2023 Terms for Red Flags
When someone you communicate with often suddenly stops speaking to you and ignores all of your communication
What is Ghosting?
"I'm going up this mountain to save my marriage."
Hint: A woman in a rocky marriage, decided to drive up a mountain for a couples retreat in the snow. Her husband took a plane with her best friend and left her to drive alone.
What is Why Did I Get Married?
Being tied down to one partner, or forming a serious established relationship. Can also correlate to a certain time of year (when it is colder outside)
What is Trust?
Manipulating someone into questioning their own sanity and the reality of a situation
What is Gaslighting?
Woman: “I'll play you"
Man: "For what?"
Woman: "Your heart.”
Hint: Two children with professional athlete dreams fell in love, broke up, and ended up married
What is Love and Basketball?
A romantic relationship that isn't formal or officially established.
What is a Situationship?
Having the space to explain your needs, experiences, and feelings within the relationship.
What is Open Communication?
Leading someone on by giving out just enough information to keep the other person interested even if the person has no interest
What is Breadcrumbing?
Woman: I can't even believe I'm telling you this right now. You're different. You're special.
Man: Special huh? I don't know about that.
Woman: I wish you could see what I see
Hint: Woman lied about her financial status, upbringing, and where she was from to her boyfriend
What is ATL?
Being kept on the sidelines as an option because someone isn't ready to commit or doesn't have strong enough feelings to make it official
What is Benching?
Expressing emotions in a judgement-free space. Feeling heard, understood, and respected.
What is Validation?
Misrepresenting yourself on social media in an effort to appear more attractive or desirable
What is Catfishing/Kittenfishing?
"This never would have happened if I hadn't been messing with you."
Hint: A woman went on a road trip with a man and the guy received devastating time-sensitive information after returning from the trip.
What is Poetic Justice?
Backhanded compliments towards a person in an attempt to seduce that person
What is Negging?
The practice of claiming responsibilty for your actions and how they affect your significant other.
What is Accountability?
A manipulation technique that involves over-the-top displays of attention and affection in an effort to later manipulate the person receiving the admiration
What is Love Bombing?
“I lie because I do love you. Being honest would mean I don't care. Out on the street, I tell the girls the truth. I lie to you because I care about your feelings.”
Hint: Man with 2 children, cheats on his girlfriend, and lives with his mom
What is Baby Boy?
A harsh version of manipulation that partners use to insert demands and threats to get what they want.
What is Emotional Blackmail?
The limits and rules we set for ouselves within relationships
What is Boundaries?