Online dating can be tricky as hell, we know that. It’s sort of the whole, “fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me” sort of mentality, with guys falling for the exact same traps with different girls almost daily, being left ghosted, benched or even catfished.
And, while you’ve heard about those online dating terms, among others, do you really know what they mean? Do you know the differences between someone saying she’s bisexual and asexual? Or do you think you’re a sex ed connoisseur who knows all? Either way, we’re here to educate you a little bit.
Since you’ve heard all about some of the slang terms and phrases people use to describe online dating experiences, we’re giving you a more in-depth lesson, breaking down some of the most common terms to really understand what they mean. Whether you’ve been the victim or the perpetrator, here’s our online dating 101 on all the popular slang terms.
Asexual
If you’ve ever been on an online dating app or hookup app, there’s a good chance you’ve seen someone list themselves as being asexual. You probably have no idea what that means, do you? Well, asexual specifically means that a person doesn’t experience sexual attraction — regardless of gender — and has more of an emotional connection. In a way, the person’s almost like a caretaker, providing support for a partner without the physical attraction.
Benching
Benching is one of those online dating terms that we’ve all either been victim of or have done to another person. That’s because it’s simply the act of putting a girl onto a proverbial bench, telling her that you’re into her, just not enough to officially commit. It’s sort of the whole, “grass might be greener” mentality, with guys and girls liking what they have, but curious about who else might be out there. But, benching also includes a little control, too, with the perpetrator keeping someone close enough to give them feelings and attention so he/she doesn’t move onto someone else.
Breadcrumbing
This is one of the newer ones, but it’s definitely become more popular in recent years. So, what’s breadcrumbing? It’s the act of keeping a conversation going without any intention of actually meeting up in real life. For instance, you may text a girl a few times, and, every couple of days, she replies back with generic messages. She likes the text convo, but doesn’t want to commit to it more than whatever her terms are. And don’t even think about ever meeting her, that’s definitely not happening.
Catfishing
Arguably the most popular online dating term around, catfishing is when someone else is pretending to be another person. For instance, if that blonde girl who looks like a model might seem to good to be true, well, she probably is. Hell, that she might actually be a he — with a dude messing with people online by acting like the hot girl in the picture.
Curved
To be blunt: curved is the simple act of being turned down or rejected. We’ve all been told no millions of times in our lifetime in various situations, and, when it comes to dating, it might be more prominent than ever. The lesson learned? Dust yourself off and go snag someone better than the person who just shot you down.
Dogging
Are you and your girl into being a little naughtier when it comes to getting down and dirty; like having sex in a car or doing it on the beach in front of a bunch of people? If so, then you’re both part of this whole “dogging” culture. That’s right, dogging is the online dating term that refers to couples being into being watched while having sex. It’s voyeuristic and thrilling, which adds an element that sex in a regular old bedroom just can’t fulfill.
Ghosting
Just when you thought things were going great and you and a recent match swapped numbers to take things off the online dating app, things take a turn for the worse in a hurry. After extending a few texts on Monday night and, generally, feeling excited about trying to meet up at one point in the week, when you text her next, she goes silent… then again… then, finally, you put it together; you’re being ghosted. It happens to the best of them, and it’s just one of those things guys need to accept — at times, certain girls just need a text conversation to help pass time one night, but have no intention on ever meeting up.
Pie hunting
When it comes to online dating, there are certain things people look for in matches. Some go for blondes, while others swipe for taller girls. But, if you’re a pie hunter, it means that you’re specifically interested in other people who have a checkered dating history — like a recent divorcee or someone just getting out of a relationship who might be a bit more vulnerable or on the rebound. Hey, no judgement here; different strokes for different folks, just know what you’re getting yourself into.
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