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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Are you being ‘banksied'? The latest toxic dating term, which is crueller than ghosting
Have you felt like your partner is slowly detaching themself from you? Emotionally pulling away and withdrawing their feelings? But there are no fights, no arguments, just widening distance. The latest toxic dating term, Banksying, is crueller than ghosting.(Photo: Adobe Stock) Feels like a concept that has always been there, and multiple couples may have fallen victim to it. Well, now there is a word for it, and it is called 'Banksying', a toxic dating term which makes 'ghosting' seem much more polite. You do not break up with your partner, but rather put them through a toxic cycle of constant emotional withdrawal, and they are left wondering in the dark about what went wrong. But how did this term get here? The word takes shape after the England-based street artist, Banksy, 50, who creates his work, makes it known to the public, and then just vanishes without any announcement whatsoever. People have taken this habit of his to describe someone who emotionally backs away from a relationship before a 'break-up' conversation is officially in place. But why do people do this? Is it healthy or toxic? Dating coach Pratik Jain tells us, 'We are not taught communication (especially in intimate contexts) etiquette in our younger years. So we find our safe way to deal with tough situations. When one person is clear that they want to end a relationship, they know that direct communication will lead to a lot of instant conflicts, tensions and drama from the other person. So, to avoid the burden of all these, detaching is a safe way to go about it (at least for the person initiating it)." What does this lead to? You still engage in everything you used to do, but something feels off. There are fewer texts, less enthusiasm to make date plans, and maybe even shallower conversations than what used to be the case. And when you do inquire, the said person says things like, "It's fine" and sometimes even accuses you of "overthinking", etc. It is like they are there physically but gone emotionally. Dr Pavitra Shankar, Associate Consultant- Psychiatry at Aakash Healthcare, explains that this emotional withdrawal could be considered a form of passive-aggressive behaviour or emotional manipulation. 'It's a covert way of expressing anger, discomfort, or disconnection, forcing the partner to guess or interpret the silence. While it may not always be intentional, this behaviour creates emotional confusion and shifts the burden of resolution onto the other person,' she says. Even the psychological impact on the partner being 'Banksied' can be significant and long-lasting. They may experience confusion, self-doubt, and a deep sense of rejection because there is no clear closure or communication; the individual often ruminates, replaying moments to decipher what went wrong. 'This can erode self-esteem and trigger abandonment wounds, especially in individuals with insecure attachment styles. It can also induce anxiety in future relationships, as the person becomes hypervigilant about emotional shifts, fearing repeat withdrawal,' says Dr Shankar. So, what can you do to protect yourself? The first step would be to be on the lookout for the signs of being banksied. Pratik shares a few signs you should notice if you suspect something is off: The partner is not sharing things with you as much as before. They create trivial issues while blaming you or making you feel that you are not contributing to the relationship. They avoid any direct conversation that addresses the need to keep the relationship moving smoothly. Spending less and less time on intimate dinners, activities, etc. Ghosting vs Banksying While they both mean withdrawing from a relationship without actually breaking up, banksying is much more mean and toxic than ghosting. Ghosting is when someone stops communicating abrupt without any explanation or warning. The person performing the ghosting simply disappears, leaving the other individual confused, hurt, and rejected. However, banksying is different. This act refers to a slower form of ending a relationship where one partner slowly and subtly withdraws emotionally from the relationship without openly discussing their intentions to end it.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Reverse catfishing is the new dating trend among youngsters
In the age of filtered photos and feeds, where standing out is often the goal, a quiet dating trend is making waves: reverse catfishing. Reverse catfishing is all about underplaying your appeal(Photo: Shutterstock) Unlike traditional catfishing, where people deceive others by appearing more attractive or successful online, reverse catfishing is all about underplaying your appeal. From dressing down in profile pictures to skipping luxury mentions and flaunting a basic bio, it's the art of 'playing it low-key' on purpose. "Reverse catfishing is still very new," says Ravi Mittal, founder and CEO of dating app QuackQuack. "We think it's a love letter to emotional intelligence. Who, other than an emotionally sorted and extremely secure person, would dare to play it down on purpose? It shows that young daters are more interested in finding the right match than impressing the wrong one." This understated approach is reportedly gaining traction among millennials and Gen Z, especially those who've grown disillusioned by the swipe-left culture that often rewards only surface-level charm. For some, reverse catfishing is a form of digital detox from the pressure of being 'Insta-perfect'. For others, it's a litmus test for genuine interest. But the concept isn't exactly new. Pratik Jain, a dating coach based in India, points out that 'people from high-status backgrounds — athletes, heirs, or those from influential families — have long downplayed their wealth or looks to attract partners who see them for who they are.' He adds that while this move can be sincere, it can also straddle a manipulative line. 'Imagine showing up to a date looking far better than your photos. It can create an instant dopamine hit and heighten attraction artificially.' So, is reverse catfishing romantic or a calculated move? As per the experts, it depends. On one hand, it signals emotional maturity and self-assurance — traits many daters now value more than six-pack abs or luxury cars. On the other, it can backfire if the disparity between online and offline personas feels jarring or dishonest.
The Wire
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Wire
Several High Frequency Indicators of Economy Show Muted Growth, Local Car Sales Continue to Decline
Business While 3,20,000 cars, sedans and utility vehicles were sold in June 2025, the figure was higher in June 2024 with 3,42,000 units sold. Leading car manufacturers including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors posted double-digit decline in sales. Photo: PTI New Delhi: Several high frequency indicators of the Indian economy such as goods and services tax (GST), UPI transactions, diesel consumption and car sales are showing muted growth or a contraction from a year earlier, indicating that the economy has hit a soft patch in June. June saw GST collections expanding at the slowest in the last 50 months at 6.2%. Similarly, UPI too witnessed a decline in both transaction volume and value in June from May, reported Economic Times. 'Around 6% growth in GST collections, coupled with less than 4% growth in advance tax collection for first quarter of FY26 does indicate softening of demand and cautious outlook,' Pratik Jain, partner, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP, told the newspaper. Earlier, sales of air conditioners and refrigerators had dropped sharply in the April-June quarter in the wake of milder-than-expected summer temperatures. Meanwhile, local car sales continued to decline for the second consecutive month by around 6% in June. Leading car manufacturers including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors posted double-digit decline in sales, reported ET. While 3,20,000 cars, sedans and utility vehicles were sold in June 2025, the figure was higher in June 2024 with 3,42,000 units sold. 'The slowdown in passenger vehicle sales is largely due to a sharp decline in the smaller segment cars. Historically, passenger vehicle sales used to grow at 1.5 times the GDP growth. But now even after 6.5% GDP growth, the car market is nearly flattish. This is because the once-mass small car segment is not participating in the growth at all. This is clearly an affordability issue,' Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs at Maruti Suzuki, told the newspaper. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GST collections up 6.2%, slowest since last Sept
New Delhi: GST collections grew 6.2% to Rs 1,84,597 crore in June, marking the slowest pace of expansion since last September. The numbers for transactions in May indicated weak demand as collections from domestic sources rose 4.6% to Rs 1,38,906 crore, while those from imports clocked double-digit growth of 11% and reached Rs 45,690 crore. There was double-digit growth during April and May, resulting in average monthly collections of over Rs 2 lakh crore so far this year. The latest GST data comes on the back of weak industrial production as well as muted growth in direct taxes during the first quarter of the current financial year. "Around 6% growth in GST collections, coupled with less than 4% growth in advance tax collection during the first quarter of FY26, does indicate softening of demand and a cautious outlook. One of the reasons could be conservative spending by consumers, which may improve in the next couple of months,," said Pratik Jain, partner at Price Waterhouse & Co. "Coming on the 8th anniversary of the introduction of GST, it is hoped that such muted growth in collection on a year-on-year basis is just an aberration," said Karthik Mani, partner for indirect tax at BDO India. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Economic Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
India's growth engine loses steam in June, may get back on track soon
Live Events Favourable weather conditions (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Indian economy hit a soft patch in June with several high-frequency indicators such as goods and services tax (GST), UPI transactions, diesel consumption and car sales showing muted growth or even a contraction from a year the positive side, India's manufacturing activity strengthened and petrol consumption increased at a fast said this was a transitory moderation and growth is expected to gain momentum again, helped by a likely good monsoon, easing inflation and monetary relaxation by the RBI. The central bank has forecast growth at 6.7% in FY26. GST collections expanded at the slowest in the last 50 months at 6.2% in June, car sales dropped 6% in the month from a year ago and the UPI witnessed a slight decline in both transaction volume and value in June from May.'Around 6% growth in GST collections, coupled with less than 4% growth in advance tax collection for first quarter of FY26 does indicate softening of demand and cautious outlook,' said Pratik Jain, partner, Price Waterhouse & Co reported Tuesday that sales of air conditioners and refrigerators dropped sharply in the April-June quarter in the wake of milder-than-expected summer released on Monday showed India's industrial output growth slowed to a nine-month low of 1.2% in May, due to weak manufacturing growth along with contraction in mining and electricity sector companies announced new projects worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore in the quarter ended June, up from Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the same quarter last year, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). However, this was the slowest in four manufacturing activity rose to a 14-month high of 58.4 in June, driven by strong growth in output and new orders. The HSBC Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, was 57.6 in May and 58.3 in June UPI platform processed 18.40 billion transactions during the month, down from 18.68 billion in May. Transaction value dipped to ₹24.04 lakh crore from ₹25.14 lakh crore in May, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on July consumption dipped 1.5% from a year earlier to 150.04 billion units in expect growth to pick up going ahead.'Despite a potential second-half slowdown, India is poised to grow close to trend, backed by favourable weather conditions, 0.6% GDP worth of policy support for urban consumers, and increased public capex,' said Anubhuti Sahay, senior economist, Standard Chartered the data indicates a mixed picture, the Indian economy is likely to have grown by 6.8% in the June quarter as the base is favourable, she said.
