What can sexual grooming look like in online spaces, and how can you protect yourself and your friends from it?
red flags
- Josie Gleave
- Mo Ranyart
- s.e. smith
Every relationship is different, and when you’re polyamorous, that means that you may have several different relationships going on all at once. One issue to think about is the relationship structure that works for you, and how to make it work with your partners. Remember that this can be in a constant state of evolution, but communication is necessary for changes to take place.
- Sam Wall
You do know how to say "no" to sex. The issue is that you're afraid to say it, and that's a big red flag. I don't know how your boyfriend reacted the one time you said no, but it was clearly intense enough that you've done the calculus and decided it's better to have sex you don't want than face...
- Amanda Seely
You say that you're not sure whether or not to end the relationship, but it sounds to me like part of you knows that many aspects of your relationship aren't healthy and that ending it is what needs to happen. It's completely normal to have conflicting feelings about that, but it's also important to...
- Sam Wall
I think you are reading this situation absolutely right. That thing he's doing, when you reach out to talk and he requests pictures and then threatens to break up if you won't? That is a truly manipulative and toxic dynamic. It's also a major red flag in terms of a relationship being abusive...
- Sam Wall
Oof, this is a tough spot, and I'm sorry you've found yourself in it. I want to start by saying that your instincts, and what you've been hearing, are spot on. When you sense that someone you care about is being isolated by a partner, especially a partner with a history of harassment and assault, it...
- Sam Wall
As you have probably guessed from the title, I have some thoughts about what the source of the issue is, and boy howdy is it not you. Let's look at an abridged version of events from an outside perspective, because when you're in a relationship, with all the feelings that involves, it can be hard to...
- Sam Wall
It's a perennial cliché in nearly every coming of age movie, book, and sitcom. An adolescent or emerging adult character brings home a new boyfriend or girlfriend, who is met with dismay or disapproval by parents. In real life, it's not unusual for parents to not immediately like the partner of their teen, or to feel wary or cautious when it comes to supporting their romantic or sexual relationship. So how do you go about working out whether or not your concerns are valid, and what to do about them if they are?
- Heather Corinna
antogone68's question continued: I think this was probably for a number of reasons: being busy at university and perhaps having a naturally low sex drive after the honeymoon period of a relationship. However, I also think my sexual assault had something to do with it. I still find physical intimacy...
- Heather Corinna
helovesme31's question continued: He used to smoke weed but he stopped cause I didn't approve. I'm thankful he made that change but now I feel pressured into having sex with him. I lost my virginity to a big ass sleazy guy and then kept having sex with other men, they really were mean telling me I...