Posted on here a few days ago on this subreddit about never having a girlfriend, date or romantic moment at the age of 36. One piece of advice I saw was to speak to a friend or someone I know that will give unvarnished advice.
I asked a former work colleague I know about my situation dating wise and asked for advice without the platitudes. Unfortunately, the advice was brutally harsh.
She said the fact I have been alone and never even kissed a woman let alone hugged one at the age of 36 will be a turn off to most women because they will wonder why that is the case. She said not disclosing it only to find out later is like kicking the can down the road. She said I was conventionally unattractive – height doesn't help as well as physical looks and being kind (her description of me) doesn't help. When I told her that I had updated my wardrobe as well as grooming she paused and said "I see" and sighed heavily.
The real kicker at the end was she said that I will probably be alone because I've been left behind in dating that has changed in less than a decade and from what I know of you am unable to roll with the times and just unfixable
It hurt inside but i didn't really say anything because I asked for an unvarnished view. I just thanked her for her time. Being told it's over in so many words is a gut punch.