Dear TB members, I need your advice.

I felt so guilty, sinful and terrible over someone whom I get to know through online dating that I do not wish to develop a relationship with but I have not been unable to bring it across to him honestly. We have started chatting since few weeks ago (coming to a month) and because we were able to talk to each other very well and freely, as in we could talk anything under the moon, he has expressed keen interest in me. He has requested to date me out several times but I have not agreed to meet up with him as I am not sure if I will be able to overcome myself on his physical appearance that is not to my liking. I do not despise or judge people who are less appealing physically. However, I feel it is important in any relationship to desire physical closeness with your partner when the relationship blossom. With this guy, I feel that it is quite impossible for me to develop that kind of desire. I have told him many times that it is not likely for us to develop a relationship except that I do not mind having him as a friend. Out of loneliness, I continue to be talking to him over the phone every night and for that reason, he does not accept my proposal to remain on platonic relationship. He insists that I am in self denial of my feelings for him. I really do not want to hurt him, neither do I want to lead him on and I really want to end this before his feelings for me grow stronger. How do I tell him in a manner that does not hurt his feeling? He has been hurt once very badly by a woman whom he got to know through online dating. This woman swindled a lot of money from him and left him high and dry. He almost committed suicide because of that experience. For this reason, I am extremely fearful to inflict hurt on him again. Hence, I want to be able to bring it across to him nicely that I really do not wish to develope a relationship with him and to hope to minimise the pain that I may cause him.

Thank you in advance of your kind advance.

EK.