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There's nothing wrong with letting your inner child come out. A little playfulness, silliness, and spontaneity can be a good thing. But there's a time and place for it. Certain situations require emotional maturity. Unfortunately, some grown-ups still struggle to communicate like adults.

Today, we're focusing on men, and we collected the texts they sent that were full of gaslighting, tantrums, manipulation, and all kinds of unnecessary drama. Sadly, they weren't exactly hard to find, as many women encounter messages like these on dating apps, social media, and other corners of the internet.

#1

Finally, This Jerk's Text That Reveals He Will Forever Be A Lonely Boy

A woman messaging a toxic man gets a text that reads, Maybe be my woman not my mentor. She replies, Maybe be my partner not my problem.

[deleted] Report

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    #2

    Ngvc: "I'm Not The Lucky One, You Are And That Needs To Be Remembered"

    A screenshot of a message from a toxic man making a woman uncomfortable, complaining about how she dressed and paid for a meal.

    miserabeau Report

    L.V
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't it nice when they show their red flags right away...

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    Of course, when it comes to romantic relationships, compatibility goes both ways. But these screenshots might explain why studies have found that women are more likely than men to have negative experiences with online dating.

    According to Pew Research Center, women—especially those under 50—are significantly more likely to receive unsolicited sexually explicit messages, deal with persistent contact after rejecting someone, be called offensive names, and even receive threats of physical harm. They are also far more likely than men to say they feel overwhelmed by the volume of messages they receive.

    #3

    Wth

    A dating app profile of a toxic man who states he already has a wife but is looking for a girlfriend, making women uncomfortable.

    MrsFilmore Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    His wife seems lovely though....it's the horse right? I assume lol

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    #4

    My Ex Fiancé Texts Me From Different Numbers Every Several Months. Left Him Nearly 3 Yrs Ago

    A screenshot showing toxic men in a text exchange, where a woman is uncomfortable with a man trying to reconnect after three years.

    MerryMir99 Report

    #5

    Ngvc : "Texting Some Rude Guy With The Iq Of 6"

    A screenshot of a conversation with a toxic man who continues to message women despite being told to stop texting.

    [deleted] Report

    Chaotic Good
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Why yes, at this very moment I actually AM texting a rude guy with the IQ of 6."

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    The status of men in Western societies has been at the center of attention for quite some time now. Some people have spoken out about what they perceive as attacks on traditional manhood, while others have warned about what they see as "toxic masculinity." More broadly, many are concerned about how men are doing socially and economically.

    Amid these discussions, one survey asked 6,204 U.S. adults about their views on men and masculinity. A quarter (25%) said they believe people have mostly negative views of men who are "manly or masculine."

    This is lower than the shares who say people have mostly positive views of masculine men (43%) or that those views are neither positive nor negative (31%).

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    #6

    My Friend Was On A Dating App And Had This Experience. She Doesn’t Have A Reddit So She Said I Could Post For Her

    A screenshot showing an uncomfortable and disappointed woman's text message response from a toxic man.

    luvisforall Report

    #7

    What An Interesting Fella

    A conversation showing a man making a racist comment, illustrating toxic men messaging women.

    1000_SteppesIsAP3do Report

    Cloud Ryn
    Community Member
    Premium
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nobody likes a racist well besides other racists

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    However, among Republican men, 45% think people have negative views of masculine men, and the vast majority of those who feel this way say this is a bad thing.

    Much smaller shares of Republican women (24%), Democratic men (20%), and Democratic women (13%) say they believe people view masculine men negatively.

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    #9

    What A Catch

    A profile screenshot showing a toxic man's bio demanding women leave their contact information to be contacted if lucky.

    LovelyWinter31 Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clearly can't follow basic instructions. The prompt didn't ask that.

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    #10

    Guy From Dating Site

    A woman messaging a toxic man discusses not being able to have children, yet the man persists in suggesting they would have cute ones.

    shadowhunter0787 Report

    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Such a good listener it almost seems like a bot lol

    #11

    Ngvc: “I’m Not Like The Rest Of The Men You’ve Been With…” Says The Guy Who Threw A Fit Because I Asked Him To Teach Me Chess

    A screenshot of a conversation with a toxic man making women feel uncomfortable and disappointed about sharing a game idea.

    [deleted] Report

    Sera
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Block him. He's starting an argument over nothing.

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    When it comes to self-image, about four in ten men (42%) see themselves as highly masculine.

    A similar share (43%) say they lean masculine, while 11% are neither masculine nor feminine, or equally both.

    Another 4% identify as either leaning feminine or being highly feminine.

    #12

    Orrrrrrrrr Maybe We Just Like To Safe ..just A Thought 😮‍💨

    A text conversation showing how toxic men make women uncomfortable and disappointed.

    hunni93 Report

    Cloud Ryn
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because he couldn't possibly be a rapist or dangerous or anything right.... 😅😄

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    #13

    Ngvc: "Nice Guy, Helps Old People"

    A screenshot showing an uncomfortable and disappointed woman's text message response from a toxic man.

    LadyLazarusRed Report

    #14

    But Women Are Naturally Irrational…

    A screenshot showing an uncomfortable and disappointed woman's text message response from a toxic man.

    MissBrettAshley Report

    VNES101
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well she started this one. Her response to his response was defensive and unnecessary. They are BOTH the problem.

    About two-thirds of men (66%) say their father influenced their views on what it means to be a man a great deal or at least a fair amount, while 47% say their mother also influenced those views to some extent.

    Most Americans say men and women are basically different in many ways, but there is no consensus on whether society or biology drives these differences.

    #15

    Texts From A Guy Off Tinder

    A screenshot of uncomfortable messaging where a man says a woman lacks confidence for not wanting to rush into a relationship.

    [deleted] Report

    antoinette maldari
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "You seem like you are not going to have s e x with me on 1st date. Bye".

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    #16

    Ngvc: "This Is Really Hard For Me Because I've Always Been A Tremendously Good Person"

    A controlling text from toxic men making women they were messaging uncomfortable and disappointed.

    SpriteAlright Report

    Maya_D
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “I don’t know why I allow this” 🚩 🚩

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    #17

    Dude Had 2 Pics Of Himself, 5 Of The Boat

    A dating profile of a man bragging about a boat and being 'the prize,' a display of toxic men.

    PM_ME_UR_CORNBALLZ Report

    Cloud Ryn
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like my dad would say this is a boy pretending to be a man

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    Scott Galloway, a tech entrepreneur, podcaster, and author of the book Notes on Being a Man, worries that if the current social trajectories continue, we are evolving a new breed of "asexual, asocial males."

    Drawing on research by writers such as Richard Reeves (author of 2022's Of Boys and Men) and his NYU colleague Jonathan Haidt (whose recent book The Anxious Generation sounded the alarm on social media), he highlights rising rates of a multitude of problems, from boys' school suspensions to male unemployment, addictions, loneliness, and failure to complete college.

    "We're going to graduate probably two women for every one man from college in the next five years, because men drop out at a greater rate," Galloway said.

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    #18

    5th Time He Has Text Me LOL

    A woman messaging a toxic man receives an unwanted text asking if she changed her mind after a one-night stand, to which she replies, No thank you, sorry.

    [deleted] Report

    Sera
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would have blocked him after the 2nd time.

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    #19

    Creepy Possessive Dude I Matched With

    A screenshot of a text exchange with a toxic man making women uncomfortable, accusing her of not wanting to answer the phone.

    Little-Medicine2948 Report

    #20

    Went On 1 Date, Said No To The 2nd Date And Woke Up To This 🥴

    A screenshot showing an uncomfortable and disappointed woman's text message response from a toxic man.

    YerbaMateEnthusiast Report

    Luke || Kira (he/she)
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those 'high-value men' are always like "Blah blah height, blah blah money, blah blah looks" and never anything about the most important thing: if he's normal about women and treating them with respect

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    Galloway suggests that the previous denial of the masculinity crisis, especially by the political left, might even have put Donald Trump back in the White House. "Let me offer that the reason we elected [him] is because of struggling with men."

    Two groups that pivoted hardest towards Trump in 2024, he said, were young men, and women aged 45 to 64, and "my thesis is that's the mothers of young men." While Trump embraced the manosphere, the Democrats championed the interests of virtually every special interest group except young men, Galloway argues.

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    #21

    Ngvc: "I Come With Values And Morals That Far Exceed My Peers"

    A dating app bio of toxic men that made women they were messaging uncomfortable and disappointed.

    ItchycooParking Report

    Maya_D
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Using fancy words inappropriately doesn’t make you an intellectual, my dude.

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    #22

    Ngvc “All The Good Ones Are Married.”

    A dating app profile of toxic men making women messaging uncomfortable and disappointed.

    JustJuniperfect Report

    L.V
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Girls go after looks". Projection much?

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    #23

    After I’ve Told Him No Thank You For Dates And I Have A BF (Of 3 Years), And I Wasn’t Going To Send Nudes, I Get This LOL

    A screenshot showing an uncomfortable and disappointed woman's text message response from a toxic man.

    Artemis202 Report

    L.V
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Perfect response! Probably the kind of guy who thinks all women are cheaters while trying to get her to cheat on her boyfriend!

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    Galloway points out that he's not blaming women for men's problems. "I do not think the answer is to in any way economically disadvantage women," he says.

    "I'm not trying to repackage violence here and say that women need to lower their standards such that we don't have a bunch of angry men out there. I think men need to level up. And I think, as a society, we need to implement more programs to level up all young people."

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    #24

    Surely I Can’t Be The Only One That Doesn’t Find This Funny At All

    A dating profile with an 'About me' section mentioning cheating, an example of toxic men.

    Short-Imagination311 Report

    Chaotic Good
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Guys who "joke" about infidelity are really just testing the waters.

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    #25

    This Man's Essay Summed Up His True Colors

    A woman messaging a toxic man receives a long, hurtful text justifying why he unfriended her, blaming her for being uncomfortable.

    [deleted] Report

    #26

    Ngvc: "90% Of Us Men Want Ltr...it Is You Who Date Chad Who Just Wants To Bump And Dump"

    A screenshot showing a toxic man messaging uncomfortable comments about women's age, fertility, and dating choices.

    alsaturn Report

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Long Term Relationship. Took me a while.

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    #27

    Ngvc: "The Total Package"

    A screenshot of uncomfortable messages from toxic men making women disappointed.

    sharpe85 Report

    L.V
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ugh just got flashback from my dating years. So glad I found the right one and don't have to deal with that anymore!

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    #28

    Did I Handle This Properly?

    A woman messaging a toxic man confronts him about giving another girl his Snapchat while they were together, making her uncomfortable.

    Organic-Extension-64 Report

    azubi
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What exactly would be the problem here?

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