That this confused him?

The only thing that’s confusing here is why you think you confused him. He said he wasn’t feeling a spark, you said that was fine.

I think it's very clear that in this situation, the man wanted her to stop running after him.

I don't think the man in this scenario is the one who is confused. He was clearly not that into you because he wasn't communicating; you then told him it was OK if he wasn't interested; he said 'You're right, I'm not interested, thanks for making it possible for me to say that directly'. The end. No confusion at all. But then you've said you 'left it a little bit open'. It isn't open, OP. He doesn't fancy you. He has told you that. He isn't confused in the slightest.

This. Sorry OP but it sounds like he’s actually ended it indirectly, and you’re the one misinterpreting it.

Hope you find someone well matched soon!

He doesn't sound like he wants the Op to run after him not sure what part of him not feeling a spark makes you think that tbh 🤔

I said this very early on in chatting with a guy, was very short answers and I felt I was holding the conversation up. I asked him directly (we hadn't met, this was about an hour into chatting) and he apologised and said he's just not great at texting. Almost a year on together and he's still a rubbish texter but always messages me first thing and last thing. Very glad I didn't just unmatched as I usually would have.
In your case, he clearly explained his texting is rubbish because he doesn't feel a spark/potential with you so really he's just being polite. On to the next op.

Is it because you expected him to react with horror and declare his everlasting love for you? And when he just said "that's fine" you're trying to twist this into anything other than that he isn’t actually interested, because that couldn't be true of any man that met you?

Are you expecting another message back to say he’s not interested that you’re not interested that he’s not interested after you called him out for not being interested?

To be fair, I'm a little confused as to why the OP thinks the guy is confused. 🤷‍♀️

He may have found the honesty surprising rather than confusing. It certainly wouldn’t have confused him into going “eh… ok… let’s end it.” He seems pretty clear that he wasn’t interested in you. But with a lot of online dating, after a couple of dates, people do often just ghost or let is fizzle out rather than actually coming out and saying, “You don’t message much, I feel like you’re not into me and that’s ok, just let me know.” People aren’t direct; they do just go quiet, and eventually it fizzles.

He may have been surprised by the directness, but he isn’t confused by you or intrigued by you and you didn’t cause him to end it by “confusing” him. He wasn’t acting interested, you asked about it and he confirmed. No confusion, just surprised that you spoke about it head on maybe.

Is the confusion in the room with us?

Nah sorry OP but I think the confusion is entirely with you!

You didn't "spark". Too bad, move on, have a nice life etc

If he hasn't replied he's not confused but if he has replied; what did he say- that may change my opinion!

Not all men want women to run after them some just want to be left alone.

Another one who doesn't see any confusion.

I had a similar situation a few years back. Had a couple of lovely dates but barely heard from him in between. It could be days before he replied to a message. I quite liked him but got the impression he wasn't too fussed. I did what you did. Messaged and said it was ok if he wasn't interested but I'd like to know rather than just keep stringing things along if it wasn't going to go anywhere. He replied reassuring me that he was interested, he was just really busy with work and that things would get better once his current project finished... and that was the last message I ever got from him! 😂 At least your guy had the decency to be honest.

Men do.
They (namalt) expect us to run after them

Sorry op but hes not interested in you move on.
No confusion at all.

Do you think he got confused and said he wasn't interested because he thought you weren't interested?

I think sometimes the simplest solution is the answer. He's not interested.

'I confused him with my directness' is the sort of nonsense cope my friends and I would tell ourselves in our early 20s if a man showed clear signs of not being interested but we wanted to persuade ourselves that we are too 'not like other girls' for them. Reality is he's just not into you.

You called him out for his bad communication inbetween dates and he told you it’s because he doesn’t really feel much of a spark.
I don’t see why you think he’s confused? He’s telling you he doesn’t communicate that much as he’s not too interested. No confusion.

I don’t think he was confused! I think you both discovered very early on that you weren’t compatible and called it quits.
Not sure why you’ve left the door open, he doesn’t sound interested at all!

It sounds refreshingly clear from both of you?

Your conversation about the messages gave him the green light to tell you how he really feels.

You both know where you stand now.

Agreed. What would he be confused about?

I agree.

He doesn’t sound confused really