AIBU to think ignoring a text from someone isn't ghosting

[JudgeRudy]

Recent chat about ghosting and the general consensus is it's not a nice thing to do, but I suggested that if I went on a date and l thought 'I really don't like you' it's OK to ignore them if they get in touch. I wouldn't consider this ghosting.
Now if they were a decent enough person just not for me I'd likely either tell them at the end of the evening or decline a 2nd date if the contacted me.
Now going on say 4 dates, having a snog, making all the right noises, THEN ignoring, we'll that's rude and I'd consider that ghosting.
Turning someone down and getting follow up messages eg "is it because I'm too short....you've not really given me a chance....we could go together just as friends" etc I would then ignore.
In my eyes ghosting is when you're being unfair after having toyed with their emotions.
Thoughts

So would you ignore them or not? I’m confused you saying “Now if they were a decent enough person just not for me I'd likely either tell them at the end of the evening or decline a 2nd date if the contacted me.” (Which is what I’d do.)

I think ghosting is more than that. If you were going out with someone for months, said things about how serious you were with them and gave no indication that you were losing interest … then blocked them on everything and never saw them again - that’s ghosting.

Not replying to someone you met once is not ghosting. It would be polite to let them know you aren’t interested but it’s up to you - if you think that will trigger a load of abuse then don’t bother.

I've never been quite sure what there is to be gained from sitting around opening a raft of messages from men you aren't interested in. When you have a date you don't like and they get in touch again, it takes no time at all to use your words: "Thanks, but I'm not interested" and block them from contact after that. If you don't say anything then it's reasonable for them to assume you might have missed the first message.