M29

When a great connection turns into romantic feelings. how do you handle it?

May 12 2026

How do you usually react when you’re having a really good conversation with someone, meet up with them, and genuinely enjoy the connection, but then you realize they’re starting to develop feelings for you?

Especially if you like talking to them and value the friendship/connection, but you may not feel the same way romantically. Do you pull back a little, address it directly, keep things the same, or see where it goes?

Curious how other people handle this situation without hurting the other person or making things awkward.

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MsSuperFoxy
22 days ago
Just man up and do the right thing.
Communication is the key.

Curious why would one keep things going (if not feeling the same way) and not want to hurt their feeling?

If one is going to offer "The Boyfriend Experience", that's pretty fucked.

Ms Foxy
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hypothetically
22 days ago
Being honest and straightforward with where you are emotionally, you are on accountable for your own actions, not how someone reacts to them, if you have been completely transparent then even if they get their feelings hurt, you haven’t created it, its personally the only way I can manage those sort of situations.

But having the preventative chat early, is always easier than the reactive..
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sublime
22 days ago
Brutal honesty from the beginning, I would absolutely hate it and feel like such a fool to be strung along.
Be honest and upfront prior about your dynamic and what you are actually looking for .
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Deetsy
21 days ago
I think you just need to be straight up with them. Yes it might hurt their feelings now, but it’s better than crushing them later.
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RHP User
21 days ago
Why are we so terrible at communicating what is - or what we perceive to be - rejection?

Is it a human protection mechanism because it’s technically related to pain?

And oddly when we do say what we feel or think, it’s usually fine 🤷🏻‍♂️
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Cucknshells
20 days ago
Just be honest and upfront.

I had an x and he did summersaults better than an acrobat. His actions were not matching what he was saying. When I eventually found out that he no longer wanted to see me as he met someone else it was a release be it a painful one. It allowed me to move forward and make decisions based on the facts not half-truths and lies. Not be upfront is confusing and can cause limerence making the situation worst than it was to begin with. I think it is just better to be straight forward and be honest with how you are feeling and were you are at. It is so much better in the long term.

Shells xx
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RHP User
20 days ago
I wonder if you led her on or pretended to be something you are not.
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When a great connection turns into romantic feelings. how do you handle it?

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