Kate – interesting, I can see how that might contribute. This is now my 3rd foray into online dating (1st was super brief before I met someone IRL, 2nd was 3 years ago) and I didn’t really experience ghosting/fading either time, not counting when neither of us reached out again after an uninspiring first date. It’s a tiny sample size, but this time I’ve had one guy ghost after several dates and another was pretty flaky and would text about getting together and wanted to just “play it by ear.” I mean, I can be flexible to a point, but I’m not going to sit around waiting for somebody who can’t commit to a time/place. I try to at least have the courtesy to send a brief no thanks text to somebody who reaches out to me if I’m not interested in seeing them again.

To give some perspective on the “why would he date if he might be moving?!”, this has been my situation for the better part of the last few years. I’ve moved frequently and will continue to travel for several months at a time for both work and play. There’s rarely been a “good” time to date since there’s always been uncertainty about where/when my career will take me next, but I wasn’t willing to sit out on the sidelines indefinitely. I’m open about it in my profile. Enjoying a few months with someone and then parting ways isn’t terrible in my view, nor is the prospect that something more serious could develop if we’re both around and interested when I return. My situation is different from that of someone who knows they’ll be leaving their area permanently, but it sounds like most of these situations that DW readers have encountered were with guys who didn’t know for sure until the last minute.

I was once ghosted by someone I had been dating for 8 months. We had already said we loved each other. One day, he just decided to get back together with his ex and ghosted me.
I was ghosted again by a friend of mine who I started to date, we went out for like 4 or 5 times and he stopped talking to me after he won a scholarship in Canada. He then resurfaced to explain everything because it was hard not to, since we were in the same circle of friends, but it was too late. I found out through other friends.
Both these people were people that I cared for and that I thought cared for me. And, shit happens. If people you care for can ghost you, anyone can. There’s a bick lack of loyalty and honesty nowadays.

He just texted me that his phone is broken (then how are you texting me?) and that he’ll “try to” be in touch when it’s fixed. Huh? I think this is the last I’ll hear from him, and wish he’d stayed silent. I’d rather the last I hear from a guy be silence than sn obvious lie.

My next door neighbor, who stuffs dryer lint, sticks, rocks, and sometimes viscous liquid in my winter boots, has an Instagram profile that says “no drama” ?

Wait. Kate. Umm what? Your neighbor stuffs things in your boots?!?

That woman’s a wackadoodle, have you set up your residents association yet? I remember bits, like her trying to block your view