I've forgotten how to flirt. If I ever knew how. I was a cavegirl when I was in the Navy: want, take, have. Very few guys resisted. Now, I find myself having to flirt and I get scared, it's not something I really know how to do.

I'm very good at flirting.

You also have a wonderful gift for understatement.

I tend to think guys are just being friendly, because in my head no one could possibly want me so therefore he doesn't.

a-yup. I'm fun to be around, level headed in a crisis, and know how to throw a party. So, I get why people want to hang out with me. Date me? I have no idea why anyone would want to do that. It's a disconnect, I know

And I flirt like a mad thing. I know how to flirt, but since I flirt without intention, I assume that other people do as well. eta: Juliana knows!

The problem lies when someone is Flirting With Intent - I just assume that everyone flirts as naturally as breathing, so it doesn't mean anything. This has caused much amusement amongst my friends.

I have never been able to figure out the difference between flirting for fun and flirting with intent.

~baby ma for B.

My misanthropy comes from people asking or saying things so deeply stupid, I cannot answer because my brain rebels at the idea that anyone could ask over the phone, while looking for your office building, "Yeah, are y'all on this street right here?" and then after being told "I don't know which street you mean," replying "THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME!!" Also was just asked if we were located near a lot of buildings.

sigh

Perhaps my turn as a hoor will catapult me to superstardom, and I can use this experience in my role as the leading lady in the next Rob Schnider picture.

~ma for B and baby-B.

But I'm so I Don't Think of You That Way Girl. Or One of the Guys, or Why Mess Up The Friendship? I could go out naked and it would be like(sniff, sniff) "New body lotion?" "Yeah." That is, for the tiny number of social invites I get not involving the 10,000 Year Old Democrat. I could pretty well take my mojo out and leave it at home on my dresser.

See, I think a lot of the misanthropy on this board is really social inhibition gone sour.

Plus, most non-us people suck.

As with juliana and meara, flirting is as second nature to me. It is a form of active engagement, it's playful and should convey the vital information "You are cool, desirable and interesting!" Which doesn't mean there's intent to pursue that. I could flirt with Scrappy all day because she's just that cool, desirable and interesting, but I would never want to mess with her committed relationship or mine.

Flirting isn't the same as hitting on somebody.

Baby and Mom ~ma

I'm very good at flirting. The problem lies when someone is Flirting With Intent - I just assume that everyone flirts as naturally as breathing, so it doesn't mean anything. This has caused much amusement amongst my friends.

That is part of the problem for the natural flirt. Either people take you serious when, not. Or people don't know you are serious because you are always a flirt. DH#1 said he was crushed when he found out the joyful smile he thought was for him alone was for everyone. Sorry, but I thought the actual going to bed with him part set him apart from the others.

Connie, I don't know what to say, besides I've been there.

As have I. Have also been where I ordered something super inexpensive and water and then the bill gets split evenly. Being on a tight budget sucks. Perhaps you can suggest having the "ladies" get together in the break room. For whatever reason is comfortable for you. Restaurants give you hives. Waiters make you hyperventilate. The noise makes conversation hopeless.