Online dating-The emotional and legal implications and terms! -1st part

Online dating is increasingly getting popular. It has gained momentum with the coronavirus pandemic. Though easy and successful, it has its own emotional and legal implications. There are also some terms that are often used by people dating online. Let us try to understand them. 

Online dating terms [Source: The Healthsite]

Benching-This term implies the situation when one partner is really dating the other person but at the same time does not want the other person to move on and see someone else. This might sound a bit selfish but it happens often in budding relationships. This is called benching and the person who is made to wait so is said to have been benched. The term has come from sports in which a person on a team may be waiting on a bench for his turn or call from the coach to join in! 

Breadcrumbing-This is used when a person sends flirty but non-committal messages to another person. The first person does not want to date the second person but also does not want to break off things completely due to the lack of guts to do it. It comes from the fact that when we want some small creature or animal to follow us, we put a trail of breadcrumbs for it. 

Breadcrumbing [Source: Medium]

Catfishing-This is said to be the situation when a person sends messages online pretending to be someone else. 

Cuffing season-It is the time in between early fall and late winter. During this time, some couples might come up together just to beat the loneliness and cold of the cooler months. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement that is brief and only lasts that season. Hence it is seasonal. Comes from handcuffing which means chaining yourself with someone until the winter is over. 

Curving-is the term used when someone is rejected or dismissed. Here the messages are seen but not answered. But there is no direct no.

Cushioning-Means to have a backup of one or more romantic partners in case your main relationship does not go smoothly. Cushions are usually kept at the periphery to absorb any blow. 

Daddy-is a common tern used by teens and millennials to mean a person with whom there is sexual or sexual-adjacent contact. It might even be an older male. 

Demisexual-It is a person who likes a person not for the visual or physical attraction but for his or her personalities. These are people who are loyal and capable of deep and loving relationships. 

DM Slide-It is a term to imply reaching a person by means of a direct message through the private messaging functions that are available on most major social media platforms. The two persons should be following each other and it usually happens when there is some earlier mutual interaction. DM stands for direct messages and sliding is entering in. 

DTR conversation-DTR stands for Define The Relationship. It is the time in online dating when you want to make clear what relationship you are having-real couple, friends with benefits, or a situationship? Timing is important-too early or too late is not good. 

Firedooring-When a person reaches out to you occasionally, and does not respond when you attempt to get in touch, it is called firedooring. Better to close such chats. Firedoor is a one-way door that allows you to exit but not enter. Used for fire exits. 

Freckling-When a person just wants to come close to you during the summertime but not for good, it is called freckling. They might have some split in spring and just want someone for some time. 

Friends with benefits-This is said when someone cares for someone and also engages in regular sex but is not into a serious relationship. 

Ghosting [Source: New Straits Times]

F*ckbuddies-It is when the relationship is not serious and based only on sexual gratification. 

Ghosting-It is when a person disappears from the online date's life without informing and talking about it directly. It is more sudden than breadcrumbing. Therefore, the ghostee is confused and hurt. 

                                                                                                2nd part continued here.....