The 3 Day Rule

In my college years, my friends (male AND female) used to tell me about the 3-day-rule. Basically, whenever you take someone's phone number, it's wise NOT to contact them until atleast 3 days+ later. And I was just curious, do people even still abide by the 3-day rule OR atleast some kind of "rule" that they use when 1st approaching someone & getting the digits?

Back in the day, they used to justify the "3-day-rule" by claiming that waiting for a little bit of time before 1st contacting them:
1. Prevents you from looking desperate
2. Gives the other person the impression that yes, you're interested, BUT that you're busy & actually have a life! Ya know how it is...when you give someone your number at 3:30 & yet they call you at 3:31, ya might automatically assume that they're either desperate or are too available!

I've even seen people purposely NOT text/call that person back after they've been called simply to give off the illusion to the other person that they are busy or aren't "on them" hard. Technically, it's ALL a mind game but I still see people using this "rule" to this day even as they grow into adulthood & when "being yourself" is something older people are advised to do from the very beginning.

And I can't lie, I'm guilty of having my own little "rule," when it comes to the men that actually want ME to call THEM. I may not necessarily wait for 3 whole days to contact them for the 1st time, BUT I'll ATLEAST wait a day or even a few hours depending on HOW & WHERE I met them.

Hell, sometimes I'll vibe with someone so well that I won't feel bad for immediately contacting them within the same day after 1st meeting them nor will I think anything of it if they contact me quickly within the same day/hour. And other times, I'll like a guy alot BUT will purposely wait to call/text him b/c I believe that everyone should appear to be a challenge & 1 of the 1st ways to foil that is to START OFF showing too much interest in a short time span.

So I'm just curious...if not the actual 3-day rule, do you guys have some sort of "rule" for which you use when 1st meeting/contacting someone?

I recently decided that I am no longer following the "rules" of dating. If I like a guy I will text him that night and tell him I had a nice time, nothing to forward but just so he knows.

Had enough of all the rules and games people play when it comes to attraction, everythings so much easier when people just tell people straight what they're thinking and feeling. If I went out with a guy and he was trying to "play it cool" by waiting to text me, I will probably have delted his number by the time he texted/rang me, or be onto the next guy. I dont wait around for no man 🙂

Just make sure he can't tell. I wouldn't waste my time with someone who follows rules.

I like to text the next day. If she texts back then I'll call later that day. I have noticed that if a girl really likes me and I don't call at all, she will call, but not for 2 weeks to a month later ... BUT, when that situation presents itsself, it means I'm gonna get laid soon 😛

Fuck no. If a guy gives me his number, and I like him, I'll text him that day. I don't believe in waiting for things like that. If he gets offended or scared, then oh well. On to the next one.

I agree with you guys. It's all just 1 big ole mind game.

QLibra had a good point. It depends on intentions. Plus, keep in mind that not everybody gives/takes numbers for the RIGHT reasons. Some women give their numbers out sometimes just to make the guy go away OR even if she's not yet sure if she really likes him. And some guys just want some "cuddy" OR don't have the clean intentions when they give/take numbers, so in these cases, 2 people not rushing to call eachother isn't necessarily a bad thing/mind game.

I don't follow any type of "rule" anymore now that I've grown older, BUT it's no secret that some people still do. I can't tell you how many times I've seen men/women get nervous & say, "Omg, do you think it's too early to call him/her?" And I just look like woww.

I'm the type of gal who won't give my number out unless I'm really really interested in a guy AND if I feel that the feeling is mutual. And since there should be a high level of attraction in the 1st place, that erases any doubts/insecurities that would stop me from contacting him. I'm 1 of those people who does what I feel. If I want to call you, I will. And if a guy turns his nose up at me all b/c I contacted him, I'd have to seriously question why he even wanted to talk to me in the 1st place?! After all, isn't the whole purpose of giving/taking numbers to actually INITIATE contact?!!!

The only time I might possibly be turned off when someone calls me is if they call me too late. If I give a man my number during the day at the mall & yet he calls me at 2am, bad move. Me & "Booty call hours" don't get along. OR if I see a man somewhere at night, give him my number & yet he calls me at 2am KNOWING good & well he could've just started fresh & called me the next day, it'll annoy me. I don't care that he contacts me as long as it's at a respectful hour

back in the day when you had to contact somebody using landlines, i guess the 3 day rule made sense. but now there's email and text. you don't need to wait. and even if you are busy, you can at least find a couple seconds to send a text while you wait in line or something. if a guy isn't interested enough to contact me soon, i'll write him off.

I have stopped playing games but I must say that I have been communicating with a Libra and I read that you shouldn't make yourself too available in the beginning b/c they like the chase. So what I have done when he seems to drop off completely is not contact him either and sure enough he is back and trying to talk again and this has happened with him a couple times. We haven't met in person yet and that is kind of getting on my nerves anyways b/c I don't like to get too deep with someone before we have met so I really would rather not have too much more communication with him until it is in person.

Otherwise I do try and be honest and upfront in my dealings with men nowadays and especially about what I am or am not looking for. It just makes it easier!
🙂