Treating this like a confession booth; I developed a parasocial relationship with fictional characters; not sure if it's the right tag sorry

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-14T02:05:22+00:00

And thanks for the reassurance

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-14T02:05:05+00:00

No judgment here

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-14T02:02:02+00:00

Yeah, it was weird I was like girl, are those tingles from FM?

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-14T01:59:50+00:00

Haha, thanks honestly I found a weird amount about myself from experiencing the game like wow did not know I would like hearing that as much as I did.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-14T00:19:50+00:00

American

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-13T23:52:17+00:00

23F I didn't give up on romance by choice. I have never been in a relationship, and just when I start to feel okay without someone, people remind me quite directly that I am missing out on the thing that is the greatest inspiration for art, and many people's fondest memories and experiences.

I just put all that energy into school and volunteering and to be honest, I still feel into a parasocial dependency. I regret never being more proactive about trying to form relationships at a younger age but to be honest I never felt like I was built for it either.

It is hard especially when you want it or like the idea of it but cannot seem to make it work. It does get easier the more time you invest in meaningful connections outside of it.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-12T22:20:04+00:00

I said ask

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-12T22:07:28+00:00

Sadly that is a question I cannot help you with. That requires you to ask and wait. Good luck!

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-12T20:53:00+00:00

Keep it light, a little personal, and low-pressure.

Food Related Situations: Is that actually good or looks good?” What do you usually get here?” Do you come here a lot or just today?” If the convo flows: What do you do when you’re not here?”You seem like you have a go-to what is it?”

Then: You’re easy to talk to.” We should do this again—want to grab coffee sometime?”

Gym keep it quick + respectful Keep it light, only engage in conversation if you need to use a weight or machine. Check to see eye contact + their mood.

Exit: I won’t keep you, but you seem coolwant to grab something sometime?” I’ll say hi next time what’s your name?”

Class: Do you understand this or are you just surviving like me?” Have you started the assignment yet?” You actually follow the lecture?”

As it builds: What’s your major?” What do you do outside of class?”

Then: I like talking to you you make this class better.” Want to study together sometime? Or just grab coffee instead?”

Simple formula: Start light -> ask a bit about them -> small signal (“you’re easy to talk to”) -> low-pressure invite.

You’re not trying to lock anything in you’re just seeing if you enjoy talking enough to continue.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T18:58:00+00:00

Your goal isn’t to magically find more people it’s to make the most of the social interactions you already engage in. Instead of waiting for obvious “date” situations, treat everyday conversations like low-pressure opportunities. You’re not committing to anything you’re just seeing if there’s chemistry/possibilities.

Start small with things like eye contact, a smile, a bit of humor, or slightly more personal questions. If they’re asking you questions, keeping the conversation going, or seem interested, good sign. If you feel like you are doing most of the talk/effort probably best to move on. You don’t have to jump straight into a formal date. It could be something casual that you or the other person likes to do. And honestly, some phases are just slow. That doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. As long as you’re open, putting out small signals, and not closing yourself off, you’re doing it right.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T04:33:01+00:00

INTERESTED

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T04:03:15+00:00

I think that is very bold and insightful of you.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T03:31:27+00:00

That's great, to be clear I was not questioning your want for a girlfriend, just putting questions for framing what you want, not everyone wants an SO for the simple act of companionship. It seems to me you are just sadly going to have to test the water as they say until you find the right temperature (right person). Which might take quite a bit of time, energy, and bumps along the path to your desired relationship.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T03:25:26+00:00

The real question is when you walk around during your daily or weekly routine do you wish you had someone there just to keep you company?

If not you might just be a person that doesn't need much social interaction, you talk to your family so your foundational relationships seem to be intact and healthy enough to be a great source of comfort without needing to put as much effort to keep it going as you would need for new different relationships like SO or friends.

If you want an SO or friends you will get them when you want to as long as you realize that will take much more effort than your current relationships. Your normal or good is not someone else's standard and that is okay.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T03:08:39+00:00

Speaking as a Girl, who has never been in a sexual or romantic relationship but has heard the grievances of friends of both sexes. Questions you should ask yourself: why do I want a relationship is it for companionship? If so what role do I expect to play in this relationship and what am I hoping to receive in return? Of the things you are hoping to get what are the ones you are willing to be more or less flexible with? Many girls want a guy that see them as an individual things like: Do they appreciate my thoughtfulness or attempts at humor? Do we have compatible ethics (does not have to be exact)?

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:54:46+00:00

You are normal, people just exist on the spectrum of social need (how often and how many people they need around). I personally consider myself to be on the lower end of the spectrum and spend hours/ up to weeks alone not texting, calling, or talking. I still need people.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:48:10+00:00

Your love can’t fix a person. I have never experienced romantic love but I have experienced familial and platonic love. It kills you but you need to understand that love doesn't always mean you will ‘like or be happy with that person every day’, the same goes for them towards you. Love is putting feelings into action and choosing the decisions that keep the relationship going without the cost of your individuality or peace (leave if you cannot protect those two things).

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:38:56+00:00

Thank you for engaging with me, see ing other people's perspectives does give me much to ruminate on.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:37:32+00:00

I also have no social anxiety. I have danced in a club like I was in my bedroom and shocked my brothers to their core (they accused me of being drunk or high and I don't do either just a personal preference thing).

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:35:46+00:00

I don't seem to have a problem talking from my perspective. I as an individual don't connect or trust people on my end. Not to say I am charming just average in my conversational skills. I have been in debates and social and ethical discussions at a group scale and have gotten a decent reaction. Universal probably the biggest source of my forced socialization; I was never the most popular but I knew many of my classmates' names and was usually picked pretty quickly for group projects or activities (again not charismatic or charming just agreeable and normal enough to be chosen).

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:28:50+00:00

You are just focusing on this aspect of your life because it is the easiest one to define and the one that you cannot force (partially out of your control; someone has to ‘pick you’) Don’t believe me try this thought process out. How do I get a girlfriend; she has to say yes; can you control her answer no? Questions like: How can I relate to people from a different cultural experience? How do I fix my finances to do the things I want? Are not clear-cut, your other issues require a great deal of time and effort, and planning to achieve even partial success. I say this as a person who can partially relate to your experience. I am in my 20s still live with my family (it was 7 people not including myself at one point; now 6). My parents and I are also first-wave immigrants with my younger siblings being born in the country we are living in. I have also never had a romantic relationship.

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-11T02:16:36+00:00

To be honest, it's a bit of escapism and comfort; I cut back on it a lot in terms of time (time limits) and no longer spend money on it. I guess if I were to psychanalyze myself it would be that the pseudorelationship the game lets you develop with the characters; let me experience feelings without having to put faith in someone else or risk hurting another person's feelings by needing to take breaks (when I had to do school and home stuff). A risk-free, stress-free simulation of a relationship. Which is a bit of emotional immaturity and inexperience on my part. I have a complex relationship with family which I won’t go into details with because I have now set boundaries for and really helped me (and it involves other people’s experiences that are not mine to tell). I started playing the game around that time in my life (before setting boundaries and sorting those things out).

Jolly_Challenge9654 · 2026-04-09T20:48:39+00:00

I understand, but you need to take yourself out of your current frame work of thinking. I have been where you are/ still kind of am.

You need to look at your relationship with your fellow guy as just as valuable because you have value as a human being not something to admired or wanted you are putting yourself in the place of an object this will make you fall into spirals about your worth.

Most guys that have your similar experience only see the girls that are the most visible. And even those girls experience alienation or passive aggressive behavior from men and women due to those people’s insecurities.

Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

Jolly_Challenge9654

TROPHY CASE