My friend has been complaining to me that her boyfriend of 4 years can't seem to commit. He tells her she's the only one he wants and wants her forever, BUT when the topic of any type of ring; promise or engagement, comes up it sends him back pedalling. When the topic comes up he tells her he's scared of what others (specifically family) will think because his parents had a bad divorce when he was a child. He uses the divorce as an excuse to not get married because it may happen to them. He also doesn't want to give her a ring because he doesn't know what would happen to it if they break up. She says if she doesn't get a ring by the time she's 30, she'll simply be mad. Right now she's 27.
I see all of this as his way of saying he really doesn't want to be with her for life, but can't bring himself to break up with her. I've been honest with my opinions. I've asked her what happens if he can't commit and she said he'd end up alone. I don't want to see my friend waste time being unhappy with a man that can't commit to her and told her that the point of a relationship is to decide if you want a future together and if you can't do that, they're both wasting their time. All I can really tell her is to communicate with him, which she's scared of doing as she might hurt his feelings, and move on if he doesn't get it. Is that sound advice?