Compatibility Issue (not important!)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Compatibility Issue (not important!)
14
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 9:49am
If you were not a true animal lover would you agree to have a first date with a man who was really into his guinea pigs? He explained that he lived near his workplace so he could go home in the middle of the day to tend to them when they were ill.

My issue is that I know, hypothetically that I could not tolerate him cancelling plans or running late because one of his guinea pigs was sick or needed to be fed, etc (somehow if it were a dog or a cat it likely would be different but I guess we all have our boundaries!). Whether or not this sounds compassionate on my part I don't know - but it is a reality.

So, would you meet for a first date just to see or move on given the animal issue I described?

Thanks for sharing!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 10:01am
Hmmm, I think it would bother me...merely because for some reason I have an issue with a guy who owns guinea pigs! I don't even know why, but it just doesn't seem like a 'real' pet (my apologies to any gp owners!). Then again, I also have qualms about a guy who owns multiple cats!

Did he pick the job so he'd be close to the little guys? If so, that might weird me out a lot!

I love dogs and have learned to really like cats (better, since i own one), so a guy who makes his pet a priority doesn't seem like a bad thing to me, in fact it's kind of nice...but, again, if it were a mouse or hamster or something, I don't think I'd feel the same way.

Michelle

Michelle

Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious vis

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-10-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 10:08am
That's pretty funny!! Hmm - I think it would depend how how much I liked the sound of him otherwise - is it via on-line dating? Was he very cute? Did you really like his profile? If you answer yes to those two questions, I'd be tempted to meet for a quick cup of coffee just to see, but I do agree - somebody running home from work to tend to their guinea pigs does sound a little scary! lol.

Coolas

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 10:29am
Whew - I thought I would be highly criticized for making this any kind of "issue" - but I see at least two of you can relate ;-)

He did sound very nice/cool and he said that he lived near campus, where he teaches so he could come home in the middle of the day as one of the gp's was very ill earlier this year. Also bothersome is that he apparently does not make a lot of $$ (which is not a problem at all - he has a stable and good job, that's what I care about) but I cannot see being supportive of spending money on a vet for your guinea pigs. . . . . . dogs, cats, yes . . .. .

Gives a new meaning to warm-n-fuzzy. ;-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 10:51am
I would want to meet the guinea pigs before I decided.

I would go on the first date. If we clicked and things progressed, I would eventually want to meet the guinea pigs, and spend some time with all of them to see if he was more interested in them or me. If he would rather tend to them than cuddle/converse/makeout with me, then I'd boot him. If he just likes them and cares for them, and spends extra time when they are sick and need the attention, I'd just write it off as him having a well developed nurturing side.

It does raise a tiny red flag though. Who has guinea pigs? Kids have them, I've never heard of an adult having them. But maybe he just wanted something small for a pet, something easy to care for. How did he obtain it? Adopting an abandoned one would be different than getting it from a pet store (although the pet store option might not rule out the relationship either).

I am not a pet fan, but I am pet tolerant. And I have been known to be a big fan of particular pets once I get to know them. I guess I could see myself being a guinea pig fan if they were really really cute (Do they smell? I guess I should ask that first.) If I was anti-pet then I suppose it would be a deal breaker.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:02am
If you already have issues with this, then I recommend not even going on a first date with him. I am true animal lover and even *I* have issues with this one. LOL
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:19am
Hey, I thought you said you already had a steady boyfriend. Are you thinking of dumping him for the guy with the guinea pigs?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 12:35pm
Deena, I'm shocked! How could you reject a man for such a shallow reason?

KIDDING ;) LOL

Actually, I am a huge animal lover, but I would think twice about this guy too. My first thought was the same as firstamendment - I've never heard of a grown man having guinea pigs, KIDS usually have them. And they're smelly, and if you have a male and female in the same cage they will, ahem, multiply incredibly quickly. I think they're in the rodent family too, ick. Can you tell I don't like guinea pigs? ;)

The part about living near work to care for them wouldn't faze me though. To me that just says that he cares about them a lot and wants to make sure they're looked after. I have pets and if I could reasonably have work and home close enough that I could do that, I would. Alas, I cannot. Instead I have a dogwalker. :)

I think I would probably move on, mainly b/c I just don't like guinea pigs and b/c I find it a bit odd that a grown man keeps them. I think I would react differently if a man had a child who had guinea pigs.

I had one guy tell me he wasn't interested in meeting me when he found out I have a cat b/c he's allergic. Not a big deal, I just moved on. I'm sure some other guys who don't like animals have clicked past me, and that's fine.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 4:23pm
I do not have a steady boyfriend. I am dating someone seriously although non exclusively (which may change, but this is the status now).
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 4:54pm
Honestly Deena, to me, it wouldn't make much difference whether they were guineau pigs or dogs or cats... they are his pets and he loves them. There might be times when his devotion to them gets in the way of attending to you. I guess that's the bigger issue that you have to decide... how annoyed or tolerant would you be if he were (consistently) late to your lunch date because he ran home to feed the guinea pigs first?

I say if you like most everything else about this guy, give him a chance. Once he sees you (and later gets to know you), he might realize that he must give you proper attention, or he will lose you.

Mind you.. I am still dealing with my guy and his evil little dog. And as much as my bf loves that dog, he DOES make compromises in order to have ME around too. :-)

Good luck.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 5:35pm
Thanks!

See, for me the issue is not so much the pet but the type of pet - as some of the other posters put it - a man with a guinea pig - huh? ;-). If he had a dog - even an evil little dog ;-) I would relate to that better as a priority in his life.

As my mother (who knows everything) said, the fact that he brought this up on the first phone call AND talked to them while we were on the phone shows that they are very important to him.

And the answer is a big "no" - I would not tolerate him being late for a lunch date with me because he was feeding them or had to buy food for them. Were it a dog, probably, but guinea pigs, no.

Thanks again for your input and hope all is well with you, bf, etc.. . . . .

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