WTF?

So I was writing back and forth with a young man…and the operative word there, very likely, is young, in this case 27.  I told him that while I was not interested in dating someone as young as he is, I would be happy to exchange emails, so we could practice the art of the written conversation, learning to get to know someone in writing, but wouldn’t be upset if he’d prefer not to do so as a dating site is for finding someone to eventually go out with.

We have corresponded off and on for about three weeks, my going-in assumption about writing like that is that each missive is a response to the previous one, with then open-ended questions about the other person, to get to know what they’re like.

I sent one such message on Tuesday a response to “how was your weekend”:

It was a long weekend, Kid's Day for Faire on Friday, so I drove out on Thursday. I usually spend the day "lounging around" and cracking-wise, on Friday I spent it cooking, cleaning and teaching kids about the food/herbs/spices of the day.

On top of that it was a 40* jump in heat from last weekend, and the heat really sucks it out of you.

That being said, it WAS a good weekend. How 'bout you? Manage to stay out of trouble, yet still have a good time?

To which I received the following reply:

hello. i sat here for 15 mins trying to come up with something to have a conversation over and i cant think of anything because im not sure if you want to chat with me. i feel like im trying to hard just to have simple conversations. i am an open honest person. im not out to hurt you or get in your pants. i am sorry and i will leave you alone. i hope you find what you are looking for in life. take care bye.

What the hell?  I answered his question, gave him information about myself and then asked how his weekend was…what went wrong there?

My friends think I’m funny and smart; at least that’s what they say to my face ;-)  So, tell me, when applied to a stranger I get that type of response?  Was I not having “simple conversation?” Was I acting in any way dishonest? 

This is the type of thing that really sets me off…makes me wonder is it me? Is it him? Is it a combo?  Is this why I can’t seem to get a second date?  Should I not be honest and then disappoint people later when I’m not what I’ve seemed to be?

Guess it's back to the ol' drawing board...or in this electronics age...back to the old e-tablet.