I’m asking this without wanting to ridicule anyone, because I’m genuinely trying to understand what the experience feels like from the inside. I often hear men describe dating as something where they are expected to initiate, absorb repeated rejection, prove their value, compete for limited attention and continue investing even when very little interest or effort is being returned. Sometimes it seems to go beyond ordinary vulnerability or courtship and reach the point where someone is accepting disrespect, abandoning their boundaries or performing a version of himself purely to remain in consideration. From the outside, opting out would appear preferable to feeling constantly evaluated or unwanted but clearly loneliness, hope and the desire for intimacy can make that decision much more complicated than it sounds. For men who have experienced this personally: what made continuing feel worthwhile, or at least preferable to walking away? Where did you draw the line between making a reasonable effort and sacrificing too much of your self-respect? Looking back, do you understand your choices differently now? submitted by /u/MajesticCounter4174
Originally posted by u/MajesticCounter4174 on r/AskMen