Red flags in relationships can be tough to look past, and everyone has different things which irk them about a partner. But one man shared a ‘massive’ one he couldn’t overlook
A man who offers relationship advice on TikTok shared the “massive red flag” he’d look out for if he were a woman, saying he would “steer well clear” of men in this predicament. Dating can be tough, and it’s hard to find someone who ticks every single box, so compromises will be made somewhere along the way before you get into a relationship. However, Stephen Pound said he personally wouldn’t be compromising on this factor, because he reckons it speaks volumes about them.
“If I was a woman, I would steer well clear of any man who hasn’t got male friends,” he shared, saying he would be asking the question: “Why has he got no male friends?”
Stephen reckons if a man is dating women and has no male friends, this renders him “socially incompetent” because he “can’t build friendships with other men,” and he may have “too much female presence around him,” which may not be a good thing.
He also said if a man has no male friends, he may become “overly reliant on you,” and could be a “little bit needy” and want “attention”.
Stephen said “no woman finds that attractive”.
However, in the comments, his words caused quite a stir, with many saying they don’t have friends of the same sex because they don’t want “drama” and “backstabbing”.
Others also said it was a “red flag” for Stephen to generalise what women may or may not value in a relationship, saying some females may not mind their male partner has no male friends.
One man penned: “I have no male friends because I chose not to be surrounded by fake people,” and a woman opted for a similar sentiment, saying it makes her “smart” to not have any female friends.
Someone wrote: “I have no male or female friends but can interact with anybody on any level I prefer the company of my family unit and my own company, my family etc look up to me and they choose to take their own path in life friends or no friends but I have many acquaintances not what I call friends.”
Others said there are exceptions to Stephen’s ‘red flag’ rule, claiming she has a “straight male friend” who doesn’t get on with men because he was “bullied” by boys in school, and also his father was “violent,” so he has a “fear” of them.
She continued: “However, he has many genuine female friends, genuine (not some kind of a friend zone) , including me. He’s absolutely not needy, though.
“There are women who are ok him having female friends instead of male friends. But I also know many would and probably have found it very odd. I’m odd, too. I have a close female friend (since we were 5), but in general I get on better with men.”
Another wrote: “He’s obviously a guy who doesn’t need other people to validate him, probably as strong as they come, can’t be manoeuvred, and they won’t care what people think.
“Whereas the more sociable people are weaker and bend to the people around so that they fit in, gotta watch out for that lone guy, he doesn’t need anyone or anything just himself.”
In the comments, Stephen posted a “scientific study” to back up what he said, because he was getting hate in the comments. The study suggests “friendship pervades the human social landscape. These bonds are so important that disrupting them leads to health problems”.