Your feelings are valid, but not worth acting on. Don’t assume he’s doing anything malicious, he’s probably just a funny guy. You just need to sit with your feelings a bit and work through it.

Besides, how would that conversation even go?

“Your boyfriend was making the kids laugh!”

“Ok…?”

“While I was driving!”

“…and…?”

It’s normal to feel a little twinge of jealousy, but this is a you issue and not a conflict.

Absolutely go.

Your mom is absolutely in the wrong to guilt you. You do not owe her an explanation. You don’t have to have a relationship with her at all if she just makes you feel bad.

First off, if it’s an option, therapy.

“I’m a terrible person and I don’t deserve to be her friend, let alone her boyfriend.”

You’re not a terrible person for acknowledging what you want (to not be her boyfriend). That this is your first thought suggests deeper issues.

I get that you feel bad, but you didn’t do anything wrong. If you would have agreed to be her boyfriend when you didn’t want to be, you’d have been lying to her. That’s worse.

Sometimes we get crushes and ask people out, and are disappointed with the answer. It sucks but it’s a part of life. Your friend will need to work her way through it. It’s hard to hear but it’s not your responsibility to guide her through this process. I know you want to help (Because you’re a good caring person) but you literally cannot. You are the worst person on earth to help her through this.

Give her some time to adjust to the new status quo, and keep reminding yourself YOU DID NOTHING WRONG. She will either accept the new reality as new friends, or decide that she can’t be friends with you right now because it’s painful for her. Let the ball be in her court.

If you want to be perpetually unfulfilled in this relationship, keep seeing him. If you want to eventually be totally heartbroken when he meets someone he actually wants to be in a relationship with, keep seeing him.

If you want literally anything else, move on. It’s never going to get any better than it is currently with him.

Yeah my dude. Women are judgemental and paranoid of men, but it’s out of necessity.

Women on dating apps are subject to a constant stream of duds. They range from guys whose conversation skills are limited to the word “hey” to unsolicited dick picks to straight up stalkers. Women have to have their guards up out of necessity.

My best advice for a man seeking out women on a dating app is to be patient. When you initiate conversation, do so specifically. You can’t just say “what’s up” and expect that to be enough. Find someone you have a mutual interest with and start a genuine conversation.

An online message of “sup” is the equivalent of hoping to make a connection with a stranger while shopping. Don’t hold your breath.

Don’t be hurt if you don’t get a response immediately. Remember women are likely sifting through dozens of messages on a daily basis.

Don’t take it personally if you don’t get a response at all.

He’s using his depression as a weapon to try to manipulate you into a relationship.

Don’t let him hide behind his autism. He knows what he’s doing.

Break off contact as much as you are able, and be thankful you never did actually start dating him.

Don’t feel bad. You’ve done him a favor by teaching a valuable lesson about love-bombing and moving too fast. If you acquiesce to his depression-temper-tantrum, you will just teach him that it’s an effective strategy, and he will continue doing it. The absolute best thing you can do for him is to not date him and not talk to him.