h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, if that's what was actually said then you're hanging out with really stupid people.
But there's always the possibility that you're being a bit harsh on people.
Of course, I've been single (quick calculation) 91% of my adult life, so I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Hmm, quick calculation. I've only been single 85% if you count from being 18

Xanatic - Reading thru the last page or so, I can't help but empathise, as it seems you find yourself being in a similar way of thinking to myself.
I do try and remain positive though, I believe that if I can keep remaining positive about these things they will come right in the end.

Best wishes though - hope the lifestyle comes together, as a wise man once said


GWL

Xanatic, why not sign up for some evening classes. It doesn't matter what they're for as long as it's something you're genuinely interested in (even slightly). Creative writing, creative reading(?), drawing (if you're terrible at it all the better) T'ai chi, astrophysics, a foreign language, Japanese culture, photography........ there must be something.
Then you can start conversations like "What did you think of today's session?" or "I can't get the hang of xyz. Do you understand it?"
"Please don't think I'm being forward but I couldn't help noticing how graceful your hands look when you're painting/moulding/carving..."

Or look for women in cafes with their noses stuck in books (proper ones - not soppy love stories) and ask whether that one's good 'cos you haven't read it yet, or whether she's read £%$#^& by that author - or if she likes x's books you're sure she'll enjoy y's, they're very similar but with...

Start the interesting conversations, then perhaps offer to buy coffee... ... ... remark on how enjoyable you found the chat...perhaps we could do it again some time..."Do you come here every Thursday?"...

Do any bookshops with cafe areas do Singles' Nights.?

Seems to me most women reading in public are reading Barbara Cartland or such. But I do imagine if you went closer you'd see it was only a cover and there was Dostojevski on the inside.

There was a girl on the subway the other day were I would really like to have come up with something to say. But "come here often" didn't seem to fit the situation

As for that graceful hand thing, amd I wrong in assuming she'll find me a moron for sayng a thing like that? Any girl must be able to see right through that surely.

Sure she'd see through it but as long as you don't take yourself too seriously you can both laugh about it. Besides, everyone loves to be flattered....

And I think "Do you come here often?" (accompanied by a ) would be a wonderful conversation starter on the tube/train/bus.
It would certainly pique MY interest (speaking as someone that would consider being force-fed Barbara Cartland cruel and unusual torture)

Something strange happened an hour ago. This woman I've talked to a few times walked by. And the guy I work with said "Hey, she likes you. Even I can see that!"

There you go then - this is your chance to put into practice all the advice you've been given! Good luck

I guess the first thing to do is find out what her name is She's Italian and a buddhist I know that much.

Oh, my! Watch out for those Italian girls. Er, I mean... Go for it!

So Xanatic, any progress?!

Well, she's not in today yet. But I think she actually has a boyfriend. Probably some italian wiseguy. I've seen her drive by me on the back of a bike, and I expect somebody weas driving the bike.

Oh well, it never hurts to practice flirting a little

I just had lunch with her and some other people. I certainly couldn't see anything there.

Oh well, guys are usually useless at figuring out when girls fancy them Besides, you shouldn't just pin your hopes on one person, especially if you think she already has a boyfriend. You just need to get into the practice of talking to girls, even ones you might not initially fancy. You'll probably find that most of them have plenty of interesting things to say for themselves. And even if you don't fancy them, they might have friends they could introduce you to etc etc! You need to network!

Well, it would just have been nice if I had found a girl who liked me.

I'm sure there are girls out there who like you, you just don't know it. Like I said, guys are often very bad at figuring out when a girl fancies them. Here's a big anyway.