Just whenever you thought it had not been feasible for a brand new dating term to rear its head in 2022, it appears as though there's yet another someone to increase the list. Meet “long-gaming.” Spoiler alert: there is a possibility you might be doing it as we speak.
According to Elite Daily, long-gaming is “very much something do to a great friend you’re drawn to, who you know would make a great partner someday, just maybe not at this time.” Quite simply, there can be someone in your life that you have chemistry with, however for whatever reason aren't dating at this time. Because they go on to explain, “maybe you’re both just in very different phases of your lives, or maybe they’re just waiting until they’re a bit more stable within their future plans before ‘settling down’ with someone. However, if you feel you may be a chance you'd want to be around them later on, “you have them close and continue to flirt and help them with their Insta captions and pretend to 't be a little jealous every time they tell you about to start dating ? they continued or someone they’re seeing.” Quite simply, you long-game them.
Unlike other (more sinister) dating behaviors like ghosting or “breadcrumbing” which involve manipulation, long-gaming is much more about timing than anything else. It's a cooler and sexier way of saying you're keeping someone on the backburner. It doesn't sound that bad, right?
The thing with long-gaming is the fact that you will find definite pros and cons. Here's a few to bear in mind before you decide to long-game your crush.
It prioritizes timing.
Bad timing includes a method of killing the sweetest of budding romances. If you know you're not within the place to maintain a relationship at this time as you have other activities that demand your focus — school, work, family — there is no harm in long-gaming someone. Not everyone you have chemistry and enjoy flirting with needs to are a dating relationship. Enjoy having your partner in your lifetime. If you're meant to become romantically involved, it has happened to in the proper time.
It puts your personal needs first.
Far all too often, when it comes to matters from the heart we put the body else and their needs first. While fun and awesome, dating isn't everything. You know yourself better than other people. Whether it doesn't feel like the right time for you to date someone, it should be not the best time. Believe in intuition. As stated before, whether it's intended to be, it will be.
Online dating moves fast.
There's nothing wrong with putting a dating connection on hold when the person is already in your lifetime (enjoy that crush in your co-worker/classmate/gym buddy!) However, if you are online dating and meet someone that you are feeling you've got a reference to, you might want to reconsider your long-game. In the world of online dating and apps, connections move quickly and when you don't make a move, someone else will likely swoop in and shoot their shot. You're obviously online for a reason (to meet people), so playing the long-game, in this instance, can do your more damage than good.
It makes it easy to prevent commitment.
Are you long-gaming them since it is legitimately not the best time to be dating (for example, you're currently coworkers) or one more reason — for example to prevent committing? Maybe you're scared of finding yourself in rapport or you similar to the idea of using a couple of differing people at your fingertips. The key here's to ensure you're long-gaming for the best reasons and never to mask another issue.
Life is brief.
The biggest “con” with regards to long-gaming may be the simple truth that life is short. If you like someone, you're single, and you wish to date them (also it isn't going to have any extreme negative percussions, for example, getting fired), make it happen. No one can let you know whether you're ready to maintain rapport except yourself. So, while it's natural to feel nervous about making the very first move, it's easier to try and fail than to live with regret.