Hi all, I’m looking for advice on navigating a new connection. I’m 18 and non-binary, and very new to dating/relationships in general. I met a 19-year-old guy on Hinge about three weeks ago, and things started off well—we’ve been on a few dates that felt good and mutual.
However, I’ve noticed that his texting habits are really inconsistent. He’ll often go hours without replying, even mid-conversation, and that’s been difficult for me to deal with. I understand we’re still early on and not in a committed relationship, so I know I’m not entitled to constant attention. But the silence still hurts, and it makes me feel like I’m being dismissed or forgotten.
I’ve brought this up with a few friends and they’ve just told me to “match energy” or “distract myself,” but that doesn’t really feel right to me. I tend to be emotionally invested and communicative, and I’m not sure if I’m being overly sensitive or if this is a red flag.
Should I talk to him about how this is making me feel, or just take a step back and see how it plays out? I’m not sure what’s reasonable to expect at this stage.
TL;DR: New to dating, unsure how to navigate inconsistent communication during early talking stage. Is it worth addressing, or a sign to move on?
Comments
This isn’t really a good sign, people who are into you are keen to talk to you and will make the effort, he’s possibly just not as into you as you are to him.
The good thing about dating is that it’s literally for this type of thing, you’ve lost nothing from this experience, move on, cast your net again and find somebody who is as interested as you are.