Views:1221 | By: Alice Move over, ghosting! Modern dating is getting complicated by the day. And if you’ve been chasing love, you’ve undoubtedly encountered this sneaky yet successful tactic. Known as “benching.”

What is benching?

Benching is the highest level of emotional manipulation. It occurs when someone refuses to date you, yet won’t let you go. Plain and simple, you are an extra option.

How Benching differs from ghosting

Benching is about maintaining communication and keeping your options open, while ghosting is when the person entirely cuts off all contact and disappears from your life.

Here are seven signs that prove that you’re being benched!

1. Your crush returns your texts and phone calls when it suits them.

2. They prefer texting to hang out.

3. They abruptly cancel arrangements or ask you out.

4. They Send Mixed Signals.

5. They never plan or commit.

6. They occasionally vanish and when they return, they act as if nothing happened.

7. Their actions are too ambiguous, making it difficult to know where you stand with them.

 What to do?

Don’t let anybody manipulate your feelings by occasionally offering you false hope. Become on the same page and choose a course of action immediately if you suspect you’ve been added to the “I will think about you” list.

What should you do if you’re doing it?

It’s time to be open and admit you playing games. Although this act seems harmless, it hurts.

Conclusion

Being in this position can be quite confusing. It’s advisable you evaluate how you’re being treated, talk things out, and, if necessary, end the relationship. After all, who wants to be with someone who is actively seeking to end a relationship after all?