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Love Work Dilemma

edited June 2009 in General
Hello everyone:

I have a bit of a love work problem and i need advice. Here's the situation

I am best best buds with this girl from work . She's younger than me but we get along so well. We always smile at each other at work, we talk easily and we trust each other with our secrets and stuff. We both work in the same area at work and so we are always in the same vicinity as the other.

Anyways being a guy i really care about her and would always be there for her to lend a ear like a friend would . I have a gf though whom i love really much so i know it's not going to work out between us. She assumes we are the best of friends and we are, but anyways the complication comes in where she trusts me so much that she tells me everything about her and stuff. However i'm feeling like i'm on the fence because recently she told me that a fellow coworker whom she has a crush on has asked her out. I knew about this fellow coworker and how she likes him and originally i was all happy to support her and stuff. But during the last week when she told me this, i was happy for her but something in my heart tells me something's not right.

Sure enough during the last week, i was at the mall and i saw him there with another girl getting lunch. They were holding hands and laughing and just enjoying each other's company in a rather too friendly way. Oddly enough the other girl he was with was another girl who is also a coworker of mine. I don't know what to do...

Should i tell my friend about this? she has the biggest crush on him and thinks he is so nice and stuff but i also don't want to jeopardize our friendship if this news breaks her heart. Plus regardless of what i do i feel like the sideline guy and that sometimes hurts cause originally i had a crush on her but i knew it would never work out cause i already have a great girlfriend whom i love a lot.

Thanks for your advice guys:
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Comments

  • edited June 2009
    LOL most of you guys are probably thinking what a messed up company i work for lol
  • edited June 2009
    I wouldn't. I usually don't care about what goes on in other people's relationships. It has backfired on me before, and you'll find yourself in a no-win situation and probably lose your friendship in the process.

    Also, your lady friend may misinterpret what you're telling her. I have seen this happen too many times to even give a shit anymore.
  • edited June 2009
    You know what that funny feeling is? YOU f'n like her.
    Justin Credible;55660 said:
    Hello everyone:

    I have a bit of a love work problem and i need advice. Here's the situation

    I am best best buds with this girl from work . She's younger than me but we get along so well. We always smile at each other at work, we talk easily and we trust each other with our secrets and stuff. We both work in the same area at work and so we are always in the same vicinity as the other.

    Anyways being a guy i really care about her and would always be there for her to lend a ear like a friend would . I have a gf though whom i love really much so i know it's not going to work out between us. She assumes we are the best of friends and we are, but anyways the complication comes in where she trusts me so much that she tells me everything about her and stuff. However i'm feeling like i'm on the fence because recently she told me that a fellow coworker whom she has a crush on has asked her out. I knew about this fellow coworker and how she likes him and originally i was all happy to support her and stuff. But during the last week when she told me this, i was happy for her but something in my heart tells me something's not right.

    Sure enough during the last week, i was at the mall and i saw him there with another girl getting lunch. They were holding hands and laughing and just enjoying each other's company in a rather too friendly way. Oddly enough the other girl he was with was another girl who is also a coworker of mine. I don't know what to do...

    Should i tell my friend about this? she has the biggest crush on him and thinks he is so nice and stuff but i also don't want to jeopardize our friendship if this news breaks her heart. Plus regardless of what i do i feel like the sideline guy and that sometimes hurts cause originally i had a crush on her but i knew it would never work out cause i already have a great girlfriend whom i love a lot.

    Thanks for your advice guys:
  • edited June 2009
    Kingsley;55663 said:
    You know what that funny feeling is? YOU f'n like her.
    i do like her but that can't be helped.. I have a gf and i love her so i know it'll never work between us.

    Besides she thinks of me as a best friend too.
  • edited June 2009
    Welcome to Friend Zone, Population: You.
  • edited June 2009
    if i were u id tell her
    people are too pampered these days from hurtful things, its not that u wanna hurt her on purpose but she deserves to know, and although it may piss her off or upset her (cuz she wouldn't want to accept reality) later she will probably come to grip with it
    i think in the end she will find out sooner or later so why should she get all pumped over this guy. furthermore, what if he tries to play both at the same time, how hurt would she be under those circumstances?

    about 2 years ago i was in a similar situation with a girl and i told her not to go for this dude and she got really pissed, heck she flipped me off pretty bad that i was tyrn to "control" her when i was just trying to watch her back, so i gave her my 0.02$ and said fine do it ur way. i ended up being right and she was hurt far worse then she expected, heck then i predicted and theres nothing that can change that but at least i tried
  • edited June 2009
    Justin Credible;55660 said:
    Hello everyone:

    I have a bit of a love work problem and i need advice. Here's the situation

    -a long and complicated question...-

    Arrange the variables in a table and solve as a constraint satisfaction problem.
  • edited June 2009
    Tell her. She'll appreciate it later on even though she may initially be upset.
  • edited June 2009
    Do you work at Superstore? Or Safeway? Or maybe Canadian Tire.....

    Work place drama, eh.

    Also, does your girlfriend know you have a crush on a girl at work?

    Since you say you love her, I assume you have a semi-healthy relationship. Unless you are Jerry Springer material, then forget anything logical I might tell you.

    In a healthy relationship, you talk about crushes. It establishes trust. By letting your girlfriend know (given she is not super insecure), you are pretty much telling her that there is nothing to worry about. If you feel secure enough that it's JUST A CRUSH to tell your girlfriend about it, then it's not a problem.

    Anyhow, I know you were asking, "do I tell or do I not tell?" Please consider this: what would happen if you hadn't seen anything at all? Another person's story isn't yours to tell.

    I find it hilarious that you are about to tattle on some guy who's basically doing the same thing you are... except to a different degree.

    As long as it's just a crush, then whatever. Work place crushes are work place crushes. But to be honest, it sounds like you are having some real feelings for this work place crush. You shouldn't be saying that you still love your girlfriend. You are being unfair to all three of you be doing so.

    We can't help who we love--but we can help what we do about it.
  • edited June 2009
    ^ OMG so profound!
  • edited June 2009
    sex
  • edited June 2009
    LAWL I KNOW RIGHT????

    I HAVE A PHD IN SEXUAL RELATIONS
  • edited June 2009
    Depending on how close you guys are as friends, you may have a duty of care to let her know. I mean, really, what are friends for?

    But, if it's because you have feelings for her that you want to tell her than you should try to extract yourself from the situation and let nature take its course.

    It really depends on your intent.
  • edited June 2009
    You have no right to tell her, because you dont know that guy and that other chick are an item, or just on a date.

    Why don't you go ask him if hes dating the other girl, before you go telling her something.
  • edited June 2009
    randomuser;55678 said:
    You have no right to tell her, because you dont know that guy and that other chick are an item, or just on a date.

    Why don't you go ask him if hes dating the other girl, before you go telling her something.
    does it matter if he knows or not? all he's doing is giving her the heads up that "he saw this guy and girl together".. that's all he has to say to let her know of the situation.. he isn't suggesting/implying here.. just telling the girl what he saw.. now what the girl makes of seeing this guy and girl together is another story..
  • edited June 2009
    randomuser;55678 said:
    You have no right to tell her, because you dont know that guy and that other chick are an item, or just on a date.

    Why don't you go ask him if hes dating the other girl, before you go telling her something.
    I am not sure I agree with you. I know that my friends would tell me something like that. Only because it would save me trouble later. This reaction makes sense.

    Only if she is not really a good friend or the intentions are different would I not say anything.
  • edited June 2009
    justinbh2;55680 said:
    I am not sure I agree with you. I know that my friends would tell me something like that. Only because it would save me trouble later. This reaction makes sense.

    Only if she is not really a good friend or the intentions are different would I not say anything.
    So people are not allowed to go on dates with people and flirt with other people? If the two people are an item then he should be all means tell her the guy is a dirtbag, otherwise he shouldn't be saying anything unless he knows its something bad.

    What if that other guy really does like her, but had a date with this chick hes only mildly interested in because he doesn't know if this girl likes him or not?
  • edited June 2009
    siuying;55679 said:
    does it matter if he knows or not? all he's doing is giving her the heads up that "he saw this guy and girl together".. that's all he has to say to let her know of the situation.. he isn't suggesting/implying here.. just telling the girl what he saw.. now what the girl makes of seeing this guy and girl together is another story..
    Sounds like jealousy in a way almost, because what if they are not "together" but just flirty or going on dates. If he doesn't know the totality of the suggestion should he really suggest or imply anything?

    Why bother causing her anxiety over something unless he knows for sure, seems like if he really cares he should just ask the guy since he works with him, and save the guy either lying to the girls face and further hurting her, or avoid hurting both of them.
  • edited June 2009
    bufli;55666 said:
    if i were u id tell her
    people are too pampered these days from hurtful things, its not that u wanna hurt her on purpose but she deserves to know, and although it may piss her off or upset her (cuz she wouldn't want to accept reality) later she will probably come to grip with it
    i think in the end she will find out sooner or later so why should she get all pumped over this guy. furthermore, what if he tries to play both at the same time, how hurt would she be under those circumstances?

    about 2 years ago i was in a similar situation with a girl and i told her not to go for this dude and she got really pissed, heck she flipped me off pretty bad that i was tyrn to "control" her when i was just trying to watch her back, so i gave her my 0.02$ and said fine do it ur way. i ended up being right and she was hurt far worse then she expected, heck then i predicted and theres nothing that can change that but at least i tried
    I agree that people are too pampered from harmful things teses days but remember i also don't want to be the one who hurts her. She is sensitive and her crush on this guy is a big deal for her because it's the first one she has had such strong feelings for.

    I feel like the sideline guy who thinks she deserves better but i also see how happy she is whenever we talk about it. I really hate to see her heart get broken by this guy but i also work with this guy and we get along well as coworkers too. Why is love so complicated?
  • edited June 2009
    Lixie;55671 said:
    Do you work at Superstore? Or Safeway? Or maybe Canadian Tire.....

    Work place drama, eh.

    Also, does your girlfriend know you have a crush on a girl at work?

    Since you say you love her, I assume you have a semi-healthy relationship. Unless you are Jerry Springer material, then forget anything logical I might tell you.

    In a healthy relationship, you talk about crushes. It establishes trust. By letting your girlfriend know (given she is not super insecure), you are pretty much telling her that there is nothing to worry about. If you feel secure enough that it's JUST A CRUSH to tell your girlfriend about it, then it's not a problem.

    Anyhow, I know you were asking, "do I tell or do I not tell?" Please consider this: what would happen if you hadn't seen anything at all? Another person's story isn't yours to tell.

    I find it hilarious that you are about to tattle on some guy who's basically doing the same thing you are... except to a different degree.

    As long as it's just a crush, then whatever. Work place crushes are work place crushes. But to be honest, it sounds like you are having some real feelings for this work place crush. You shouldn't be saying that you still love your girlfriend. You are being unfair to all three of you be doing so.

    We can't help who we love--but we can help what we do about it.
    LOL my workplace shall remain a mystery for the sake of those involved.

    As for my girlfriend, we have been together for about 9 months now and she knows that i care about this girl but we trust each other so much that she knows that she is the only one for me. So we're good on that part since all people have crushes. Heck i even know that she has crushes too and she told me about them cause we know that we are in this relationship for each other.

    The other thing she doesn't know is that i care about her so much too taht i hate to see her get hurt in anyway.

    As for telling or not, i know it might not seem like my story to tell but i still feel like i wouldn't be a good best friend if i didn't tell her. I mean what if she found out by herself later on and found out that i had the opportunity to have told her. Our friendship could be jeopardized, by that alone because friends look out for one another.

    Guess i'll wait and see to see what comes out of it before doing anything drastic. Sigh.... so many complications in liife and love.
  • edited June 2009
    randomuser;55682 said:
    Sounds like jealousy in a way almost, because what if they are not "together" but just flirty or going on dates. If he doesn't know the totality of the suggestion should he really suggest or imply anything?

    Why bother causing her anxiety over something unless he knows for sure, seems like if he really cares he should just ask the guy since he works with him, and save the guy either lying to the girls face and further hurting her, or avoid hurting both of them.
    like i said.. it depends on what the girl makes of someone seeing the guy/girl together and what she makes of the word "together".. together can mean a lot of things.. you flirt "together" going on dates "together" etc. can mean different things/have different weights for different people and must be taken in consideration with the circumstances.. but ultimately.. the common everyday meaning doesn't undermine the situation does it?

    what i'm suggesting is for him to tell like it is.. no opinions.. no "i think he's..." kind of crap so there aren't going to be any suggestion/implications involved.. and even if there is one.. the totality of the suggestion/implication is up to the girl's interpretation...that alone is pretty subjective and beyond his control..
  • edited June 2009
    siuying;55685 said:
    like i said.. it depends on what the girl makes of someone seeing the guy/girl together and what she makes of the word "together".. together can mean a lot of things.. you flirt "together" going on dates "together" etc. can mean different things/have different weights for different people and must be taken in consideration with the circumstances.. but ultimately.. the common everyday meaning doesn't undermine the situation does it?

    what i'm suggesting is for him to tell like it is.. no opinions.. no "i think he's..." kind of crap so there aren't going to be any suggestion/implications involved.. and even if there is one.. the totality of the suggestion/implication is up to the girl's interpretation...that alone is pretty subjective and beyond his control..
    I agree that the implication of how she takes into context is her issue but if i do tell her the question is how would it affect our friendship and work relationship with each other.

    I also hate for her to just break down and be emotional if i told her that her first real crush is sneaking around when he asked her out already. She was so happy when she told me that he asked her out. I hate to be the one that took the happiness away from her.
  • edited June 2009
    Is it that hard to just go ask the guy yourself if he is seeing that chick if you work with them?

    You don't even have to deal with the issue of context, because you can establish it. Do you think he would even tell her the truth if he is a dirtball?
  • edited June 2009
    randomuser;55687 said:
    Is it that hard to just go ask the guy yourself if he is seeing that chick if you work with them?

    You don't even have to deal with the issue of context, because you can establish it. Do you think he would even tell her the truth if he is a dirtball?
    no, it wouldn't be hard at all if he wasn't alreadycommunicating with her also. I mean if i went up to her and aksed him, do u think he'll tell me the truth? He knows i am like best buds with her so if i suspect something and ask him then he might not be honest and tell me what i want to hear so i don't go running back to tell her.
  • edited June 2009
    you could ask him like in a buddy sense, who was that hot chick i saw you with dude, or however you guys talk

    doesnt hurt to ask anyway, if you care about her as much as you say i dont see what you have to lose, you dont have to ask him in an accusatory manner of speaking, as more curious.

    all im saying is you dont know the context of what happened, ive held hands and been flirty with guys i wasnt 'steady' with, but obviously there is a chance they are maybe officially going out

    it sounds more like he asked your friend out on a date, as opposed to starting a relationship, which seems harmless enough to me

    *unless* he is actually going steady with that other chick, then asking your friend out too
  • edited June 2009
    randomuser;55681 said:
    So people are not allowed to go on dates with people and flirt with other people? If the two people are an item then he should be all means tell her the guy is a dirtbag, otherwise he shouldn't be saying anything unless he knows its something bad.

    What if that other guy really does like her, but had a date with this chick hes only mildly interested in because he doesn't know if this girl likes him or not?
    Look, all I am saying is that if I were her and Justin was my friend, and a good friend at that, then I would want him to tell me because of my vested interest in this other person, plain and simple. You are making this more complicated than it needs to be.

    If he didnt tell me and I found out later, the hard way, it would affect the trust I had in him. Justin said they confide in each other about everything. This should be no exception. Again, what are friends for. Friends are for gossip, help, support, and most definately stuff like this. If this is in the context of a friend just being a friend and this friend knows the other friend likes this guy then it might be worth mentioning that the guy may have other interests. I mean please, you wouldnt tell your very close friend??????

    I dont know many people who wouldnt say anything. I mean assuming the frienship is a close as it is being described.
  • edited June 2009
    I think it really all depends on how you decide to treat your friends. If I knew about my best friend's boyfriend cheating on her, I wouldn't tell.

    Think about it. Betrayal is a very hurtful thing. Do you want to be part of that for your friend? Dishonesty always falls out in the end. As long as you are not putting yourself in situations where you are LYING to your friend in the boyfriend's stead, then what is the problem?

    And to be honest, when she finally finds out that the guy who she might be dating is also dating around, the first thing she's going to be is angry and hurt. She's not going to think shit like, "why didn't my best friend TELL ME?????"

    Trust me. The worst thing to hear from a friend is that your boyfriend is cheating on you. You have two reactions--don't trust your friend; or don't trust your boyfriend. Then you will also be angry. Angry at your friend for having the foresight that you didn't--and angry at your boyfriend for the wrong he caused you.

    But, whatevs. If they are merely dating, then it's really not a big deal. People date around. Honestly, don't you have things in life that keep you occupied? I have never heard of a guy this much into drama.
  • edited June 2009
    I would say something, once I felt I was in a place to say what really was happening is all I'm saying.

    I just don't understand why the majority of you wouldn't even want to check into the situation, or how you don't see that people date multiple at the same time if there is no commitment or a relationship.

    Maybe I read into the original post wrong, but all I interpreted was that this guy he saw with another girl, asked his best girly friend out on a date. So morally I don't see anything that is wrong. Or are they already in a commited relationship?

    That said, I would say something to my friend, but I'd at least try to make an informed decision about it first.

    What if it was just a date the guy was on, and now hes going to tell his best friend and she is going to freak out at the other guy for something that may be somewhat innocent, and maybe as a result he will lose interest, and now both parties are screwed.
  • edited June 2009
    Lixie;55692 said:

    But, whatevs. If they are merely dating, then it's really not a big deal. People date around. Honestly, don't you have things in life that keep you occupied? I have never heard of a guy this much into drama.
    My sentiment exactly :smile:
  • edited June 2009
    i would just say something in an unbiased way, like: "You know that guy you like?? Well, I just saw him with another girl... not sure what it means and they could just be friends but, they were holding hands and being really friendly with each other, however, that could just mean they are friends" or something along those lines.

    I would expect nothing less from my friends. I still think this is being over analyzed. Who said anything about cheating or bad intentions. I just think friends tell each other stuff... stuff like that.

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