Those three little words
When you’ve been through a crappy breakup, the "I love you's" probably haven’t been bandied about all that much.
However, last year’s particularly crappy visit to Splitsville made me think about all the other three-little-word occasions that I will hopefully never stand for again.
I know how ditzy and drowned in serotonin I can get when Cupid strikes so I hereby announce that, in all future dealings with men, I, reality chick, will bolt if I so much as hear any of the following three-word combinations:
1. "I’m not ready." An evil little phrase if ever I heard one, particularly when you’ve devoted several years to the supposed love of your life and the bugger never planned to be ready for anything. If you hear the dull clanging of the get-out-while-you-can bell, do yourself a favour and heed its call.
2. "I don’t know." In my book, if a bloke says he doesn’t know when he really should know, you should know what you should do. Hopefully.
3. "I’ll call you." Even if he makes a big song and dance about getting your number, take any and all promises to call with the proverbial grain of salt. It’s a politeness reflex, folks. What’s he going to do before he walks? Say, ‘I won’t be calling, but thanks for the slap’n’tickle anyhow’?
4. "I pashed someone." Nothing like hearing that the one you love has been playing tonsil hockey with someone you'd like to see fall under a bus. Or off a cliff, preferably while travelling in a bus. And chances are it's the one time you'd be glad to buy your beloved a bus ticket too.
5. "I'm definitely gay." OK, I haven't been on the receiving end of this one, but I can imagine that when your lover comes out to you after you've spent weeks, months or even years knowing them in the biblical sense, that your relationship is never quite the same again.
6. "I don’t think I love you enough." I realise that’s strictly more than three little words (maths was never my strong point), but it gets a special mention for its sheer awfulness. Again, people, take my advice and heed the distant clanging of the get-out-while-you-can bell.
However, last year’s particularly crappy visit to Splitsville made me think about all the other three-little-word occasions that I will hopefully never stand for again.
I know how ditzy and drowned in serotonin I can get when Cupid strikes so I hereby announce that, in all future dealings with men, I, reality chick, will bolt if I so much as hear any of the following three-word combinations:
1. "I’m not ready." An evil little phrase if ever I heard one, particularly when you’ve devoted several years to the supposed love of your life and the bugger never planned to be ready for anything. If you hear the dull clanging of the get-out-while-you-can bell, do yourself a favour and heed its call.
2. "I don’t know." In my book, if a bloke says he doesn’t know when he really should know, you should know what you should do. Hopefully.
3. "I’ll call you." Even if he makes a big song and dance about getting your number, take any and all promises to call with the proverbial grain of salt. It’s a politeness reflex, folks. What’s he going to do before he walks? Say, ‘I won’t be calling, but thanks for the slap’n’tickle anyhow’?
4. "I pashed someone." Nothing like hearing that the one you love has been playing tonsil hockey with someone you'd like to see fall under a bus. Or off a cliff, preferably while travelling in a bus. And chances are it's the one time you'd be glad to buy your beloved a bus ticket too.
5. "I'm definitely gay." OK, I haven't been on the receiving end of this one, but I can imagine that when your lover comes out to you after you've spent weeks, months or even years knowing them in the biblical sense, that your relationship is never quite the same again.
6. "I don’t think I love you enough." I realise that’s strictly more than three little words (maths was never my strong point), but it gets a special mention for its sheer awfulness. Again, people, take my advice and heed the distant clanging of the get-out-while-you-can bell.
There are more I may add down the track, but right now my day job is calling so I might open this one to the floor. What three little words do YOU never want to hear again?




20 Comments:
At January 09, 2007 11:17 AM,
Anonymous said…
Personally I'm not a fan of "I'm not sure" which is a close relative of "I don't know" and is equally non committal and wishy washy.
At January 09, 2007 11:22 AM,
RomanticallyChallenged said…
How about "I think I'm bi-sexual"?Eeeek! Closely followed by..."actually I'm gay."
At January 09, 2007 12:47 PM,
Anonymous said…
lets have a break.....(four words, but hey..)
This one sucks, particularly if followed by "and just see what happens". Ye Gods. That is just boy-speak for "I want to break up, but I am not up for the emotional conversation" Hmmm. I sound bitter :-)
At January 09, 2007 1:54 PM,
reality chick said…
Don't worry anonymous, sometimes it's OK to be bitter and twisted. On that note, I thought of another one: 'Not tonight, OK?' Also a close cousin of: 'I'm too tired', 'My back hurts' and 'We just did it a week ago'.
By the way, if you're reading and wanting to participate but don't have a three-worder handy, don't despair - any heartbreaker phrase will do.
At January 09, 2007 2:00 PM,
yummymummy said…
There are 3 little words difficult to hear when you are single and accidently slept with your ex...."you are pregnant" equally distressing for the ex "I am pregnant" Of course now that I have my little bundle they are 3 of the best words I remember.
At January 09, 2007 6:02 PM,
Funny Girl said…
While I think the top prize goes to yummy mummy I would like to offer the dreaded words; 'you look nice'.
There is nothing I hated more than dressing up complete with high heels, hair, nails, make-up, his favourite perfume with not a hair of the downstairs topiary out of place to then hear those words from my ex.
To me nice is like pretty. They should only be used to describe kittens, flower girls, granny's new mantle piece plate decoration, watercolours and the city of Adelaide and certainly not uttered to women you are sharing bodily fluids with!
At January 09, 2007 6:47 PM,
Anonymous said…
I have heard all of those three little words just recently. But my favorite and yet most frustrating would have to be "I'm just confused" and then comes "We're at different stages" and the most scary of all to an emotionally baron male is "Your clocks ticking"!! I would have great pleasure in hearing "I am gay" that would make my day!! Help me Reality Chick!!
At January 09, 2007 6:58 PM,
reality chick said…
Anonymous - I presume you're a new and male anonymous, as opposed to my female anonymous readers (and on that note can everyone please get creative on a pseudonym? I'm getting confused) - I sympathise. Slight role reversal on a girl telling you YOUR clock's ticking though... funny girl. As for wanting your date to announce she's gay, I can only assume that's so you can suggest a threesome? Cheeky. :-)
At January 09, 2007 9:25 PM,
flathead said…
Wow its true, one male friend was told quite openly "I like girls, and here is my new girlfriend". His reply was (insert huge EGO) "cool I can get with you both." Her reply "no I like eating pussy now, because of you". Even when he retold the story to me, he sniggered to himself how cool it was I recon I can get them together, uh deluded male.
At January 09, 2007 9:40 PM,
Flathead said…
Feck break out the kleenex. There should be a large red light and siren attached to every lamppost in the city that picks up on the mere utterance of the three little words, reciting over and over "warning warning relationship breaker, relationship breaker".
At January 10, 2007 11:28 AM,
reality chick said…
flathead, much as I enjoy your pithy insights into the male mind I can't say i know what you're getting at with the lamp post thing....
At January 10, 2007 4:46 PM,
buzzgirl said…
OK, breaking the three-word rule how about "it's not you it's me" and "we need to talk". Or the worst words a woman can hear: "I've bought a playstation/Xbox"
At January 11, 2007 6:39 PM,
M & S Savo said…
I just wanted to say "great blog realitychk" Keep up the great work on your blog
Sylvia
At January 11, 2007 7:02 PM,
reality chick said…
Why thanks Sylvia. Glad you're enjoying the trials and tribulations of my dating disasters. How's Toronto treating you? Are you having one those scary weather days where multiple layers and ear-muffs are required? Haven't been there myself but I have a Canuk pal who's told me the minus-thirties can get a bit much!
New three-worder people: "Let's stay friends". ARGHHHHHHHHH!
At January 11, 2007 9:48 PM,
Flathead said…
OK REality chick "I'm not sure" RELATIONSHIP BREAKER, "I am GAY" RELATIONSHIP BREAKER, "Lets have a break" RELATIONSHIP BREAKER, "We're at different stages" RELATIONSHIP BREAKER, 'you look nice' RELATIONSHIP BREAKER. Some people cant see the woods for the trees and need a big flashing light and siren to warn them to get out, get out now! phooey to youey! Reality Chick
At January 11, 2007 11:12 PM,
reality chick said…
Oh flathead, don't be such a touchy little fishy.
At January 12, 2007 11:33 AM,
Jo said…
One of my good male mates heard these two days before xmas after seeing her for 17 years (8years married):
"I dont love you anymore"
"I Just want to be friends"
AND
"I am moving back to mum and dads"
Wot a killer ay! Us girls can be just as nasty!
At January 12, 2007 11:38 AM,
reality chick said…
I agree Jo. The poor guy! So much for that whole happily-ever-after thing. :(
At January 13, 2007 10:16 AM,
Anonymous said…
I'm not sure if it's just me but when the break up hit's and your life feels like it's been devastated...you feel like your heart has been ripped from your chest and your ex is holding in his hands...and all you want are things to be how they were the day before (because you thought everything was perfect!).
You try and talk sense to him and work it out...and the only three words he can say to your words of reason are "I accept that"! What the hell?
But to top that off the words that hit your open and wounded heart like a hammer "our relationship had cancer"
Shattered.
At January 13, 2007 4:31 PM,
reality chick said…
The 'I accept that' would infuriate anyone, even the Dalai Lama. The relationship having cancer comment - sheesh. Can I bop him one for you? Can you give me his address and I'll break in while he's sleeping and scrawl a big 'L' on his forehead in permanent marker?
I don't know what the future holds, Anonymous, but if it's not with Mr Acceptance Speech, there is surely another, possibly nicer and far less confused dude out there for you. As they say on my new favourite show, How I Met Your Mother, if a cockroach and a mouse can find love in this crazy world, anyone can. And that includes a jaded superhero and a sad gal stuck in Splitsville limbo. Because that's all it is... LIMBO. I'm sure vodka was designed for times like these, so please feel free to self-medicate. You hang in there...
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