Back when I was young...

Back when I was young, flirting meant something different then it does these days. Although I may not have been a fan of flirting when I was younger (probably out of sheer ignorance of proper flirting technique), I have confidence that I understand its original purpose. Let me introduce you to Trevor Mankini (yes, Mankini), terror of my life during Kindergarten and 1st grade. See, not to brag, but Trevor and his best friend Ryan had big crushes on me and my best friend Candace, respectively. Trevor would often flirt to let me know of his interest. I'm sure you can imagine: sticking his tongue out at me at the lunch table, chasing me on the playground, stealing the tire swing from my bare hands, etc. His most valiant effort to express his feelings for me was his final goodbye, on the day he found out I would be transferring schools come second grade. I don't remember it happening (which means it probably never did) but his friend told me that he snuck up behind me on the playground and kissed me on the back of the head. Weird, yes. Genuine flirting, definitely. I knew, without a doubt, that Trevor liked me.
However, today flirting has lost its direction. Rather than being an expression of interest from the pursuer to the person whom they have developed a yearlong playground crush on, flirting has become a tool to build the self-esteem of the pursuer. Following me? This is where things have gotten so messy. Guys (and ladies too, but lets be honest, I'm here to vent about guys) will often say something along the lines of, "Dude, she is crazy. She thinks I like her and I have no idea where she got that from." Well buddy, perhaps it was all those times you actually WERE flirting with her. Look, I understand that you don't have feelings for her and that is why you can't understand how you were flirting. All those times when you felt like a BA for making her laugh at your jokes, or played "just one" song on your guitar so that she could call you a great musician, or bought her coffee because it makes you feel like you are fulfilling your gentlemanly duty, THAT WAS FLIRTING. Flirting for your own good though. I believe you don't have feelings for her. I absolutely believe that you were not trying to lead her on or send her any false messages. More than anything, I believe that you were is such dire need of feeling like a BA, great musician, or gentleman that it blinded your ability to see what messages you might actually be sending.

It's just a thought.