Does playing hard to get work?

It’s an ongoing debate that has stifled women for years. Do we play it cool when we meet a new guy; flirt with his friends, send him intentional glances across the room before turning on our heels and leaving. Or do we lay all our cards on the table from the get-go? Here for Fashion Style Magazine two men present their cases both for and against.

Blogger Tanweer Araf says YES

As a guy who usually does the chasing, I for one enjoy the challenge when a girl plays hard to get. Speaking from personal experience, I have been on dates where über-flirtation has led me to being a bit complacent and disinterested. I have sat opposite a girl at a restaurant and hid behind the menu thinking, ‘Should I just order dessert and forget the mains?’

A crude but simple way to look at it is, what’s more attractive? A girl that texts and emails you 36 times a day or one that’s mysterious? I can honestly say a girl playing hard to get has made me raise my game – and I don’t mean going from Jenga to Scrabble. What I mean is I took a keen interest in my date. I was interested in what she had to say and I didn’t take her for granted. There was a possibility I may not see her again and the wait in between dates made me even more excited to see her.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I enjoy the chase. It’s the exciting nerves you feel when you make a breakthrough and all the time and energy you have put in, combined with patience and persistence, finally pays off.

AW Bachelor Mubashir Malik says NO

If one was to write a top 10 chart of the most vexatious habits that the female species has mastered, there would be no quarrels in establishing ‘playing hard to get’ somewhere amongst the winners. It is beyond my cerebral mind to think of a logical reason for this sophomoric and pointless behaviour. To think a guy will find ignoring him for hours on end, not returning calls or messages and turning up late among other things, attractive, then ladies you really must think again. It is a big turn off, especially when most guys can already tell whether a girl is interested in them within the first 45 seconds of making eye contact, thus the sudden change in behaviour from the girl’s side mid-way in the conversation in order to ‘keep her high ground’ is highly agonising.

Some poor guys do actually fall for it and hence treat it as a ‘challenge’ to break through the iron wall and make her melt. But to be honest, ladies, we would much rather you be yourself. Have a laugh, let your hair down, indulge in some riveting conversation and who knows? You may just end up with Mr. Right.

So the answer? Well, that’s still up for debate. Our advice ladies, go out, have fun and play the role of whoever you want to be.