We all understand what is meant when someone says they are "talking" to someone. It means Sally and John sorta like each other and may eventually date. However is that really what it is? Why don't we just call it what it is? Talking is basically casually dating to get to know each other to see if they want to be together. But even that isn't right. Don't get me wrong I have definitely been guilty of getting myself stuck in the "talking" stage more than once. Call me old fashioned if you want to but I genuinely believe our generation has such a skewed view of what relationships with people are supposed to be.
We start texting someone and asking basic questions and having basic get to know you conversations. There is nothing wrong with those conversations, except heaven forbid we have them face to face rather than through a screen. (Hint: try going and actually talking to this person. It speeds up the process of deciding you are interested or not). We as humans have a need to be loved and valued, I just worry we are fooling ourselves. I see so many people getting hurt by getting to emotionally involved with people that may be a completely temporary thing.
To often we find that the person we thought we were talking to either didn't think it was talking or never wanted to go further than that. The other possibility is that people that are talking begin to act as if they are actually together without being in an actual relationship(again been there done that, my bad). If it ends you basically went through a breakup without actually having been together and can't really call that person your ex or even fully understand what happened.
So can we please stop calling it "talking"? Call it what is. It is getting to know another person and exploring possibilities. For the sake of your heart I just ask that you communicate with the other person about what you guys are actually doing. Find out if you are friends, or looking for something more. I talk to tons of people in a day but I have very different feeling towards all of them. "Talking" has got to go.
