We’re getting involved in the exploration of flirting, big time.  Our Flirt Report seems to have gone down pretty well, so now we’re opening up the conversation to our buddies in the field.

We’ve had a lot of love for The Great Date Guide for a while now.  They are currently shaking up the dating scene in London and we’re certain that it’s only a matter of time before they take over the whole world!  Here’s their take on the topic of flirting.  Enjoy…

Hello to all you lovely Flirts from The Great Date Guide! Our friends here at Flirtomatic have kindly given us this opportunity to share our thoughts on the great flirting debate, so here we are!

Well, in our humble opinion, flirting is both a crucial and brilliantly fun part of the dating game and life would be very dull without it. Yet how often have you, or someone you’ve known landed in deep water as a result of the seemingly innocent flirt? Have you ever been irritated by someone who flirts too much, or hurt by someone whose flirting did not mean what you hoped?

Let’s explore this from the beginning:

To flirt: To court triflingly or act amorously without serious intentions.

Yes, that sounds about right, and what fun it can be! But the definition itself raises an interesting question right from the start: What are our intentions when we flirt?

I’m sure many Flirts amongst you have enjoyed a text / online flirt in its true meaning, without any serious intentions, but is that also the case when you’re out on a real date, person to person? Why do we flirt then, and what are our intentions in that setting?

Well, for a start, if we’re honest about it, in both scenarios we flirt because it’s fun and because it makes us feel good. It adds a bit of playful spice to what might otherwise be a bland conversation, and whether that conversation be face to face, in a text or over the internet, it is almost always improved for it!

When it comes to intentions however, perhaps it depends more on the people involved than the setting itself, and it’s here that the potential dangers of flirting become apparent. If truly playful and without intent for both individuals, then great, but there is of course the chance that one party may have a slightly different agenda.

So if the dangers of flirting come from a mismatch of intentions, perhaps the real question we should be asking is this: Is it OK to flirt if you’re not after something more? Let’s say for example if you’re already in a relationship with someone else, or simply enjoy a good flirt now and then without looking for anything more serious?  Is that okay?

It’s a highly debatable conundrum. The ‘no’s’ amongst you would argue that what’s fun for one individual can lead to disappointment and hurt in another. Worse still it can unwittingly land the ‘flirt’ in an uncomfortable or unwanted situation.  In the ‘yes camp’ you might argue that flirting is fun, good for everyone’s morale and should be light, playful and by definition, without intent.

Who’d ever have thought that the philosophy of flirting could be so complex?! (or indeed that we at The Great Date Guide would consider ourselves philosophers…!) I suppose the answer here, as in most things in life, lies in finding the right balance. In a nutshell, flirting is harmless if it’s light-hearted and fun, and perhaps most importantly, when both parties are on the same page.

Come and see us at thegreatdateguide.com, where we aim to take the hassle out of planning your date by doing the hard work for you. We’ve got hundreds of great suggestions for dates all over London, from first dates to those extra special occasions and everything in between! Whether it’s action, culture or simple old fashioned romance you’re after, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone… so what are you waiting for?

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