Question re: Husband staring at other females

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Good point.

I’m sorry, OP, but as you’ve described your husband’s behavior, not only the initial ogling but his response when you bring it up, the word “narcissism” keeps popping into my head. I could be wrong, I hope I’m wrong, but his behavior as you’ve described it fits what I know. You telling him it hurts you will not matter one whit to him if he’s a narcissist because narcissists lack empathy. I would really bring this to a counselor to help you sort it out. You can’t respond to narcissistic people like regular people. He’s already tried manipulation and it works, so why change his response?

I hope this isn’t the case but I wanted to bring it up because it is a distinct possibility that hasn’t popped up yet that I’ve seen. His response to your hurt is really, really worrying. Normal, good men do NOT act like that. It is a lie of the worst of them that wives should put up with it. You deserve better!
Thanks very much for that excellent (name removed by moderator)ut, pensmama. I’ve actually been suspecting some narcissism in my husband for several months now. Did some research on the typical characteristics, and he has many of them, though not usually all. I’m thinking he may be somewhat narcissistic, although thankfully not completely. Hopefully that means there’s hope for the future. I pray.

May Our Lord bless you always.
 
Uh…any man who behaves like that is a creep. It doesn’t matter what his wife is or isn’t doing, that behavior will creep out anyone who sees it.

Sure, the OP could be doing some things wrong in her marriage, but that doesn’t put this issue into a different context. This behavior is inappropriate and yes, creepy even from single men. That’s why most men, married or not, just don’t act like this.
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Lou
 
I’ll never buy that one Man can be honorable And others can’t.

sketchy and lustful behavior does not fall into the category of moral realativism.

Nope. We are all fairly tactical.

One is either an honorable man or not. In any society. Past present or future.
Very good points, Hoosier Daddy. Thanks for contributing it. Honor and moral values seem to have flown out the window in much, if not most, of society today. I’m just amazed that God has the patience to keep giving chance, after chance, after chance instead of coming here and now in the final judgement, but He is true MERCY, and His plan and hopes can be far different than ours - but always the best.
 

Fine job of scapegoating. Much -much - easier to point the finger at others and not look inward and see the darkness/lechery of the heart and mind. The more dependent we become to having others do the “work” for us – the more we will repel the Grace to purify our hearts/minds.
Thank you so much for that very wise (name removed by moderator)ut, Walking Home. May Our Lord bless your always.
 
So the “blame” really lies in the way a woman dresses? :rolleyes: this is a very frightening example of blaming and shaming the victim. In Rio you have beautiful women on the beach topless, not to titilate, no pun intended, but because it’s their culture and it’s, you know, 100 degrees at the beach. There’s nothing wrong with noticing or glancing at an attractive beautiful person, male or female, but to try and blame the way they’re dressed on causing lust is definitely wrong and dangerous in my opinion.
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Most men don’t ogle women. Even in today’s yucky, messed up culture. It is not normal for a man to obviously stare at a woman in front of his wife and then blame her for being hurt by it. She is right to require him to be accountable for the vows he made to her. Even secular men don’t do this because they know it’s disrespectful, even if they don’t see a moral problem with it. The husband does not respect his wife. He has not asked for help, he hasn’t admitted a problem, he hasn’t humbled himself at all. He is not acting as a husband should. He is not honoring the vows he made to his wife.
Thank you so much, pensmama. It’s very distressing that there are still so many men in this world who condone or minimize lustful actions, but unfortunately there are, even on these forums.
 
I don’t think anyone is bashing the husband for noticing other women. All men, old, young, married, and single do that, and they do it regardless of era and how women dress. Of course, all women, old, young, married, and single love to be noticed, also regardless of era or common fashion. That’s just human biological nature and there’s nothing problematic about it.

But the OP’s husband is behaving well outside the norm. This goes beyond a quick look and a mental note. What he’s doing is widely frowned upon and he turns himself into a spectacle. Yep, he’s a creep. I can’t think of any other word for a middle aged man who just stares like that, especially with his wife there. All men see the same scantily clad women, but very few behave like this.

I would caution you against using radical or even “moderate” Islam as an authority on human sexuality. In case you haven’t noticed, their extreme demonization of both male and female sexuality has led to a lot of lonely, frustrated, angry young people.
Very good points, BlueEyedLady. I didn’t think my husband’s behavior was normal, even for a guy. Maybe just for a hormone-crazed teenager. Perhaps he’s never gotten past that stage of his life as far as this issue is concerned and/or doesn’t wish to. In most other areas he’s very sensible and mature. I’m still trying to figure him out and remain kind and caring at the same time. Thanks for sharing, and God bless.
 
Yes. The way people dress is one thing, the way the OP’s husband reacts is another. The fact that some people may be dressing immodestly doesn’t mean the OP’s husband is instantly let off the hook. He hasn’t admitted what he’s doing is wrong and he tells the OP she is being irrational. It’s his problem.

Lou
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Gerard, what you’re saying stands in direct contradiction to what any addict for any substance or behavior learns in recovery. Depending on others for one’s sobriety or abstinence is a flimsy excuse to stay addicted.

That’s not to say that triggers aren’t real and are best avoided, but we are accountable for our own actions.
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Do many women dress immodestly? Absolutely.

Does that let the husband off the hook? Absolutely not.

It especially doesn’t make it okay for him to “punish” his wife by giving her the cold shoulder for days when she expresses hurt feelings. That’s emotional abuse.
Thanks very much for that, kptrs. It’s much appreciated. I’m relieved to say that finally after five days the cold shoulder treatment by my husband has ended. Still no apology or acknowledgement of any wrong done, but fortunately it’s a step in the right direction - or at least a better direction than this difficult past week has been, anyway. God’s blessings to you.
 
Have you taken any notice as to how women in the West dress today in our modern era, compared to how they dressed in say, the 1950’s, or even earlier?

Instead of showing compassion towards the husband, we have 8 pages of bashing the husband and name-calling.
Oh yes, men never looked at women lustfully back in the 1950’s. It’s all the woman’s fault now for how they dress. Poor man, he can’t help himself, it not his fault. And his wife? It’s her fault for being so sensitive. :rolleyes:
 
Uh…any man who behaves like that is a creep. It doesn’t matter what his wife is or isn’t doing, that behavior will creep out anyone who sees it.

Sure, the OP could be doing some things wrong in her marriage, but that doesn’t put this issue into a different context. This behavior is inappropriate and yes, creepy even from single men. That’s why most men, married or not, just don’t act like this.
Exactly. If this is what the husband is doing, it’s creepy.

And StGerardMajella, do not need to hear “the other side of the story” to say this behavior is creepy.
 
And StGerardMajella, do not need to hear “the other side of the story” to say this behavior is creepy.
First, we don’t know the truth of the matter. People come on forums and post all kinds of one-sided, exaggerated stories. Maybe he did act inappropriately, and perhaps he did not. Maybe the stare wasn’t even a stare. Perhaps he was looking at something else altogether that caught his attention.

My point is that you are only hearing one side of the story. We don’t know the facts or full context. Before you condemn someone, it would be appropriate if he had a full hearing and have a little objectivity.

Were there witnesses, or just the wife? All we are hearing is a one-sided story about how awful this husband is.

If he is really behaving as inappropriately as suggested, why isn’t the couple in counseling? Why aren’t they separated? Why is the original poster not speaking privately with a competent, qualified priest, and is instead posting this matter on a public thread? Why is the wife slandering her husband on a public forum over a private matter that should be resolved between all concerned parties?

In short, before jumping to conclusions and calling this husband a “creep”, we should advise the original poster to seek the advice of a competent counselor or priest. We cannot possibly take her word for truth given what has been disclosed and the manner in which these allegations have been disclosed.

And that’s what they are - Allegations. We have no evidence, no proof, no context.
 
First, we don’t know the truth of the matter. People come on forums and post all kinds of one-sided, exaggerated stories. Maybe he did act inappropriately, and perhaps he did not. Maybe the stare wasn’t even a stare. Perhaps he was looking at something else altogether that caught his attention.

My point is that you are only hearing one side of the story. We don’t know the facts or full context. Before you condemn someone, it would be appropriate if he had a full hearing and have a little objectivity.

Were there witnesses, or just the wife? All we are hearing is a one-sided story about how awful this husband is.

If he is really behaving as inappropriately as suggested, why isn’t the couple in counseling? Why aren’t they separated? Why is the original poster not speaking privately with a competent, qualified priest, and is instead posting this matter on a public thread? Why is the wife slandering her husband on a public forum over a private matter that should be resolved between all concerned parties?

In short, before jumping to conclusions and calling this husband a “creep”, we should advise the original poster to seek the advice of a competent counselor or priest. We cannot possibly take her word for truth given what has been disclosed and the manner in which these allegations have been disclosed.

And that’s what they are - Allegations. We have no evidence, no proof, no context.
Why are you so adamant to disbelieve what the OP is saying? She describes it as “a long, fixated stare - so much so that their eyes often follow the (usually young) woman or girl as they walk until they’re out of sight,and they sometimes even adjust their stance or seat so they can ogle better and longer.”

The OP’s husband won’t go to counselling because he refuses to admit he is wrong. The OP is not slandering her husband, she is asking for advice. Why can’t we take her word?

I think you need to reread the OP’s posts in this thread. I can’t see how putting the blame back onto her is helpful in any way.

Lou
 
Maybe you don’t understand how the forums work.

People come on and tell their story. We are all to assume what they say is, in fact, how it really is. And that is how we respond. They do not have to provide the other side for us. The other side did not ask the question.

Honestly, you are a bit too concerned about people “condeming” an anonymous person as if we are saying something to his actual face. But I bet most people would stand by their response. So my question for you is, if you went back and read the OPs post and knew that everything she said was absolutely true, would you still answer the same way?
 
Why are you so adamant to disbelieve what the OP is saying? She describes it as “a long, fixated stare - so much so that their eyes often follow the (usually young) woman or girl as they walk until they’re out of sight,and they sometimes even adjust their stance or seat so they can ogle better and longer.”
Why would you take her at her word? Women make false accusations against men all the time. There is no proof or evidence that what she is describing is even remotely accurate.

The best advice is to tell her to seek proper counsel - with her spiritual advisor, possibly a divorce attorney if it comes to that. If the husband refuses counseling, nothing prevents her from attending counseling on her own. If it is as bad as she suggests, then there are likely more deep-rooted issues here well beyond staring.
So my question for you is, if you went back and read the OPs post and knew that everything she said was absolutely true, would you still answer the same way?
If the post is true - which is an enormous leap of faith, no doubt - then I would advise the poster to seek counseling with a competent priest, preferably with her husband in attendance. If the husband refuses, she should still seek counseling for herself personally, because there are even more deep-seated issues of trust if the husband refuses to accept the need for counseling.
The OP is not slandering her husband, she is asking for advice. Why can’t we take her word?
She is slandering her husband. You cannot take her at her word because we have no witnesses, and no evidence. We are only hearing one side of the story.

The best response is to direct the poster to seek advice from a competent priest, not to vilify the husband for what may be false allegations.
 
Why would you take her at her word? Women make false accusations against men all the time. There is no proof or evidence that what she is describing is even remotely accurate.

The best advice is to tell her to seek proper counsel - with her spiritual advisor, possibly a divorce attorney if it comes to that. If the husband refuses counseling, nothing prevents her from attending counseling on her own. If it is as bad as she suggests, then there are likely more deep-rooted issues here well beyond staring.

If the post is true - which is an enormous leap of faith, no doubt - then I would advise the poster to seek counseling with a competent priest, preferably with her husband in attendance. If the husband refuses, she should still seek counseling for herself personally, because there are even more deep-seated issues of trust if the husband refuses to accept the need for counseling.

She is slandering her husband. You cannot take her at her word because we have no witnesses, and no evidence. We are only hearing one side of the story.

The best response is to direct the poster to seek advice from a competent priest, not to vilify the husband for what may be false allegations.
If you haven’t got anything to say other than “women make false statements against men all the time”, I can’t see your posts being any help. Like IrishMom said, this is a forum. We take people at their word unless it is glaringly obvious that someone is making it up.

As I said, you should reread the OP’s posts on this thread and consider why statements such as “women make false accusations against men all the time” do nothing but cause arguments where they needn’t be. Perhaps then you can use some compassion you say everyone else is lacking.

Lou
 
Why would you take her at her word?

If the post is true - which is an enormous leap of faith,

You cannot take her at her word because we have no witnesses, and no evidence. We are only hearing one side of the story.

.
Why would you take ANYONE at their word then on this site? Why should anyone listen to ANY of your advice then?

At some point, if you are going to post on a forum, you have to take a leap of faith.

**You ** are being uncharitable to the OP by saying she is not being truthful and accusing her of being someone who is making false allegations.
 
Why would you take ANYONE at their word then on this site? Why should anyone listen to ANY of your advice then?

At some point, if you are going to post on a forum, you have to take a leap of faith.

**You ** are being uncharitable to the OP by saying she is not being truthful and accusing her of being someone who is making false allegations.
Yes. Your comments are not constructive in any way.

Lou
 
As I said, you should reread the OP’s posts on this thread and consider why statements such as “women make false accusations against men all the time” do nothing but cause arguments where they needn’t be. Perhaps then you can use some compassion you say everyone else is lacking.
Perhaps the original poster should avoid making highly derogatory comments about her husband on a public forum. Comments that defame his character and could ruin his reputation and cause great personal embarrassment.

If the matter was presented as a hypothetical, that would be a better approach.

The Bible makes it very clear that we are all made in the Creator’s image. Speaking wicked and evil allegations about a husband without evidence or witnesses is a grave sin.
 
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