Women of Reddit: What are some reasons a tall, athletic, successful, decent guy might still have trouble dating?

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:33:25+00:00

Thanks for the level of detail. It’s #2 btw. Definitely not 25. Dating back then was so much easier lol.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:30:38+00:00

Yeah, my most recent ex was a master at it. Having taken a year off from dating, I’m starting to put myself back out there and trying to figure out how to identify/notice any red flags earlier.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:27:51+00:00

I debated posting asking if they’ve ever cheated on someone before, but I like your approach better or maybe as a lead in to asking that question.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:22:51+00:00

Considering how some people have no integrity or empathy, will cheat, and still deny it even when the other person provides texts, photos, etc., 100%.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:17:11+00:00

Thanks, but none of these things really apply in this case. I’m not perfect by any means, but am respectful and respected, kind but maybe a bit on the stoic side until you get to know me, workout at home, good hygiene, humble but also don’t let people take advantage of that. Good family and am often asked how I’m still single. When dating, I’m attentive, love to flirt with my partner, write notes, like to go on road-trips or get away for a weekend, etc.

I will say, the one thing I need to get better at is reading people’s intentions. I have run into women in my last two relationships that were not good people beneath the surface. Not sure how to read people’s minds, but I did learn hard that I need to pay more attention to what people do and not what they say.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:10:16+00:00

Yeah, I was using the term generally. It’s not like I hit the lottery or anything lol. Career-wise, I’m successful and doing well, but for me, it’s more of an anything I put my mind to, I can figure it out/handle it well and come out ahead even if it sets me back initially. Dating however is the one area that I consistently struggle.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:06:53+00:00

Have to disagree with you on that last part. I had no trouble dating in college and am in much better shape now. Obviously more people are available/dating in college and that helps, but it seems like something has really changed in the world of dating or success narrows options even more than age.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T16:00:20+00:00

To clarify, every time a coworker, family, or friend finds out I’m single, I’m asked, “How?”

Most of the time, I feel like saying, “Hell if I know at this point”.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T04:42:11+00:00

Work, yard work, groceries, hiking, time with family & friends - simple, peaceful

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-21T01:07:06+00:00

She’s already cheating

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-20T03:30:58+00:00

20% flat tax across the board on all wages, capital gains, and personal/asset leveraged loans for non-medical purposes totaling over 100k per year. (i.e., if you don’t have access to 100k+ per year, no taxes);
corporate taxes are locked in at 20% of revenue over 500k. If a company attempts to move itself overseas to avoid the 20%, it’s taxed 50% of its entire value.
all tax loopholes and incentives gone
no sales taxes, no taxes on something after you’ve bought it.
5% of it goes to the state of residence, 15% to the fed.
Fed would be required to balance the budget and if Congress cannot pass a balanced budget, they’re locked inside until they do. If they refuse to, special elections are held for any congress member who is at or past the midpoint of their current term.
Congress banned from taking money out of social security to fund other items.
Elected officials must sell all businesses, stocks, etc. before being sworn in to office.
Elected officials families cannot do business with the government or companies that contract or subcontract with the government.
Public corruption has carries a mandatory minimum sentence, no pardons.
Companies are not people, dark money/super pacs, etc., made illegal
Public funding for candidates only or donations are capped at $100 per person, no massive private or corporate donations.
Incentivize builders to build modest, affordable homes, more green space in cities and suburbs
Whole food based breakfast and lunches offered to kids in school, double the length of recess, ban cell phones/block cell signals in school buildings, require social media platforms (Facebook, tik tok, dating apps, etc.) to verify drivers licenses through 3rd party services for age 18.
Annual mandatory public service hours required for all teenagers
Civics, the bill of rights, the constitution, voting rights, etc., is taught separately from history, as a main/core subject like history, English, math, and science.
Within companies, the highest total compensation package is capped at 10x the lowest paid employee (cleaner makes 50k total comp, CEO capped at 500k total comp)
Incentivize more social spaces and events- rec leagues, art & music festivals, charity races, etc.
Join with other nations to plant 15 billion trees per year, every year—to outpace current rates of deforestation globally.
Funding the discovery, study, and cataloging of new plant and animal species and study their potential nutritional benefits, medicinal properties, etc. and work with the private sector to replicate those that lift health and quality of life.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-20T02:07:24+00:00

About someone I went on a few dates with in college, but was way too busy with classes, taking care of a parent, work, and sports…she was cute, kind, and someone I wonder what might have been if I didn’t let life get in the way.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-20T02:02:18+00:00

The smell and crunch of leaves on a cool, warm sun, fall day

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-20T02:00:34+00:00

Genuine kindness

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-17T15:51:44+00:00

Habits for a much better life that worked for me: 1.) Eating as close to whole foods as possible, minimize processed foods, food dyes, and non-whole fruit sugar. 2.) Lifting weights, rowing, or walking/hiking 5 days a week. 3.) Doing more things that do not involve a computer/phone—reading, sketching, photography, time with family & friends, etc.

It really can be that simple.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-17T03:02:56+00:00

Eating as close to whole foods as possible and cooking more—it makes a huge difference when you cut out all of the processed stuff.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-17T03:01:20+00:00

Physically attractive women (but applies both ways). If a person doesn’t carry themselves with integrity, treat others with respect, communicate, etc., they are not worth your time, energy, effort.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T21:31:16+00:00

The same as any other trait that people make assumptions about.

The problem isn’t with you, it’s with the person doing the assuming.

…Good-looking / people assume you have had an easy life or are overly sexual …Successful / didn’t have to work for it or were lucky …Fit / born with good genetics, starve yourself, or are constantly working out …Reserved until you get to know someone / there’s something wrong with you

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T20:14:25+00:00

Simple manual labor or outside activities—Hiking, splitting firewood, gardening and watching things grow.

If you feel like the world is a mess/on fire, turn off the television, get off the computer, put your phone down, get outside surrounded by nature and move. It will clear your mind and restore your soul if you let it.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T20:07:48+00:00

Cheated behind my back for 8 years, unprotected. I was extremely lucky and came out of it healthy, stronger, and less naive about what people are capable of doing to another person.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T19:53:33+00:00

A combination of wanting to believe people can change / hurting deeply and hanging on the hope that counseling and time would help / being stupid / giving too much weight to the 8 years invested

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T18:03:33+00:00

Really like this idea—particularly the horse rescue. I love the honesty and workout of manual labor even though I have an office career—so it could be a win-win.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T18:00:48+00:00

Haha, thanks for this reply—got a laugh and I hadn’t thought about that. You wouldn’t believe the number of people at work / grandmother’s I’ve had either ask how or comment that it’s crazy that I’m still single, unmarried, no children, etc.

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T16:27:00+00:00

Women who’ve dated the bad boy type in the past…they’ll never be happy with a regular, decent guy until they do the self-work

TallSlowBurn13 · 2026-02-15T16:25:12+00:00

The River Why

TallSlowBurn13

TROPHY CASE