Okay, so I saw this phrase “ignoring a man psychology” floating around, and I got curious. I mean, we’ve all heard about playing hard to get, but does it actually work? And what’s the psychology behind it? I decided to put it to a test, in a very low-stakes, casual way, of course. I’m not about manipulating anyone, just observing.
The Setup
I picked my friend, Mark. We text pretty regularly, mostly about silly stuff, memes, and weekend plans. He’s a good sport, and I knew he wouldn’t freak out if I suddenly went radio silent. So, the plan was simple: I wouldn’t initiate any conversations for a few days. If he texted, I’d reply, but I’d keep it short and not ask any follow-up questions, basically, become less engaging.
The Experiment – Days 1-3
- Day 1: Crickets. I sent my usual good morning meme, and…nothing. All day. I resisted the urge to double-text or send a “??”. This was harder than I thought!
- Day 2: He texted! A simple “Hey, what’s up?”. I replied with a super bland “Not much, you?”. Usually, I’d launch into a whole story about my day, but I held back. He responded with another short message, and then…silence again. Okay, maybe this is working?
- Day 3: He texted again, this time with a slightly longer message, asking if I was busy. I replied that I was a little swamped with work, and again, no follow-up question. He actually sent another text after that, asking about my weekend plans. Huh. I kept my answers brief, but I felt a little guilty.
The Results (and Some Guilt)
By Day 4, He’s trying to enage me to usual, and I started feeling bad. It felt…artificial. I caved and started texting him back like normal, asking him about his day, sharing a funny story. He immediately perked up, and our conversation went back to its usual flow.
My Takeaway
So, did ignoring him “work”? In the sense that it got his attention, maybe. He definitely noticed the change in my communication pattern. But did it make him like me more? I doubt it. It felt more like it created a little bit of anxiety or confusion, not genuine interest. It’s clear that showing some that you have a life is working.
Personally, I think genuine connection and open communication are way more effective than playing games. Ignoring someone might pique their curiosity, but it’s not a sustainable way to build a relationship, whether it’s friendship or something more. I prefer being myself, and if someone doesn’t appreciate that, well, that’s their loss. My text conversations with Mark are back to normal, and honestly, I’m much happier this way.
