Can excessive "giving each other a hard time" be considered flirting?

[Anonymous]

I don't know what is it with me and this girl. We have fun talking but we just tease and give each other a hard time a lot. Its not like its all we do, we know each other really well and can read each other like a book so we do have regular conversations but we just keep playing around.

She is great and I know she likes talking to me because she will initiate or just start teasing me out of nowhere. SOmetimes she keeps going on and on and when she gets me riled up, she'll be like "I have to finish reading this article, please be quiet" with a BIG "I got away with giving you a hard time but you can't" grin on her face lol.

People seem to think we are flirting and they are always commenting and teasing us and when I leave town for a weekend, they'll tell her how she will have a little vacation because I won't be bugging her and she just smiles and agrees.

Can this be seen as flirting when you look at it from "outside"?

[FiveFingerBroFist]

I had a similar experience with someone who was at a different department of where I used to work. It was completely a mutual-friendship kind of relationship only because I didn't see her anything beyond a friend, neither did she, plus she was already married anyway. But even so, we did a lot of "giving each a hard time" with our teasing. It was fun and helped the hours go by. If I put myself in your shoes right now, I'm sure she sees you as a great companion.

With all that said, it's not indicative that she likes you as more than a friend. If you like her, you're going to have to take some risks. Break through the normal teasing that you do around her and actually flirt. Yes, that means having to imply sexual references. See if she reciprocates by flirting with you the same way. If she does, you might actually be onto something. But as of right now, nothing's clear yet.

[Asker]

I got ya. I see her as a great companion and yes hours do fly by when we are together. I just think its curious how all our friends make the same comment so I was wondering if people can just "feel" that vibe because of how we talk. I have other female friends but for some reason I hold back, you know? Because I don't want to give the wrong impression, but its different with this girl.

[superphily]

That's a weird way to flirt. Teasing in my idea is too negative to be a sweet romantic datable thing. A casual flirt? Yeah, sure. Get the day by. Get to talk with the hottie. Yes. Ok.

But if you're trying to think about dating or anything more serious then I don't see a drop of it. Try talking about like a global issue or something more sensitive and concerning. Then you'll see their heart lol and who doesn't like to date someone with a heart?

[Asker]

Thats just how things are now. I mean, we know each other well because we talk all the time. I mentioned flirting because that's what people comment on and tease us about, that's why I asked if for a person looking at us that seems like flirting because they all make the same comments.

Its a different feeling. Even though we know each other I don't see her as a friend ( and she doesn't sees me as one either) and we talk about more "deep" issues and not just teasing all the time.

[superphily]

Huh that's unusual. I think it's cause they see the teasing once or twice. But if they knew it was alll you two did, they would know it is nothing serious.

[Anonymous]

It's not considered as flirting at all.