If you're on any sort of dating app (like the hottest one, Spotlight), you've probably had this experience -- and if you haven't, it's only a matter of time. Even if you live in a crazy big city (unlike me, living in a city of 90,000 people) trust me, it'll happen. Fate likes to play cruel and awkward jokes.
As for me, it's happened twice.
The first time, I ran into a guy I'd met up with three times and then ghosted. Don't judge me... I try to avoid conflict and he was getting attached to me way too quickly, especially considering I wasn't even looking for a relationship.
That fateful moment happened when my friends and I went in for our tattoo consultation. He was there, sitting on the couch as his friend got tattooed. I tried to avoid him, but he spoke to me and we had a few seconds of awkward exchange before he spoke to his friend and then left (thank goodness).
Later on, I realized that he may have suggested that tattoo place to me, even though we went there on the suggestion of my friend's friend (oops).
The second time, it was thankfully much less awkward. I saw a guy I'd chatted with on Tinder for a while, then exchanged Snaps with (and we snapped for a while)... but I cancelled like three dates because I'm busy and I realized that I had to stop going on dates and start doing homework instead.
We were at the movie theater, hyped up for a 10 p.m. showing of Beauty and the Beast. It took me a while to recognize him and I don't know if he recognized me, but he was with a date - and they literally sat in the same row as us.
It was a little odd and I don't think he recognized me, but I recognized him and thanked the heavens that I didn't go out with him, because when we exited the movie theater they were still in their seats making out.
While I was lucky to have friends with me both times, I've come up with a comprehensive list of tactics that you can use should this ever happen to you.
If you went on a date and then ghosted them.Don't initiate conversation. Pretend you're ghosting them in real life too -- but if they start chatting, make polite conversation and find a way out. If you have to fake a friend emergency or an appointment you're almost late for, do it. You ghosted them for a reason, so don't let them 'catch up' with you.
If you never met and you ghosted them.Don't initiate conversation! I feel like that's a constant. Just don't talk to previous Tinder/Bumble dates if you can help it. If they initiate conversation with you, smile and make polite conversation but do all you can to make it seem like you don't recognize them or know who they are.
Maybe go so far as to say "would you mind telling me your name again?" depending on how long you talked for before the ghosting.
If you met (or met and slept together) and then broke things off completely (clearly, not by ghosting).Avoid, avoid, avoid. Walk the other way. Pretend you don't hear them if they say your name. This rule obviously doesn't apply if you dated them in a serious, exclusive way for any period of time longer than one month. In that case make polite conversation while devising a way out -- which may be the emergency friend situation or the appointment you simply must get to. There are a lot of classics that you can fall back on.
If you just slept together but it was a good time.Depends on the situation. If they're with a date or their parents, I wouldn't approach. Personally I would test the waters by sending a smile their way and seeing if they come to you. Who knows, maybe running into each other could lead to you sleeping together again?
If you're the one that got ghosted.I would let sleeping dogs lie with this one. If someone ghosted you, they're clearly not into you so I wouldn't talk to them if you run into them in person either. Pretend like they don't exist, even if they start talking to you, twist the story in your head so that it was you ghosting them and not the other way around.
There are countless other situations you could run into in regards to men or women you met on dating apps. Countless. But these guidelines make things rather simple. If your virtual courtship ended on bad or iffy terms: run.
If it ended on good terms: maybe have a chat.