People are in general very, very bad at spotting signs of interest. This is not unique to you. - The non-verbal communication channel for “I’d like to get to know you in a romantic fashion” just does not work very well at all.
Trying to become adept at reading it is, of course, possible but unless you have sky high social intelligence to begin with, I do not recommend it.
What you need to do instead is figure out how to express unambiguous, unmistakable interest in a way that does not scare the shit out of potential romantic partners. If someone doesn’t do this, the both of you are potentially running around as the unwitting participants in a real-life romantic comedy where everyone is interested, but also assume that the other party is not.
So, someone has to use their words. Be clear, be honest, be flattering (but still honest), don’t make it an ultimatum, and leave their lines of retreat open, both literally and socially. Feeling cornered isn’t a turnon for anyone.
Rejection is not the end of the world. You are asking a question, that is all, and unless you do so in quite uniquely repulsive a manner, all that will result is that you get an honest answer, which can only leave you better off.
People are in general very, very bad at spotting signs of interest. This is not unique to you. - The non-verbal communication channel for “I’d like to get to know you in a romantic fashion” just does not work very well at all.
Trying to become adept at reading it is, of course, possible but unless you have sky high social intelligence to begin with, I do not recommend it.
What you need to do instead is figure out how to express unambiguous, unmistakable interest in a way that does not scare the shit out of potential romantic partners. If someone doesn’t do this, the both of you are potentially running around as the unwitting participants in a real-life romantic comedy where everyone is interested, but also assume that the other party is not.
So, someone has to use their words. Be clear, be honest, be flattering (but still honest), don’t make it an ultimatum, and leave their lines of retreat open, both literally and socially. Feeling cornered isn’t a turnon for anyone.
Rejection is not the end of the world. You are asking a question, that is all, and unless you do so in quite uniquely repulsive a manner, all that will result is that you get an honest answer, which can only leave you better off.