Feminists - should a man approach a woman regardless of whether she's interested in him?

Read stories on how people's parents met. If avoiding people others because of reasons such as not being interested in them, a lot of couples today would never have had the happiness they currently have.

I open doors for men (and children, and other women, sometimes, too). It's a matter of being courteous to others. I expect to pull out my own chair, but I don't get offended if a man wants to do this for me. I enjoy approaching men I am interested in. Why wait for him to come to me? I think women should pay for dates sometimes, too- esp. if she is the one to ask a man out. (It's courteous to pay for a date if you're the one asking someone out, esp. on first dates.) I think women should ask men out, too. I see no reason why not! If I were walking with someone and a mugger approached and attacked the person I was with, YOU BET I would help, whether that person was male or female. I'm not going to stand by and watch someone get hurt or robbed. If I have the power to do something to help, I'll do it. I care about what happens to people. If I'm in competition with a man (or anyone else for that matter) I'm going to do my very best. I'd like most to compete with someone who's going to give me "a good run for my money"- I don't find it particularly fun to play against someone I know I can easily beat. ( I doubt they'd "enjoy it" much, either.) SOME of your ideas sound "feminist" in nature, but some sound like selfish insensitivity, to me- if you really care about how well you relate to other people, maybe you could spend a little time trying to figure out which is which. Just a thought.

It really, really depends on the circumstances.

Don't hit on someone in the office or other professional settings. Don't cat-call on public streets. In other settings, it's not so much about 'approaching' as about how you approach -it's fine to say 'hi', but very few women appreciate overtly sexual pick-up lines and there's very few situations where that's appropriate. The most important thing, however, is to back off when it becomes apparent the other person is uninterested -like, that's just basic manners. Basically, treat her like a person, not like a thing you are trying to 'pick up' -like a person, which means following social cues and respecting her boundaries and taking a hint when applicable.

Well before the approach it might be difficult to know whether she is interested.

I say take the risk. A polite or clever or timely hello, could work out nicely

Well he's not going to know whether she's interested unless he approaches.

The question is not whether to approach. It's where and when.

Random woman in the street? No.

Co-worker during work hours? No.

Woman at bar or nightclub? Yes.

Woman at social event that you are also attending? Yes.

Approach for what? Sex? Small talk? What circumstances?

It depends on how good looking he is.

If a man is very good looking women wont mind if he approaches them in public places, streets, malls, parks, workplace etc.

If a man is ordinary looking, women will call him a creep even if he approaches them in bars and clubs.

"OMG, did you just see the creep who hit on me!?"

Well, if he doesn't, how's he going to know if she's interested or not? I mean, the dude can't read minds...

Women believe in serendipity.

Men know just what that takes to orchestrate.