The Disappearing Act

This is a phenomenon that has been around as long as dating itself. Both men and women alike take part in this freaky tradition. I myself am not to be eliminated from this category. But I have decided to try to find the root of this odd behavior. What is the reason for the Disappearing Act?

There are many different ways in which this comes about. The most frequently used would be you meet someone, hang out, talk on the phone and generally start enjoying each other's company. Then for no apparent reason, one of the parties simply vanishes into thin air. Cuts off complete communication and disappears. Like Keyser Soze, poof...their gone.

You may worry that something terrible has happened to them. Maybe they fell off a cliff and are in the hospital with no access to a phone, voicemail or their vocal cords. Or maybe their cell phone got stolen, thrown into the ocean or hit by lightening and they no longer have your number or any way to get it. Whatever the reason you create, it is easier then facing the possibility that it may, in fact, be you.

I can only speak specifically on the reasons why I have taken part in the Disappearing Act. Not being ready to date, fear of actually liking someone or just not liking them at all. Whatever reasons I had for disappearing tended to have more to do with what was going on with me at the time then the actual guy.

I think most people do it to avoid the cliched "it's not you, it's me" conversation. But when I think about it, I would rather have a stupid conversation like that then wonder if my phone will ring again...ever. Isn't it better to just have closure, move on and be done with it? The Disappearing Act leaves so much up in the air and make you question yourself for days, sometimes weeks on end. And it sucks.

Therefore, I am going to try hard not to do this ever again. If it means I have to be the bad guy for being honest, so be it. At least I won't feel guilty when the phone rings and I don't answer it.