Flirting is not necessarily a bad thing. It allows a person to show interest through small gestures and enables the other to decide if they want to reciprocate. Even more, it can be a sign of friendship or entertainment. It can be a way to bond and the first step in getting to know someone. It is not wrong to show romantic feelings for someone if you genuinely love and want to date that person. However, we want to see the kind of flirting that involves acting as if you have a romantic interest in someone when you have no serious intent.
Negative Reasons Why Some Flirt
Some flirt just to boost their ego. And that’s not fair. If you intentionally give the impression that you have a romantic interest in someone when in fact you do not, you show a callous disregard for the other person’s feelings. And this could have some dangers. Flirting hurts your reputation.
If you’re a flirt, you will hurt people, and those people will tell others what you did. The longer you continue flirting, the bigger the stain you put on your reputation, and the harder it is to wash off. A person who flirts comes across as insecure and immature. It hurts the person you flirt with. How would you feel if a person deceived you into believing they loved you when they actually did not?
How To Avoid Flirting
There are some ways you can avoid flirting, so as not to unknowingly hurt the feelings of others.
Mention that you are dating if you are, or make it clear that you’re not ready for a relationship.
That will prepare the person’s mind to know you’re just being friends. This might be enough to change the tone of the conversation or cause the person to leave if they are not interested in talking to you without flirting.
Keep your compliments friendly and avoid suggesting attraction.
It’s fine to compliment a friend or acquaintance on their new haircut or outfit, but make sure to do so in a way that is friendly rather than flirtatious.
Avoid touching in an intimate way.
Shaking hands, a pat on the back, or a platonic hug are all fine now and then. However, avoid any physical gestures that could be misconstrued as flirtation
