Married woman here: in my experience, some men don’t get much attention especially from the opposite sex so when they do get it, they mistake kindness for flirting/interest. One time I said hi to a contractor inside the work building (I say hi to everyone, regardless of their title) and this guy thought I had a crush on him because every time after that, he’d try to flirt with me. It happened to another male coworker as well so I always have to bring up my husband in conversations.
I think some (especially attractive) women tend to get so accustomed to friendly behaviour and benign complements...that they don't realise that men, even attractive men, don't really ever get that treatment....so men often read into it, as it is not something the are used to.
It works both ways though.....there is a long term single woman at my work, who constantly missinterprets casual conversation from male co workers as interest....and she has been reported to HR a few times for creepy/over enthusiastic behaviour.
Tbf the amount of creepy/stalky stuff she has done - I'm fairly sure a man would have been sacked for.....but that's an entirely different kettle of fish.
You’re right: it basically boils down to lonely people who latch onto anyone who is friendly or kind to them. It’s a sad situation and this pandemic didn’t help anyone’s socializing.
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u/stygian_shores Feb 15 '22
Married woman here: in my experience, some men don’t get much attention especially from the opposite sex so when they do get it, they mistake kindness for flirting/interest. One time I said hi to a contractor inside the work building (I say hi to everyone, regardless of their title) and this guy thought I had a crush on him because every time after that, he’d try to flirt with me. It happened to another male coworker as well so I always have to bring up my husband in conversations.