Ghosting is defined by the urban dictionary as:
“When a person cuts off all communication with their friends or the person they’re dating, with zero warning or notice before hand.”
This is often done over virtual means of communication but every now and then you see it creeping into face to face interactions.
You’re in full conversational flow, animatedly recounting your amusing tale of the baker and his flamboyant son when you notice that your conversational partner isn’t looking at you but is rather fully occupied by their smartphone.
Instantly you know that this story isn’t going to have the reaction you were looking for. It will most likely receive a forced laugh to break the silence that indicated the end of your anecdote.
But what are the solutions to this?
You could be forthright and ask the ‘listener’ to put their phone down.
You could increase the tension in the air by conducting a silent protest, (only continuing talking when the phone is away).
You could start having a conversation with yourself for your own amusement. For example:
‘What a great story Tom’
‘Oh why thank you very much’
‘And so brilliantly told’
‘Oh stop it your too kind’
‘Let’s run away together’
‘Sure why not’
Thomas Duggan 