The rom-coms lie

(written by lawrence krubner, however indented passages are often quotes). You can contact lawrence at: lawrence@krubner.com, or follow me on Twitter.

An interesting comment over at Jezebel:

When I was single, I remember talking politics with some guy I’d met at a party. He tried to call me out for something, and I sternly nailed him back with facts and data. I sincerely thought he was a jerk because of the way he smugly raised his objections to my argument and rolled his eyes. I walked away.

For the remainder of the night, this guy would not leave me alone. He had to have my number. He had to go on a date with me. I was so fascinating. Women didn’t normally talk like that. (What?) He bugged the host for my contact information when I said no. I kept telling him no, that I didn’t care for our conversation, and I wanted to go home. So he followed me home!

I was legitimately terrified. This guy thought he was being coy by saying, “Well since you won’t give me your contact info, I’ll have to follow you home so I can stand outside your window until you say yes! And I’ll do it too!” He was grinning as he said it.

I didn’t want him to know where I lived so I stopped a block away and said, “Look, romcoms lied to you. I don’t like you. I think you’re a rude jerk who won’t leave me alone. I’m doing my best not to give you the impression I like you because I don’t. Please go home now.” The whole time he never took me seriously and thought my rejection was a cute joke.

So I did the one thing that all women have done: I said I’d take his number and give him a call but I really had to get home because I had work the next day. When I said that, he said, “I knew it! I knew you really liked me!”

I never called, and I’m sure he never wonders why.

To this day…I still don’t know what to make of this story other than everything about that interaction was set on his terms and his terms only.

Post external references

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    https://jezebel.com/on-embarrassment-and-the-inequity-of-flirting-1829397843
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