A friendly ‘ghosting’

Today when most of our interactions happen online, it is not a surprise that the popularity of dating apps is increasingly constantly. Since our interactions have moved on to a medium that gives us the liberty to ignore, bully and spam someone without much accountability, new forms of friendships and relationships have emerged. Terms like ghosting and double texting have become a part of the jargon of every person with a smartphone. Apart from that, new terms (like cushioning, breadcrumbing etc) that define these online interactions and relationships are emerging everyday. ‘Caspering’ is the newest term in the dating lexicon.

Contrary to most other trends which are categorised by a fear of commitment and lack of sensitivity towards the person who might be committed, caspering means to communicate better and let the other person know how you really feel before disappearing from their lives.

International Business Times brought this word to the surface, naming it after the friendly ghost Casper. Asked about this trend, a 20-year-old student who has used dating apps says, “It’s hard to not be cynical about this now that the internet is finally recognising human decency and communication and it’s becoming a part of mainstream culture.”

Mamta Shah, a consultant psychologist has also appreciated but highlighted her concerns with this trend, says, “It is surely a welcome change in today’s environment where many relationships end abruptly and strangely but it’s also worrying to think that this has to be a trend. Communication is and should be important in any relationship from the start.”

Sensitivity, kindness and respect is finally trending and caspering is the most recent example of that.