There’s nothing worse than going out with someone you find totally attractive only to have her disappear after a few amazing dates. You might wonder if you imagined the whole connection, if she was ever into you at all. When the texts and return phone calls suddenly disappear, chances are you’ve been ghosted. Ghosting creates confusion because it leaves people guessing instead of giving them a clear answer. It turns something hopeful into something oddly unfinished.

Ghosting is a new term for an old trend of avoidance in dating. You may have been seeing each other regularly, but if the relationship is not official and no one has had the talk, the situation stays vague. Then one person decides he or she is no longer interested and simply stops texting. Instead of ending things honestly, that person pulls a disappearing act and leaves the other side in limbo. The gray area makes it easier to avoid responsibility.

Being ghosted can be devastating, even if you have not been seeing each other long. It still feels like a relationship of some sort, and feelings are usually involved. The confusion does not stop there, because ghosting can make people carry their weariness into the next date. That kind of uncertainty creates distrust, and soon people start asking why they should invest in feelings at all. Once that doubt takes root, it can spill into every new connection.

The truth is, dating comes with accountability. If you are not interested after a few dates, you should respond and let the other person know. It may feel direct, but it offers closure and gives the other person a chance to move on. Ghosting only encourages more bad behavior. Even when dating is casual, the person you are seeing is still a person and deserves respect. A simple honest reply can prevent a lot of unnecessary hurt. And that small act of decency makes the whole dating world better