Oversharing - Too Much, Too Fast
In a world where authenticity is celebrated, the line between being real and oversharing has become blurred. Dating, in particular, can often feel like a balancing act—do you reveal too much or too little? What is the right amount of personal information to share?
Beware! The fine line between being authentic and oversharing
Andrew and Melissa's second date seemed to be going great. They were dining on the patio at one of Andrew's favorite local wineries. The sunset was spectacular and Andrew's anxiety about bringing a date to one of his favorite places was almost gone. Melissa seemed to get his dry humor and he appreciated her quick wit and warmth. She had even leaned into him when they were waiting to be seated and then held his hand when they walked to their table overlooking the vineyards below.
While they were sipping a spectacular Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Melissa casually asked Andrew about his previous dating experience. Without thinking, Andrew launched into the FULL story of his last long-term relationship. Including all the details about their custody dispute over the puppy he had gotten his girlfriend for her birthday, and their disastrous last vacation. Andrew told her how they met, about moving in together, all the things that went wrong afterward, and their messy breakup. When Andrew finally stopped talking, he noticed that Melissa was no longer smiling. After finishing dinner, Melissa got a Lyft home.
Andrew and Melissa's matchmaker later got to hear how uncomfortable Melissa felt with the details of Andrew's breakup. She didn’t like talking about her exes, and Andrew seemed petty and angry while recounting his story. Andrew thought sharing a painful personal story would bring them closer—after all, wasn’t he just being authentic?Read more
