Finding Real Connection in a Sea of Fantasy

[Hu****]

There are truly available, grounded people out there. There are people who show up, do the work, and value presence over fantasy. By holding boundaries and trusting our gut, we get closer to them every day.

So I’m curious:
• Why do so many of us keep falling for these beautifully packaged emotional mirages?
• How do you spot the illusion before it wastes your time or energy?
• What’s your go-to survival tactic when the fantasy feels way more seductive than reality?

This isn’t about bitterness or cynicism. It’s about discernment, honesty, and learning to invest our energy in what’s actually real and not just hot, emotionally unavailable, and great at texting. No bitterness here, just a solid “been there, ghosted that,” and some stubborn faith that the real ones do exist… probably with dogs and decent communication skills.

I say this because I’m one of those people.

My answers:
1. Because illusions are easy. They ask nothing real of us.
2. I’ve learned not to trust charm alone - consistency tells the truth.
3. I pause. I pull back. I give myself space to see things clearly.

[gr****]

I just need someone who's honest and will be there when times are good and when times are bad

[Sw****]

1 because we want to believe in romantic idealisms and something truly beautiful.
2 one word answers to complex questions and asking for *** lol
3 I go all in so that the illusion crumbles or they ghost me because they were not prepared for someone to ask in depth questions

[Dy****]

Someone's actions will always show you, what unspoken words will never tell you. Don't let love or lust trump logic, that gets your heart hurt.

[Ni****]

I don't have any answer to your question but I've been there before. Someone in the general neighborhood who seems to be a good fit, conversations leading to something, then poof! They deleted their account. I think maybe some people just come here to indulge in the fantasy for a while, then maybe realize they don't actually want to have a real experience.

[Hu****]

7 minutes ago, NimbleSorcery said:

I don't have any answer to your question but I've been there before. Someone in the general neighborhood who seems to be a good fit, conversations leading to something, then poof! They deleted their account. I think maybe some people just come here to indulge in the fantasy for a while, then maybe realize they don't actually want to have a real experience.

Yeah, it feels like a lot of people come here just to fill a void or play in the fantasy for a bit, then disappear if/when reality shows up.

[Dy****]

I have to disagree. Granted its not easy, you have to search through the perverbial haystack. But I have found a few genuinely good individuals on here. I will emphasize on the few part. I'd give it a 15:1 ratio.

[AG****]

Sometimes people look to fill a void but their true colors show when they find the real deal. It's unfortunate though when they are written off when their honest omissions are dismissed. Yes, circumstances and situations often don't allow for things to work out, especially long shots. But long shots can be very short when it's the real deal. Things have a way of working out or not. But fate only works out when you take the chains off and allow yourself to fly.

[Hu****]

13 minutes ago, DynamicDicDave said:

I have to disagree. Granted its not easy, you have to search through the perverbial haystack. But I have found a few genuinely good individuals on here. I will emphasize on the few part. I'd give it a 15:1 ratio.

Fair enough. But hey, even a 15:1 ratio means there’s still one.
I’ll keep digging through the haystack with my tiny hopeful pitchfork😆😈

[Dy****]

You have a pitchfork?! That would have made it easier. 🙄

[Lo****]

I don't know. I'm getting disillusioned but still trying. I just had someone tell me I have the most honest profile they ever read and I was like thanks but it hasn't helped yet lol.

[AG****]

It's understandable to not take the chains off to fly when the flight doesn't match your path. But when you change, alter, or convince yourself that your path doesn't match the flight because of insecurities or the thought of the flight being real, then that's on you. The flight is the flight. It's the fun, the flying, the vulnerability, and the joy of flying without the chains. Once you realize the potential flight is for real, you will ignore the bullshit weather and fly.

[Hu****]

17 minutes ago, AGoodTime42 said:

It's understandable to not take the chains off to fly when the flight doesn't match your path. But when you change, alter, or convince yourself that your path doesn't match the flight because of insecurities or the thought of the flight being real, then that's on you. The flight is the flight. It's the fun, the flying, the vulnerability, and the joy of flying without the chains. Once you realize the potential flight is for real, you will ignore the bullshit weather and fly.

Hi Sal. If we are going with romantic poetic metaphors, I’m down.

I won’t lie- there are moments I still think about what it felt like to rise with you. The way it stirred something in me, like we might actually catch the same wind and fly.

 

But I’ve also had to learn when to stay grounded. No, not out of ***, but out of love for the version of me that knows what she needs. And sometimes, that need pulls against the part of me that misses you.

 

It’s not easy holding both. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the sky we shared. 

[TM****]

I feel like I'm trying to find a needle in needlestack. 😥 4 months and not a single friend made. Everything past 2 comments ends up being a scammer.
I'm a nice, good guy. I help, I never hinder.
Im polite. I'm beginning to wonder why I'm on here.

[Ja****]

All great questions...
Reading the comments for answers.

[Deleted Member]

Well written. Despite what you may infer from my profile, I prioritise connection first. I analyse the conversation flow for genuine interest and ask to speak on the phone often. It's a fanatsy while it is restricted to the realm of text. A 10-minute chat on the phone can pull you out of that immediately and into what is real. Two people sharing, laughing, and hearing each others voices. I've had my time wasted by so many toe tipping LGs that I'm pretty strict on communication signs. I will readily disengage.

[Hu****]

19 minutes ago, Eisenhorn said:

Well written. Despite what you may infer from my profile, I prioritise connection first. I analyse the conversation flow for genuine interest and ask to speak on the phone often. It's a fanatsy while it is restricted to the realm of text. A 10-minute chat on the phone can pull you out of that immediately and into what is real. Two people sharing, laughing, and hearing each others voices. I've had my time wasted by so many toe tipping LGs that I'm pretty strict on communication signs. I will readily disengage.

I agree that voice can add a layer of realness that text can’t. That said, everyone has their own rhythm when it comes to building connection. For me, it’s about being intentional with how I engage, when - how often. I’m not here to waste anyone’s time, including my own, and I respect that you’re clear on what you’re looking for. That kind of clarity tends to sort things out quickly.

[Deleted Member]

I agree. The flakiness may come from those who don't really know who they, and therefore cannot be upfront and offer clarity. That certainly wastes time. They play in imaginative realm trying to figure themselves out, but *** rejection if they say "I don't actually know what I'm doing"

[Deleted Member]

Perhaps it's just newbies.

[Ch****]

Learning to not trust charm and excitement is sp important. It's something I'm learning as well

[Va****]

I'm whats called an avoident. I tend to pull away from anyone at the first sigh of danger weather good or bad. Sometimes I can’t fathom anyone truly liking me so I trust no one
Doesn’t mean I don’t get attached so easily with my anxious attachment disorder. And limerance is real



I guess it's depends on someone’s psychology and the more you know of it the better at it you get.

[sardonicus87]

4 hours ago, Eisenhorn said:

I agree. The flakiness may come from those who don't really know who they, and therefore cannot be upfront and offer clarity. That certainly wastes time. They play in imaginative realm trying to figure themselves out, but *** rejection if they say "I don't actually know what I'm doing"

That's certainly possible sometimes, but people these days have gotten super flakey and non-committal about EVERYTHING, even just regulae vanilla hanging out with vanilla friends, and I think the flakiness is more for the same reasons that they flake on everyone and everything else in general.

[Lo****]

8 minutes ago, sardonicus87 said:

That's certainly possible sometimes, but people these days have gotten super flakey and non-committal about EVERYTHING, even just regulae vanilla hanging out with vanilla friends, and I think the flakiness is more for the same reasons that they flake on everyone and everything else in general.

Absolutely! And there's this movement to normalize dropping friends and blocking people everywhere that started I think to explain why it was okay to do that to abusive or toxic people, but now people do it whenever they're the slightest bit uncomfortable or disagree or just don't see what they "get" from the relationship. It's making everything so transactional. A growing amount of people don't care about people , they care about what they can get from people and if they don't serve them, they discard.

Also, when did the illusion that "fwb" isn't a casual relationship happen? I firmly say in my profile I don't do casual, but tons of people wanting "fwb" contact me and if I'm like yeah, I don't do casual often they're like "friends with benefits isn't casual!" Seriously? It's not a one night stand, but yeah, that's SUPER casual. 

[Hu****]

6 minutes ago, ValentineWitch2 said:

I'm whats called an avoident. I tend to pull away from anyone at the first sigh of danger weather good or bad. Sometimes I can’t fathom anyone truly liking me so I trust no one
Doesn’t mean I don’t get attached so easily with my anxious attachment disorder. And limerance is real



I guess it's depends on someone’s psychology and the more you know of it the better at it you get.

What you write (relatable!) captures a very specific kind of emotional tug-of-war: pulling back out of ***, while simultaneously feeling deep attachment and longing. That whole dance of “I want you close, but don’t come too close unless I know I’m safe”.  

For people (us, for example) with both these avoidant and anxious tendencies, it can feel like your own nervous system is fighting with itself, craving intimacy but scanning for danger at the same time. 😅

[Hu****]

6 minutes ago, LoveNDevotion said:

general.

With access to a global pool of options, people are often, consciously or not, making decisions based on what seems more exciting, convenient, or advantageous in the short term.