Hey Babee... How You Doin'?

Picture the scene: A guy is walking down Oxford Street, on his way to Borders to grab a novel or somesuch. On his way he encounters a group of attractive ladies (as guys do on Oxford Street). A quick exchange occurs between him and one of the said group, y'know one of those brief moment in time things. Then it passes, the guy going on his way, the girl being pulled off by one of her girlfriends.

The guy wonders if he should've made a move. The girls discuss how cute that guy checking one of them out was. They all move on after five minutes. The day ends as it begun.

So what happened?

Well, fear. Of course they're both scared. Chicken. Yella'. And understandably so. The risk of rejection, looking like a fool, falling flat on your face or even offending your chosen subject is too much for some (and hey, I'll put my hands up here). And fair enough I reckon - no one really loses apart from those that don't take that chance. However now I'm going to claim that, generally, it's more the girl's fault than the guy's if they both end up going their own way. Please, let me explain.

Think about it. Women in general are in a much stronger position. Spammy's Fourth Rule of Women[1] says that the chances are a woman is probably too good for the guy which they're involved with - probably 'cos the guy had picked them rather than the other way around. Surely this means that they should be the ones picking in order to ensure that this doesn't happen? Add to that the fact that most men are desperate and easy - it's very unlikely that an approach by a girl will end in a flat rejection (as it would probably the other way around - and quite rightly too may I add).

Yes, that's right. Don't deny it - girls are much more likely not to respond to a random stranger than guys are. Hey, I don't blame you, we can be a scary bunch. Which takes me to the next reason: A guy making a move scares the bejesus out of a girl, scarring her for at least a month probably longer, making her look every thirty seconds over the same shoulder which that freak had tapped her on to initially gain her attention. Well okay, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but the risk of this happening is still there for us. Women have very little ability to make a guy feel so insecure.

And then there are the signs. Listen carefully, ladies: If you think a guy is checking you out, the chances are that they are. If you don't think a guy is checking you out, the chances are that they, well, are. If you haven't even acknowledged that a guy exists, the chances are that he's checking you out. That's what we do, people. So yeh, there's no use in denying that you "didn't see something" that's implicitly and inherently always there. Conversely a girl merely coughing in our vicinity confuses us blokes. Which is probably the intention, you crafty people.

There are other reasons: Women tend to hunt in packs, and there's safety in numbers. Women also have a clearer intent - men on the other hand have no idea whether they want to just say a simple hello or in fact jump your bones.

So there you have it. It's a no brainer, really. So, for the sake of worldy happiness and joy, I humbly request each and every female reader (yes, all two of you) that next time a bloke catches your eye... Go say hi. Wave at him. Heck, ask him the damn time if that's all you can muster. But do something - it's the only safe logical course of action (unless you're related to me. Or any of my friends. Special rules apply to you lot - ask your dad if you want to know them). You'll be proving what we all know - that you are actually the stronger, braver sex after all.

But then women never have been the most rational of sexes. And that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon so the situation probably won't either despite what I've written today. Humph, perhaps I shoulda thought of that before I begun...

[1] All four rules should be coming to a blog entry near you. If I can ever be bothered to write them up, that is.

EDIT: The rules are now up here.