Is This Petty? He's A Bad Kisser -- Is It A Compatibility Issue?

So you meet a guy who has a lot going for him. He’s handsome, he’s considerate, he has a great sense of style and from what you can tell, he’s packing. (Yeah, I said it.) But there’s just one thing about him that is driving you mad — when he kisses you, it’s revolting.

I came across a story online where a woman, after a few dates with a guy she was interested in, kept finding herself being given perhaps the worst goodnight kisses ever. And to make matters worse, the guy always left thinking he killed it. According to her, the kisses were so bad that it was “distressing” and she was left turned off. Now she wonders if his bad kissing skills are something that can be fixed or if it’s a sign that they’re really not compatible.

“I’ve been asking friends for input,” she wrote. “Some say that kissing is just a skill like any other and it could be that he’s out of practice or inexperienced; others say that he was clearly not able to be present and that kissing is a form of communication and an expression of your personal style and compatibility.”

Is it?

I’m torn. On the one hand, I think a guy can be taught how to kiss you in the way you like. Just as you direct people in the bedroom, you can do so in matters of tongue wrestling. It takes time, a little sloppiness, and a lot of patience, but it’s possible. On the other hand, from my own experience, I think it could also be a sign of issues to come in the compatibility department.

A guy I was with for almost two years in college started off as a pretty bad kisser. He had braces when we first got together. When I tell you this man was literally cutting my lip — I kid you not. Not to mention that the kisses got sloppier and sloppier before I had to literally stop him mid-make-out session and tell him, as nicely as I could, that he was doing the absolute most: “Okay, okay. You need to slow down…”

While we were finally able to get the kissing thing together, our relationship would soon take a sour turn. He preferred staying in his apartment playing Xbox Live as opposed to hanging out with me and seeing what our little college town had to offer. We eventually ended our relationship with both parties feeling completely different about one another romantically. What brought us together was our shared sense of humor – and our love of the color green – but really, we had nothing else that we connected on. And yet, I stayed in that thing for damn near 730 days. #lifecomesatyoufast

But as for the young woman mentioned, I think if she likes him “well enough” as she said, and if everything else about him is positive and she likes what he has to offer, it might be worth it to just communicate with him. She doesn’t have to tell him that his kissing skills are terrible, nor does she have to deal with him enveloping her face with his mouth every time their lips touch. But saying that she wants to try something different and showing him what she likes could go a long way in solving this problem. But as far as compatibility, only time will tell…

But as always, that’s just my opinion on the matter. What say you? Is this a petty issue that can be fixed or is it a sign that they’re not compatible?