What does it mean when guy starts to ignore my instagram stories after I've stopped interacting with his stories?

[Anonymous]

I used to reply to his stories and participate in his polls etc. We used to have nice conversations in the DM's (mostly initiated by me).
I stopped doing that because I got tired of being the one to be first to initiate and now he's stopped watching my stuff lol. He used to watch ALL my stories.

Does this mean that he's pissed or something and actually liked me!

[Anonymous]

To me, it sounds like he was doing it because you were initiating and he thought if he reciprocated, he could get something out of it, rather than doing it out of good will because he likes you. If he’s stopped looking, as soon as you’ve stopped initiating, I wouldn’t be taking that as a sign of him having liked you, more the opposite and just putting up with you in the event he might get a night in your bed.

[Asker]

He was still actively watching my stuff eveb though I wasn't replying to his stories. He started to miss my stories when I stopped participating in the polls etc.

[Opinion Owner]

This is only my opinion, of course. I think my initial comment still stands. If you retracted from your usual habits, he probably thought that you weren’t interested and if he wasn’t overly into you in the first place, then he probably didn’t think it was worth pursuing.

[Asker]

Is it possible that he wanted me to keep reaching out to him since he's too shy to do it himself?

[Opinion Owner]

Maybe but interacting with your Instagram stories isn’t necessarily reaching out. He could’ve kept doing that regardless of whether he has the confidence to actually initiate conversations, so I think it’s unlikely but I can’t know for sure.

[Asker]

Here's more info on how out conversations have went.

Our conversations have been very friendly and he has replied back to me promptly (usually within 10min, at most after 1h) . his replies are decent, he uses a lot of emojis and he heart react my messages when we talk in the dms. One time he even wrote me long paragraphs and also he one time sent me a short disappearing video. He has wished me goodnight when I told him that I’m going to bed. He’s complimented my hobby. He’s responsive when I contact him but he doesn’t contact me.

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah, maybe he’s just shy then. Sounds like you’ve got your own question answered to be honest. As a guy, I tend to talk to friends that are girls in the same way, purely because I like talking to them and the heart emoji only means that you liked the message or something about it. If they give decent sized responses, then I do the same. I also use a lot of emojis amongst friends. So I’m not saying being shy isn’t the case but I’m saying it could honestly be either or, as none of that stuff really screams “liking you” to me but again, just my opinion. Do with it what you will. Take care.

[Asker]

by the way we barely know each other and we're not friends. In your opinion he sees me as a friend or is too shy and likes me?

[Opinion Owner]

The concept can be applied to just “friendly talk” in general. I’m not sure why you both send long responses and he sends videos if you barely know each other though, that seems odd. In my opinion you’re reading too deep into things and making the things he does into something they’re not. To me it sounds like he’s being friendly.

[alphacathexis]

hard to tell. He may have just been reciprocating the attention in an obligatory way. And when you stopped initiating, his opportunity to cease that constant back and forth appeared and he took it. The question is, do you like him enough to pursue him even when he appears to not be sure of what he wants?

[Asker]

Tbh he sas actively watching my stuff for a while evwn when I stopped interacting with his stuff. I noticed he started to ignore my stories when I posted me having a dinner (people couldn't tell who I was with). Mabe he thought I was on a date lol. Couple days later he too posted a story of him having a dinner LoL.

[In_Trance]

It means you're both catty and need to say shit upfront

[Asker]

Hmm since he's acting that way do u think he has some interest?

[In_Trance]

Not if you keep this crap up

[Asker]

So what should I do?

[In_Trance]

tell him how you feel straight up

[Asker]

I will but why hasn't he reach out to me mean while?

[In_Trance]

dunno, doesn't matter