I don't think you're understanding. First, yes, if I was seriously engaged in buying something with any other person, I would courtesy alert them I'm going in a different direction.
Secondly, people in the virtual world do the equivalent of MID-CONVERSATION, turning and walking away with no explanation, just silence. For hours, days, weeks, or indefinitely. It's bizarre.
I got even today with a ghoster though. Taught him a real lesson in ghosting and price chiseling and "can I get it tomorrow" nonsense. I am radically downsizing and raising as much capital as possible for a home purchase. I was selling a brand new item in perfect current condition for 2/3rds retail price, about $300 on a $850 item. Mr. Ghosting Chiseler contacts me and says he's seen it for sale for 2 weeks (true) and offers me $250 (20% off an already 65% discounted item!). We haggle a bit and I finally agree on $270, come get it. THEN he says, "Can you hold it until tomorrow?" I suggest he get it now, it's still daylight. Then I'm ghosted until dark, a couple hours. So I get tied up in his scheduling issues. Says he'll come early tomorrow. At 10am, he says he has things to do but will come later...
Taught Mr. Ghosting Chiseler a lesson though. As luck would have it a nice couple contacted me, full price in hand, will come right over. Bingo. I sell it. While I should have repaid Mr. Ghosting Chisler by ghosting him, I relished in explaining why his cheap chiseling ghosting "can you hold it for tomorrow" behavior cost him a great deal... Lesson be learned, don't lowball, don't ghost in the middle of a discussion, and don't expect a great deal to be held until tomorrow.
