What percentage of women are open to small talk and flirting in random places?

[kingdork]

I go to a large public university in the states that is well-known for it's abundance of beautiful women (location hint: anybody read playboy?). I'm not a big drinker and I'm not really into going out to bars/clubs. I'm older for an undergraduate at 29 years old and I major in one of the stereotypically super-nerdy hard sciences - note, this stereotype doesn't apply to me . Sure, there's a couple cuties here and there in my classes, but compared to the student population at large, they're nothing to get excited about.

 

So where is a guy like me supposed to meet these beautiful women? As far as I can tell, my best shot is making small talk at the bus stop, on the bus, at the library, or other similar situations.

 

So my question is: what percentage of women do you think are open to subtle advances at places like these and won't automatically assume I'm a creep? I think I'm quite good at making random people feel comfortable around me, but there's always going to be women who are simply afraid of talking to strangers. Also, do you have any suggestions about how to identify the scaredy-cats before talking to them, so I don't waste my energy on them?

Edited September 29, 2012 by kingdork

[traces]

It's less about who they are and more about where they are.

 

Try to avid places where a woman can feel threatened. For example, places where she could not readily move away-- an elevator, public transport, etc. Even if you are a kind soul, one's own safety is most important; it's safer to err on the side of caution.

 

If the place is right and the situation is non-threatening, you shouldn't have anything to fear besides a "not interested".

 

Here's a great article about where and how to approach women without tripping their alert system: How To Approach A Woman | Paging Dr. NerdLove

[jcrew11]

Why don't you try meeting women in regular places - like the college gym or a campus bar? Yoga places are the best for meeting hot women. Alec Baldwin just married a hot yoga instructor.

 

The library is a good place that everyone goes to. Just sit next to a hottie and ask her to pick up a dropped pencil.

[NoMoreJerks]

I am usually nervous/shy around strangers when they try to talk to me. But it all depends on how they talk to me. I've had some strangers start normal conversations with me and I felt perfectly comfortable talking to them, and even enjoyed it, and others who, as soon as they opened their mouths, creeped me out and made me walk away. I guess the difference was in their level of eagerness in talking to me. Just talk to girls like you would talk to a friend, do not show (excessive) signs of sexual/romantic interest... That would freak me out big time, because it sends the wrong signal that the guy is just chatting me up for a ONS. Maybe others feel differently about this, but that's how I feel about this.

 

That said, I have never been approached at a library and I am glad I haven't. Libraries are places for quiet study and I would feel very uncomfortable having to manage small talk in a place where I'm always wondering when someone will yell at me for talking. It's not a good place to chat anyone up. Maybe in non-study areas of the library, sure.. maybe eye contact while sitting at the study areas, and somehow create the opportunity to go some place outside the "quiet zone", to talk. But the chances of that happening are... pretty slim in my opinion.

[MrCastle]

Approx: 28.7% of women

[GirlontheLam]

I am super friendly. The type to make small talk with strangers. Provided you aren't approaching my in a dark alley. Sneaking up on me on a dark desserted street.....it is totally OK. As long as your approach is respectful and tactful.

 

Rule #1, approach women in a place they feel comfortable, secure, and where there is sufficient foot traffic so we don't feel alone and isolated.

 

Rule #2: pick up on the critical body language cues. If she is leaned towards you and giving you more than one word answers, you are good to go. If she puts her back towards you, and replies yes and no only. Give it up.

[kingdork]

Libraries are places for quiet study and I would feel very uncomfortable having to manage small talk in a place where I'm always wondering when someone will yell at me for talking. It's not a good place to chat anyone up. Maybe in non-study areas of the library, sure.. maybe eye contact while sitting at the study areas, and somehow create the opportunity to go some place outside the "quiet zone", to talk. But the chances of that happening are... pretty slim in my opinion.

 

HA! The top floor of our library is notorious for sexual behavior, so yeah...it's a brave new world where crazy **** can happen, even in a library.

[NoMoreJerks]

HA! The top floor of our library is notorious for sexual behavior, so yeah...it's a brave new world where crazy **** can happen, even in a library.

Sure, different libraries have different policies, I suppose. Some don't enforce their silence policies. Whatever. In general, libraries are supposed to be, and ARE, quiet spaces for study/reading, and those rules are more often than not, enforced. I'd find it hard to carry on a conversation in those quiet zones of the library. You're not supposed to talk there, you know? There are people who are there not for a hook-up, but for actual reading, etc.

[Shaun-Dro]

I go to a large public university in the states that is well-known for it's abundance of beautiful women (location hint: anybody read playboy?). I'm not a big drinker and I'm not really into going out to bars/clubs. I'm older for an undergraduate at 29 years old and I major in one of the stereotypically super-nerdy hard sciences - note, this stereotype doesn't apply to me . Sure, there's a couple cuties here and there in my classes, but compared to the student population at large, they're nothing to get excited about.

 

So where is a guy like me supposed to meet these beautiful women? As far as I can tell, my best shot is making small talk at the bus stop, on the bus, at the library, or other similar situations.

 

So my question is: what percentage of women do you think are open to subtle advances at places like these and won't automatically assume I'm a creep? I think I'm quite good at making random people feel comfortable around me, but there's always going to be women who are simply afraid of talking to strangers. Also, do you have any suggestions about how to identify the scaredy-cats before talking to them, so I don't waste my energy on them?

 

Going on a limb, about 20% here in NYC. I'm sure the percentage is much higher the further south you head.

 

As for identifying the types that won't give a chance are often the ones holding cell phones to their faces, no eye contact, and walking very swiftly. That makes up the majority of women these days.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Shaun-Dro
forgot a para

[Imajerk17]

Going on a limb, about 20% here in NYC. I'm sure the percentage is much higher the further south you head.

 

As for identifying the types that won't give a chance are often the ones holding cell phones to their faces, no eye contact, and walking very swiftly. That makes up the majority of women these days.

 

Maybe, but 20% means that 5 approaches will lead to 1 number, and 10 approaches will lead to a date (say half of the numbers you get actually turn into the girl meeting up). In NYC it is very easy to make 10 approaches in 2 days.

 

As you can rule out a good fraction of the remaining 80%, you might do even better than that, because you're wasting fewer approaches on women who won't be responsive.

 

My point is that if it is really 20% (or even 10%), that is actually great news.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Imajerk17