Posted: Sun May 25, 2003 2:51 pm
Do you think it's okay to proposition someone the first time you meet?
Which do you prefer, subtlety and innuendo or direct aggressiveness?
What "tactics" will turn you immediately away?
Is flirting with someone who's in a relationship already okay?
At what point does it cease to be flirting and become foreplay?
Does flirting necessarily signify intent? (would you flirt with someone who you'd under no circumstances be willing to take things farther than flirting?)
What's the best "line" you've seen used sucessfully ( not cheesy found-this-in-a-book-called-10-Million-Pick-Up-lines... looking for real attempts here.... )
what i want to know is, how does one gracefully deflect flirting, without being like "hello my name is cathy-i-have-a-boyfriend"?
Hrm, interesting, I notice none of the males on this board have actually answered this question, although it wasn't specifically addressed to only females, although apparently a few were commenting... Pardon the Wanderer as he wanders out of the back... (Btw, if you're male and you did and I missed ya, sowwy.)
Anyways, to the current questions, then one of my own:
1: Depends, how badly are you looking to get your face slapped if she's 'not that kind of girl'? I have propositioned (and been propositioned) on the first night meeting/date/whatever. I've also avoided it to try to keep her around so I wouldn't appear to just be looking for that. Taking someone home that night doesn't necessarily mean that you don't want to see them again, sometimes it just means you're blown away... and then, sometimes it really is a one night stand, please, don't make breakfast.
2: Subtlety is fine, as long as you're not so opaque about it that the clueless amongst us *can* pick it up. If you glance at us occassionally from across a bar to try to get our attention, and then don't look back when we catch you to try to see if you were just looking... or 'looking'... fuggit. Personally, I'm looking for a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it, but affairs of the heart tend to be a bit... painful, so most are reluctant to go after it more then a few subtle hints until something comes back to them in response. Best is a mix. Be subtle on the approach, then get to the damn point. Time is precious, don't waste it, for both sides of the party.
3: Tactics that will have me run:
A) Bragging about a past boyfriend. Yes, we know you're not a virgin. I do *not* want to know who else has been drilling for oil.
B) Doing it in front of your significant other. Yes, I realize some would consider it hiding, however, there's a modicum of respect there that I'm not going to flirt back with a girl who's boy is there unless I *know* him. No girl's worth a brawl with someone, and if you're taken, you're doubly not worth it.
C) Getting wicked aggressive with it. Flirting games, touching, slight molestation, fine. All good, I'll return the favor, hell, I have a hair fetish that most of the girls in the club I frequent put up with, I love to just play with it. Sit on my lap with your hands under your bum... you better be planning on more then 'flirting'.
D) Trying to pawn me off on your girlfriend. Do *not* make the approach for someone else, get my attention, have fun flirting with me, just to keep me around for someone else. It's *going* to backfire. I'm paying attention to YOU, not your friend, and everyone's just going to get pissed off in the end.
4: Flirting with someone in a relationship... Hrm. I'd have to say yes, because I do it a lot. However, it needs to be upfront. If you're boyfriend/husband/significant other/pet/slave/whatever is around, introduce as both, or talk about your friends you're with and mention your boyfriend in there. Why? I'll know the limits now. We're playing, nothing serious. If you get me seriously riled messin' with me while flirting, I may have to back off, or get confused, but in general, yes. Just be upfront about it. This topic gets completely confused when you have friends in 'open relationships'... It's enough to make you bang your head on a wall.
5: Flirting becomes foreplay when there's the implication that someone's getting laid that night, even if it's only a one sided misunderstanding. If the end result is expected to either have a raging hormone or an orgasm, you're now in foreplay.
6: Flirting signify intent... Yes, but that doesn't mean *that night*. Flirting signifies an interest in wanting to get to know you better, and let's face it, our bodies are our first weapon in attracting the other sex. Yes, weapon... If it wasn't for physical attraction we'd all sit around on chat groups meeting our special partners and then we could talk to them all day long and feel 'fulfilled', and share a checking account across state lines. Flirting is a way of attracting attention, and holding attention, playing with someone you like (friend or more), and generally enjoying the physical aspects of their company while allowing them to enjoy yours (no, I'm not talking about messing around under the bar. Someone running their hand simply up your arm can be amazing, depending on how it's done.) It signifies an indeterminate amount of interest. Don't expect more then what's offered, but if you keep it slow, you can try to keep turning up the heat to where *you* want it... just watch for the reaction checks.
7: Best 'line'? *ROFLS*
First, the history. Me and some friends from New York were discussing the best way to get a girl's attention without wasting your time and finding out if she's interested. There's a lot of girls in the club, and you just don't want to screw around with one if there's one that's really interested. We came to the conclusion that you compliment something that most men typically won't notice, then get to the point... sooo...
"Nice Shoes, wanna fuck?"
The only person I've seen able to use this with regluarity was a gay (flaming) friend who walked through the bar, and just went up the line, and got 5/12 women to say yes... with no slaps. The ones who were shocked just sat there with their mouths open at his brazenness. The humor value here is... only the gay guy could pull it off. I was almost decked and have since abandoned the attempt.
8: Deflecting flirting... yeah, that's always a bitch. I see that really badly out here in Phoenix, some of the cowboys out here are *really* bad about not backing off a girl. I'd say start with the intoxication level (most flirting *does* occur at the bars in my life nowadays, so you'll bear with me if this is biased to the club scene). If they're wrecked, just tell him you're not interested, flat up. If he doesn't get it, repeat. If he still doesn't get it, pour a drink in his lap. If he's sober, be polite, but as was mentioned, 'Ice Queen'. We'll get it, honest. Look around us while talking to us, don't hold our attention, let us know we don't have yours. Get involved in another nearby conversation off and on to make us feel uncomfortable about it, but come back to us so you're not 'completely' impolite, just trying to spend time with your friends. If after the second 'come back time' he's still not getting it, return to the conversation and outright ignore 'em.
Sadly, I wish I had to discuss ways that I get rid of unwanted flirting by ladies, but that's such a rare thing... come flirt!