Matthew Hussey Tackles BB&W Question of the Week: “How Do I Get a Guy to Commit?”

Matthew Hussey Tackles BB&W Question of the Week: “How Do I Get a Guy to Commit?”

But before you feast your eyes on Matthew again, we need to take care of a little housekeeping.

Author : Christelyn Karazin

Author's Website | Articles from

So before I show this video, I thought it would be a good time to do a PSA. I have to do a little hand slapping because I honestly am disappointed how many of our QOWTs devolve into some commenters pounding folks into hamburger. You guys aren’t privy to the back end of the drama, but many of these folks write back to me and say they thought their problems might be met with some understanding, and instead were shocked by how some where so harsh, and they wished they never reached out. In fact, I lost a contact for a major feature because of this person’s perceived poor treatment. What’s worse, the amount of questions I receive has greatly reduced to almost nothing. I honestly don’t blame them, because unless you’re a sadist, nobody would want to deal with some of the abusive language I’ve seen here at times.

Now tell me, if lurkers are too afraid to reach on a blog that was founded as a safe place to discuss interracial relationships because some folks smell weakness like sharks smell blood in the water, then…what’s the point?

I’ll be honest with you, some of these attitudes I’ve seen remind me of how my mother would often react to me before I got wise and stopped asking for her advice or sympathy. I think some of us have been so conditioned to “kill our young” that we don’t even realize it. Combine that with the anonymity of the internet and you get a whole new level of meanness. For many in the BC, to seek help or show weakness is asking for widespread mocking and disdain. Search your heart. If you can do better, try.

Now that I’ve said my piece, Brenda55, our senior moderator, has addressed this issue with new rules of conduct for future QOTW. Please take note.

A member of the BB&W Community has asked for advice with a specific concern. Stick to addressing the person’s concern in a respectful and polite manor. Any attack on or negative speculation on the character of, emotional status, values, maturity level of the person asking the question will result in removal of your post. Any derogatory, snarky, insulting comments and or insults directed at the person asking the question will result in removal of your post. As per the general terms of service: Be civil, no personal attacks, flaming, or insults. We may attack ideas respectfully but we do not attack the speaker of the idea. Be careful with your words, there is a point where being direct crosses a line into blunt, in-your-face hostility.

Now without further ado, feast your eyes on Matthew!

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MixedUpInVegas 1643 pts

I usually dated more than one guy at a time in my single days. I mean, why not? I never bothered talking to them about it it wasn't their business. If a man called me to go out and I was dated up, I said I was busy. If he questioned me too much about it, I told him not to call me anymore. My experience was that a man who was thinking marriage usually said so. Interestingly, when Beloved Spouse started talking marriage, I cut the other 2 guys loose. They both said "why didn't you tell me you wanted to be married? I'da married you!" Not sure if I should have brought it up or not but Beloved Spouse was the one I really wanted. Glad he brought it up!

SirLoinDeBeef 2490 pts

On a lighter note:

There is a difference here - women think of commitment romantically, with visions of rings, white wedding dresses and the like - men think of commitment in terms of jackets with really long arms and rooms with locked doors and padding on all the walls and floor.

Law Wanxi 5780 pts

 SirLoinDeBeef 

 

Marriage is an institution which requires long-term commitment. I've always avoided being committed long-term to an institution.

 

I've seen those situations; severe abridgement of the ability to come and go as you please, boring food, bad treatment, depersonalisation and potential for abuse and humiliation by the staff, same routine seven days a week and the mind-numbing effects of loss of small things everyone takes for granted, like privacy and speaking one's opinion freely.

 

Residential mental-health facilities aren't all that attractive, either. BOOYAH! 

 

PhillyGirl 187 pts

THANK YOU! I must admit I haven't been on this site in awhile due to the NEGATIVITY the last couple of times I was on...maybe a month or so ago. I was thinking, "who let these people in my ONCE safe haven?" and honestly it really bothered me the negative tone the blog had taken... So thanks for reminding your audience of the class and mutual respect that exist here.  

 

now I have to look at the "cutie" on the video.  

oekmama 1047 pts

 PhillyGirl Yes, I've noticed that too. I was wondering if it is the choice of topics or just a general atmosphere shift... is is a sign that more people know about bb&w?

Toni_M 18714 pts moderator

 oekmama  PhillyGirl It's been my experience in the past that when you have a new influx of people, the tone of a community can change drastically. And if mods don't step up when it happens, things can get ugly and stay that way. I've seen it happen time and time again.

 

But so long as moderating isn't lax and the TOS are enforced, things usually go smoothly. 

 

 

 

Statuesque 1713 pts

I apologize for starting off-topic (sort of...) about the PSA, but I just want to thank Christelyn and the moderators for addressing the issue of incivility.  This blog is certainly a resource for participants and countless lurkers, but it should also be a safe haven for men and women with a passion and interest in IRR/BWE regardless of their experience.  I'm saddened to hear that some have been put off by participating and I hope the new rules of the road give them encouragement to try again.

 

On the topic at hand: I was never comfortable dating more than one guy at once, but I tried it to keep my options open during vetting, or just because I hadn't met someone I really liked enough to be exclusive with. I was completely upfront about it as well.  I support the strategy but I don't wholeheartedly agree with it because I believe that when a guy wants to take you off the market for the right reasons, he will whether there is another guy or not.  Some guys just like to "win" and will push for a commitment just to get the prize.

MySmile 4172 pts

 Statuesque Yeah I don't agree with doing it just to make the guy jealous or making up stuff but everything else is fine to me. A guy can smell a desperate woman (ones that are waiting around for them) from a mile away. I've been that girl before. Even "good guys" can be tempted to take advantage of that situation (even though they shouldn't). I'm not saying if you only dating one guy at a time you are desperate or waiting around for someone though...that's far from true...in that case, we've all been desperate lol. You're right about if a guy wants to take you off the market, he will no matter what. I always feel a little bad (mostly for the guys, it's enjoyable for me) dating more than one guy too but if I'm single, I'm single. I don't feel as bad if I'm not extremely into any of them. If there's one I like the most, I will eventually stop talking to the other ones.

Karla00 382 pts

@Statuesque Incivility? You have no idea.... It's extremely difficult to reach out and be slammed. Some of the comments have made me feel like crap. Still a great Blog!

Toni_M 18714 pts moderator

 Karla00  Statuesque Well, we've adjusted our TOS in that regard, and if a comment bothers you, flag it.

 

It's a new day. :)

 

 

 

MySmile 4172 pts

I agree with Matthew Hussey. This is why when I'm single, I like dating multiple people at one time!..It's a win win to me!!! Letting a guy know that you have other options doesn't seem like an ultimatum..it could let him know that he needs to work harder to gain all of your attention or affection. If he doesn't want to, that's fine because again, you have other options!  lol You can't make a guy commit if he really doesn't want to.

Brenda55 19278 pts moderator

"A member of the BB&W Community has asked for advice with a specific concern. Stick to addressing the person’s concern in a respectful and polite manor. Any attack on or negative speculation on the character of, emotional status, values, maturity level of the person asking the question will result in removal of your post. Any derogatory, snarky, insulting comments and or insults directed at the person asking the question will result in removal of your post. As per the general terms of service: Be civil, no personal attacks, flaming, or insults. We may attack ideas respectfully but we do not attack the speaker of the idea. Be careful with your words, there is a point where being direct crosses a line into blunt, in-your-face hostility."

 

Bears repeating.

Now lets begin.

Toni_M 18714 pts moderator

Traditionally, guys have always had that final say regarding how a relationship turns out, and whether or not they're going to make a relationship progress to marriage. You do get women who are driven to push things along, even going so far as to buy the ring and propose to the guy (and I'm not talking about leap year). 

 

I feel like ANY situation where the woman is doing all the work to push things along isn't going to end well. So the woman in the mentioned situation was very smart because she didn't try and do that. I agree with Matthew that it wasn't an ultimatum, it was just her asking what he wanted from their relationship. At the same time she was clearly keeping her options open. Some women put everything into a lop-sided relationship because they think that's what they're supposed to do, without considering other options. They give the guy all the power to string them along. If she has other options, this person can't do that because once it becomes clear that they want different things, she can move on.

 

Or, it helps the guy make up his mind just a little bit quicker if he understands that he may lose someone it turns out he really wants to be with.

oekmama 1047 pts

 Toni_M Yeah, what you said. :-D

 

I think it was great, though a bit unusual that the woman in the mentioned situation phrased the question in that way. A lot of us lose our cool when it comes to 'this conversation' and it tends to come out as ultimatum and/or clingy.

I like that this lady got the clarity she wanted, and put the ball in the guy's court without making herself seem clingy.