Help - texting etiquette when dating someone very busy

[Userwho]

I've been on a few dates with a man I met recently on OLD. It was a bit of a slow grower, I wasn't sure at first but now quite like him. Trouble is, he doesn't text me. If I text him he always replies but I don't want to feel like I'm pestering him or always the first to make contact.
This week he's been really busy at work - I knew it was coming, he'd talked about what he had on. I've barely heard from him since the weekend and I don't really know what to do - I want to hear from him but I don't want to be the first to contact yet again! Feels like I'm playing a silly one-sided game. Any advice?

Well we've already talked about whether we are dating others and he said he's not so I'd be a bit gutted to find out he was. I told him the truth - that I'd had some invitations but hadn't yet accepted them (this was before agreeing to the Wednesday date).

Generally I don't like the idea of dating multiple people at the same time and I wouldn't want to date someone who was dating other women either.

Oh god. Totally get that @BackforGood I've been with DP for 15 years and we aren't text or phone chatterers. It would drive me potty. What I mean is the in the first flourish of a relationship. Lack of communication from the other person indicates you aren't on their mind.
Surely if you are into someone and you want something to happen you get a flutter of excitement when they contact you and you want to contact back?!
I know I did. I am thinking of my 20's though. A long time ago
When I say I've never been wrong I mean that my discussions with single friends who have been out on dates who get worried about lack of communication. When the texts stop coming or there's big delays the excuses start coming: he's busy at work, he's about to go on hols. I just think if you really want it to go somewhere you keep up some regular contact irrespective of what else is going on in your life. I've never known a situation when that constant poor response rate in the early days turns into a fully fledged long term relationship.

I don't necessarily even want a fully fledged relationship and I certainly don't want non stop back and forth mindless chatter - I just enjoy being pursued!
Anyway I've had a couple of lovely texts this morning and I'm now going to enjoy my day without thinking about it

Contact has massively increased - now should I still go to the Wednesday date with the other guy?! I can't seem to get excited about it.

As long as you have no problem with them both dating others too. You seem to need a lot of attention yet don't want an actual relationship and seem unsure about everything so I'm not convinced you're ready to date anyone tbh.

Thanks for telling me what I need literary

You said you enjoy being pursued and have made similar comments further up thread so that comes across as needing lots of attention. The whole subject here is that he's not texting you or calling you so you're not getting any attention outside of dates and you don't like that. So yes, you're saying you need attention. As does everyone to a greater or lesser degree.

So what makes you think I'm not ready to date? Genuine question

I would cancel the Wednesday date. I'm glad contact has increased.

I did cancel the Wednesday date and in fact busy guy then wanted to see me before our next planned date so I ended up seeing him yesterday instead of Wednesday guy!

Yay, good for you Userwho. Good date?

The best!

Interested to know if all still going well op?