I have run into a grand total of two of my exes on dating sites – likely because I was so abysmally incompatible with the others that the dating site algorithms were like, “Dude, no.” Which is fine, since they sucked anyway, in the end.

So what do you do if and when you run into your Ex on a dating site?

Running into your ex can go one of three ways: either avoid eye contact and hope they don’t notice you; you both notice each other and offer forced-happy greetings, then abruptly stop talking and walk away in opposite directions; or you glare angrily and will each other to burst into flames. Whichever way you go, it’s generally an unpleasant experience, and it’s no different on a dating site. The secret, fourth option is that you run into them, and – against all odds – get back together.

Don’t do that. Do I need to get the rolled-up newspaper?

That said, there may be no way to really, truly avoid your ex on leading dating sites. They are everywhere, and keep showing up when you least expect them, only your EX can actually talk and are 100x more annoying to deal with.  The only thing you can really do is stare at their avatar for a minute, call them a jerk under your breath, and move on. If you are on a dating site that allows you to ‘thumbs down’ people or some equivalent action, feel free to do that, too.

Trust me, it’s cathartic.