
Steve Santagati, of BadBoysFinishFirst.com and author of the best-selling book The Manual, answers your burning questions when it comes to dating, love, and how men think. He's a veteran at giving street-smart, straight-to-the-point advice, so ladies, tell me, what do you want to ask Steve about men? This is your chance to get answers so don't hold back! Submit your questions here.
Dear Steve,
I can't tell you how many times I've been out some place — like a bar or a restaurant — and I'll find out the guy that's been flirting with me and my girls is either married or in a relationship, what's up with that? Why do they even bother if they can't "swing through the ball" — so to speak? I feel like I need to preface every conversation I have with a man with "wait, do you have a girlfriend?" — Perplexed Penelope
To see Steve's answer read more
Dear Perplexed Penelope,
This question makes me laugh. The longer I live, the more I realize how similar men and women truly are. Boys and Girls may go about things differently and often appear to speak different languages, but in the end, we have more similarities in what we like and don't like than differences. After all, we're both human and us "beings" are almost identical. That's super good news — if you're paying attention. Moreover, women are the founding fathers — errr mothers — of the "tease" and isn't a man flirting — yet unavailable — just being a tease? You know, like when a girl walks into a bar flaunting major cleavage, a super short skirt, and playing with her hair yet doesn't have the slightest intention of having sex with any of us. Isn't Flirt Boy just doing what women have done for hundreds of years?
Teasing is one of the things men and women differ in; men can tease you by pulling your hair, but women tease on a much more visceral level, right down to the loins. Men don't tease. If we weren't so horny all the time maybe we would, but we are so we can't. Teasing implies we could actually "hold out" if you showed us you wanted to have sex. Very few of us can.
The Male Facts when it comes to flirting while in a relationship:
- We do it because we enjoy the art of flirting
- We do it because we're smart and know you have to keep the engine warm in case things fall apart with the current flame.
- It's an ego boost when women respond
- It helps us have a reality check to make sure "we still got it".
- It's naughty and mischievous (obsessions any man, worth his salt, will not lose with age). It's like playing with fire because we know we have to be loyal, but it allows us to fantasize with the "what if".
The Female Solution:
- Don't just talk to a man because you want a man. That's too cut and dry. Talk to him because you want to enjoy the person, enjoy the opposite sex, learn something that you can utilize when the right one comes along — Stop boyfriend/husband hunting.
- See how far you can push Mr. Committed into crossing the line. It's not nice but you'll learn a lot about how good your game is and you'll be one step closer to understanding why bad girls finish first!
- Enjoy the fact that you can do something us guys can't; tease. Teasing is one of those things that can define a woman; but just the right amount of sexy, too much and she's classless. The girls of Hooters have it down to a science.
- Realize it's a cruel joke that most of the people we'll find ourselves attracted to will be taken. That's life. But I said it's a "joke" and jokes are meant to be laughed at, not cause anxiety.
Check out his Bad Girls Finish First tee shirts and, for individual attention, visit Steve at BadBoysFinishFirst.com or email him at askstevesantagati@gmail.com









Armani Jeans
Vanessa Bruno
PRPS
Steve, thanks for the head's up! This has been happening to me a lot lately...
1I agree steve, I see women doing this, married women, more than married men.
I flirt still, and I am married. Its human nature.
2Because men have penis...
3Yeah I see married men AND women flirting. I don't see a big deal with it- it is not cheating and frankly anything these days can ben flirting. I am very perky and friendly- and many guys assume I like them when I am just being nice and talking to them as I would any other girl.
4Haha, great post Steve.
I basically think flirting is harmless, but only if you don't take it to an intensely personal level where you actually get involved with someone who is in a relationship. Steve's right, few men can tease...women do it so well. People get a thrill out of flirting, it's fun, I do admit.
5this answer is all wrong. A woman who may dress seductively but chooses not to go home with any of the guys at the bar is not equal to a married man flirting with single women. The woman has a right to decide if she spends the evening alone or with someone else but the married man already made the decision (when he married her) to go home to his wife, he has no right to be flirting. get real, steve.
6Why do taken women still flirt with single me?
(yes I'm a smartass).
7*single men (and the typo demon attacks once again).
8Steve, I love you
9love your posts. You and I see eye to eye...and I am a woman.
The male solution can be applied to both men and women, but I don't totally buy that they are the ultimate reasons why some men may do it, it may be a few reasons why some do. I don't buy that it applies only to taken men per se, but to all use human being.
10I'm with Krae85. How a woman chooses to dress when going out is entirely different from choosing to directly flirt and chat with someone, which is more misleading. Dressing sexy is not being a tease.
11Anything that "The girls at Hooters" have "down to a science" is not something I want to be a part of... sorry, just my opinion.
And, am I misunderstanding this? (seriously, I hope I am...)Is Steve suggesting that women "see how far they can get with Mr Committed"?
That's SO wrong.
12Some women do like seeing how far they can get with teasing someone who has someone already.
I've seen it, I've done it, the world continues to turn.
13
14this is coming from the single girl who is being hit on...but what about the girlfriend sitting at home?
i know all the reasons guys do it, but i don't want to be that girlfriend (i've been her in the past, but never again!) i appreciate the fact that i can trust my boyfriend not to flirt with girls in a bar. because like steve said, most guys don't have the ability to stop their "flirting" there when the sentiment is returned!
15i'm sorry but this article really pisses me off. I agree with krae85 on this one. See how far you can get a married man to go? Are you kidding me? WOW. Very nice.
16haha one time a friend and I were in Vegas an these two guys got us bottle service. I was talking to one of the guys and he whips out his iphone to show me a pic of his wife!! lol I thought it was hilarious, I mean I wasn't even into the guy (it's Vegas!) but if he was trying to get somewhere he had the worst game ever, who the heck does that?!
17as always, i agree with you steve
18I'm married to a very sweet man who does not flirt with other women because he loves me and isn't interested. I don't find that dull at all. I think that people can be cordial and friendly with the opposite sex when in a relationship but clearly that isn't what this post is about. Suggesting that teasing and flirting with the intent to see how far it can go is a skill single and married people alike should practice is absurd. Being in a committed relationship should guarantee your partner some level of respect and security. And why would any woman want to be with a man who leaves the engine running so to speak. Are men so unable to be alone that they have to have a back up at all times just in case things don't work out? I'm also not sure why anyone would play a game like this. If you have any respect for yourself you wouldn't even want to see how far you can get with a married man because the idea that he is married and promised to someone else would make you feel less than what you are worth in your own eyes. I personally think it's insulting when married men flirt with me or anyone who isn't their wife. Even if you don't care about the person left at home you should have more self respect than to need that kind of attention.
19i'm in a great relationship and still love flirting with other guys. i do it for all the same the guys do! of course, i'm not going to take it overboard and keep it to chit-chat only.
20It's all about knowing your boundaries. There are people who can't help but flirt. I have a good friend who is married, he flirts with me and other women too, but he is insanely committed to his wife. I highly doubt that he would ever cheat on her(and if he did, it wouldn't be with me). You have to think of your SO and it's about being respectful to them. I've know people who are so jealous that their SO cannot even look in the direction of the opposite sex or else they'll have their heads chewed off.
Really, it all comes down to how you define 'flirting'. If there are no intentions behind it, then why make a huge stink about it? I think it'll just drive the other person away.
21Some women do like seeing how far they can get with teasing someone who has someone already.
I've seen it, I've done it, the world continues to turn.
--Sorry Daria, this comment makes me ill
22that's your opinion, i have mine.
23the world, again, continues to turn.
Not that I'm saying it's right, but if you're going to flirt, keep away from establishing emotional attachment, don't let it get far as in you're making out 2 seconds later, and certainly don't go home bragging about flirting. I'm sure we're all guilty of flirting, but the reasons laid out in this article is debatable. I've been guilty of doing it because of a small level of infatuation. I don't plan on going down that road again, considering my love's the most beautiful and wonderful woman in the world to me, so I plan on respecting her in the least, especially where this is concerned. I don't think "seeing how far things can go" is right when someone who's in a relationship is concerned. If you're both single, by all means, move on to 3rd or home base, go for 9 innings or over time, your choice.
24I love to flirt and my boy friend loves to flirt too. We just both love talking to new people and flirting just seems to happen. Luckily we're both secure enough in ourselves and each other that it's not a problem. I can see how people would have problems with flirting if jealousy was involved. Flirting is not cheating. It it all comes down to trust.
25oh, and i've never slept with a married man fyi, seeing as I'm 21 and I don't know many married people.
26I hate these blog posts. This guy just reminds me of how douche-y men can be.
27I do tend to think more like a guy most of the time and most of the time agree with Steve and even if you don't like it he is giving you a pretty good look inside the mind of a man. He's just being honest so take it or leave it. Don't hate on the guy.
28lol I love this post ... has happened to me a couple of times ... but I hope I find a man who is confident enough in the relationship to understand harmless flirting ... as it is always an ego boost for both men n women ...
29I have a simpler answer: Taken dudes who flirt inappropriately are d-bags. Easy as that! (I'm not talking about light flirting; I'm talking about the dudes who spend a lot of time e-mailing you, buying you drinks, etc. while his lady is not looking.)
Seriously, ladies, if a married/taken man is putting the moves on you, he is a grade-A assclown. Why bother figuring out why he's a grade-A assclown? Doesn't change the fact that he's an assclown. Stop wasting your mental energy.
I'm tired of the "boys will be boys" mentality continually being used to excuse crappy character and boorish behavior. Also? I don't strive to emulate the women of Hooters. I'll always find someone like Lauren Bacall or Kathleen Hanna — smart, confident, independent — sexier than jiggling flesh displays. The right man will, too.
30As a guy I agree their is nothing wrong with casual lite flirting from someone in a relationship. It is nice to get a little boost from it. However, if either one of you do that too much then you might be missing something in your relationship. Assclown is a awesome phrase; can't wait to use it.
31"I don't strive to emulate the women of Hooters."
Yeah, I didn't like that part in his response either. Those girls just look tacky. Slutting it up doesn't automatically = sexy.
32great answer, bella.
33interesting answer steve and interesting on how the ladies think here.
it all
depends on the individual and the couple itself on the flirting issue. some couples are fine with it...others aren't.
34I think the whole flirting issue is something that should be handled according to each couples' wants and boundaries. My fiance and I are not ok with flirting outside the relationship, but that's our decision and what works for us. If another couple is perfectly fine with it (and they don't take it so far as to cheat), then that's what is right for them. Who am I to judge?
35Bella my sister works at hooters and she has 5 degrees. dont judge a book, or in this case, a woman by her short shorts.
36Go, Bellasugar! My sentiments exactly.
To quote Michael Scott from The Office:
37"Ryan has never made a sale. And he started a fire trying to make a cheesy pita. And everybody thinks he's a tease. Well you know what? He doesn't know anything, and neither do you. So suck on that!"
CaterpillarGirl, I hear what you're saying. I have no doubt that a lot of women who work at Hooters are bright, hard-working, and well-educated. I'm not judging their choice of employment, just saying that the Hooters aesthetic doesn't do it for me personally.
38I agree with bella!
And I really have an issue with the suggestion that women--once they find out a man is already taken--should push to see how far he will go. That's just trashy and you won't learn anything about "your game" because the guy is probably a jerk who'd hit on anything with a p****, and who cares about getting the attention of a man like that? Be a real woman and find out how good your game is by flirting with an available man (or men).
39CG that's ridiculous and untrue and thus, unhelpful. Any point you're trying to make is undone by the extremism of your example. there's nothing wrong with working at hooter's but god help us if that's what we should aspire to be as women.
40[3. It's an ego boost when women respond
4. It helps us have a reality check to make sure "we still got it".]
Right, right, a man's wife doesn't pay him enough attention and affection. So, he needs the validation of other women to get his ego boost fix. Gotcha. Insecure much?
[2. We do it because we're smart and know you have to keep the engine warm in case things fall apart with the current flame.]
That would make for not a loyal enough man when he refers to his wife as a current flame with room for others. Idealistically, married people want their flame to be everlasting.
[It's naughty and mischievous (obsessions any man, worth his salt, will not lose with age). It's like playing with fire because we know we have to be loyal, but it allows us to fantasize with the "what if".]
You know what else is naughty and mischievous. Sex with your wife in the car, on the beach, in the park, behind an alley way, with toys, in all different sorts of positions, etc. My husband plays with fire...with me. We're not dull by all means just because we both have no desire to flirt with others.
41Awesome answer Bella, I totally agree.
42I think that there are 2 reasons: #1 they just want an ego boost, and flirting can be lots of fun.
43#2 They actually want to sleep with you and are hoping that you won't mind that they are involved. These men think that if they are honest about it and you don't care, then they can have sex with you and you won't expect anything more. Steve- I think you forgot to mention this second category of men!
Steve's just telling it like it is. And there's honestly nothing wrong with flirting, even if you're in a relationship. If you are both flirts, then there should be an understanding that the flirting is all it is. I've also notice that when my g/f and I flirt with others, openly, it enhances our encounters later. It's all healthy, as long as there's no jealousy between either of you, and there is a firm bed of trust beneath you. Should one of you betray that trust, however, is when problems start to arise. So keep it honest and flirt away. have fun! And don't hate on Steve. He's probably breaking hundreds of "guy" rules by even sharing his opinions with you on these subjects!
44Krae whats untrue? and ridiculous exactly about my comment?
Arent we as women striving for equality? empowerment? forging our own way? Women at hooters make alot of money, using what God or a doctor gave them, I dont know any of them that feel used, or embarassed or ashamed of thier jobs, in fact many of them are in college and have more time to be themselves and study because they do make so much money. You should applaud them for at least knowing who they are, being comfortable and having a good time doing it.
45Worst advice EVER. This is horrible.
Bella: I'm tired of the "boys will be boys" mentality continually being used to excuse crappy character and boorish behavior. Also? I don't strive to emulate the women of Hooters. I'll always find someone like Lauren Bacall or Kathleen Hanna — smart, confident, independent — sexier than jiggling flesh displays. The right man will, too." Thank you Bella!!! I agree!!!!
1.I didn't realize REAL men appreciated ANY kind of art. Aren't you supposed to like football and beer?!?!
2.If you're ready to move on, you shouldn't be in the relationship anyway. Why be with someone you don't truly love and trust!?
3.Poor men and their fragile little ego's. Those things are always on the verge of crashing down huh? Learn to be like women and walk it off, toughen up.
4.Again with the ego's. Funny how much men base their worth on their attractiveness to women... Come on men, get empowered like all the women.
5. Yeah, it feels naughty because you know you shouldn't be doing it. Because it's wrong and instead of thinking about your sig. other's feelings, you are just thinking about yourself and having fun.
6."because we know we have to be loyal" Wow. Guys know they HAVE to be loyal, they aren't loyal b/c they love the woman they are with or because they want to respect her, but they are forced to be loyal by society. If you don't want to be loyal to someone, don't waste their time by telling them you will be.
This post reminds me why I think most boys (not men) are such immature dumb@sses. Guys need to quit just thinking of themselves first for once. Thank god my bf isn't an "average" guy. I love him.
46One more thing: "You know, like when a girl walks into a bar flaunting major cleavage, a super short skirt, and playing with her hair yet doesn't have the slightest intention of having sex with any of us."
Just b/c a girl wears what she wants to wear and goes where she wants to go does not mean she is required to have sex with every guy that finds her attractive. And it doesn't mean she is trying to tease you. She probably doesn't give a $hit about you in most cases. Do you seriously expect girls to limit their lives, limit their clothes, limit where we like to go for fun, b/c guys can't control their dicks!?!?!?!?!?
That sounds like the insane rape excuse: "Well, the girl was dressed like a hooker, so I raped her. It's her fault, not mine, she was asking for it!"
47Muirnea, I think taking the topic of flirting to the extreme of rape is a bit out there. I will have to agree with your #6 though. "If you don't want to be loyal to someone, don't waste their time by telling them you will be."
48Why is this guy even part of Sugar - this guy is a douche - and thats not only what I think but what my boyfriend and several of his guy friends said.
I move to take his posts and answers down. anyone else?
49It's interesting to see the various range of responses on this topic. Especially the negative ones. Steve's not saying anything that's crude or, for that matter, untrue. Women CAN tease and men can't. Flirting is a guy's nearest equilivant. Perhaps he could have chosen better words when talking about not being able to follow through with a flirt because the guy is taken, but that's the entire point of it all. It's just flirting. I'm sure not every woman who teases a guy (or flirts with him, for that matter) has the sole intention of taking him to bed. The same can be said of guys who flirt. They don't all want to bed the women they flirt with. It's more like honing their skills, much like an artist has to continue to draw or paint or skulpt to keep his skills refined. And remember, Steve is telling you things from a "Bad Boy's" point of view. he's not claiming to be an angel and a shoulder to cry on. He's being real. Cut him some slack.
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