The Art of Ghosting

The tea on when it's fair game to ghost, and what to do when your date disappears...

We’ve all been there: Somebody ghosts you, and before the self-loathing sets in comes a brief, beautiful period of denial. You convince yourself they clearly just haven’t seen your text yet because obviously they’re in the shower, or a sensory deprivation tank, or—better yet—a coma. But eventually you have to accept the harsh reality: They’re alive and well—and don’t want to talk to you.

Ghosting is for the weak, the adult babies among us. It inflicts a particular torture, often leaving you to conjure infinite possible explanations—was it your high-pitched laugh? Your overgrown roots? That weird rant you went on about 9/11?

But, contrary to popular belief, I do think there’s a short, sacred list of situations where ghosting someone is acceptable—even correct. Some people just don’t deserve a response. In fact, they deserve to spiral.

Before we get into it, allow me to tell you the story of my friend Sarah. Sadly, there’s a little Sarah in all of us.