Most folks would argue that flirting can, in fact, be hard. You have to balance so many spinning plates, to be funny, interesting and not drive the other person away. However, there are always a few dudes out there who intentionally or even unintentionally find ways to make their attempts at flirting into a sort of “one-man-discomfort performance” for the woman he’s talking to.
Someone asked “Girls, what are some things that most guys do that are actually creepy?” and people shared their best (or worst) examples. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts in the comments section below.
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I'm a guy and I think when other guys say "she just needs to get some d**k" that it is the grossest thing ever.
As a guy, I think it's very important to remember that a lot of women aren't trying to be be rude. It's at the point where they just don't want to attract any unwanted attention, which must suck. A comment my wife made once: Men fear rejection, but women fear r*pe or worse.
Men fear women will laugh at them…women fear men will kill them.
Thinking a polite rejection means 'put more effort into it and I might say yes'.
No means no.
Not most guys but most guys of a certain age.
Insulting other women in an attempt to compliment you. For example
' I like the way you dress, most women these days go out half naked etc'
Often followed by other insulting sweeping statements trying to make the intended target feel special. Such as:
' You're the first woman I've met in a long time that can hold an intelligent conversation' ( usually after unsolicited dull political rants)
'Girls these days get so drunk, don't they have any self respect?' ( you will usually see this same man attempting to take home very drunk women at the end of the night when his horrible compliments have failed)
Etc etc etc
Firstly, putting other women down just makes you look like an a*s.
Secondly how do you know I am not a woman who often goes out 'half naked' and gets smashed and you are not directly insulting me.
Thirdly, suggesting you have not met anyone that can keep up with your conversation either suggests you unfairly think women are stupid or you attract only stupid women, and you are arrogant.
Finally let's not get into the very long explanation of how accusing women of having no self respect in these contexts is usually just sexism and control of women's agency veiled as concern.
When they walk by and feel the need to grab your shoulders, waist, or hips, and try to act innocent when you call them out on it. I’m 99% sure if a random man held you in place like that in a grocery store aisle you’d feel violated too, dude...
I've had this happen to me, keep your hands to yourself and don't grope strangers.
“I know you didn’t GIVE ME your number, but I managed to acquire it without your permission and am using it to ask you out!” If we see each other regularly, ask me for it directly. If we don’t, ask the person you’re getting it from to ask me for permission first. It’s so creepy to just get a text and have to investigate who’s spreading my number around.
After I moved out of my parents' house, my dad gave my new number to a guy I'd dated briefly a few years prior. Never mind that my new number was *also* my boyfriend's number, since I'd moved in with him...
Did this by accident the other day.
Outside having a smoke and made eye contact with a girl who lives in my apartment block. Start chatting about normal stuff. Wasn't trying to get her number (wouldn't have said no though) just being friendly.
She finished her smoke before me and I realised I'd sort of positioned myself in her way so she had to either walk around me awkwardly or ask me to move. Suddenly felt really awkward and I apologised as soon as I realised and moved right out of her way.
So yeah, don't block the exit path of whoever you're talking to, even by accident. Makes you feel like a proper creep.
Guys my own age (late 20s) usually don't do this, but middle aged men have got to stop f*****g calling me "sweetheart" or "honey". It makes my skin crawl. It isn't respectful or nice, it's just creepy and condescending.
also depends where you live? in uk and new zealand people often call each other dear or sweety which i also always find weird but for some places seems a cultural thing.
Unless we explicitly ask, don't send us pics of your d**k. It doesn't matter if its huge, we don't want to see some random guys d**k pop up on out phone on our lunch break.
Edit: this has sparked a lot of conversation and "not all men", so I just wanted to clarify my end. I posted this from my own personal experience, and hearing from my younger sister's personal experiences. I know there are many great men out there and don't have a negative view of men overall. But based solely off my experiences on social media, this is the norm. I also work in retail/customer service, which means I'm always nice because I'm being paid to be nice. Of the thousands of customers I've served, I'd say roughly 95% of men are perfectly polite and respectful. 5% will throw in some sexual innuendos or inappropriate comments. Of that 5% I have had maybe 10 people say something or do something that's made me uncomfortable enough to ask for a male manager to deal with. These same men do it to other female front end staff too. One asked for my number and didn't get it. I have not received any d**k pics from customers.
As for male customers misinterpreting my being nice because I'm being paid to be for flirting, it has reached a point where we actually have a code word/phrase set up to page over the intercom to signify that things have become too uncomfortable. Using the code phrase will get a male to come to our tills under the pretense of helping with a technical error with the machine but really just stand there until the customer leaves.
When they sit next to me and they have their arm on the back of my seat. I can't lean back into my chair because then it's like having their arm around me.
Dismissing complaints we make and/or requests to stop something and responding with “but women do that too”. There’s a power differential at work that you are ignoring. Grow up and develop some empathy for other people who are a bit different to you.
Your too pretty to _______.
Please don't. Also don't tell me to smile. It just makes me angry.
Edit. Also please stop saying "If you were single we'd totally hook up." No we wouldn't because you creepy.
Had a coworker who was in a higher position than me massage my shoulders at my desk without my permission. Immediately reported him and he had the nerve to say to one of my coworkers “I didn’t know she didn’t like to be touched.”
So... yeah. That.
Honestly ?? the way we’re talked about. how you talk about women can tell me a lot about the kind of person you are.
I'm a guy myself but I've heard from my GF that some people just get way too close, even while just having a normal conversation. It's an invasion of personal space. Dudes think that just because the girl doesn't move away at once it's ok to be up your face.
No, just because a girl doesn't immediately jump away doesn't mean that she's into you. Some people just want to act polite without escalating an already creepy situation.
WHeREs mY hUg.
Also do not come up to us randomly and put your arm around our shoulder like we're good old friends.
PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON YOUR WAIST WHEN THEY’RE TRYING TO GET PAST YOU. If I had a nickel for every guy who’s done this to me I’d be swimming in cash. The thing is, when it’s my boyfriend doing it it doesn’t even register with me because that’s someone I’m comfortable with and am ok with touching me. But SO MANY random a*s dudes do it to me. I first noticed it when I was in high school, I was really heavily involved with theatre and would sometimes be on the backstage crew, guys were really bad about it then. It happens a lot at bars and concerts too. So creepy and annoying.
Why don't you slug them?! I just can't imagine just putting up with this and complaining later. This is an absolutely no-f*****g-way situation that calls for an immediate and severe reaction. I feel like there might almost be a generational thing going on. I just can't imagine most women my age (50s) would just let this slide, but I read about this all the time from younger women now.
Hugging me upon first meeting. Last night I had a man hug me upon meeting me, he held me way too long and slid his hands down my body to my butt. It was really uncomfortable, and even worse my friend brushed it off as him being a h***y old man. Not cool!
Talking to other male coworkers about "wanting to hit that" when referring to a female coworker. There's nothing more creepy to me than hearing guys talk predatorily about someone they work with on a daily basis. Especially when their excuse is, "But all the guys in the office think she's hot." That makes it even creepier!
EDIT: Women aren't exempt from this either.
Ugh. Where’s my hug. And guess who! With the hands over your eyes. Or those weird creepy shoulder rubs where they stand so close to you.
I don't like anyone touching me without permission. If you're the type of co-worker who likes to give shoulder massages, DO NOT just walk up behind a fellow worker and start doing that!
I think the creepiest thing happens when you turn a guy down.
People are pressing on and on even if you told them no in one way and another.
And then you tell them "My boyfriend waits at home" and they back the f**k down.
What the heck, guys? Is another guy's possible opinion on you meeting me *really* worth more than my opinion?!
It's not the guy's opinion that makes them back off. It's that in their eyes you're already someone else's "property" and they don't want to infringe on another guy's "territory."
As a guy i'd like to say that women on voice chat in video games have to deal with so much s**t. In about 80 percent of game lobbies girls will be made fun of or told to shut up when they talk. Because apparently making r*pe threats and saying go back to the kitchen makes you an absolute Pinnacle of comedy. All female gamers I know have given up on using voice chat because of this s**t.
Attempting to flirt with me while I am at work. I’m a cashier at a retail store and the amount of times men of all ages have made creepy remarks to me and my other female coworkers is just...astounding.
Also purposefully touching our hands while we hand you back your change or your receipt, very creepy.
I just personally feel like I’m being put in a position where I can’t win because I’m at work and I have to be nice to you because “customer service”. It’s bs honestly.
Personally, I don't like receiving compliments on my appearance from total strangers. I think a lot of guys feel that they are being nice, but to me it feels uncomfortable and unnecessary.
Or when you don't respond to a "compliment" and they say you're disrespectful...
Asking me out or flirting in the weirdest situationes. Like I get it, it takes courage and preparation to ask someone out or just talk to a girl, but seriously, those guys...
Recently at 2am on the street, while walking my dog. I just got home earlier from workout and I was too lazy to change. This guy would follow us a few steps and made "smooch"(?) sounds to attract my attention. I'm not naive, but I always want to give people a chance to explain themselves, so I waited and had him approach me. Got the standard "Where are you from?" ,"What's your name?" "I like your tattoo.". I kept my replies reserved and polite, but told him that I really don't want to talk to him. He buzzed off. My dog also made it **very** clear that he disagrees with him talking to me.
What did he expect? 2am. Lonely street without any cafés or clubs or bars to be open at night, me walking my dog in smelly workout clothes...
Edit: Accidentally hit reply before finishing what so wrote.
I am a man, and I would not have let anybody approach me at 2am, that I didn't know extremely well.
Being followed to closely/walked behind is pretty much the only thing that really creeps me out. Also, if a guy knows/tries to talk about something about me that I didn't share.
I was walking my dog a few days ago, and there was this woman walking in front of me. I take the same path every time around this playground. But this woman was following the same path. She even turned down my street towards my house. The whole time she kept looking back at me, and I finally just called out "I'm sorry, I live on this street, would you like me to pass you, or just wait here until you're farther away?" She laughed and said "wait there I guess". So I did. That was a long a boring story, and you're all dumber for having read it.
I don't wanna say most, but an unsettling number of guys don't seem to understand that you can't just approach strangers on the street and ask for s*x.
Flirting with strangers is always a tricky business. It’s not NEVER okay, but you know the drill – headphones, at work, walking away, etc. In addition to all the bad places and times, though, so many guys just say stupid, creepy-a*s things. Like I’ve been approached three times now (in a library, a cafe, and a Fedex) by guys who cold open with a cheery, “So I was just looking at you through the window and figured I’d come in and ask if you’d wanna go out with me! I was just headed back to my place...” Just WHY??? Of the infinite combinations of English words one could string together, “Hi I’ve been creepin on you through the window for a while, may I f**k you?” might be the LEAST charming opener.
Café guy could have come in, bought a coffee, sat down, and then tried to start a conversation. Maybe asked what I was reading, said he liked the band on my shirt, pretended he thought he recognized me from class. Some options are tackier than others, and none would have worked on me, but that’s because I’m a lesbian. If a girl approached me in a café with a generic question or a mild nonsexual compliment, I might consider talking to her. But in what f*****g reality does anyone get laid by flinging open a store door and busting in like it’s a police raid, screeching “NICE T*TS LEMME TOUCH.”.
If my body language says don't touch me, then don't touch me. Don't come up and put your arm around me and just leave it there. Or hug me.
if anyone seldom a few people does this to me, i'll bite them (humans can bite up to 162 PSI (pounds per square inch))
Explaining things to me that I JUST FINISHED EXPLAINING. And its rarely in a "there is also this," and for whatever reason deals with things that have actually had to deal with. Like periods. Pretty sure I got this covered guys.
Also, guys who tell me why some women are into women are the absolute cringiest. One notable memory is the guy I got into a fight with over why a woman would use a strap on. And no, he was not correct.
If we’re talking for the first time, online or in real life, and they call me ‘babe’. A simple ‘hey’ or ‘hi, how are you?’ will suffice, thanks.
Grope girls that they are flirting with. It comes off as weird and uncalled for instead of "hot.".
Men talking about how marriage is a trap and being the worst decision of their lives or being chained to one person is a common joke.. if you feel that way don’t commit? It’s creepy to think it’s normal to have that view on relationships.
Following women they find attractive around public spaces. We notice. And it's really, really creepy.
I guess this is done to find the courage or an opportunity to introduce themselves, but when it's late at night and you're slowly following me along a subway platform, saying hi to me after you sat down next to me in an empty subway car just doesn't scream romance.
I had a few guys *insist* on picking me up for a date. They (probably) thought they was being nice and chivalrous while alarm bells were going off in my head, I don't want dudes off Tinder knowing where I live.
Watch “teen” or “barely legal” p*rn. In fact in some states, those are the top p*rn searches. It creeps me out because I’ve seen pop ups of those videos when watching my own stuff and the girls look 13-16 max. All I can think of is if it were legal, these men would totally go for a pubescent child. Yuck.
Put their hands on you without asking.
Women used to slap men for doing this. Maybe it needs to come back into style?
When men get your attention especially just to get past you somewhere crowded and they do so by putting their hands low on your back or on your waist. Pls just tap me on the shoulder or y’know, use your words.
So how many other dudes here are just skimming the whole thread to make sure you're not a creeper?
Take the opportunity to feel up my hip curve during a hug or a photo. I always do it back to them while looking them dead in the eye with my library lady stare and it always seems to creep them out right back.
Also sneak quick nose picks and think nobody notices. Barfolomew.
I love this one! What a great response to their invasive behavior! As far as nose picking, gross, just gross.
If I’m doing the bare minimum to occasionally reply to your constant “how’s your day?” “How’s work going?” “Have a good weekend” texts, maybe stop sending them all the damn time.
And before you accuse me of wanting men to be mind readers, this is always *after* very direct conversations about the fact that I’m not interested in a romantic relationship, etc. these texts come off as very, “hey I still exist if you change your mind!”
Along those same lines, if you’ve invited someone to do a thing a few times and its always been politely declined, stop asking. You’re annoying. If she is truly interested but just *actually* busy, she will initiate it when she has more time and she will show enthusiasm. Let her bring it up.
Some guys really try to pressure you to drink a lot and its the creepiest thing bc its so transparent.
I really don't like it when men stare at me at the gym, especially in the weight room, like obviously at my chest or my behind, even though I am just wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I am trying to work out, I want to feel safe and confident about my body. It makes me feel like I don't belong there, or that I am just a spectacle. It ruins my frame of mind for working out; instead of focusing on achieving my goals, I feel anxious, self-conscious and even sometimes threatened. This happens every time I go to the weight room, there is at least one guy that does it. And I am not being overly sensitive, it is so blatant, like unwavering, unblinking stare, or people moving their work-out space or bench so they are across from me while I do the exercises. I almost feel like a women-only weight room is the only answer, but it shouldn't have to be that way...just be polite and focus on yourself, your scaring me!
Somes guys will try to subtly refer to their sexual prowess. I've had guys ask if I think pants are too fight and is the outline of their "8 inch d**k" is noticable.
Saying, "But women do it too!" Doesn't make anything any less terrible, and whatever creepy thing I was complaining about just makes me wary that now this guy is justifying it or trying to turn the argument on women.
I don't know if most guys actually do this, but altering your behavior when an attractive woman enters the vicinity. My friend works right across from a popular park, and whenever I go to pick her up and wait for her, I'll watch the people hanging around out there. Some guys just shut up and stop functioning, others start like lifting their backpacks and s**t (what???) It's like they can't just continue what they were doing.
*Staring*.
I work in a warehouse that is like 95% male and had this coworker "John" who was easily in his 50's, overweight, and wheezed just standing but that didn't phase me. I like to think I get along with *everyone* and I can take a hell of a lot. Until one day one of my other male coworkers pointed out that John stared at me every second that I was in his line of sight. I'd never noticed before, but I began to take note a lot more. He really did stare at me a lot. Even when I turned to catch him at it. Never spoke to me unless he had to, he just stared. And it creeped me out far more than any off-colour or distasteful "jokes" I could get. At least with those kind of things, I could lash back, turn it around and make them the butt of that joke. But how do you quantify getting upset over *staring*?! Thankfully, my coworkers had my back and they went to our awesome manager who had a chat with me and then made sure John was always doing something else on the other end of the warehouse until the day he was let go.
alright, I have an idea: whenever John stares at you, you open your eyes as wide as they can go, tilt your head back, raise your eyebrows, and stare into his soul.
Being forced to hug them. There used to be a particularly awful photograph of me as a teenager being forcibly hugged by a guy who was obsessed with me throughout high school - him facing the camera looking smug because he was in a photo with me and me blurry and in the process of trying to escape.
Bear in mind, I am and always have been a tiny 5ft nothing girl and he was a giant guy who overcompensated with martial arts. He managed to keep me there with one arm.
A lot of men putting hands on waists to get past... I fortunately haven't experienced it, but going to keep a look out for that now.
Am I just really unattractive or just, hopefully, around really decent men? This stuff never happens to me
Count your blessings, I've dealt with all of the above and much worse. Nothing to do with how "attractive" you are.
Load More Replies...I feel uncomfortable walking behind a woman at night, because I know what she’s thinking and why she is worried. So I cross the street as a way of trying to show that I’m not dangerous. Not sure if it works though
A lot of men putting hands on waists to get past... I fortunately haven't experienced it, but going to keep a look out for that now.
Am I just really unattractive or just, hopefully, around really decent men? This stuff never happens to me
Count your blessings, I've dealt with all of the above and much worse. Nothing to do with how "attractive" you are.
Load More Replies...I feel uncomfortable walking behind a woman at night, because I know what she’s thinking and why she is worried. So I cross the street as a way of trying to show that I’m not dangerous. Not sure if it works though