Well here is my last installment on this blog of the perils and complete idiocies of dating. I am well aware that I am a commitment phobic dater, but there is some method to my madness. Idiot, I am not. I believe some of the processes I have devised to assess the person I am dating have led to very good decisions of avoiding precarious leech problems, that would have resulted in severe loss of blood, personal freedom along with my precious peace of mind.
A leech or stage 5 clinger as they have been called, is a person who is desperately looking for another person to boost them up, make them feel good, brighten up their life and generally solve all their problems, including loneliness and low self-esteem. Their entire existence, happiness, sadness, world and even possibly their bills rely on a partner to survive.
Now when I am sitting across from someone at dinner on a date and they begin to look for my approval, verification of worth and generally want my opinions on all their personal problems, I know that I have entered the swamp of the leech. If one of these suckers ends up slipping past my radar, I usually end up being supremely exhausted by reassuring, explaining and generally trying to find excuses to avoid them like the seven plagues of Egypt. So, at all costs I try to avoid the life drainers as well as I can. When a salt shaker just doesn’t work, here are a few tips that I use and if you value any part of your sanity or solitude I suggest you do the same.
1) If They Don’t Have an Entourage Then Call Yours and Get the Hell Out of There.
This is imperative to dating. The person whom you are dating MUST have an entourage.
Entourage
noun
-
a group of people attending or surrounding an important person.
First off I’d like to say that if they are not an interesting person then why the fuck are you on a date with them?
Your date should have friends and lots of them. They should have friends that like them, think they are great and want to spend time with them. Otherwise known as a fucking life. This also shows that they can be reciprocal in giving and taking and not out for only bloodsucking the life blood out of everyone around them.
I have heard many a woman in the past complain that their boyfriends go out with their friends too much, but let me tell you ladies, the polar opposite of that means you would not be able urinate without your beloved standing outside the door worshiping that tinkling sound. They must have alternate ways to spend their time and this will ensure there will be space and freedom for you.
It should be noted I have dated men in the past that didn’t seem to have friends, but didn’t seem to be clingy. DO NOT BE FOOLED. This is simply what I like to call the delayed suction. I moved forward with them and continued to date them. This resulted in the knowledge that although they didn’t seem clingy and spent some of their free time away from me, they resented me for not spending that time with them. What I have named this type of leech is “The Passive Aggressive Sucker”.
The ending of this dating story would always be some sort of ridiculous fight (where the level of maturity was below kindergarten). All the dirty laundry would come out about how they were not at all happy that I actually had a life and had not spent every single waking moment in their presence, followed by the expectation that I would actually feel bad that they felt this way. The also were operating under the assumption that I did not know what an completely unreasonable asshole was. Since I did, I would then run 10 thousand miles away from them like I was on fire and being chased by 20,000 velociraptors and the hounds of hell, back to my sane life.
The good news is these types of leeches like to sulk and hold grudges, so once their disapproval surfaces and you do not apologize, you are usually free to leave their sad asses in the dust and never look back, throwing the salt over your shoulder for good measure.
Plainly speaking, if they don’t have their own people, don’t have them, unless of course you like carrying around a human tumour on your body that complains you need to do more.
2) Needs. If I Wanted to Meet Them, You Wouldn’t Have Any.
Now this statement should be discussed at the beginning of any dating situation. I believe that most people of average intelligence know what other people basically need in a romantic coupling. If they are not meeting your needs then they Don’t Fucking Care. Now really try to wrap your head around this. If we all know what the average person needs to feel fulfilled in a romantic relationship and if they are not giving these things to you, they Don’t Fucking Care. It literally is as simple as that. There is no hidden romantic agenda. There is no hope. If you are still wondering and dreaming about making someone change their ways, then please reread the this paragraph 50 more times before continuing.
Needs. Anyone who has a vast criticism and list of what you are not supplying to them because they need it, should be removed by flame, salt or surgical means from your body. The next steps: delete, disregard and disappear.
3) Beware of Nice Guy/Girl Guilter
This is an interesting psychological leech that should be shut down after their first few attempts of manipulation. Do you remember the poem from C.S. Lewis’ fantastic novel Through the Looking Glass called Jabberwocky? There are a few lines that are especially important to this point:
“Beware of the Jabberwok my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!”
Beware is right. There is a large group of people in this world who will prey on the good nature of other people, to obtain what they need and want and romance is no exception! In reality these people care little about what you need, so be forwarned. They are the Jabberwocky, parading around looking like harmless people, but do not be fooled! How can you discern their true nature, jaws,claws and vampire lips you ask? Why it’s simple. If someone acts like they care about you, are really into you, pull away a little. Still be respectful and nice but just a little more distant. When you do, you will find the true nature of the beast.
If you have happened to accidentally stumble upon one of these guilting leeches this is what you may find:
1) The Constant Crier– This is typically used by the female leeches but has been known to be used by the occasional male (To which I’d like to add, for shame gentlemen if you use this tactic. It is a sad day when this tactic used by a guy…and far less effective).
In this instance the crier will start crying at the 1st sign of distance. The cry for help will be an emotional blackmail to return the intended back to the crier for some serious smothering. They will immediately have a crisis that they will need your help with. They will have an emotional breakdown, need a shoulder to cry on and a hug. DO NOT BE THAT SHOULDER , unless you would like to permanently have that person on your shoulder every time you need to take a breath.
Please note that the direct correlation between the two will give you the answer if you have encountered the Constant Crier. You pull back a little, they have a crisis. You pull back, they have another crisis. Repeat this a few times if you are unsure, but I can guarantee that you will have the same result every single time you try.
2) The Insecure Repeater
Ah this is a wily hard to shake leech that will use their relentless ways to weasel back in and buy themselves some more attention and time.
They are still nice and kind at the start of distance, but notice you have pulled back.
They will ask once, “Is everything okay? You seem distant?”
Now this is a fair question, because you have become a little distant, so you may reply “Oh sure, I’ve just been so busy. I still would like to go out on Saturday night though.”
If you have acquired yourself an Insecure Repeater, well before Saturday has even arrived they will begin their guilting harassment with statements such as…
“Did I do something wrong?” “Why are we not talking as much?” “Are you mad at me?” “Is there something you don’t like about me?” “I’m feeling like you’re mad at me and it’s making me sad.” “Wanna go out tonight?” “Want to get a coffee right now?” “Why don’t you text me? Are you mad at me? It’s okay, you can tell me the truth, are you mad?” (this would be accompanied by numerous additional text messages, calls or emails in a long succession).
Please let it be noted that communication has not stopped but only dwindled a little, provoking the neediness and “claws” reaching out with desperate snatching, while using guilt provoking statements to make you feel bad about your slight distance. I’m sorry to tell you, it will continue and may even escalate.
I can guarantee that if you do decide to pull yourself completely from the Constant Crier or the Insecure Repeater, they will pop up frequently saying “Hi” in email, text or phone call asking the same needy questions they did before, or having excessive crisis after crisis, even if you have stated that “the jig is up sucker. I don’t want you.”
In both these instances you will curse yourself for ever giving your email/cell number to this person. My advice is to adopt the persona of a mute. You will continually hear the cries from the needy, but if you stay silent they will receive nothing of what they need and therefore eventually find a new host. It may take some time though so delete, delete, delete, DO NOT ANSWER and NEVER feel compassion or respond. If you do, you’ve just bought yourself another 6 months of annoyance through any social media/phone you have not blocked them on.
Well my friends it is late, I am tired and my dog who is sleeping on the sofa beside me has some noxious gas tonight, so I will say adieu, good luck and may God keep you safe and leechless in your future days.
Serenity Plumblossom's Life Musings 