What Is Soft Ghosting? This New Dating Term Has Us Feeling More Annoyed Than Usual
Every day it seems like there is a new dating term that we have to Google and add to our vocabulary in order to navigate single life.
At times it can feel overwhelming and frustrating trying to understand the signs that someone is putting out there.
Have You Ever Been Shut Down In A Very Nonchalant Way?
Have you ever had a great night with someone and contacted them the next day only to be slowly shut down in a nonchalant way?
You may have been soft ghosted by them.
Instead Of Telling You They Are Not Interested, They Slowly Distance Themselves
What exactly is soft ghosting? Think Casper the Friendly Ghost.
This person didn't flat out reject you or explicitly tell you that they're not interested in you. Instead, they slowly stopped replying and reaching out to you.
It Is More Subtle And Helps The "Ghoster" Feel Less Responsible
They won't cut off communication suddenly like traditional ghosting because that would be too noticeable and you might ask them why they stopped talking to you.
Soft ghosting is more subtle than that and avoids any major responsibility on the part of the person doing the ghosting.
They Start Letting The Conversation Die Off
The first major sign that you're being soft ghosted is when the person you're talking to lets the conversation die off quicker than usual.
Maybe you've been chatting for a couple of weeks and suddenly they start responding with one- or two-word answers, if at all.
They "Like" Your Message Instead Of Responding
The dreaded "Liked" message is basically the face of the soft ghosting movement.
It happens when you send a message saying you had a great time or suggesting a time to meet up again and in return, they simply "Like" your message.
They Force You To Carry The Convo
When someone just "Likes" your message instead of actually responding to it, you either have to send another message (aka the double-text) and hope they answer or let the conversation die.
Most people choose to let the conversation die, and sometimes it never restarts.
The Relationship Ends In A Slow Fade Instead Of Suddenly
This is a way for someone to ghost you without making themselves feel too guilty about their behavior.
Instead of cutting you off completely, the relationship with you will end in a "slow fade" that happens more gradually (but still purposefully).
It Makes It Hard To Know When To Walk Away
Soft ghosting can be especially damaging to you because it's hard to know when it's time to walk away.
If the person you're into isn't communicating with you but you're reading signs that they're not interested, it can be hard to admit what is happening.
They Continue To Reach Out For Non-Direct Contact
It's much easier to wrap your head around ending a relationship or situationship if you distance yourself from that person.
Someone who soft ghosts you will still reach out now and then to comment on your social media, react to one of your posts, or answer a message. It can be confusing at best.
The One-Word Message Response
If you start getting one-word messages that don't leave room for you to respond, it's best to call it quits.
You deserve someone who wants to chat with you and cares about what you have to say.
People Who Are Not Confident Enough To Tell You The Truth Resort To Soft Ghosting
Not everyone is going to be confident enough to be straight up with you if they're not feeling it.
Those people usually resort to soft ghosting to avoid any sort of explanation or confrontation.
Test The Waters If You Suspect Someone Is Soft Ghosting You
That being said, don't assume that anyone responding to you slowly is trying to soft ghost you.
If you don't hear from them for a few days, try reaching out to see what's up. If they don't make an effort to reconnect, they are not worth your time.
Have You Ever Been Guilty Of Soft Ghosting?
It's easier to be guilty of soft ghosting than you might think. It seems like the easiest, non-confrontational way to semi-keep someone in your life but also get them out of it.
Unfortunately, it's not a great way to treat people and it can still end up hurting someone's feelings pretty badly.
Being Straight Up With Someone Is Always The Better Option
Sometimes it's our own responsibility to realize that we are the one stringing someone along for a slowly ending ride.
Paying attention to what soft ghosting looks and feels like can help all single people avoid doing it in the future. Just be straight up with whoever it is. They should appreciate it, and if they don't, you dodged a bullet.
