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

1. I am a misanthrope because PEOPLE SUCK, not because I'm socially retarded. At least 90% of the world annoys the CRAP out of me. I don't want to talk to them, much less flirt with them. I'm *picky,* not socially inhibited.

2. When I flirt-with-NO-intent, it tends to be with people who are damn well aware that there is no intent. Because I don't want people assuming intent where there is none.

3. In the past year I've gotten way pickier about my boundaries -- as in, physical interaction -- which many people at the SF2F got a taste of. (Er, sorry, but I don't know how to say "Please don't assume that because Person A hugged me that I want EVERYONE to hug me!" Or, you know, randomly grope me. My comfort level with that is pretty low, actually.)

So it took a full out kiss that suprised the hell out of me, followed by dinner and a discussion about Having A relationship (which, um, was more fun than it sounds, 'cause, Relationship! With Tom! Yay!) to get me aware at ALL that maybe he liked me a little bit, even, in That Way.

Dude, Nora & Tom are SO! CUTE! together. I have the world's biggest couple-crush on them.

Just reading for fun, or being Ple's Beta Bitch?

Rereading a lot of due South fic. I was due for a re-up.

I like to flirt, but I have to rest the waters first. Without necessarily being picky, I do have a kind of criterion for being able to flirt--people who get my sense of humor, for example, or people who like to argue in that way...that's how I can usually know that we'll get along in that teasing/flirty sort of way.

I am a misanthrope because PEOPLE SUCK, not because I'm socially retarded. At least 90% of the world annoys the CRAP out of me. I don't want to talk to them, much less flirt with them. I'm *picky,* not socially inhibited.

I take it back. You're totally Misanthrope of the Week.

I take it back. You're totally Misanthrope of the Week.

My misanthropy has valid reasons, yo.

I like *some* people -- surely that's pro-anthropic, right?

(Do I get a plaque for being Misanthrope of the Week? Maybe a special parking space, far away from the madding crowd?)

I am a misanthrope because PEOPLE SUCK, not because I'm socially retarded. At least 90% of the world annoys the CRAP out of me. I don't want to talk to them, much less flirt with them. I'm *picky,* not socially inhibited.

Wrod. If you talk to people, then they want to talk to you, and you only talked to them for a specific purpose, and they now think that you'd rather talk to them instead of reading that damned good book you brought to lunch.

People. Feh.

(Do I get a plaque for being Misanthrope of the Week? Maybe a special parking space, far away from the madding crowd?)

You should get an engraved Taser.

t still not here

I used to think that flirting was this bad, obnoxious thing that men did to women. It's weird - looking back at my younger self I often think, "Where did I come up with that idea?" Like, when I was 17-19 or so, I believed that almost all men were obnoxious jerks, and that all I had to do was be nice and non-jerky and then women would like me.

My current theory is that back then I was just rationalizing my social anxiety.

Some young guys really are Dr. Todd, though. Thanks for not. But that doesn't mean you can't try.

I believed that almost all men were obnoxious jerks, and that all I had to do was be nice and non-jerky and then women would like me.

We still do prefer nice and non-jerky. It's just that that's not all you have to do.

I flirt with everyone- old, young, boy, girl, straight, not so- whoever. These days, however, it's never with a purpose. Odd, since I started out so shy I couldn't talk on the phone or even order my own food at McDonalds. I was terrified of talking to people.

Now, come on... it's not Deliveranceshire, you know.

quick and hilarious erika.