10 Ways You're Preventing Guys from Approaching You

Recently, at a wedding, I witnessed a dance floor with a friend who is an ecologist. In the middle of this dance floor, a girl approached a guy, legs slightly spread, while slapping her thighs with the back of her hands while looking him in the eye.

My ecologist friend, in his "Darwinian" mindset, jokingly exclaimed: "Oh wow, she's presenting!"

You don't have to emulate an Animal Planet mating documentary to get a guy to approach you when you're out, but body language is important. You have to give a guy an opening, and make yourself available.

I want my approach to appear to be well-timed, and I don't like it when I feel like I'm interrupting. Sometimes the situation lends itself to an approach: there's something extraordinary to talk about, or we just bump into each other. Pay attention to your actions when you're out. If you want guys to approach you, are you making it easy on them — are you "available"?

Some girls might want the guy to "work" as part of the approach, but for every one of you who makes it tough for a guy to approach, there are women who make it easier to approach that a guy might go for instead.

Here are a few things women do that prevent guys from approaching them:

INTIMIDATION

Lots of Friends

When girls are in a group, I know that I'm going to be "evaluated" as soon as I walk away. It's tough enough to walk up to one girl, let alone a group.

Too Hot

If she's super-hot, sometimes I assume I have no chance or I'm just plain intimidated. Most guys will give it the old college try though. This, by the way, is the best reason for your ego why guys aren't approaching: "I'm just so hot I'm intimidating."

UNATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE

Dancing on Tables (aka Super-Drunk Girl)

One night, we were out and a girl intermittently stood up on the seat of her booth and did stripper-type dances. The guys in the bar looked, but never approached. It's tough to approach a whirling dervish and no one could take her seriously. And sometimes the "too drunk" girl gets approached by guys who are interested in one thing only.

Looking Sloppy

I don't usually approach girls who don't look stylish and put together. Now, if you want to keep guys away from you, doing the "celeb in public homeless look" might be a good strategy.

Looking Angry/Snobby

Smiling and eye contact is inviting, while anger, and looking like you're too good for everyone, drives people away. Try to give off positive vibes, and more people will approach.

TAKEN

With a Guy in Any Capacity

You appear to be taken if you arrive with guys, or meet guys while you're out. Guys have no way of knowing if you're "with" a guy. Some guys might ask, but some might just move on to someone who looks more available.

Ring

Now I'll admit that I'm clueless, even for a guy. I'm not sure about the wedding ring/engagement rules: which hand/finger gets the ring? I know one has a big diamond, and one looks like a simple ring. But unmarried women wear all sorts of rings. Your ring that looks like a wedding ring might be keeping guys away (or maybe stupid guys like me, which is probably a good thing).

DO NOT DISTURB

Busy

It's easier to approach a girl who looks bored, like she wants someone to talk to. In a café, if she's reading a book, or has her face in her laptop, I assume she's busy and doesn't want to deal with my stupid pick-up attempt. In a bar, if she seems content doing whatever she's doing, I won't want to interrupt.

Tough to Catch

I've devised strategic plans to make a move, waiting for a girl to go to the bar, or bathroom. But when she finally gets up she walks too fast, or takes "bodyguards" (tons of friends) with her. Bottom line, some women just don't give that opening physically for the approach. Remember, your migratory patterns might be exactly what that guy is waiting for, so be on the lookout when you're on the move.

Room Positioning

If you're in the corner all night, or buried behind chairs and tables, you not only cut yourself off from the rest of the world, but some guys don't want to slalom obstacles to get to you. If you want guys to approach you, you might want to move or try out some other spots.

Do you agree with my list above? What actions do you think deter guys from approaching you? What actions make a guy tough to approach?

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