What’s an unconventional thing someone can do that makes you lose romantic feelings for them? I’m curious about the obscure entries, the ones unlikely to appear on any sensible list of relationship concerns.
Cruelty and dishonesty hardly need nominations. I’m thinking of something smaller and harder to explain: a habit, a mannerism, a completely ordinary action that somehow changes the atmosphere. Nothing terrible has happened. Nevertheless, the romantic department has received notice.
Could it be the way someone turns every casual conversation into a competition? Or would that already qualify as a standard complaint? How specific does a turnoff have to get before you hear yourself explaining it and think, yes, I sound unreasonable?
I’m also interested in the timing. Does the feeling vanish immediately, or do you spend a while trying to negotiate with yourself because you liked this person perfectly well five minutes ago?
There’s something awkward about having no impressive explanation. The person might still be lovely. You might wish them every happiness. You just no longer want to be the person sitting opposite them on a date.
So what would do it for you—the strange, minor, difficult-to-defend thing that could bring an otherwise promising crush to a very quiet halt?
