"Are you dumb, Tom?"

I am lucky enough to have a really great guy friend. 

The first guy friend, probably in my entire life, who I know is and will always be just a friend.

He has an incredible girlfriend [who I am also friends with] who I have no doubt will be his wife one day. He has been my sounding board for post grad dating for almost two years now.

If you haven't already noticed I am a very blunt and opinionated person. Therefore I need just as blunt and honest friends. If a guy can tell another guy isn't interested in a girl just by simply seeing a screen shot of a few text messages, I need him to tell me that. And Justin always does.

After my latest dating, or should I say texting, debacle the first thing I did was text Justin.

His reply was perfect, "you need to write a specific blog post about douche guys and not texting back." So here we go...

WHAT IS THIS PHENOMENON?

Guys think girls are "fake." You just text me for three days straight, said you wanted to hang out, and then apparently died? I'm 24, I think I can handle some honesty. 

And it doesn't seem to stop there either. If they do continue to talk to you, and god forbid even hang out with you face to face, then the other shoe drops and you find out they've now started dating someone. Because I was chopped liver? OR they come up with some ridiculous excuse to get out of going to a function with you, only to run into them at the bar after your event. 

This is why I say dating is exhausting. 

The last boy I broke up with I tried my absolute hardest to be completely honest with him. I had a great time with him but I couldn't see myself dating him and I wasn't going to lead him on. He deserved better than that.

Yet, it seems like boys try their absolute hardest to be as sketchy as humanly possible. And then call us crazy when we call them out on it. And no, telling a girl you're only interested in using her for sex is not the kind of honesty I'm talking about.

Ladies, there is nothing we can do to change boys and how they play their games.

But, you know what we can do? Stop appeasing them.

If he doesn't text you, do not come up with some random reason to text him.

Do not let him slide, call him out and don't be afraid to tell him to step off [a cliff.]

Don't be afraid to be independent, or as some call it 'alone', because you don't deserve this crap.

I used to change a guy's name to 'NO' in my phone. Now I just delete it. 

I'm not saying to go all feminist/death to men but give yourself the respect you deserve. Wouldn't you rather be happy and finding ways to enjoy your Saturday night with friends than killing yourself trying to date?

Me too.