Paging Dr. NerdLove

There's a time and place for everything, including getting to know amazing new women. But the fact that you're attracted to someone doesn't mean that it's a good idea to try to pick them up. If you don't understand the dynamics of flirting or the social context involved, you end up looking like a pushy jerk at best or a creeper and a predator at worst.

This week, we're going to talk about the dynamics that affect when, where and how flirting is permitted... and when it's a bad idea.

One of the reasons why people get confused or frustrated with flirting is that they tend to get lost in the weeds when they want to learn how to flirt with someone.  We often misunderstand how flirting works or don't know how to do it the right way.

There’s no one way to flirt, but there are some best practices when it comes to flirting. So this week we're going to talk about the do's and don'ts that make up the best practices and core components of successful flirting.

How many times have you seen somebody - maybe in class, maybe at a party - who was AMAZING. They were incredible, they were everything you could possibly want in a partner and all you want to do is go up and say “Hi”. But then when the moment came, you froze because you had no idea what to say. 

The good news is: you’re over thinking it.

The bad news is: you’re overthinking it. 

You don’t need the perfect opening line to approach someone. You just need to get the conversation started.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: you’re talking with someone you’re into, and you think it’s going well when she says the dread phrase: “I wish I could meet a nice guy like you.”

But for all the times you hear a woman say she wishes she could find a nice guy, you see her going off and dating a complete asshole.

Wrong. So, what’s the deal here?

Well… a lot of it is about understanding the nature of relationships and how attraction works. And the rest… is about who’s th

The Friend Zone is treated as one of the worst things that can happen to you when it comes to dating. Once you're stuck in it, there's no getting out.

Or is there?

If you want to get out of the Friend Zone - or avoid it entirely in the first place - then you have to understand it.

We all love a good rom-com... but how much do they affect our relationships? How does pop culture shape not just what relationships are "supposed" to be like, but how we’re supposed to find them, what we should expect and what we are entitled to?

We talk about being a better man... but when it counts, do we do it? . Being a better man means being willing to step up when needed. And as we've seen all too often in cases of harassment or assault - whether it's cat-calling, an aggressive stranger on the subway or a creeper at a convention - most people don't do anything.

Part of positive masculinity is about standing up for others, especially if they can't... and doing so the right way.

When it comes to dating, not everybody is looking to settle down. But if you want a no-strings-attached sexual relationship - whether for just one night or longer - how are you supposed to go about finding one?

It’s hard to accept that you need help… and even harder to admit that you’re the one who’s the author of your own hardships. But if you want to improve, really improve, you have to learn how to get out of your own way and stop sabotaging your own progress.

What does it take to write an opening message that will get your Tinder match or OKCutie to want to write you back? Here's what makes a perfect first online dating message