REALITIES
“How can you tell the difference between a rejection and playing hard to get?”
It can be a little tricky, so you’ll probably need to be extra sensitive and maybe even straightforward, especially if you want to avoid misunderstandings.
Some people like playing coy when it comes to dating, so they can play hard to get with someone who’s pursuing them. It can be because they wanna be sure of that person’s intentions, or they just enjoy the excitement that comes with being “chased.”
Others who aren’t interested in someone can also find it difficult to be direct about their rejection, so they may be vague about saying no and even end up leading that person on or giving them false hope.
It’s easy to mistake one for the other, and it sometimes leads to awkwardness at best and painful disappointment at worst.
If you’re pursuing someone, the best way to make sure is still to ask for a direct answer.
But if neither of you are comfortable with that, you can try and look for certain signs and clues. Someone who is playing hard to get is often more playful in their behavior, and they can even respond positively if you do things like tease or flirt with them. Rejection, on the other hand, can come across as more serious and uncomfortable.
It’ll take a few tries, maybe some very awkward interactions, but it’s best to be sure to avoid being disappointed in the end.
