What Should I Do?

[anonon]

A while ago, a close friend of mine asked me out. I turned him down lightly, cause I still wanted to be friends, I know, I sound really rude, but I don't want to date anyone at the moment. Before I had turned him down, he always put his arms around me and was very touchy, but not in an inappropriate way. I had asked him to stop, yet he kept going. I eventually gave a note to one of my best friends to give to him, because I was too awkward to bring it up again. After he got it, he stopped for a bit. It was pretty normal, at first, but then he started up the hugs and touching again, and people started asking me if we were dating. One of my best friends even asked me. I asked them where they heard it and they said that he was telling people I was his girlfriend. What should I do?? I'm in a pickle, because I still want to be his friend, but I don't like him being this way.

[waterboatman]

Talk to him and tell him how you feel and that you don't like him touching you, that you are not his girlfriend, tell him he is putting your friendship in jeopardy. If he doesn't accept that then I'm afraid he will never be any different. What you do then is up to you.

[johnk]

I go with boaty but i doubt that will work.

[waterboatman]

If you tell him in front of friends it will!

[murraymints]

I'd avoid him..soon get the message

[rowanwitch]

Just tell him, and everyone else you are not and never will be his girlfriend. If he tries to touch you again tell him to stop so he doesn't get mixed messages. You may lose his friendship but if he doesn't respect your wishes do you want him as a friend anyway

[woofgang]

To me he sounds like a handsy creep rather than any kind of friend.

[MallyJ]

Let me set you straight...any touching you don't like or want is inappropriate. There can be no argument about this ever. He obviously likes you and perhaps doesn't know how to ask you to date him. In my opinion ...and it worked for me when someone touched my bum.... I turned round and yelled 'If you do that again I will thump you hard' It never happened again. If others are around you all the better...and when I say yell I really mean YELL. Good luck he sounds like he needs a bit of education on how to develop relationships with girls.

[anonon]

Thank you guys so much! Your replies really helped me, and I’ll definitely tell him (and possibly yell at him).