In dating, should I protect my ego or risk rejection to stay open?

[Anonymous]

I mean obviously in dating getting played and such is probably inevitable. Now the question is if you play the game willing to get your ego bruised or you just can't handle the embarassment and withdraw alltogether

I mean if one refuses to open up ever they might throw out the baby with the water...

Repelling everybody you will also miss out on the good few

Updates

4 mo

My original question was "Are you willing to get fooled" - damn AI

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

I personally proceed with eliminating the whole dating issue because I don't date around, I just talk with people instead. It brings no pressure, no competition. It just brings the good stuff, which are meaningful interactions. Sooner or later, in the process of conversing, I'll just stumble upon someone with whom these interactions feel increasingly better and stronger, from there we'll most certainly form a relationship. That's my practical experience with women since... 3 decades and several long term relationships after.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Doing that, I haven't been rejected, I haven't had my ego bruised, I haven't been played with. Everything runs smoothly and effortlessly.

[Anonymous]

Closed mouths don't get fed. However, having said that that doesn't mean chase every guy.

Most guys don't expect a woman to ask him out. But guy DO expect a woman to be HONEST with her feelings of interest. You have to understand that there was a time when women flirted with men as a pretext to encouraging him to ask her out. The problem is that a MAJORITY of women today do it just for attention. The vast majority of guys the don't want to go out with. And will reject the guy if he asks. We'll, you don't have to be a genius to understand that a guy is going to catch on to this and stop asking women out except for the ones that truly earn it.

And this is largely what is broken with dating today. So, no you don't have to ask men out. But you DO have to make your interest clear. And understand, that that guy may have been rejected by a 100 other women already. Which is only going to make your job harder. You can thank your fellow women.👍

[MontBlanc]

Staying open usually leads to growth and deeper connections, even if it means risking rejection.

Protecting your ego can feel safe, but it can also limit opportunities for meaningful relationships.

Balancing vulnerability with self respect is key , you can take emotional risks while still setting healthy boundaries.

[Nikki1989]

Risk rejection, and please don't listen to blue anons on here. Fuck me, they are clueless cretins.

[BadApple69]

Go out, enjoy yourself, enjoy the company you are with…. Take the chance…. Staying home doing nothing is not an option anyone should take. Be careful. There are a lot of jerks out there. People who will break your heart sometimes on purpose and sometimes because they don’t know any better.
I’ve been rejected a million times but the few times I haven’t been were worth all the rejections.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes you have to risk it for the biscuit. I've taken a risk or two before that had major blowback. I regret somewhat how I did it, but not that I did it.

[slatyb]

Risk rejection. You don't ask, you don't get.