What exactly counts as 'attention' from the opposite sex?

[JustGettingBy]

Whenever dating or attraction is mentioned, it seems there's a lot of talk about how much 'attention' someone gets. Now while hitting on someone clearly is attention, how about things like:

 

Non-sexual touching such as hugging or high-fives

Flirting without intent

Smiles, waves and other non-verbal greetings that could be either flirtatious or platonic

Checking someone out

Going out of one's way to be in the area of someone, but interact very little (note: I don't mean stalking, I mean hovering near them at a party)

Going out of one's way to have an abnormally high amount of platonic conversation

Abnormal high amount of politeness

Remembering lots of 'little things' about them

 

Which of these types of things would be considered 'attention'.

 

Also is there something that would be considered 'attention' when a man does it to a woman, but not what a woman does it to a man? Also, anything only counting when a woman does it to a man?

[shoplocal]

This is a great question! I hope other people chime in. Imo, all of these count as attention, but to what end? That part, afaict, varies pretty widely. I have a friend who is married who says that none of these matter when establishing a relationship -- the only thing that matters is explicit actions: asking the other person out, having the dtr talk, etc.