I wrote recently of rejecting the affections of a woman who engaged in “lazy flirting” – exaggerated winks, thinly veiled innuendo, and back-handed date invitation. I was colder than I needed to be, and less polite than I ever want to be. It was not my best moment. I am neither proud of my behavior nor willing to offer excuses for it.
But what if we reversed the gender roles?
What if it had been a man making persistent overtures to an obviously uninterested woman?
What if it had been a man who kept winking enough for the world to see?
What if it had been a man who issued the weak date offer of “I win you buy dinner, you win I buy dinner” to a woman that had already rejected his overtures?
What if it had been a woman who delivered another but clearer rejection?
What if it had been a man who when faced with this unmistakable rejection protested “Am I not pretty enough for you?”
What if it had been a woman who in frustration indicated that lame come-on’s are not sufficient to create interest?
I firmly believe in the equality of genders yet I also believe that there are some acceptable conflicting standards of behavior. Is this one on that list? I am not telling just yet, I look forward to reading the thoughts of others on this matter.
Posted by restaurant refugee 
