Gender roles

[WARNING: this thread makes many references to the World of Warcraft, if you have any questions about specifics, post a comment and I'll try to address them.]   Me: You have not had anyone use the "/flirt" or "/kiss" emotes on any of your avatars??? It's happened to me three times already and all to the same character N: No, I have not. Me: *shrug* I'm not doing anything to encourage it N: I have had one random person give my newbie gnome some linen bags. but there was no flirting and my warrior has never been flirted with Me: huh N: and shes level 58 Me: wow maybe Lindera is just a looker N: heh is it people you're grouped with? or just people passing by? Me: well one (the third time) was one was as described in the blog: I was heading to Ironforge to do the fire feast quest and this guy just wanted to tag along and next thing I know we're fighting orcs in Wetlands to get through but it wasn't like I needed to group with anyone to get through, but I appreciated the help because the Orcs were at level 20ish and I was still only level 17. Well the point is that this 3rd guy was completely random too. He was a level 27 paladin. ok so I flirted back with him - he was at least nicer than the first NE guy in the newbie area The first time was just as completely random in the Night Elf starting area - the guy wouldn't leave me alone N: ah, you are flirting too :-) Me: well *blush* just with the 3rd guy the first guy was obnoxious so I didn't really respond the 2nd guy had to deal with my residual distrust after the 1st guy so I wasn't very receptive but I gave the 3rd guy the benefit of the doubt of course I didn't tell him I was a guy and it was kinda fun am I a bad girl? N: no, but you are going to end up flirted with more *grin* Me: well if its by someone completely different that it'll just start getting weird well it is weird now - it'll just be weirder I'm shocked that you haven't been hit on but I have by 3 completely different guys N: I did once get hit on in Redridge. on my paladin Me: oh? N: never on my warrior, never on my priest, never on my shaman, never on my druid, never on my hunter... Me: human female paladin? N: yes. one character out of 12 *grin* every character I have is female elf, dwarf, human, troll, undead, gnome... Me: this is just completely weird what am I doing differently? What happened to you in Redridge? N: some guy /flirted with me. i didn't respond he did a few times, and left. *shrug* oh, and he whispered me to complement my character's ass I put him on my ignore list. Me: ah N: no idea if he said anything more after that *grin* I have a "no sexual harassment" policy *grin* Me: it wasn't that bad with me they all started out fine and except for the first guy who was just an ass, the other two were quite nice N: nobody I've grouped with has ever flirted with me. You must come across more like a "real girl" than I do. Me: this is all new to me I've never been the target of flirting in quite this way before its weird N: so they initiated conversations? Me: yeah N: or invited you to groups? and how do you respond? Me: the first guy invited me to a group this was on my first day playing, I didn't know better so I accepted. the other two chatted me up first Maybe I'm just naive as a woman N: there must be some key difference in how we respond, i'm thinking. What do they "chat you up" about? Me: well, like I said the 3rd guy asked me where I was headed when I was on my way to Ironforge it was an empty stretch of road and he asked me if I minded some company I figured I was going through territory that was over my head so I didn't mind he followed me most of the way until we got to the orcs N: ok Me: he must have been checking out my ass the entire time bastard N: *grin* Me: *sigh* I probably would have too in his shoes i don't remember what happened with the 2nd guy N: animated ass doesn't do it for me *grin* Me: men are weird like that N: give me that real-life booty :-) Me: sure sure but suggestions of bodies are often enough for many gyus N: I wonder if this will occur less as you get to higher level areas. Me: *shrug* but it has been an interesting experience N: i wonder if it's because i tend to take leadership in the groups i'm in. people tend to view that as less feminine Me: well I pretty much solo for the most part N:so do i but in groups i know what i'm grouping for, where i'm going, and i tend to initiate. Me: sure, so do I, and when i'm in quest groups, its all business except for these 3 times and I think I was I was in transit in all three cases not in active combat at least for the 1st and 3rd anyway i don't remember much about the 2nd N: hmm i've never grouped for transit. Me: again, the 1st one was a mistake the 3rd because of the situation N: *grin* I'm just wondering if that's why I've never been flirted with! maybe there's a whole slew of people out there looking to "help" new female characters travel Me: Lindera is a great character to play Hunter's are fun I suppose if it helps get her levelled I'll take all the help I can get *shrug* it's just slightly disturbing N: hmmm... maybe it is just that we "real girls" learn early how to discourage that sort of thing in real life and it translate into WoW on a subconcious level. Me: that's possible N: i do find it really interesting that it's happened to you so often. and so rarely for me, in all the time I've played. Me: and only one character N: but I can only guess as to why. Me: yeah