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For me flirting accompanies us throughout life. Scrolling through previous messages, especially from North American contributors, confirms that flirting is not as natural as elsewhere in North America due to "sexual harrassment laws". However, to comment on Mr "Don't Dare's" comment, flirting does usually not include "running a finger down a spine". I remember and appreciate the courageous Latin american women working for the UN who voted against the application of "sexual harrassment laws" at their workplace as they did not want to miss nice compliments.
Christina, Germany

Women are less women than they used to be... a fun glance will usually get a sneer in return. A guy has to purposely avoid eye contact, much less a friendly nod or, perish the thought, a nice word or compliment.
John Van-Zwienen, USA

I have been happily married for 10 years. I love to flirt, it's a natural gift, and harmless if you can handle it. For me it's not a serious thing For most men, they can't control themselves and act upon it far too seriously.
Kaye Smith, USA

I like flirting with girls. The only problem is that I am not very good at it so if anyone of you expert flirters out there (like Mr De Souza and his didgery doo) could give me some pointers i would be most grateful.
Michael Norton, UK

I think the art of flirting is under heavy attack with the way sexual harassment laws are being interpreted, to the point that any innocence in the act is not recognised. It is a reversion to the days of being hung for sheep stealing.
Stewart, USA

Chemistry is chemistry . . . whether artificially or naturally induced. If you can help a person become more comfortable with themselves, then it can't be construed as a negative thing.
Deborah Harrison, United States

I don't think that the art of flirting is dead. When my husband met me he flirted with me constantly just to see me smile. This is what I fell in love with and to this day when he's out of town on business he'll call and flirt over the phone because he knows it makes me smile.
Lisa, USA

Flirting is NOT dead by far. I work in offices predominantly populated by women and I've led a very very happy working life. I'm getting married soon so the flirting has been severely cut back. But I still enjoy a flirty glance. It's fun, it makes the day much more pleasant, it's very dangerous!
Mark Thompson, UK

Society raises expectations too high. Everyone wants "Mr(s) Perfect" and is unwilling to consider anyone else. Why flirt with someone unless you are interested in them. I know many men (including myself) who are pretty much resigned to staying single, and can't be bothered to 'Flirt' with women who do not return the attention. The same is probably true of many women.
George Garratt, UK

I hope to hell it's not dead otherwise we're all in for a very boring life! I love it and only uptight people would misconstrue innocent flirting as not politically correct. It's kind of sad!
Shiloh, Canada

I think the average Australian males' idea of flirting is "how 'bout another beer?". Wooing with a digeridoo (see Paul De Souza) sounds like a great idea.
Allison, Australia

Definitely not!!!! I have spent many very happy hours practising my flirting skills and have to say that I have received many compliments on my flirting. How can any pastime that is so much fun ever die out? Long live the flirts!!!
Sally, UK

Flirting or sexual harassment? One can easily be interpreted for the other and land you in big trouble. Best to stay clear of it. Stay single and childless until it is made clearer what you can and can't do.
Steve Cowell, England

Flirting is dead in England. Women are almost wholly to blame. Chivalry, courtesy and attention by men is all too often misconstrued by women with their politically correct views. They deem it to be denigrating, subservient and politically incorrect. It's a great shame, because many other countries, in particular the Latin ones, have strong yet flirtatious women. They welcome the attentions of men and social interaction is more natural.
Paul Venables, ENGLAND

Flirting? Surely you are having a laugh. The signals are so often incorrectly understood that when I am out I don't look at anybody that I don't already know for fear of being called perv.
Glen Malcolm, UK

Styles will change, but flirting will always be.
Robert Delford Brown, USA

Flirting is one of the most important aspects of body language we have. It is a pity more people do not practice the art. Maybe the country would be a better place.
Montell, UK

It is not quit dead, but it is on life support. Between political correctness and sexual harassment it is dangerous for any male past puberty to flirt.
Richard T Ketchum, USA

Yes, I definitely feel that the art of flirting is long dead and gone, especially in Singapore. In Singapore, flirting is viewed as a type of behaviour depicting a promiscuous woman, one whose morals should be questioned. It is sad that such an innocent act of flirtation, one to titillate the senses is viewed as such. A pity isn't it?
Chua Wee Ling, Singapore

Flirting is very much alive, but most men have no idea. At least not the younger ones. As for the rest of us, it's still just about the best game ever invented. But once you're seriously attached, well...so maybe I've got rusty these past few years.
Ian Croll, USA

On the contrary, now you have to be more subtle, more ambiguous. It's even more enjoyable now than it used to be.
Elwood, Brazil

No, it's not at all dead-- for some of us. I have had the misfortune of losing two wives to cancer, in 1977 and 1986. After both deaths it was flirting and proper courtship that helped me remarry, especially to the widow I am now married to. Together we are raising our combined family of 17 children, which has already yielded 25 grandchildren! No, flirting is not dead, by any means!
Gary Gillum, USA

It's lost in North America. Except with men over 65 and under 5! The elderly recall the way things were in the 40s and have not lost that charm. And any five year old is a master at being coy!
Brigitte Lawson, Canada

Out in the bush I don't get to see many women face to face and have to practice with my digery-doo. I use it to call to women who can hear it over five miles away. I once digery-dood a women from a distance of 10 miles. It was the happiest day of my life.
Paul De Souza, Australia

NO WAY!! I think flirting is another good way of making contact with people, beit at work or at social events, it is a way of getting noticed And it still provides you with that buzz that you still have the ability to get the attention of an attractive woman. Bond still does it better though!!
Jason, UK

It's an impossibility for flirting to be dead as it is based upon basic animal instincts (or so I'm told) it has simply been repressed. I see many people flirting in everyday life, I can't be the only one.
Maybe its our generation (I'm 19) that has evolved a new set of signals to compensate for the PC way we are all supposed to act, and the older generations have lost touch.
Chris Hill, UK

I drink shandy and am a tax advisor. Therefore I do not flirt with anyone except Mrs McMullen and only at weekends. This kind of disgraceful behaviour needs to be stopped for the sake of the children!!!!
Steve McMullen, UK

Why, hello my pretty . . .
Chris Locke, UK

As long as I am there on the face of this Planet, NO I don't think so.
Rafey, United States

Not at all. At least in my country, people do it all the time.
Celso, Brazil

I don't think its dead and I don't think its alive and well either.
Many may construe flirting as sexual harassment. Is unwanted flirting sexual harassment? While I may have social grace others may not be as blessed. I may also make poor choices without the intent to harm. I may try to make a discrete complement that is unappreciated.
Now, meant to be controversial: If a married male boss expresses himself at an after hours party (where alcohol is had) by running his finger down the exposed spine of a woman wearing a bare-back dress, is that sexual harassment? Or is that a compliment? Or is that inappropriate behaviour? If the woman hardly knew this man would it be better or worse?
Should she rightly fear for her job? and what he may want? Or is it an innocent expression at a safe party where a man finds a woman attractive. Is this flirting or an expression of power, or both. little much alcohol one's married boss may run their finger down the spine of a woman wearing a bare back evening dress of a subordinate.
Don't Dare, USA

To much insistence of equal identities between men and women result in a cold sexual. As a result of the inability of expression, people resort to sadism to others. Think of sex as a lubricant. Vivre la difference, and learn from the French. Equal rights does not mean every sexual encounter is a potential sexual harassment case, although that in "political correctness" is legitimate income.
Yogi Nero, USA

Modern western culture no longer encourages men to take as much initiative as flirting requires. Attraction is based more on display (i.e. body shape, expensive or esoteric fashion, etc.) than on communication. Most men only flirt if they already believe they have the girl's attention. It isn't a dead art, but it's usually (unfortunately) bypassed these days because by the time you could flirt with someone, they have already made up their mind.
Justin, USA

In the US we live in a society obsessed with political correctness. We've grown to afraid to express our feelings. This has badly affected social interaction. As far as I'm concerned, flirting is passe in the States.
Waldo Martin, United States

NO WAY!! I think flirting is another good way of making contact with people, be it at work or at social events, it is a way of getting noticed And it still provides you with that buzz that you still have the ability to get the attention of an attractive woman. Bond still does it better though!!
Jason, UK

It depends on who's flirting.
T.J. Cassidy, USA

I'm very pleased to say the answer to that is no. Most of my work colleagues are men, and we manage to successfully flirt in a harmless and humorous way. There is also (perhaps because of the length of time we have worked with each other) no problem about the odd tickle or pat on the bottom. It really is good when everyone isn't uptight about being Politically Correct!
Nicola, England

Flirting has become more aggressive and expectant these days. Where people used to tease they more commonly just ask you right out or just grab hold and kiss you when drunk. Flirting can be fun, but can also be misleading and in these days where you can be arrested or sued for the most unassuming of remarks, misunderstandings can cause upset beyond a few tears. How am I to be sure that the girl I am flirting with won't get upset and sue me for emotional damages? Far-fetched, I know, but I use it only to demonstrate why people could believe that flirting is dead. Flirting is not dead - it's just hibernating.
Paul Charters, England

Flirting is about sexual tension. A man feels sexy, a woman feels tense.
Jonathan Gregory, GB

In the world of Rock and Roll Dance & Jive - It's far from dead.
Brian, UK

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