The Stupidest Games You’ll Play If You Date Enough Nowadays

Sometimes daters do nothing; they text strategically. People intentionally wait to see if you text first or purposefully delay replies to mask interest. This behavior is silly, but "I’m gonna wait for her/him to text me first" is a phrase people often use.

They look alike but act opposite. Some people play hard to get, yet you cannot tell if they are playing hard to get or simply uninterested. This game usually plays solo, forcing you to drive yourself crazy analyzing every interaction.

When someone is short or moody, asking what's wrong gets the answer "I’m fine." That is the last response you want. You do not know what "I’m fine" means, but you will likely pry to find out.

Vague labels like "talking" instead of "in a relationship" make it hard to know what is okay. This is especially true when you interact with someone who communicates with others in a way that makes you unsure and uncomfortable. Some people flirt with many for fun, claiming it is harmless. You end up trying to decide if you should worry or if you are just jealous. Lacking a label makes you feel unable to ask, which increases discomfort and fuels bad thoughts.

Posting song lyrics or quotes meant for someone on Facebook or Instagram is harder than speaking to them maturely, yet people still do it. Once someone communicates with you indirectly, responding the same way leads you to wonder if her friend would ask her if she likes you, though you remember you are not in first grade anymore.

For two people putting themselves out there, the best method is for both to jump in together naturally. However, some people who have been hurt or proceed cautiously keep their walls up, leaving the other person solely responsible for opening up and building closeness.

Many daters skip the "What are we?" talk, which often causes confusion about the actual relationship status. People lack clarity on commitment levels. After years, people still do not know what "we’re talking" means. This uncertainty makes searching for something definite difficult.

Doing something with friends, like a night out, doesn't mean your date is okay with it. They might say “have fun.” But words and feelings often clash. They might want you to enjoy the time. They could also mean, “I’m mad at you. If you go, I’ll be cold and rude until you see I don’t want you having fun.”

Understand if the other person is interested. That separates actions they accept from actions they screenshot and shame. If you slide into DMs or mention a detail about them, walk carefully unless you know how they feel about you.