POV: flirting frenzy

(photo via smitten)

Anuja and I were talking a few days ago about the politics of flirting. I've heard a few perspectives on this subject, and it's been quite interesting to think about, like... is flirting only appropriate with love interests, or can it be a free for all? And what exactly is the line between friendly and faux pas? There's still much debate over such a gossip-worthy topic (especially in film), and I love that!

A lot of my girlfriends hate encountering guys who flirt without intention -- they think it's such a tease. I totally agree, yet (to eliminate double standards) I have to admit I can't remember the last time I ever thought to myself, "Okay, I'm going to go out there and FLIRT my face off!", or the last time I flirted with purpose. (Answer: probably not since the days of stressful middle school "group dates.") That leads to the question: is flirting even a genuine part of relationships anymore, if we do it automatically without meaning? Hmm...

Also, flirting can seem either second nature, or absolutely archaic. We flirt constantly without realizing our flirt-tastic prowess, or we dress it up in sophisticated euphemisms, like "conversing" or "networking." It's really been awhile since I've scrutinized the distinction, but I'm a girl who loves analyzing... and analogies!

So, maybe flirting is a process like shoe shopping. We can shop for fun or for necessity. We can check out a pair of shoes without any intention of committing, even if it isn't our style, or doesn't fit perfectly. It takes a lot of work to find the right pair, but sampling a variety of types always helps hone our tastes, right?