Men approached me three times during the last seven days I’ve spent in Moscow. Usually, they ask if it’s possible to get acquainted with me (a standard line in Russia), I say “no” and this is how it ends. Honestly, the first thing a young man should ask is whether the girl has a boyfriend and only then try and raise her interest in one way or another. One thing is clear: if the girl wants to share her number she will do so, if she does not, nothing a man does, however creative, can help.
Instagram: @kseniya.blog
The creepiest line I’ve ever heard from a man who apparently wanted to get my phone number was “Nice boobs.”
Yet not all men act like this. Sometimes you meet a nice guy and he’s so sweet in his attempts to make you like him…
Problems start when a man begins trying to ‘buy’ a girl - invites her to a restaurant or a shop. All the magic of the moment fades away.
When it comes to dating foreigners, I personally have this thought going through my mind that most of them are just looking for a hookup and not for meaningful relationships. I don’t like this. A man is supposed to be a man, not a boy; If he wants to succeed, he should be a gentleman.
Instagram: @ann_space_
Marina: Some two weeks ago a boy tried to pick me up. He put a note on my table in MacDonald's which said “Write down your number.” It wasn’t the most creative try and so I didn’t share my number. A good try was when a boy has left a witty comment under my photo in VK social network. We started dating and the relationship has lasted for a year.
Foreigners have never tried to engage us in a conversation. Though they definitely should, we don't mind. I have a girlfriend who dates an American boy. He just came up to her and asked if he could take a picture with her. They have been dating for two years now.
Instagram: @mila_0406_ya
Instagram: @violetta.tomilova
Anastasiya: The funniest pickup attempt was when an 8-year-old boy came up to me on a beach; he had an iPhone which was playing a dirty rap song. I laughed and went away. But he kept following me asking to forgive him and give him a chance. I still don’t understand what it could possibly mean to give an 8-year-old boy a chance.
Instagram: @_mkass_
Instagram: @_dashka_no19
Julia: Men try to talk to me quite often. The most memorable time was when a young man held closing doors of a train in the Metro so that I could enter and when I did he told me: “For you, I would have held this door forever.” It was very sweet.
We did not exchange our numbers because I had already had a boyfriend. Foreigners often smile at me, tell me I’m beautiful, but never make a step further. I don’t mind them doing this; especially Italians because they do not conceal their vivid emotions and they are very interesting to talk to.
Instagram: @e_r_o_s_h_i_k
Once a guy approached me and grabbed my wrist. He and some other guys tried to pull me away. Thankfully, my friends were nearby. They saw what was happening and rushed to me. There was a fight and a couple of guys that day ended up on a hospital bed. In order to be successful with a girl, a guy should be charismatic. He should exude energy and positivity but in a polite manner.
Anastasiya: Once, a man in his 40s approached us in a cafe. He introduced himself as an Arab sheikh that lives in one of the Baltic States. We were just like ‘WHAT?!’ He has spent a lot of time talking about his wealth — his palaces, cars, other things. But the funniest thing about him was that he was wearing a fake crocodile leather coat.
Offering us drinks, he was telling us about his extrasensory powers but failed to demonstrate any of those.
One of his stories was about his ex-wife. He told us he has “sold” her to another sheikh because he was bored of her and because it was a “good deal.” Somehow right afterward he proposed to each of us. No need to say we did not want to spend a mere second with this man.
It’s not that often that men approach me on the street. When they do, they often do it a wrong way.
To do it right, a man should come up to the woman he liked and tell her honestly that he is attracted. Tell her something like “You have very kind and beautiful eyes and I would like to get to know you.” Do not try to use various pick up tricks, just ask her out. Be sincere, because women sense it very clearly if you are not being sincere with them.
Irina: Men approach me quite often. I do not get to know them because I’m married, but they do try regardless.
Today people are more suspicious of each other. Now it is really hard to meet a person who you can be feeling sympathy to. It was much less complicated in my youth. I met my husband when I visited my girlfriend’s place; he was dating another girl and at first I was feeling very uncomfortable when he showed his interest in me. But he was very persistent: he has asked my friend to share my phone number with him, he has been calling, and he has been seeking a meeting with me. If you really like a woman, you have to be persistent.
Instagram: @llemann_
Instagram: @iv.loran
Maybe it does not sound very modest, but men try to talk to me very often. Only yesterday I’ve been approached four times. The problem is that all the men have all the same lines.
Only once it was really sweet: I was walking in the Metro with my girlfriend and we were holding hands; there were too many people to walk hand in hand and we parted. And then this boy appeared, he took my hand, waved to my friend, and walked with me chatting about nothing specific. I needed to go but he wouldn’t let my hand free. It was so sweet. Our conversation didn’t develop into anything meaningful, however, as I had already been dating someone. Nevertheless, I would really recommend men to carry on in spite of rejections. They are very brave and this pleases girls a lot.
Instagram: @liza.angert
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