First came ghosting and breadcrumbing and benching, and now we have… cushioning?
Cushioning, in case you’re not familiar, is the practice of buying yourself a little insurance while you're in relationship. You chat or otherwise string along a few people -- called "cushions" -- so you have something to fall back if you get dumped.
Ugh. At this point it’s actually amazing how many words we’ve invented for being an a-hole. This particular term was coined earlier this year when a few girls talked to Babeabout the art of cushioning, and it’s been picking up steam ever since.
Here’s the thing, though: the act of cushioning isn’t new at all. It’s just a fancier word for an ancient practice better known as cheating. It’s one thing if you’re at the very beginning of dating someone and you’re not sure where it’s going. But if you’re spending serious time with a partner -- and worse if he or she thinks you’re monogamous -- giving others the sense that you’re still interested is dishonest and unfair to everyone involved.
Thanks to the proliferation of dating apps it's easier than ever to keep a couple of people waiting in the wings, but that doesn't mean you should. No matter what you call it, there’s nothing cheeky or clever about leading others on or not being fully committed to the relationship you're in. Sure, cushioning may not be on the same level of terrible as having a torrid affair if you're married, but it's still not good.
It doesn't really help you either. The only way to reap the full benefit of being in a real relationship is to be in one-- all the way in, not with one foot always out the door. But the only way to get that reward is to accept the risk that occasionally you’re gonna get dumped and maybe you’ll even end up with a bruised or broken heart.
If you get dropped, you'll just have to deal with it. You're not a couch. No amount of cushions are gonna protect you.
(责任编辑：探索)
Satisfy your Olympics withdrawals with Nike's latest app
2019 was the year of clowning for love
2019 was the year of 'yikes'
I'm obsessed with 'The Circle' and its ridiculous voice assistant
One of the most controversial power struggles in media comes to a closeOlympic security asks female Iranian fan to drop protest sign
Olympic security personnel questioned a female Iranian volleyball fan Saturday when she showed up fo
...[详细]This site is a pirate radio for the most popular streaming services
Pirating content is making a comeback (again) thanks to the streaming wars.Given the influx of strea
...[详细]I can't stop thinking about that sex scene in 'Sex Education' Season 2
I can't stop thinking about the Indian dance sex scene on Netflix's Sex Education.Listen, if you've
...[详细]Humane Society will give you a bad custom drawing of your pet for a $15 donation
Fine art is often an investment, but there are some affordable options out there. For example, a $15
...[详细]Over 82,000 evacuate as Blue Cut fire rapidly spreads in southern California
A rapidly spreading wildfire in southern California's Cajon Pass has grown in hot, dry weather, thre
...[详细]Food delivery companies offer option to leave orders at your door because of coronavirus
You're hunkered down, maintaining your social distance, but damnit, now you have to interact with th
...[详细]The Human Screenome Project wants to 'sequence' our smartphone use
Is constant smartphone surveillance still terrifying if it's for science?Three Stanford University p
...[详细]2019 was the year tech workers organized
Toxic workplace culture, terrible pay, union busting, weapons contracts, anti-immigrant work, and po
...[详细]MashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?
Summer is coming to a close and that means one thing -- last-minute vacations! 。SEE ALSO:'Ice Cream B
...[详细]Chrissy Teigen's impression of Luigi hunting ghosts is absolutely on point
Chrissy Teigen may be a model, TV host, author, and Twitter Queen — but she also knows her gam
...[详细]MashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?
Headphones designed to save your life from reckless drivers
