Hi FDS! I'm curious to know your thoughts on a guy I was seeing. Some friends I've discussed this with really don't sympathize and think I'm being irrational.

We broke up recently (I initiated). He is in his mid- twenties and still lives at home. He doesn't pay his parents rent or really help out with much. His mother did his laundry, cooked his meals, made him packed lunches for the day (like a child). He had no interest in moving out. In fact, he only lived away from home 2 years of his life in college before transferring back to the college in his hometown. I have nothing against wanting to stay close to your parents/maintain a relationship with them but I thought his situation was a little strange and man-childish.

When we started seeing each other he became, essentially, obsessed. He complimented me a million times a day and was constantly telling me how great the relationship was. Whenever he would compliment me, he would then say "isn't there anything you want to tell ME?"-- fishing for a compliment. I told him I'm not good at affection and that I felt my compliments should come organically rather than being forced by him. He made me feel like shit about this. Now looking back, I see that he was only complimenting me to get affirmation. He probably didn't even think half the things he said. He also started calling me "babe" and "baby." I asked him to stop and told him I didn't like pet names, but he kept doing it. Then (of course) he asked why I didn't have any pet names for him. I told him that I don't really feel comfortable expressing affection so openly and constantly like him. His response was that he "used to be like that" but he "grew up and got over it." I do have some trouble expressing myself, but it's never been in my nature to be mushy or overly romantic. That's just me-- it's nothing I'll ever "get over."

I see a lot of really shitty guys pop up on here, and I feel silly complaining about someone literally "liking me too much." But I just felt like it was such more insidious than that. I felt like his constant heaping of praise had nothing to do with me and everything to do with HIM. He was so insecure that he just wanted to me to kiss his ass and tell him how wonderful he was. What do you guys think about this kind of guy? Is this the "nice guy" trope, or something else entirely? Have y'all ever experienced anything like this with past partners?

Love you guys! Have a great rest of your week <3