No idea why this occurred to me, other than thinking about relationship clichés. I'm guessing this is one for the ladies because you tend to know these things!
A couple splits up – she does the splitting. Some time later, at her instigation, they meet up for a day out. As far as he's concerned it's just for old times' sake and there is no suggestion of anything more. Then she asks the question “Have you found anyone else?”
Yes, it is a cliché (it's happened to me at least a couple of times) and it's always been a puzzle. Isn't it just an invitation to the potential hurt of “Yes, and she's fantastic”?
You could understand the question coming from the person who was dumped, but why from the other?
Ego. She wants the man to say "Of course not, I'm not over you yet." Or similar.
Best for him to say "There's a woman I've seen a couple of times. She's quite nice."
Ah ok. Still no telling though. Nosiness... she wishes him well... she wants to gloat... make him think he made a mistake... she loves him... she hates him... she wants to get back with him... she doesn't give a monkey's, but has heard gossip/ her mates are asking her.... Take your pick! :-)
There was a Twitter trend a week or so back – basically asking for examples of things people say but never mean. Someone had already offered “Hope we can still be friends”, and in any case this thing I thought of wasn't really in that category.
Just painting a scenario, B00, a reason why she would have the opportunity to ask. It could easily be a phone call – inventing the day out (as her idea) has put a particular angle on it, I know.
the dumpee asks because they have made a mistake, they do not like to see the other person getting on with life, they still want to feel important in the dumped persons life.