Are you ready to talk about paperclipping? Because we are.
We know it’s not an easy topic, but sometimes it’s better to understand what we’re facing in a relationship.
Meeting someone can be a beautiful experience or the worst breakup of your life. You never know, and it can be quite scary. Among these risks, paperclipping has emerged. This new practice gets its name from Clippy, the Microsoft assistant. If you remember, Clippy was a sort of Chat GPT-like robot that would pop up with a question, often quite useless, and then disappear.
You might be wondering what this little, wide-eyed clip has to do with your past relationship. Well, if you’ve been involved with someone who lacks emotional responsibility and is full of excuses, you have two options: either they were paperclipping you, or your partner was the clip assistant incarnate.
What is Paperclipping?
People who exhibit these behaviors typically show up intermittently in your life, only to disappear again. Conversations with them are usually not fluid and consist mostly of brief text messages, like “What are you doing?” or simply “Hi.”
Usually, people who engage in paperclipping just want to string the other person along, keeping them on the edge of their seat, waiting for a response or a meaningful conversation. According to Psychology Today, “In all cases, paperclipping can allow a person to keep a door open with you as a potential future backup.”
What Should I Do Now?
The most convenient action might be to stop responding, but we know that’s not always easy, especially if you have feelings for this person. You could confront them directly and tell them you don’t like this type of communication. If they claim they’re bad at texting, then set your priorities: do you really want to keep talking to someone who can’t maintain a conversation? Probably not.
If someone displays this kind of behavior, it likely means they lack emotional responsibility entirely. Our advice: run! Get out of there!
Remember, what you seek in a relationship (respect, affection, and good communication) is never too much to ask for, and you shouldn’t tolerate excuses and disinterest. The most important thing is that you make yourself a priority.
Read also: What Is Breadcrumbing And How To Recognize It In Modern Dating
Honestly, who would want to be in a relationship with someone so disinterested and boring? You deserve better, and you know it.
So now you know what this strange practice means. Don’t let it happen to you! And if you’re the one doing the paperclipping, please stop. The emotional impact on others can be damaging, even if it seems like just a game or a way to fill empty spaces to you.