Woman Keeps Friend on the Hook: Cruel or Just Clueless?

We’ve all been there, caught in the friend zone, or maybe even put someone there ourselves. It’s a delicate situation, full of mixed signals and unrequited love. Today, we have a story of a woman who’s been stringing her friend Mark along for years, despite his obvious romantic interest in her. They’ve gone on dates, broken up, and continued being friends. But is she being cruel by asking him for favors while not committing to a relationship? Her friend Sarah thinks so, but she’s not so sure. Let’s dive into this emotional rollercoaster and find out!

The Friend Zone Dilemma

Mr. Perfect

Unrequited Love

First Official Date

The Breakup

Moving Day

Always There for Me

Small Favors

The Cycle Continues

Defending My Actions ️

My Side of the Story

The Talk ️

The Outcome ‍♀️

Mark’s Response

The Friendship Continues

Holding Onto Hope

Another Date? ️

Sarah’s Verdict ️

No New Love Interests

Group Hangout

I Do Nice Things Too!

A Listening Ear

Other Women ‍♀️

Friend Zone or Cruel Intentions?

Our protagonist has been friends with Mark for years, and he’s made no secret of his romantic feelings for her. They’ve gone on dates, but she’s always kept him at arm’s length. Despite this, Mark continues to do favors for her, like helping her move and driving her to out-of-town events. When she tells her friend Sarah about the situation, Sarah calls her cruel and says she should either stop asking for favors or commit to a relationship. Our protagonist isn’t sure if she’s in the wrong, so she turns to the internet for advice. After some soul-searching, she has a talk with Mark, telling him she doesn’t see a romantic future between them. Surprisingly, Mark is okay with this and still wants to be friends. So, is she really being cruel, or is this just a complicated friendship? Let’s see what the internet thinks of this situation… ️‍♀️

User calls out OP for leading on a friend.

Friend keeps ex on hook for favors and false hope. YTA

Friendship should be reciprocal. YTA for using him.

Friend-zoning or leading on? A clarifying question ❓

Friend keeps guy on the hook, called out for manipulation

OP needs to be honest with friend about lack of interest

Leading him on? YTA. Let the guy go.

Clear communication is key! YTA needs to be honest

YTA for emotionally abusing and stringing him along.

Be clear with your intentions, YTA. Don’t lead him on.

Redditors unanimously agree: YTA, stop arguing and listen.

Stringing him along for favors? YTA according to commenter.

Accused of cruelty and justifying actions.

Cutting off a clueless friend for his own good

Don’t string him along, cut him loose and move on!

Friend keeps guy on the hook for attention. YTA

OP is warned that keeping her friend on the hook is cruel

Curious about the issue holding back their relationship

Friendzoning and mixed signals: YTA or clueless?

Friend keeps person on hook; commenter says YTA, limit contact

YTA cruelly stringing him along, friends might help end it.

Stringing him along? You’re TAH for giving vague hope

Friend holding on? End the friendship for his own good.

Be cautious with a friend who can’t hear ‘no’

Friend keeping man on the hook. YTA.

Friendship or servitude? Commenter calls out user’s behavior ❌

Respect and boundaries lacking on both sides

Don’t string someone along, be clear with your intentions

Being friends with a crush is okay, just be clear!

NTA! Clear communication and mutual interest make for a win-win.

Playing with emotions: YTA for dangling the carrot

Breadcrumbing at its finest. Pulling back only to pull back in.

Friend is intense, she’s NTA, but should cool things off

Friendship or Courtship? His actions say one thing, yours another.

Friend-zoning someone is okay, leading them on is not. YTA

Using someone’s desire for a relationship to get things: ESH

Intense anger towards friend who kept someone on the hook.

No mercy for the friend-zoner

OP is called out for being a cruel friend

Friendzoning a tenacious friend: YTA or just clueless?

Holding onto someone for attention is cruel and clueless.

Giving false hope can hurt more than a clear rejection

End it and spare him the pain. Don’t lead him on. ❌

Why won’t she date him? We need answers

When saying no is not enough, ESH for leading on.

A romantic limbo: should they take a leap or shut it down?

Friend keeps man on hook, leading him on

Mark should take responsibility for his own feelings

When love becomes unhealthy: NTA for not reciprocating, YTA for using.

User is warned to end a dangerous, one-sided ‘friendship’.

Friend is YTA but they both need to move on

Ending the friendship is the right thing to do.

Friend keeping is cruel, let Mark go and find happiness.

Let him go for his own happiness

Friend unknowingly kept on the hook, regrets it deeply. YTA

Set him free! YTA keeps friend on the hook

Cutting ties is key to help him move on.

Stop playing games with his heart YTA.

Friendship warning: Using someone can cost you their friendship

When you realize you lost something good but it’s too late

Friendship or Emotional Dependency?

Warning: Don’t mess with an obsessive person

Friendzone prediction turns bleak for OP

Friend-zoned guy stuck with user.

Friend zoned guy deserves better, woman needs to be honest

Friend called out for leading someone on. YTA

Clear advice on breaking off unhealthy friendship

Leading someone on is not cool

Friend accused of emotional manipulation, labeled a C U Next Tuesday

Stringing him along and leading him on is not fair