This topic has been an interesting read!
Crassus has really perfected the art of flirting, it seems, and "broken the code" helped me understand flirting a lot. But now that I understand it more, I perhaps like it even less.
I -do- pay women compliments from time to time, which is difficult for me, because I have a hard time letting women know that I'm interested in them. It makes me feel extremely vulnerable. So for me to pay a compliment is a Very Big Deal. To know that it can just be seen as a pass or a come-on makes me feel even worse about the whole thing!
Oh, well.
Here's a funny anecdote. I play this conversation in my head over and over because it makes me laugh.
Several years ago I went to Sydney on a college trip. While I was there, I was impelled to join some classmates at a bar. I like to smoke when I drink, so I bought a pack of cigarettes before we went. This bar had a roped-off dance club upstairs, which I was initially let in to because they girls I was with were hot.
(Does everyone here hate clubs as much as I do? The noise! The touching! The subtle social cues! The coordination! But I hung around for a while because they had a live band rather than a dj, which I liked.)
I went downstairs--back out the ropes--to use the restroom. Lo, and behold, I wasn't allowed back up without my hot friends. So I decided to wait for them downstairs a while. I sat on a stool and smoked. I was sitting next to a quiet young woman who I believe was having a bad night. She was smoking, too.
After I finished my VB (Aussie beer) I decided to leave, but still had a nearly-full pack of cigarettes (and cig packs are big down in Oz!) I wanted to get rid of the smokes, because I planned on not smoking/drinking the rest of the trip.
When I talk to people, I like to say absurd things or funny things. It's how I've learned to relate to people.
I looked at the smoking young thing and asked, "Do you believe in Santa Claus?"
She looked me over and paused before she answered. She finally said, "Sure."
"Merry Christmas," I said, handing her the pack and walking out of the bar. (This was in April, btw.)
It struck me later that the girl probably thought I was using a "line" on her. What was going through her head for that moment before she responded. I've thought about it for years. It was probably something like:
"Okay, this guy looks like a loser, but I'm bored, so. . ."
or was it more like:
"Santa what? Oh, Father Christmas. He's American. That's cool, so. . ."
I'll never know. I guess that was off-topic, but I had fun sharing. Thanks.