Rakstniece Linda Mūrniece has added another unwelcome dating story to her collection, this time involving a man who sent unsolicited nude photos within minutes of initiating contact.
This autumn, Mūrniece published a book titled “Lauzto siržu piezīmes,” compiling her and others’ negative dating experiences.
The experience began with a message from a man named Armands, who was aware of her status as a former minister. “I thought – great – the person is comfortable with themselves, and I don’t have to justify who I am,” Mūrniece recalled.
Armands initially appeared shy. “He wrote that he was a bit shy and hesitant to write. I reassured him – I’m interested in warm relationships, not a competition of imagined status,” she said. Armands agreed, and she sent a black-and-white photo of herself without glasses, which she described as “art.”
Mūrniece requested not to be overwhelmed with messages, as she did not have the time for an intense exchange. Armands, however, had plenty of free time and began writing to her more frequently.
“After half an hour, I’m ‘sunshine’; after 45 minutes, I’m ‘darling.’ Yes! We are both 56. And this is the moment when you need to switch to pet names after two messages,” Mūrniece said with irony.
Half an hour later, a photo from Armands followed: a nude photo of him from behind. “There’s nothing perverse about it – it’s just a 56-year-old bottom on my phone after half an hour of chatting,” Mūrniece remembered.
While Mūrniece did not react strongly, Armands began demanding her attention. “Darling, sunshine, I’m thinking of you, I can’t live without you,” he wrote, as recounted by Mūrniece.
“To leave no doubt about Armands’ suitability, he sent the next nude photo… This time the ‘crane’ was clearly visible,” Mūrniece said. “If I didn’t understand the offer in the first minutes of our virtual acquaintance,” she said.
This left Mūrniece without her “prince on a white horse,” though she insists she was not looking for one. However, the image of what she had to see remains. “I didn’t want to look at Armands’ ‘crane.’ I was looking for warmth and mutual understanding. Was I looking for anything at all?” the writer admitted.
Mūrniece’s story on social media has resonated with many women. Some expressed sympathy, while others offered advice. It turns out many women have received unsolicited images of male genitalia from strangers, despite not asking for or wanting them.
Mūrniece has been married three times and is also the author of books such as “Meitene ar pistoli uz jumta,” “No Romas līdz Vecpiebalgai,” “Novecot bez panikas,” and “Paskartes no Salnēniem.” The authors listed with her story include Arta Goba, Ginta Auzniece-Jaunzeme, and Aiva Alksne.
Yes, studies have shown that a significant number of women, and some men, report receiving unwanted explicit content from people they have matched with or just begun chatting with on dating apps and websites.