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I love flirting. I love the word play, banter, verbal teasing, and innuendo. It's a fun game.

When I'm romantically interested in someone I tend to be a lot more direct, although I do occasionally flirt to get a read on their interest levels before going with the direct approach.

Generally though, flirting is something I tend to do with people who are "safe" - where for whatever reason there is no real chance of a relationship or dating scenario. It's usually a co-worker, another woman, a male friend with whom there is no romantic interest, or someone who is substantially older/younger to the point where a relationship is impractical.

 

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In my opinion, it's a bit of a lost art and most people aren't very good at it. Most of the best flirting I've experienced comes from well-mannered, charming, old grandfatherly types (although it's possible that they're the only men who find me appealing).

Agreed, it's a lost art that's growing rarer every year. People take themselves way too seriously these days and flirting requires a level of lightheartedness that a lot of people seem to have lost.

So I understand that you have reasons for not being in a relationship with a certain person; there is some kind of a turn-off to that person and I understand that. But why do you flirt with them? And what do you mean by "safe"? Are you trying to be friends with them, if so, do you have trouble establishing a new-found friendship with people?

Man, I'm having more questions and confusion on this topic than when this thread started. It is hell inside my head right now while I try to justify this ill-conceived and illogical topic. I still don't know what the purpose of this flirting is. What is the initiative or goal of this "game," as everybody seems to put it? Games are supposed to have rules and objectives; so what are the rules of this "game" and what are the objectives of this "game" of flirting? I think that is my best question and I hope somebody can answer it for me.

I explained "safe" in my original post - it's someone who there's no chance of having a relationship with. When there's no chance that someone will misinterpret my intentions, I can go to town and enjoy the sparring without worrying about what message I'm sending.

I flirt with them because it's fun. I am already friends, or at least on friendly terms, with these people. I will also flirt with new people as a way of sizing them up. It's a fast and easy way to figure out if they have both a brain and a sense of humour.

As to the rest of your questions - they've been answered, repeatedly. If you're still unclear, a 2-second Google search will fill in the blanks for you.