Dating might be confusing but it’s not rocket science. You might not know where you stand on the single to taken spectrum at any given time, but some dating habits are screwed up no matter the circumstances. If you’re trying to navigate what’s wrong and what’s right, just remember that these 10 dating habits should just be common decency.
- Breaking up in person This should be a no-brainer. No one deserves to be broken up with on Facebook, through email, a text message, or any other form of technology. Breakups should be in person because they’re a personal matter. Maybe you don’t care about the person now like you once did, but if you ever cared at all, they deserve that much. It’s just common sense.
- Keeping your sex life private Does that even need to be said? It feels like that should be a given, yet there are some guys who can’t help but brag to their friends every time they get laid. Whether or not your relationship involves sex, the various positions and how good it was on a scale from one to ten shouldn’t be bar night discussions. That’s personal between the two people involved only. Only decent men know this.
- Not cheating under any circumstance How is this even an option in relationships? If you’re willing to cheat on someone then you obviously don’t want to be with that person anymore. Cheating is incredibly selfish because you’re showing the other person that frankly, you just don’t give a damn about how your actions affect them. So instead of committing the ultimate betrayal, why not just break up with them instead? That would be a lot less cruel and a lot more mature. Seriously, where’s the humanity?
- Letting go when you don’t have an interest in someone There’s no way to argue that leading someone on isn’t messed up. Go ahead and try, but the only thing your argument says is that you’re screwed up too. If you’re not interested then don’t get their hopes up. Set them free because they may not have found love with you but they can with someone else. If you let them, that is.
- Replying to a text (within a reasonable amount of time) For God’s sake, no one should have to wait by the phone to figure out if you’re interested. No one should have to decode messages or waste time on someone who can’t give them the time of day. You may not be interested but the person on the other end at least deserves your respect. If you can’t make time to reply then inform them they’re wasting time on you.
- Giving each other space for a life outside of the relationship Who wants to be suffocated in a relationship? You may love each other but that doesn’t mean every minute apart is a minute wasted. You both need time to let the relationship breathe and have friends, careers, and a life outside of the relationship because clinging to a partner who needs space is just inhumane.
- Not forcing someone to be your backup plan Do you realize how insulting that is? Just in case you don’t find anything better then you’ll settle for whoever you’ve deemed second best. That person isn’t even aware you’re playing this game. Instead, they believe they’re your one and only instead of realizing that you’re still out looking for someone better. How messed up is that?
- Allowing your partner some sense of privacy Snooping should be an obvious sign that you don’t trust your partner and you shouldn’t be together, but for some reason, some people are blind to this common decency. You shouldn’t have to rifle through your partner’s drawers, texts, and emails. If you think they have something to hide, confront them. If you can’t trust their answer then it’s time to let that failed relationship go.
- Actually ending a relationship Whoever came up with the concept of ghosting was a total douche. Running scared from a relationship and refusing to reply to texts or answer phone calls is just plain childish. The considerate thing to do would be to simply tell the person that you’re no longer interested in continuing the relationship. They can’t make you be with them if you don’t want to. Find some courage and end things properly because no one deserves to be waiting by the phone for a man that will never call.
- Acknowledging your intentions If you’re only interested in a sexual relationship then for goodness’ sake just say so. If the other person thinks you’re headed down the road of a real relationship, don’t lead them on. That’s not fair and frankly, it’s messed up. If you have any common sense of decency in you at all, you’ll make your intentions clear from day one.
