DEAR HARRIETTE: I met someone through an online dating app, and we switched to texting to get to know each other better. From there, the conversations got significantly stranger. He would ask me to meet him at strange times (3 a.m. on a Thursday, 9 a.m. on a Monday) and become angry when I would not respond immediately.
I have never met him in person, but I have been speaking to him over text for about a month. I want this all to disappear. Can I just block him because I know I will never meet up with him or see him? -- Rude-i-tude, Seattle
DEAR RUDE-I-TUDE: Clearly, this guy does not represent a relationship you want to pursue. It’s too bad that he has your telephone number, but you do not have to take it any further. A 3 a.m. invitation is what most would consider a “booty call.” A 9 a.m. invitation suggest that he doesn’t work. While there could be other reasons for these oddly timed invitations, if your gut tells you to walk away, listen to yourself.
You can tell him nicely that you don’t want to continue communicating with him. You should be gracious and thank him for taking the time to get to know you better. Ask him to stop texting you. If he won’t, check to see if you can block him on your phone. You do not need to respond anymore. You should also give the dating site feedback on him, if it's possible.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)