Since I KNOW all of you are SUCH ladykillers! Obviously I've been single for 7+ months, and I'm really trying to "get out there" and date.

Unfortunately, I have no clue what I am doing. I never really "dated" my ex, as we lived together first. And before her I only had 2 "girlfriends", both of which I also never really went on a date with.

So I'm asking this sincerely, what. do. I. do?

Have you asked Google? It is not a unique problem, you know...

I have. But I can't have a conversation with Google. It's very one sided.

Do what you think is best. If you make mistakes, ah what the hell, that's all part of growing up.

Really man, it just depends on what you are looking for, another relationship or fun

Friendly, fun, direct. Interested, engaged, attentive.

This happened to me about a week ago...

I'm at a party, wearing a Michigan hat, and a girl comes up to me and starts to talk to me, asking whether I'm from Michigan. I said "No, but my family is." And that is literally all I could say. Because I just froze. FIX ME.

Confidence, confidence, confidence.

Have you considered online dating? Or getting a friend to set you up? Maybe it'll reduce the awkwardness since you're both in the same boat.

explain why youre wearing the hat
ask if she is from there
make up a time you went there
ANYTHING

Make it about her if you want to be the aggressor, which in our society men are expected to be the aggressor.

This is one of the few advantages of being gay, you can be more flexible in terms of roles when it comes to that sort of stuff. You can be pursued and be the pursuer with equal confidence.

I'd recommend just talking to start with if you find yourself frozen a lot...just say anything that comes to mind that seems appropriate, make up a story if you have to, talk about things going on around you if you're at a party, if you don't know what to say ask stuff about her.

I've considered it. Seems odd, though.

My friends have all "suggested" setting me up, yet none have. I'm open to that. I even said I'd do a blind date. Although they have tried setting me up in a social setting, but I'm not good at that. I think I would do better one on one.

What in god's name are you talking about?

Umm, how do you talk to people normally? I don't see why there should be a difference. Talk as you would talk to anyone. You're overthinking things, I think. Trying too hard likely will get you nowhere. Of course this is all coming from someone that has never actively pursued another person before. I just don't worry about anything and figure eventually I will meet someone and things will just happen naturally. Or that wont ever happen and I'm ok with that too. Are you in some sort of hurry?

Being a top vs. being a bottom.

You are caring too much. Just don't care and don't put on an act and everything will take care of itself. Read Batnanna's post above.

Do not take advice on how to talk to women. It never works because you need to learn from experience and mistakes...everyone has an embarrassing story or a disastrous encounter with a girl, you've got to get yours before you can have success. Nobody starts out like Casanova, despite what people on here may tell you.

Practice on strippers. Some of them are good listeners and will be honest (except for about how hot they are for you) and if you fuck-up with them, who cares.

Men are generally expected to pursue women, no? As in, they're the ones who are expected to approach them, engage in conversation, ask them out, make the first move, etc. Of course there are women who do this too but nobody expects women to do it as a general rule...it's usually men, especially in places like Latin America (from personal experience). Whereas if you're gay, you're free of having to necessarily be the pursuer...you can wait for someone else to approach you.

Me Chippy!
You Jane!

If all else fails take your pick:

a) "Hey baby, I'm ready for some FUN, I already have the F and the N, now all I need is U!"
b) "If I had one chance to rearrange the alphabet, I would put U and I together"
c) "I like maths. You want to go to my room, add the bed, subtract your clothes, divide your legs and multiply?"

Which cheesy-as-shit line is your preference? I'd opt for (b) if it were me.

Or you could use this:

"There are 256 bones in your body! Would you like another?"

Yeah, be THAT guy.

4 shots of Jack = instant confidence

You should have asked her if she was from Michigan. If yes, how long has she been living where you are (Arizona, right?), what does she do for work, etc. If no, skip the "how long" question and maybe make some small talk about how you could never survive in Michigan compared to Arizona with the cold, blah blah blah, etc.

The key is small talk when you're first talking to a girl. If you can master the small talk, it can build into a more extensive convo.

I've never tried it, as I think it's odd too, but I would recommend it considering that you're looking for a one-on-one situation. Because yeah, getting set up at a party might make you nervous with your friends around. And I, personally, think just trying to talk to girls at a bar is kinda weird/creepy (even if it works for a lot of people).

I just imagine that with online dating, since you're both obviously doing it because you're having trouble finding someone through normal means, it kinda eases the tension. You both know why you're there. You don't have to worry about meeting a girl through a friend and her misunderstanding your intentions as wanting to be "just friends," because you're already on this date.

Check up on those facts