumped to a close friend that I was there for when they were in the same situation. My feelings and emotions were dismissed. The conversation left me feeling like an idiot for having these perfectly normal post break up feelings.

Gre3nBe3p , TanteTati Report

Add photo comments
POST
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How quickly people forget things. So-called friends can be selfish. "I'm going through some heavy stuff. I need help. You have to listen to me." When it comes to you and your time of need: "Yeah, just get over it. It's no big deal."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My ex GF,I was going through a rough patch slight depression. Told her I was looking to improve our relationship and understanding. She decided to break up with me.

Even if I was the rock, helped her earn some money, drove her everywhere. Helped her sister when she got beat up by exhusband (yeah awful). Helped her sister with the kids by finding them diapers and food. Helped the dad find oil and gasoline (my country for a moment there was none). And drove her to medical school when she couldn’t find transport. Paid for a trip to another country when our country was failing so we could be safer (later returned).

I said “you know i was not in a good place, i have not been my best for like 3 months. Ive supported you in everything, just give me a small chance”.

She responded “ don’t kill yourself, if you feel bad call your best friend”. “ you dont deserve this”.

Found out she cheated and the new boyfriend appeared a month later. Still hurts even after a year.

I’m still awestruck the way she did everything, a 3 year relationship meant that little.... but i have been better.

LordDeathScum , Daniel Oldfield Report

Add photo comments
POST
Billy The Kid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everything that you have done for her and her family you sound to me to be a good man. If this is how she treated you then you are better off without her. Her loss big time!

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#26

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings That was my experience with my first girlfriend. She was really pushy about knowing my deepest, most irrational feelings, but got insecure, defensive and hurt over them when I shared instead of being remotely supportive.

Poschta , Sammy-Williams Report

Add photo comments
POST
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell me all about yourself, but leave out the details that I might find offensive, hurtful or too emotional for me to handle. [Sarcasm:Off]

View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I tested the waters with my old college friends by telling them how sad I’ve been lately, but I was ignored.

It just hurt and made my feelings invalid. So, I pretended I was super chill, like I’ve always been doing and everything was ok again. Not really

Edit: This doesn’t sound so bad compared to everyone else, but I never share my feelings. I thought it might be a time where I can come out and try to share my emotions with people I thought would understand, but it wasn’t meant to be.

thebestbutterchicken , Tim Evanson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Hilary Mol
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I appreciate you sharing this with all of us. I'm sorry you felt ignored and rejected by the people who were supposed to be your friends.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Went through an ugly domestic violence experience and relationship breakdown. Restraining order. Divorce. Whole shebang.

Tried to reach out to my only family member. Was told "I don't have the emotional capacity to support you".

K. Thx. [screw] me right.

ThrowRA-4545 , Michael D Beckwith Report

Add photo comments
POST
H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In this case I have some sympathy for the family member. Not everyone is emotionally capable of giving the type of support that is needed. It's not necessarily personal, and probably better that they just tell them up front. I hope the guy managed to find support elsewhere.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I was honest with friends when I was younger and it just made me a target. If you show weakness you open yourself up to abuse. I think there's only 3 options really.

Therapy. Find an outside person with no social connection to you.

Work out to burn off those emotions.

Take ecstasy and overshare with people who are also on ecstasy. It's the only time in my life I've been able to do that and not be judged for it.

farlos75 , Polina Zimmerman Report

Add photo comments
POST
Logic and Reason
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Therapy- yes, if you can afford it. Exercise- totally! Ecstasy- Terrible idea. There are outlets to share your feelings without being on dangerous and illegal drugs.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

Like every other shield, you drop it you get stabed or shot. The only time you drop the shield is when the other person can't hurt you or you know really damn well that they won't.

I don't drop my shield.

MossTheGnome Report

Add photo comments
POST
El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how men become. The previous thirty-odd examples are WHY they become like this. Society messes people up, this is how men are messed up..

#32

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings My ex was incredibly manipulative. As we were nearing the end of our relationship there were two distinct times that were the final nails in the coffin so to speak.

The first was when I was trying to salvage the marriage, I asked her to be more involved. Told her I didn't feel loved and that it felt like she had checked out. She didn't try with the kids, the house, sex or me. I said I wanted more. She told me if I didn't like it I should leave. How someone who supposedly loved me could say that to my face when I was trying to tell her I was unhappy was beyond me.

The second was. a few months later. I got tired of trying to hide things and emotionally broke down one day. Ugly crying and all. I told her I was unhappy and I wanted to leave. I didn't want to be in that relationship anymore. I told her basically all the things I had said before. She was a bit upset. But she said "I never thought you would leave, so I stopped trying" To this day that still echos through my head.

We got divorced a few months later. The hardest thing I have ever done! But, I am so much freaking happier now!

Brief_Theory_1778 , Keira Burton Report

Add photo comments
POST
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have learned the hard way that there is no point in staying in a relationship that has run its course. We had both stopped trying and were beyond apathetic. I'm glad that you have now found some measure of happiness.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I really don’t talk about it honestly. I could write a couple of books, on the failures of empathy and camaraderie I’ve encountered throughout my life. I feel like I would be dashing the hopes of any men who want a peaceful and meaningful life.

I’ve not been flaunted, but I’ve been taken advantage of, disdained, spat on, dismissed, laughed at, physically assaulted, threatened, later jumped, and made a literal new target of ethnic gangs.

I honestly recommend just finding a therapist, it’s a literal cultural crime on every continent to be weak as a man. At least a therapist is expected to be rational and cultured.

GreenMirage , Alex Green Report

#34

I was discussing with a classmate (yes we have classmates here like high school) in college about how I live with my brother but we haven't spoked in more than 4 years because we can't stand each other and how it feels so weird when people mention their siblings as great friends. A week later, I was angry at something in class and he said "...and you know this is why you don't even speak to your brother, not talking to your own brother what kinda attitude..." and made a huge fuss about it that day I stopped our discussion to the bear minimum ever since.

There's also this girl who I got close to and I would listen to her issues and help as much as I can we have similar problems but she at times would made fun of my body type or just laugh. Specially one time I was talking about how I don't wear Nike Air Forces because of my skinny ankles and I could hear her behind me laughing. Knowing that she has a body type that made her really insecure I never understand how she could be so mean. Fast forward months later she asked me out on a date I declined.

DudeNeedsToTalkRN Report

Add photo comments
POST
Katy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe she didn"t mean the laughing in a bad way if she asked you on a date...you know some girls are also insecure and doing weird things when trying to get an attention of a boy. Maybe she thought you are making a joke so she laughed. Just saying...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#35

To quote Danny, "the last time I gave a [damn], I got [screwed]."

Plenty of folks say that men should be more open and honest with their emotions, but nobody actually wants to hear or help deal with those emotions unless they're getting a paycheck for it.

rkx801 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#36

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Anytime my ex needed help or support, I was always there to lend a hand. Anytime I needed help and support, when I'd lose jobs due to my various mental issues, when I needed to cry, when I was at my lowest points with them, all of a sudden our relationship was drifting apart, we're on separate paths, they wanted to go on breaks.

mickeymau5music , mrhayata Report

Add photo comments
POST
#37

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Aunt and I(M) got into a fight, I was 16 the time. It was a misunderstanding. She was shouting that I cursed at her when I didn’t even knew she was there. Parents were unreasonable and kept telling me that I shouldn’t have shouted back because they were older even though they were in the wrong. Told my girlfriend and some of my new friends at the new school. They were very helpful in the messages, morning comes and they were laughing at a part of the story I told them which didn’t really mattered in comparison to what I felt. Didn’t talk or came near them for 3 days. Girlfriend apologized though when I told her how insensitive it was.

_iamJO , Jarkko Laine Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I told my employer about how I was going through a divorce because my quality at work was being effect and that I was going to see a counselor who volunteered at an addiction recovery and who convinced me to volunteer and teach recovering addicts how to keep bees as therapy. My employer later accused me of stealing $15000 worth of bee things and honey with no evidence and illegally searched my storage shed where I kept my personal bee things at a private yard. Later he reduced my hours from 40 to 4 to try and get me to quit. Which worked as I had to commute 45 minutes to work and for 4 hours a week, split between 3 days, it wasn't worth it.

originalbeeman , Jason Riedy Report

Add photo comments
POST
#39

In my exit interview with a company that nearly drove me to suicide, I shared a few personal details hoping to make a few people realize just how bad things had gotten. The company had purposefully put me in absolutely horrible situations year after year because they knew I was dedicated and dependable. What started out as my dream job quickly spiraled into a soul-sucking abusive and hostile work environment, and the executives and HR couldn't have cared less since they were getting monstrous bonuses. As a thank you for my efforts, the company demoted me, cut my pay, kicked me out of my own department, and dumped 3 people's jobs on me in the process. I had enough and I quit.

In the exit interview, I remained professional and calm. When HR asked me why I was leaving, I had every reason bullet-pointed and shared them calmly and verbatim. I also accused HR of knowing the reasons and hiding it because it garnished her favor with new management. She looked shocked, which was a completely fabricated reaction. At one point I said "This company continually put me in situations that were entirely unacceptable, knowingly hostile, and the responsibility for the well being, safety, and security of most employees here was on my shoulders, yet I had zero support from day one. I internalized the stress for too long, and by the time I realized the severity, it was too late. I was in the hospital multiple times dealing with chronic pain and suicide attempts. The company even felt it was acceptable to have customers call me directly while I was in a hospital bed. I wasn't even allowed to take time off when half of my family died. Where were you? On vacation. Where was everyone else? Heads in the sand. You knew, you did nothing."

I was promptly asked to leave the building. I haven't worked there in several years now, and I hear that my name still gets brought up on a weekly basis. HR leaked my statement through gossip, and it got back to me by a few former colleagues. That company hired so many unethical people all at once, I think Satan himself wouldn't dare step foot in there.

sump___erson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Human resources is there to protect the company, not you. My best friend was sexually molested by a co-worker, and the first thing the company said was: "I wouldn't press charges or take legal action against us if I were you." And, they never fired the perpetrator either because he denied everything, and it became a game of 'he said, she said.' HR told her that they didn't have enough proof to terminate his employment. She was in a deep depression about it for a long time.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#40

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I was kind of dating a woman, she wanted me to have a STD test just to make sure i didn't had anything, so we could have some intimacy without protection and without worries (she was on the pill). I had the opportunity to have sex, but i declined because i wanted to respect what she told me, next day she returned with her abusive ex boyfriend. We had plans for the summer and everything was gone in a second. It hurt.

I would say i dodged a bullet.

anto_pty , Marsel Minga Report

Add photo comments
POST
Brigitte
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get it. You wanted to respect her but didn't want to get tested? What's wrong with asking for a STD test? I think she was the responsible one here.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings It's really sad to hear how things typically go for you guys but I'm loving how supportive everyone is in the comments!

jenn583 , Tony Alter Report

Add photo comments
POST
#42

You remember that meme if that guy getting shot by dozens of hundreds of arrows? Thats what happend when I did it out in public

allenbot3000p Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#43

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings Haha, I have some guilt issues from some war [stuff], and when I get drunk it slips out and everything gets awkward. Literally the only people who don’t give me [damn] for expressing it are strippers, and that I is only if I am paying.

I understand why though. Horrible things horrify people, and they want to distance themselves from it. When I drop that on people it is rude of me, because who wants to think about that?

NGL I have caught myself doing the same thing, but now that I am aware, I am much more sympathetic.

Redditisforposers , ArmyAmber Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This may be difficult but expressing yourself like that to strangers would be extremely awkward. I would either speak to someone close to you or a therapist. You shouldn't expect much from a stranger. I can't imagine what you are going through but I hope you find someone you can talk to.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings One thing I've noticed is that if I explain my problems through humour then everything is fine. If I explain them seriously, as I've only done maybe 2 or 3 times... every time they have either left me or ghosted me

My feeling is that, at least with the women I've met and talked to, they only care about your issues so long as it doesn't affect them. As long as you're still going to deal with it yourself and they don't need to do anything, you're fine. If you actually need comforting at any moment or anything, it's over. I've had a couple women say basically exactly that. I remember one in particular talking about her husband and saying 'I don't want to think of him as weak, but I do'. Sounds like it's not even in their control

dolphin37 , Sincerely Media Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This attitude of men opening up as being weak needs to stop. It takes a lot of effort for many to open up, to me that is strong, not weak.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#45

I always try to let the women I care about know how I'm feeling genuinely, not just what I tell my mates. But everytime I do this I end up catching feelings for my best friends when they have no interest in me and am completely oblivious to the ones who do/ did actually like me. The vicious cycle has been going on for 3 years now and I wish I knew how to fix it and have lost 3/4 potential dates.

TheEncryptedPsychic Report

Add photo comments
POST
#46

I was a late bloomer romantically - not a "nice guy" or a creeper, I just had some serious self-worth/depression issues. I'd been in very good shape, had a stable job, and had hobbies that had me in the outdoors and with the best of friends.

So when the first girl that I clicked with after I'd decided to give dating a try dumped me after finding out that I'd been a virgin, it didn't feel great. Apparently bringing a flower to a date for her had been pathetic, as well.

I hadn't been hiding it from her or been in love or anything, but someone basically telling me that I was clingy and weird just because I'd never really tried. to be with someone until my mid-20s.

Rook33 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is nothing wrong with being a late bloomer. Why is everyone is such a rush? I had a high school relationship, and then nothing until a serious boyfriend in my mid 20s. Also, bringing a flower to a date is not pathetic. She was just unappreciative of everything.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#47

Every time I open up to a woman, trust in her, invest in her emotionally, she ends up running away. Then with women where I'm not invested, even when I tell them in no uncertain terms they go in hard and want me to be all lovey dovey with her. So I think I'm done with the whole love and vulnerability [stuff].

WindJammer27 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#48

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings So, when i was still trying to make my marriage work, my therapist advised me to open up to my ex wife about my past. So i did just that. After i told her the second story about my sister, she threw it back in my face the day. Told my therapist “yep, not doing that again.” Therapist agreed available introduced me to a marriage counselor. That back fired too.

i_need_a_username201 , cottonbro Report

Add photo comments
POST
#49

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings This isn't earth-shatteringly bad like some people, but me and my girlfriend are long distance, and the pandemic means we've not seen eachother in almost 9 months at this point. That's caused some friction.

She too has previously pulled the 'you need to open up and communicate your problems' line on me, which to an extent I get, I'm quite a reserved person. But despite my warnings at the time that she might not like what she hears, she still gets incredibly hurt when I criticise her even the slightest bit or tries to one-up me when I complain about how things in my life are going.

I'm sticking with it because its what she repeatedly says she wants, but I don't think its done our relationship any favours. She gets to feel insecure and upset because I say things I'd otherwise have kept secret, and I get to feel guilty for making her feel that way with none of the catharsis of actually venting to someone who cares.

Skitterleap , Ninian Reid Report

Add photo comments
POST
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This relationship isn't good for either of them and I just don't understand why they stick together. They would be much happier if they broke up.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#50

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I have nothing to add, other than I echo other men's sentiments here. There's a reason its called being vulnerable: because you're leaving yourself open to being hurt. So be careful. It sucks but that's the world we live in.

c3534l , Ben White Report

Add photo comments
POST
#51

30 Men Share The Worst Reactions They've Received After Showing Their True Feelings I was told I had no fire or passion and my girlfriend was attracted to me when we argued and I showed a bit of "spark"

Another time I told my mum about my anxiety and depression diagnosis. She storrmed upstairs and told me I was lucky because in the 80s id have been thrown out of the house and there was some show where that happened and this guy was crying and that would be me...

All very bizarre.

DJS112 , Adrian Swancar Report

Add photo comments
POST
Paradise
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Knee jerk reaction on her pwrt, maybe. I am not excusing her behavior but wonder if she felt she failed at raising him if he isn't happy? I am am mom and worry about my kids' mental health and how I contribute to it positively and negatively.