What Ghosting Has Done To Us | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

What Ghosting Has Done To Us

No, I'm not talking about Casper the Friendly Ghost.

97
What Ghosting Has Done To Us
hercampus.com

So, there's this new trend in dating that I'm really not a fan of and it's called "ghosting." And no, it has nothing to do with Casper the Friendly Ghost. For those who are unfamiliar with this new craze, Urban Dictionary defines it as, "The act of suddenly ceasing all communication with someone the subject no longer wishes to date." Basically, one minute everything is fine, or so you thought, and the next it's like the person you were dating or "talking to" no longer exists.

Why do people do this? Maybe it's the fear of having the break-up conversation or not wanting to 'fess up and tell that person that the feelings just aren't mutual. Or maybe the ghost-er just doesn't even want to put in the effort to explain themselves. Ghosting may have good intentions, but the outcome certainly isn't desirable. It leaves the ghost-ee with nothing but questions. Did they do something wrong? Did something happen to the ghost-er? Was the timing wrong? What there someone else? There is no closure with ghosting and it can leave the ghost-ee utterly confused and scared to enter into another relationship, worried that the same thing might happen again.

The other problem with ghosting is that it leaves everyone a potential victim. Who knows when the person you are talking to might decide you are no longer worth their time. It makes us paranoid. It makes us overly self conscious and analytical of our own moves in the relationship and our partners. It contributes to the casual, no-commitment dating culture of today's society. Instead of taking the time to tell someone that the feelings just weren't there, we take the easy way out and just cut off communication. It seems less painful, but it's actually worse than a traditional break up. Perhaps the reason ghosting is so prevalent now is that no one feels obligated to have the break up conversation because it is unclear if you were even dating to begin with. We are all talking and hooking up and keeping things causal, but in reality, no one actually knows what that means. There are no standards or expectations, which makes everything ten times more confusing than dating for previous generations.

In this world of online communication where we continually put ourselves before others and forget about others feelings in order to preserve our own, we lose touch with what dating and relationships are really about -- caring about someone else. So whether you are dating, hooking up, talking, going steady or something in between, consider the other person in the relationship before acting. Their feelings matter, too.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

2116
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4965
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

3065
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

202476
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments