Flirty Boys

More About Online Dating Behavior

“Come here often?”

That was considered one of the lame pick-up lines of the 1980s’ singles bars.

It lives on in Urban Dictionary.

A wide range of new “flirt lines” has replaced it in online dating banter.

My “prompt” question (or conversation-starter) on one of the dating apps is, “Do you like to travel?” Someone responded with, “Yes…with you!”

I suppose some women would be flattered. And perhaps I’m being too literal. But why would someone who’s never spoken to, video-chatted, or met me live and in-person want to go on a road trip or 7-hour plane flight with me?

I responded, “You have a great profile. How about we start with a phone call!”

He responded, “I guess you don’t like to flirt,” and immediately blocked me. Ouch.

That got me thinking…

Some people like the apps simply for witty banter. As a writer, I often find the back-and-forth of clever texting exhausting.

I’m not anti-flirt.

And we don’t need to start discussing great American literature or the meaning of life in our first few exchanges of pleasantries.

But some dudes jump immediately from, “How long have you lived in AZ?” to “Do you like oral?” Ick!

Here is a Nancy-approved list of flirty lines.

I appreciate them because they encourage dialogue — albeit pithy. They enable you to know a little about someone before that phone call or video chat.

But if someone isn’t willing to go from flirting to talking within a week or two, it probably means they are in the perpetual text-and-flirt zone.

And that’s fine. You do you. However, those who are ultimately looking for relationships appreciate some level of intelligent conversation.

(And I DO want you to come here often — to this column and my podcast, that is! Some exciting things are happening this fall, and you’ll only find out about them if you subscribe!)