The issue I have run into a lot is that they have the "wrong" kind of experience. Somewhat inline with the adage "practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect". I spent a lot of my teens and 20s being introspective, working on myself, and becoming the kind of person I would want to date. A lot of people I have had experiences with in my 30s spent a lot of that time in bad relationships creating reactive responses to various things rather than addressing the core issues or learning how to, and as a result they often have a lot of "bad habits" or expectations going into dating or future relationships.

I have met more than one person that has said they need someone who can be patient with them while they heal and deal with their past, while also not necessarily wanting to, or being capable of, providing that same level of patience and understanding to a partner. That seems....uhhh not really appropriate or fair? But I'm the one that's been single for quite a while, sooooo it's just as likely I could be the one with my head so far up my ass I can taste my tonsils.

[–] Lemjukes@lemm.ee 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ding ding ding! The key is actually learning and growing from those bad experiences and bettering yourself as a result. A lot of people seem caught in the loop of searching for someone to make them better instead of looking for an actual partner.

[–] TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

IME it's that the more bad experiences they have, the more they demand an idealized greek god of a person as a partner and think anyone who doesn't measure up to that fantasy. because it's not their fault, it's their partners for not 'measuring up' to their 'standards'.

[–] TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

bingo.

gist of most people who are terminally single is they aren't capable of offering as much as they demand. so for anyone that is a bad deal. a lot of people simple become parasites in a relationship, financially, emotionally, etc. and those parasitic people will never ever admit fault, they will blame the partner they are sucking the life out of that they aren't 'giving them enough'.

I was in a few relationships that became soul-sucking. i used to be depressed and suicidal in the past... because I as in relationships that were sucking my soul out. When I broke up, stayed single, and worked on myself... my life had value again and i was no longer depressed and suicidal.

the issue isn't about experience. it's about how you treat other people and if you see your partner as a person... rather than a resource to extract things from (money, sex, attention, etc)

As a 35+ would you rather be with someone who’s had bad experiences in relationships, or no experience in relationships?

[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I hate to say it, but I think that folks have taken advantage of "be patient of folks with trauma/mental illness/etc." and turned it into "you HAVE to put up with me or else you're an asshole who is insensitive to those with struggles." And nobody wants to be "the guy who wasn't supportive enough".

It's okay to break up with someone if you are too overwhelmed by their needs, regardless of their trauma/mental illness. Staying will make both people absolutely miserable in the long run.

[–] TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

yeah, been there too. i could never understand someone who refuses treatment/therapy/medication and then blames someone else for their struggles.