One thing has become abundantly clear lately – dudes need to find ways to flirt that aren’t so friggin’ sketchy all the time.
You hear so many stories of guys crossing lines and making women feel unsafe in the name of “paying them a compliment,” etc, that you almost want to hold some sort of global intervention and say “Hey – there are better ways of doing this.”
Luckily, Reddit has stepped up to the plate.
Let’s get romantic.
1. Up up, down down, left right, left right, B A
When I was 10 I received a love letter from a boy.
It contained a flower inside, and at the bottom of the letter he wrote some cheat codes for Mortal Kombat for me.
He knew I was always playing that game on my Sega.
– soybutteraddict
2. Snow bunnies
I’m British, and I came over to the States on a temporary work visa, to do “one” ski season with Vail Resorts.
I was bartending at an on mountain restaurant, and a couple of snowboarders come in and start talking to me. It came up that I was only there for the season, then one of them says “I’ll marry you so you can stay… but we have to go on a date first”.
… we just celebrated our 13 year anniversary, and I’m still in Colorado.
– sambob_squarepants
3. Violence is the answer
“Hey do you want to help me throw fruit at my friends?”
– 16 year old boy at summer camp, holding a bunch of oranges, who wanted to meet me.
I was also 16 at the time.
– Razzmatazz12345
4. The soothing headache
I was in Chicago on business, got a horrible migraine, and had to cancel a meeting with a man I had met with (for work) the day before. I get really bad migraines, really, really bad.
After it was over I had to get a bit of food and something to drink, but it was very late and there was no way I would survive any kind of car/cab ride. He was the only person I knew in town, so I sent him a text to see if he knew of anything in my area that would be safe/open that late within walking distance.
He drove 30 min across town in the middle of the night to walk me to a 24hr restaurant and buy me dinner.
I’ve been with him for 11 years now.
– melillareal
5. You clean up nice
My first boyfriend came into the store where I was working and just straight up told me he had seen me through the window and needed to run home to clean up/put on something nice so he could come back and ask me on a date.
It was super endearing 🙂
– JawIsStronk
6. It’s a sign
Not me but my mum.
My mum and dad were set up by a friend of theirs.
My mum is completely deaf, upon being told this before he met her my dad went out and learnt as much sign language as he could before he met her…. my mum doesn’t know sign language… adorable and hilarious
– hecata678
7. Don’t let the sun go down
I like sunsets – they’re kind of my thing. I photograph them, have sold calendars about them. I just like sunsets.
Anyway… I was participating in a medical study, and we were sequestered to our room for 14 days.
The guy I liked would send me pictures of the sunset each night, because he didn’t want me to miss any.
– ceerz
8. The lone wolf
I started dating the university’s lone wolf and was extremely surprised to find how incorrigible a flirt he was. But he didn’t speak my native language, he was not from my state and my parents wouldn’t have approved of our relationship.
When I told him I didn’t want to lead him on, he said we would try our best and if it didn’t work out he would take full responsibility for his broken heart and that I need not feel pressured. The feeling of liberation I felt cinched the deal for me. Looking back I am strangely touched by how he, an introvert, had allowed himself to be openly vulnerable in front of me.
After 7 years of a solid relationship (which included 3 years of wearing my parents down to accept him), we got married a couple of months ago.
– flamboyanza
9. Strangers on a train
I was playing my 3DS on the train and a guy sat across from me, said “Excuse me, can I ask what you’re playing?” and we struck up a conversation.
I was so engaged that I almost missed my stop.
Afterwards we would sit and talk on our way home and he started gifting me books from his work.
That’s when I asked him out!
– Ascilla
10. What’s a birthstone?
Not really flirting, but my bf gave the best gift. We’re exchanging Christmas presents, and I get a necklace that is just one big sapphire. I instantly gush, and happily exclaim “You got me my birthstone!”
Bf looks at me confused and says? ” Birthstone? I don’t know anything about birthstones, I got it because it reminds me of your eyes.
I instantaneously melt into the floor. He meant it too. 😍
– ChaiHai
11. Gamer for life
Took genuine time to get to know me, and bought me a few gifts based on interests he’d asked me about before. I was less amazed by the gifts, and more amazed that he’d cared enough to remember what I actually liked.
I’d found most guys wouldn’t listen, and would just buy me generic stuff like jewellery or chocolates if they wanted to gift me something, which was very nice, but not for me.
So when he surprised me with gaming merchandise I was thrilled! Guys, spend those months properly getting to know her!
– BinkiesForLife_05
12. Singing in the rain
In college, my best friend was this guy that I had a flirty friendship with, but we were both dating other people. We lived in the same buildings as each other freshman – junior year, and spent a lot of time together but again, we were with other people.
Freshman year we were watching a movie together and this couple had an epic kiss in the rain, and I offhandedly mentioned I thought it was so romantic.
Senior year rolls around and we’re both finally single. We were walking home from a party, it started raining and he just kinda grabbed me and kissed me, and mentioned he thought about what I said any time it rained. We had a very intense relationship for about a year and then it kind of ended in disaster and we haven’t spoken since lol
– cleanandcozy
13. Riddle me tis…
He said “I have a riddle for you” then he took my hand and traced a line down the middle of my palm.
“This is a river. It is too wide to jump over, do deep to wade across, too fast to swim across, and too long to go around. There is a bunny stuck on one side of it. How does the bunny cross the river?”
After about 10 minutes of me trying to guess the answer I gave up and asked him how the bunny got across the river.
He said “who cares? I just wanted to hold your hand!”
– KitKatPattywhaks
14. Nursing back to health
I met my (now) husband while I was in the hospital … He worked there and I was a frequent patient unfortunately.
Anyway, he would bring daffodils to my room. Or apple juice. He “snuck” me extra warm blankets and would sit with me before/after his shift. When I got out, he offered to get groceries and wash my hair. All of it just as a friend. He knew I wasn’t interested in dating while going through everything and so he was just THERE.
Turns out I happened to like him THERE and we are celebrating our 12th anniversary this year.
– GypseboQ
15. I’m on your side
We walked home together all the time from school and he would do something cute/funny/caring to make sure i was on the inside of the sidewalk when we were together, like he would twirl me around and guide me to the inside or tickle my side and jokingly push me to the inside of the sidewalk.
I guess not a typical flirt move but considering 99% of the I was walking to get anywhere him wanting me to be safe when we were together was so sweet.
We are not together and have never dated but that still is one of the top things on my list of sweet moments.
Even in school he’d walk on the outside cuz I always got shoulder checked by people passing by.
– Aure104
Take note, fellas.
What’s the best flirting technique in your opinion?
Tell us in the comments.