Sherlock guides

Calm, practical reading on dating red flags, manipulation tactics, and staying safe online. Know the patterns, trust your instincts, and verify before you invest.

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Red flags & trust

Naming the patterns — breadcrumbing, love bombing, ghosting — so you can spot them early and protect your peace of mind.

6 min read

What Is Breadcrumbing in Dating? Signs & How to Respond

Breadcrumbing is when someone gives you just enough attention — an occasional text, a like, a vague “we should hang out” — to keep you interested, without any real intention of committing. It keeps you on the hook while costing them nothing.

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7 min read

Love Bombing: 7 Signs and How to Spot It Early

Love bombing is a wave of intense affection — constant messages, lavish compliments, talk of forever — delivered early and fast to create dependency before trust has actually been earned. It can feel like the most romantic thing that's ever happened to you, which is exactly what makes it hard to see.

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6 min read

Why Do People Ghost? Reasons and How to Move On

People ghost — cut off all contact with no explanation — mostly to avoid the discomfort of an honest conversation. It's almost always about their own avoidance, not a verdict on your worth.

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6 min read

Is Texting Cheating? Where Couples Draw the Line

Texting someone else can count as cheating when it's secretive, emotionally or sexually intimate, and something you'd feel the need to hide from your partner. There's no single universal line — what matters is the agreement between you two and whether the messages cross it.

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Online dating safety

Practical, no-drama steps for verifying who you're talking to and meeting new people safely.

7 min read

How to Spot a Fake Dating Profile: 9 Warning Signs

Fake dating profiles tend to share a handful of tells: photos that look too polished or stolen, sparse personal details, a story that escalates fast, and a consistent refusal to video chat or meet. Spotting two or three together is usually enough to be cautious — and a photo check can confirm it.

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7 min read

Online Dating Safety: What to Do Before You Meet

Online dating safely comes down to a few reliable habits: verify the person is who they say they are, keep your private details private until trust is earned, video chat before meeting, and always meet the first time in a public place. None of it is paranoid — it's just sensible.

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