A lot of people have already experienced or heard of dating horror stories involving creepy behaviors. Creepiness may be subjective as what seems to be normal to one person may appear weird to another. However, there are certain behaviors that are unacceptable in dating, especially if you are trying to impress your date.
Creepiness is a combination of lack of respect for others' space, lack of self-awareness of what is said and done, and poor social skills, said Valentina Tudose, a relationship expert at Happy Ever After - a dating agency. Having a creepy behavior is like having a sense of entitlement, for instance, men think they can approach and push women regardless of any negative response.
"No relationship can start without both parties being interested in making it work. So men who think being pushy, aggressive or rude are ways to a woman's heart are definitely creeps in my book. This is also true for online communication when people you have never met slide into your DMs (direct message) and demand a response by sending you repeated 'hi' messages. In addition to that, they never take no for an answer," Tudose noted.
Creepiness could be revealed in different forms when it comes to the dating game, including those who ask to be friends on social media without any sort of pre-existing human connection; those you have rejected who keep texting you; and those who stalk you on all social media even after you blocked them from those platforms. All of these, Tudose said, are examples of unwanted attention that come across as creepy.
"I don't know that there is a type of creepiness that is acceptable. But that isn't to say that every time a man approaches a woman who has not noticed him he is some kind of pervert. The key is to always pay attention to the other person and take cues from their behavior," she added.
According to the South China Morning Post, it is important to understand the principles of flirting as it's a way to communicate romantically to a potential partner. But, it should always be noted that this communication needs to be two-sided.
Meanwhile, women can also have such creepy behaviors.
"It's a lot less frequent than with men, but there are situations in which women can come across as rather forthcoming when they force themselves upon another party, such as invading their personal space and pursuing them incessantly even when told nothing is going to happen," Tudose said.
She explained that this behavior might likely be a sign of desperation and insecurity, but can be easily fixed through intense relationship. Some people think persistence and being in touch all the time is a sign of love and interest, and it's flattering to the person on the receiving end. However, Tudose pointed out that it is only the case if the interest is mutual.
Lastly, the physical appearance of a person has nothing to do with being creepy since attractive people can also have these undesirable characteristics as well.
"It is often the case that attractive people become a little too arrogant for their own good and assume everyone they approach will be grateful for their attention, so they can be as obnoxious as they want. This is obviously a misconception," Tudose said.
