Guide to Flirting

Kudos to BeautiPhil for turning me on to the following link:

SIRC Guide to Flirting

SIRC being the Social Issues Research Center, but I'm sure you knew that. I mean, doesn't everybody?

I'm oblivious when it comes to flirting, I think. Unless it is quite blatant, and then I think it falls under the heading of being "hit on." This is according to one of my co-workers, with whom I was discussing the subtleties of differentiation between flirtation and hitting-on. I wasn't aware til then that there WERE differences, but apparently there are, and they are subtle. So you really have to be up on your flirting etiquette, and that's where the Social Issues Research Center's Guide to Flirting does such a remarkable public service.

For example, its advice for those interesting in workplace flirting is invaluable:

Careful observation of colleagues is the best way to discover the unspoken flirting etiquette of your own workplace - but make sure that you are guided by the behaviour of the most highly regarded individuals in the company, not the office 'clown', 'groper' or 'bimbo'.

That's right. The SIRC doesn't pull any punches, kids. Stay away from the office groper, please!

The Guide is actually pretty exhaustive, covering everything from appropriate places for flirting (pretty much anywhere, as far as I can tell), who to flirt with (someone who is likely to return your interest), how to do it (eye contact is key!), and how not to do it (and for this one I have to include another quote):

Some men...blow their chances by carrying on a conversation with a woman's breasts, rather than looking at her face.

I desperately want to make some funny comment about this, but I am laughing too hard. I myself can think of at least one time when my breasts were asked out on a date (I believe I've mentioned it before). Not a great way to get the ladies, men. At least, not THIS lady!

(A better way is calling me up at the store where I work and pretending to be a customer who has a crush on me, and asking me out. If you are convincing enough, I will be so flustered that I will say ok. I know this because a co-worker played this joke on me yesterday. I still have to think of a way to get him back! Any ideas?)

Anyway the Guide goes on (and on and on) about how to flirt successfully, but I leave it to you to find out for yourself. Visit the link, and enjoy. It's quite educational, on so many levels.

Thanks again, BeautiPhil. I owe you one! What would I do without you?

(That may or may not be flirting--read the Guide to find out!)