Polls: Dating

(F20/M26) We went on vacation over the summer and we ran into each other again recently. She’s had a boyfriend of 3 years this whole time, yet she asked for my number and asked me on a date that we actually went on. She texts me flirty things and says she wants to cook for me, sit in her hot tub with me, etc. This has been going on for a month.

Here’s the catch. She doesn’t want to escalate until she leaves her boyfriend, but she isn’t doing anything to leave him.

I’m tired of being the man in the middle. It’s a really shitty situation to be in and I’m getting really bored. How should I end it?

What are your height preferences when it comes to dating?

I am 28 years old and never had a real girlfriend. I haven't even so much touched a women in over 7 years. I almost had to sell my soul to lose my virginity to a teen several years younger than me when I was 20.

I am mostly introverted and short in height (5'6). I spend a lot of my time engineering web apps.

I have been told women today have set their standards so high that they are almost impossible to meet by the average (and below average) man. Sadly, most of my peers I have known growing up are married with kids. I am left behind.

I don’t go out often much nowadays. But I figured I try for the hell of it. A buddy and me hit up a local bar that had a dance floor. Two older women (guessing 10 years older) wanted us to dance with them. Neither was exactly a Jennifer Anniston looking but just for fun I took up their offer.

I did dance with them for two songs. But I made an excuse to get water later and didn’t come back. Neither one of them were attractive but it was obvious they both liked me.

My buddy isn’t picky. He will bang older women, overweight women, very weird women, etc. He has a funny extroverted personality who enjoys a good time which is completely cool. I also don’t mind have friendly chats with women I don’t find attractive. But if they are obviously interested I don’t care to get their hopes up nor just take it because it’s an easy lay. I have to be at least semi interested.

I ended up playing an arcade machine for a while. My buddy came around to check in. Told him my apologies for not wingmanning but he didn’t mind. I later said goodbye and the two older women tried to convince me to stay. But the they got the hint.

Anyway I wondered if I should have stuck around just to chit chat and socialize. Get used to socializing again. But I didn’t want to the uncomfortable moment of telling them no if they wanted to take me home or ask for my number.

I remember being attracted to a co-worker who was single, not dating, and I knew she was interested in dating. We were fairly good friends due to havng worked together for 3-4 years and we had many common interests.

I asked her for a date and I heard a classic line that guys hear from women: "But I wouldn't want to take a chance on ruining our friendship." I thought that it was a bull shit excuse and she just didn't have the guts to say she wasn't interested, not physically attracted, or whatever. Why would that be a REAL reason not to date? Most people say that they want to be best friends with their romantic partner, so starting out with friendship means you are halfway there already!

Have you ever asked a friend for a date? Been rejected? Started dating? How did it work out?

This is a question for which a misstep can have serious consequences. If a girl wants to go slow and I try to get a kiss, she might assume that I am just trying to get her into bed and that's the last time I'll ever see her. But some girls expect more and if a guy doesn't at least go for a kiss, she might think he isn't attracted or just wants to be friends. I don't want there to be any confusion so. . . I try to read the signals and unless I see something that says "SLOW DOWN!" I go for a kiss at the end of a first date.

You?

This post was inspired by this question here. I already have my own ideas on it, but thought it'd make for a fun GAG question.

Ego ("confidence"), height & looks, and social status (money/career/success/popularity) are the three things most straight women want in an ideal man, and some even require them. All three of these things combined, makes the "perfect man." How "low" a modern heterosexual woman is willing to go or downgrade on, depends on the woman, but you can usually only lack one of them to still have a shot. Lack more than one and you're completely SOL.

So men of GAG, I ask you this:
Which of these do you think a woman is most likely to tolerate in a flawed imperfect man?

If i was a female who loved men i would have NO education, have NO job, and have NO excess body fat. Id be a glorified dog. But c, i forgot fat educated females hate men.

So, let's say there's a girl a guy is interested in, and he first wants to find out if she's single, before shooting his shot. Would it be weird to too straight forward if he started to make conversation/small talk, and said something along the lines of "so, how's life, how's the romance going, you seeing anyone?", said in a rather light and playful manner.

I feel like this is a "safer" approach of trying to ask out someone, because if you immediately go in for the kill, the stone cold rejection will just hurt more than it should, and perhaps the girl will also appreciate it if you feel her out first and give her a chance the dismiss the (potential) advances without putting her on the spot.

I have approach/rejection anxiety, so I'm trying to find a strategy that'll work for me, as pathetic as that may sound ;DDD