I'm shy when it comes to approaching guys

i'm assuming you're around college age so in that environment people are meeting new people all the time. typically you try to be welcoming to everyone your meeting and they try to do the same. this "hard to get" attitude you describe yourself doing is a turn off to people in general not just guys. The fact that your friend said you were "desperate" and you didn't understand but people walk over you if your nice leads me to believe that you're nice, but when your disrespected you don't stick up for yourself and let people be that way too you. Guys who treat girls poorly but they keep coming back for more or don't stick up for themselves displays this. So I'd say be the nice person you are but don't be preoccupied with meeting everyone's requests and making everyone like you, can't be done. you probably know some really great people but there are other people who don't like them, just the way the world works. people respect people who respect themselves. I'm sure you do, just show it more. hope this helped.