People have been leading others and playing with their emotions for far too long. Here are some ways to recognize and stop it from affecting your life.
Introduction
We all know the tale of Hansel & Gretel. They are two children with poor names who attempt to find their way home following a trail of breadcrumbs after they were abandoned in the woods. Although it was never a romantic story to me, the idea of breadcrumbing has made its way into dating. Breadcrumbing refers to the act of leaving little bits of emotional nourishment for a potential partner but never intending to feed them or consume the relationship entirely.
This all feels abstract. Two people meet on an app. One will message the other and attempt to arrange dates. The further replies are only enough to keep them interested but not enough for a genuine connection. It is frustrating, inhumane, and possibly avoidable. Let’s take a look at different ways to stop breadcrumbs.
You can find the block button. It is easy to use
Dating apps are great because they allow you to connect with other people. Fuck them if a conversation isn’t going well or you feel ignored. Look for someone else. It doesn’t matter if you have only spoken to someone on Tinder or another app. You don’t need to be attached. Breadcrumbing can be manipulative, so it’s tempting to resist the urge to end your relationship with them.
Pay close attention to the frequency they communicate
Some people set limits on dating apps and limit their use to a specific amount of time per day. This is perfectly acceptable and something that should be done more often. If you don’t hear back from them within a day, it’s possible that the person you matched with is doing this. You feel you are at a stage where you can communicate with data sites. If so, you can give them your number or use social media to chat more.
Be creative
I love stories. Many people create fantasies about their true love/significant others and then are swept away by the imagination. The reality is that they will eventually realize the truth of their relationship. Recognize when this happens and keep in mind that we sometimes put people on pedestals and think they are better than they really are. This creates a false narrative that no one will ever live up to. The person who sends you messages on Hinge may be romantic and brooding, or they might just be bored and need the support of someone else. You need to get back into the real world and then snap out.
Avoid flirting too much on a dating app
My belief is that your partner should bring joy to your life. You should also have hobbies, friends, and pets. These things will make you happy and give you satisfaction. You shouldn’t let someone message you on a dating site affect your self-worth. When the breadcrumbed person doesn’t have anything else going on, it works because they spend their time creating relationships that aren’t there. You can set your own boundaries on dating apps and use the time you would normally spend with them to rediscover an interest or hang out with a loved one.
Do not start playing games
This advice is not something I enjoy. It’s manipulative, narcissistic, and usual to play games with the feelings of other people. It’s not worth it. I know many people who have strange rules about when you can text, call, or otherwise communicate. Even if it did work, and the person you were chatting with eventually fell for you (which is unlikely), it will lead to a dysfunctional relationship that won’t mature into a healthy one. You should not be able to tell someone that they are a breadcrumb. Move on and block them.
Conclusion
Breadcrumbing is a practice that has been around as long as Hansel and Gretel. However, it was often described as a way to lead someone on. Only the way it occurs has changed. While you won’t likely find someone walking around with a loaf of bread in their hand, if you are into online dating, it will probably happen. Do not let this get you down. Instead, block them with a piece of gingerbread.
