Tldr: some horses can't even be led to the water. They are content with the arid desert and will remain there until they die of thirst.

Context

This is the story of a man i know and his hopeless behavior with the object of his affections. She is easy going and pretty cool in most regards. One of my friends is completely in love with her but after years of failed orbiting i can't understand why. She has fucked her way around the friend group a couple of times, but betaguy never got a piece and now she is prematurely approaching the wall. This is not to bash her, merely to frame the situation of the beta guy.

Betaguy has been orbiting for literally years, and she knows he is in love with her because he has said so multiple times. The situation makes me cringe but I digress. He has been waiting around for the day she realizes the perfect guy was there all along and falls in love with him, and as her looks fade approaching 30 and she gains weight his opportunity to step in and pick up the scraps should be arriving any time right?

Results

Wrong. She has realized her declining SMV, but instead of hopping off the carousel and settling with her betabux she has merely found a shittier carousel that is still attainable. As her looks decline, so does the quality of the men she fucks. She would still rather fuck ugly overweight chads than a regular dude who adores her but is beta as fuck.

After taking miles of dick that isn't his, losing her looks and figure in her late twenties, rejecting and humiliating him time and again, and generally just proving herself to be a low quality prospect for LTR, he is still obsessed. We even sat him down a few times and explained why it's time to move on. Another beta even told him enough was enough, and he admitted that he knew she didn't respect him yet he still waits patiently like a good boy. Maybe by the time she's 300lbs and menopausal she will allow him sympathy sex in exchange for commitment, and he knows this is likely best case scenario if he continues down this road. He still can't walk away.

We all want the best for our fellow man, and as compassionate beings we try to guide them when they go astray. Betaguy is a genuinely good dude, and a personal friend of mine, he is just, well, fucking beta. No amount of bullshit, wasted time, hurt feelings, nor basic logic can make him change his ways. I don't expect this man to become a thundercock, merely restore some sense of dignity and self respect. We didn't try to bring him to the redpill, he already knows about it (he mentioned it, not us) and isn't interested. One day he'll be ready but not today.

Lessons learned

He doesn't realize that the longer he sticks around, the more he reinforces her perception of him as a weak man. He disgusts her sexually, but as a validation machine he can't be matched. A woman will keep you around to serve her if you allow it, even one who claims to be a 'best friend' who cares about you. The sunken cost fallacy may well have ruined half a decade of this man's life. Don't let it ruin yours. This counts for business as well as pleasure.