This.

But, still, they could be polite and say something to that effect.
That's always courtepous and helpful.

Msharmony I agree with you, you have to follow your gut and if it is telling you something is off, then becareful. Also I have met someone from on here and we were on again off again for a while, he had met my son but in the summer I discovered, after a knock on the door, that he was a sex offender who targetted single mums to get access to their kids. So now I wont meet anyone until I after I have enough information to approach the Police to get them checked out. Once bitten twice extremely shy and protective. By no means am I saying the men on here are like that but be wary there are 1 or 2 on here

Body language is reciprocal.
If you're insecure, maybe you're afraid that she's going to be afraid, it will be reflected in your body language.

People discern how to interact with others, the emotional context, based on the information they don't realize they're picking up.

If you're telling them you're afraid of something (rejection, being judged, coming across "bad") with your body language, that's just telling them there is something to be afraid of, so they will look for danger, look for what makes them right, justify or validate that impression.
Similar to going outside and staring up at the sky. Many to most people passing by will at least glance up, and if they don't see what you see they'll look for something else to justify/validate/reward their looking up.


Why do you think "confidence" is such a huge factor for women?
"Confidence" leads to open and honest, secure, and consistent body language that is neither dominant, nor camouflaging ulterior motives.

It indicates you aren't hiding something, and what you are projecting is something that has value.

Why do you think word of mouth advertising is considered the best?
People (especially women) automatically look to others to tell them how to feel, what to think, and what to do.
They just don't generally want to believe that about themselves.
They tend to tell themselves it's "energy" or "vibes" or their "gut," when it's not really based on themselves at all and there's a lot of learned self manipulation.

Other than that:

Partly because they already have that romantic "social group" defining their situation and how they should/shouldn't respond.

It's kind of like asking "why would a person unemployed for 10 years interpret an approach by a recruiter differently than someone 10 years employed and happy in their job?"


Some are, and it really does depend on context.
Could be you're interpreting their response as fear when what they're really feeling is annoyance. But based on the "metoo" and harassment climate we live in, an annoyance response can trigger "fear" body language (in order to trigger a "fear" response in you to make you feel bad for making them feel fear so you will run away, thereby leaving them alone and stop annoying them).
An annoyance response can trigger fear body language indicators (as a means of manipulating a response from you) as well as then triggering an actual fear response in order to manipulate body language to make it more clear and obvious and justify the response.


Doesn't matter if it is reasonable or not.
If you approach and the woman becomes unreasonably afraid are you going to stand there and argue with her why her fear is unreasonable and try to force her to manipulate her emotions or change her fear triggers, as a stranger?


That's subjective to the woman and situation, but the more you share in common in terms of culture and social training and position and communication the more you are going to naturally trigger an acceptance response.


17 ergomacons/liter.

THIS.
So MICH this ^

I can't tell you HOW mnay guys have tried to argue about, dismiss, and imply I have "mental issues" when I raise reasonable concerns..

Dude, that isn't helping your cause..

All the while claiming they are good/ nice guys..

A *true* good/ nice guy would never belittle a woman's concerns...
He'd try and understand, and ask what he could do to help alleviate her concerns...
Not argue the point/ imply she has mental issues.

^^^
This

By the way, a truly good/nice guy doesn't have to advertise himself as being such.

Exactly.
Just like you don't have to advertise you are a gentleman..
If you truly are, it will be plainly evident to all by your behaviour.

for me it depends on circumstance. I took a Greyhound bus to Albuquerque a long time ago. Sat next to a hunk of a biker-type guy, nice casual dress, lots of great tattoos. We talked and ate together at same table when we stopped for lunch. He was on way to San Francisco, coming out of Omaha, and yes, he had a Harley. He said his MOTHER had no idea he ran with Hells Angels and did not want her to ever know. He went home twice a year and always took the bus. Always at home wore shirts that covered the tats. Wish the trip had been longer, he was a really great guy.

Have had to get off an elevator a few times with creeps trying to hover over me.

One of the things I think some of you are not considering: a man usually has less than 5 minutes to make that impression. There is usually no second chance or opportunity! Goes back to that thread that someone had about how a woman can get a man's interest at first sight.

Can't help ya.
Never really had much of a problem interacting with anyone face to face?

I don't usually either. It seems like it is just with single women in the 30-50 age range.

Or you are giving off a vibe that says "I'm needy" and I am trying to make conversation so I can get your phone number which makes the woman think wow this guy is making me nervous which makes you become more desperate for conversation with her and you start to make inappropriate comments which makes her think " I better get out my pepper spray " , this guy is scaring me, which makes you think , why is she digging around in her purse is she looking for a pen and paper so she can write down her phone number? Which makes her feel afraid for her safety because now besides standing there looking like a pervert you are ........get my drift

Lol haha. JK really a man nowadays should approach a woman in a public setting with others around to make her feel more comfortable and safe. People have to be careful (of any gender) there are a lot of crazies on the loose.

It is not a good experience when walking alone and a man walks up to me on a trail in the woods. I'm small and could be knocked over in 5 seconds. That is on the news almost every day.

I think sensational news; Craig's list Killer, the ID channel (I call it the murder channel) all this stuff has a big effect.

That being said, I'm not discounting women's fears. There are plenty of bad people out there but I do believe environment is a key factor.
I live in small town Nebraska (25,000) now but for many years lived in the SE US and traveled a lot. Pretty much been all over north America and spent some time in the UK and on the continent in Europe.

I'm also biased on this since starting at age 19 I was a door to door salesman for years. I can talk to anyone, I will say this; when you meet a stranger you have about 15 seconds to say the right thing (obviously dependent on the situation), if you don't you'll feel it. Remember you never get a second chance to make a first impression! As has been said don't invade some ones personal space and know what you're going to say before you get close.

Well that's simple Oldkid... start interacting with women closer to your age.

It is foolish for a man to blame women for the fact that he can't get a date.
The problem is him, not them.

women can still get merely used for sex, regardless.

why can't men expect equality; say i have an irrational fear of merely using women without a full body massage being involved; why don't gangs of women get into equality and proclaim, they merely need to get me over it?

If "5 minutes to make an impression" - is not working
why not give it up and think of 'reversing the approach'?

Time to pass the cheese.

i need to get coddled into it just like women, for the sake of Equality!