What's the best way to start a conversation with a woman in a public place?

Hi

@PretentiousArtist That’s easy. What next? Assuming her response is “Hi” and she doesn’t run away.

Well, it is usually what I should I have said after she is gone.

A genuine, non-generic compliment is a good start. Be sure to back off if she doesn’t seem interested.

@Facade How about “Those are such cute shoes? Where did you buy those?” Ok, too gay. How about “Your eyes are as deep and dark as the Nile”? Help me out some specifics. I’m not very good at this.

Facade – Like…. I think you are beautiful! I would like to take you to dinner and get to know you better?

You sexy thang!

@Facade Are you saying it’s good to make a compliment about the woman’s body? I think that could seem a little sleazy, no?

@ruanua I wish I knew what to tell you. Since I hate being approached, I have no clue what women who like to be approached would want to hear.
And no. No body compliments.

@ChazMaz has a good handle on it :)

@ruanua – I’m a woman. I would find it completely flattering if a man came up to me and said, in a non-cheesy, pick-up line way, that he thought I was beautiful. But you wouldn’t be able to leave it at that, so then add that you’d like to buy her a drink or something. If she accepts, then continue your conversation. If she looks at you funny or declines, oh well. Move on.

Also, use words like “beautiful” or “pretty,” not “hot.”

Go with what you’re really thinking.

Your opening statement doesn’t have to be about her.

@Facade ok, keep it transcendental. No booty talk.

just ask about her cup size

@Noel_S_Leitmotiv If I go with what I’m really thinking I’ll probably get arrested.

@ruanua Maybe find a girl who is a raunchy as you are

@Facade That would not be easy. And if I found such a woman she would scare the crap out of me.

But it’s kind of fun to be scared :)

Yay for raunchy!

“I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but ___” or “Please let me know if I’m making you uncomfortable, but ___” and follow with a non-intimate question or comment.

Is she carrying a book you’re familiar with? Ask her hwat she thinks of it. Can you compliment her on her hat or haircut? If she’s on her cell phone, maybe you’ve been considering getting that very same one, and you’re wondering if she’s happy with it? Maybe you’re looking for a good nearby lunch place, and you’re wondering if she knows one? You want to get some dialogue going without her feeling invaded or freaked out. And you need to tune in to any signals she gives that she’s not comfortable getting into a conversation.

@MagsRags You’re a pro.

http://xkcd.com/642/

GA @Facade. Beautiful >> hot.

How about: I think you are (beautiful, amazing, intelligent, funny, some other non-sleazy compliment) and I would love to get to know you a little better. Do you want to have dinner sometime?

Just try being genuine, polite, and a gentleman.
It would work for me.

I usually just wait for women to come give me compliments on the incredible definition of my abs or my flawless classical bone structure and then I just pick it up from there. I’m not sure what you’re doing wrong…

What are you reading?

@jaketheripper That’s been my approach too but it hasn’t been working out too well.

“If you were ordering soup, what size bowl would you get: b-cup, c-cup, or a d-cup?”

“Ooh girl! I love your shoes!”
But, then, I’m gay.

The only problem with telling a woman you’ve never met that you think she’s amazing/funny/intelligent, is that you either sound like a bullshitter How do you know? or a stalker.

I haven’t dated in more than 30 years, but if I was out there, I wouldn’t trust someone I just met on the street or in a park enough to go with them for dinner or a drink. If I enjoyed the conversation we’d just had, I might take their phone number and go home and google it to help me decide if I was going to call them. I’d be even more open to continuing a conversation at a safe distance on facebook, and see if something promising developed from there.

@veronasgirl maybe I’m just weird, but that seems to be way too forward. Asking her out to dinner before knowing anything about her? is this what happens in the land of beautiful people that I’ve been missing out on?

@Sarcasm I see your point there. Maybe coffee or something during the day

I would be weirded-out with a real pick-up line. Ask me some sort of non-sketchy question about something that is going on at the moment, in the setting where we are. I wouldn’t ignore you and it could lead to a conversation, etc.

@Sarcasm, good point, coffee is probably a better place to start, I guess I am assuming he knows a little bit about her first.

1) Smile (not in a creepy serial killer way, but in a you caught my eye today sorta way)

2) Say Hi, Hey or Hello (whatever you usually would say to friends)

3) Be honest & complimentary (even if it takes a minute to think of what to compliment..her eyes, her smile, her outfit)

4) Talk like you would to any other new person you meet——small talk (Aren’t the fall colors gorgeous? or I’m on my way to home to bake an apple pie….)

5) If it goes well ask her for her digits.

It depends on the place in which it takes place. If you are standing in line at a cafe, maybe you can strike up a conversation about what she likes to get there, and then once she gives her input, maybe start talking about something else like so do you come here a lot? what other places do you like around here? If the place is busy maybe you can be like, wow there really arn’t any tables available. If I get one, you are more than welcome to share it with me. And or you can just introduce yourself after a little small talk and ask if there are any restaurants she likes to be taken to also. Of course if you are in a grocery store its a little different setup, or a club, or what ever.

A little trick i just thought of was, talk to women like you might ask someone you don’t know for directions. Except keep the conversation going, and don’t ask for directions to your love pad or where she lives.

Honestly, this is one of those things one can’t teach another I feel.