How would you feel if you knew a person of the opposite orientation* found you attractive?

[Bicoastal]

*If straight--a gay person of the same sex
If gay--a straight person of the opposite sex
If bi--sit this one out

[mitchum]

1. It is always flattering

Why would it not be?

[Bicoastal]

3. I think we all know what this poll would look like...

...if posted on FreeRepublic.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Too late for that. A gay man once said I was "cute"

I laughed and said something like "too bad the girls are all too shy to tell me that to my face :)"

[Romulox]

4. It's happened to me a few times...I didn't have much reaction either way other than "thanks but no."

Though, one time in college a man slowed down to "see if I needed a ride". That was the only time I felt uncomfortable.

Straight/male fwiw

[Bicoastal]

11. As a straight member of the New York musical theater scene...

...I've been in only one truly uncomfortable situation. A bunch of us--straight, gay, both sexes--went to a gay piano bar in the East Village.

One older guy came in--clearly very drunk--and got VERY physical. I got a larger friend (I'm only 5 ft. 6) to intervene on my behalf.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. Flattered.

Any other reaction would be weird.

[Tailormyst]

6. I am always flattered to know ANYONE finds me attractive !

[Beetwasher]

7. It's Always Flattering

I've been hit on by gay men and I'm always flattered whenever it happens. Why wouldn't I be?

[leftstreet]

8. Why do so many think if someone is attracted to you they want to assault you?

Seems to be the argument being made by the nutz for excluding gays from the military.

I worry more about the mentality of those who assume physical attraction is synonymous with sexual assault.

:scared:

[Lilith Velkor]

44. Probably because they assault the ones they are attracted to

It's a bit more common than most folks believe.

[Rob H.]

9. Flattered

I've been hit on by other men just a handful of times but have been flattered every time.

[Cant trust em]

10. Flattered, but a little weirded out.

I've had this happen and it's a complicated set of feelings.

[mike_c]

12. other-- amused, surprised, not really caring much....

Not likely, anyway. I'm past the point in life where "attractive" is supplanted by "dignified," at least on good days. :rofl:

[dmallind]

13. Highly fricking surprised to be honest

I suppose I should sit this out as I am bi technically (I suspect almost all of us are to some extent, whether acted on or not) but my male interaction is not really based on attraction beyond a basic acceptability level and I am pretty sure few gay men outside a certain small subset are really gaga over pasty whitebread fading weightlifters with prodigious beer guts.

[Soylent Brice]

14. flattered. i would also like to add that

for whatever reason i have always been found attractive more so by men than by women. not that it matters, but i'm not sure exactly why.

why wife finds it amusing. almost too amusing.

[Better Believe It]

15. I would tell them they need to have their eyes checked!

:)

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. Fine as long as they don't make advances on me.

Had a gay guy make a very overt pass at me once.
I was thoroughly surprised and even more disgusted.

I was more disguated with the overt sexual offer he threw on the table.
Had he merely said I was good lookin or somthing I would've not been bothered.

[lapislzi]

17. Always flattered

Not that it's happened very often. It's like, "wow, girls think I'm hot, too!"

[dustbunnie]

18. It's happened many times, and the reaction is the same whether men or women do it.

Depends entirely on the approach. Slobbering drunks are never welcome, nor are sleazy stalkers. Flirty, sexy, confident, funny, are good. These qualities or traits transcend gender.

[EFerrari]

25. Yep.

:)

[asdjrocky]

19. Always flattered.

I remember a long time ago wondering out loud if I might be gay, like the true melodramatic idiot I often tend to be, to a gay friend of my and he told me if I was gay he'd be all over me.

How can you not like someone finding you attractive? I was flattered.

[krispos42]

20. I'd be afraid of putting my foot in my mouth

I'd be flattered, though! But afraid of a sort of a Seinfled-esque "not that there's anything wrong with that!" moment. Heck, people (including myself) put their feet in their mouths all the time here, on an internet discussion board that is far slower than a verbal conversation and gives you an hour to edit!

Amplified by the fact that I've never been hit on by anybody of either gender! I'd probably ask him if he had a sister that was single. And that probably wouldn't work out too well.

[Better Believe It]

31. The person flattering you would consider that a strange response.

Of course, they might get turned on by that!

I know I would!

:)

[krispos42]

32. See, foot in mouth!

:rofl:

[dysfunctional press]

21. scared.

because they're obviously deranged & psychotic. possibly dangerously so.

[blondeatlast]

22. I have been, am straight, and I found it quite flattering.

One was a woman of considerable style and intellect--why wouldn't I be flattered?

[closeupready]

23. Both - it's nice to know someone finds something about you beautiful,

but it does sort of make me a little uncomfortable - not that this is THEIR fault, it's totally my own hang-up. Not quite sure why.

[cali]

24. I don't believe there is such a thing as an opposite orientation

I'm essentially hetero, but I've had sexual encounters with women. I'm not voting because I can understand that people might categorize me as bi- though as I said, I'm pretty hetero. In any case, depending on who and how, I'd be flattered or annoyed.

[pearl]

26. Explain to them

We're not on the same team so to speak but I would be thrilled to have a new best friend.

[B Calm]

27. At my age I would feel flattered if anybody found me attractive!

[DURHAM D]

28. Amused.

A couple of years ago a charming and funny young man half my age was hitting on me. I told him I was twice his age and he needed to look elsewhere. He asked me how old I am. I told him and he said "I will be back in a minute". He returned with another young man and they declared that adding their two ages together almost equaled my age so game on. I was totally shocked and very, very amused. Actually they were very sweet.

Then I told him that there was a remaining problem in that I am a lesbian. They were momentarily stumped. The two guys then began to discuss a solution to the problem and realized they couldn't come up with one that involved them but they did have a couple of female friends that were bi or lesbians. So, they asked if I wanted an introduction. I told them if they were young that did not resolve the original problem of "old enough to be their grandmother".

So, after we got through with all of the good natured back and forth I became friends with the first young man. He has graduated from college now and moved away but stays in contact.

[elocs]

29. Now are they the opposite orientation or am I?

;-) :shrug:

[Swamp Rat]

30. Horny?

:blush:

[Toucano]

33. You devil, Swamp Rat.

I was going to say, "Aroused".

Cheers!

[Swamp Rat]

35. ¿Todo bien, tuanis?

:D :hi: Estoy echando de menos CR (esp. San Ramón). :cry:

[Toucano]

37. Todo tuanis, mae!

¡Siempre pura vida!

[w8liftinglady]

40. lol..that's what I was going to say ;)

[Posteritatis]

34. Flattered or confused, depending on my current mood. (nt)

[LibertyLover]

36. I am overweight, out of shape and over 35 - way over 35 - so

if a lesbian found me attractive, I'd wonder at her sanity. Heck, I wonder at my husband's sanity because he says he loves me and finds me attractive :rofl: , so I chose "Other". Seriously, I'm nothing to write home about, so I would wonder what a person of the opposite orientation saw in me that attracted them.

[flvegan]

38. I am always extremely flattered when someone finds me attractive.

Don't care if they're male or female, gay or straight.

[burrowowl]

39. Heterosexual men can be a pain

since many think they can "cure" you.

[pipi_k]

41. Amused...I've been approached a number of times

by lesbians who said they found me attractive.

I think I was amused because I honestly couldn't (still can't) see why another woman would find me sexually attractive.

anyway, I thanked them and that was that.

:7

[Starry Messenger]

42. Flattered.

It's nice to feel cute. :)

[Caliman73]

43. Flattered.

It has happened to me a couple of times. There are relatively few dance clubs in the city where I live. Two of the more popular ones are gay friendly. I have been approached and asked to dance by other men. Aside from feeling a bit awkward about turning down the dance, I felt flattered. I could never understand why some men get all bent out of shape if another man finds them attractive. It isn't about sending out a "gay vibe" it is about being considered attractive. What, do these guys think, that gay men and lesbians have a magic sense that enables them to automatically sort out who is straight and therefore off limits?

[alphafemale]

45. Flattered...but would be really freaked if the person was pushy and persistent

But the same feeling would stand if a person in my "orientation" didn't back off if I told them I wasn't interested.

Stalking is stalking.

[Lisa0825]

47. Exactly. Orientation doesn't matter. It's about unwelcome advances.

But just being told I was found attractive??? I'd take it as a compliment from either gender!

[haele]

46. Having had that happen before - the same way I would with anyone

Unless they get all creepy-stalker on me, we either stay at the same social level, or take it to a different level, depending on how I felt about it.

And having spent my time in the military - I knew I was serving next to Gays and Lesbians within a day or two of stepping off the bus into bootcamp.
Orientation itself didn't matter. The entirety of person mattered. An asshole was an asshole, a creep was a creep, the funny instructor was a great person you trusted and respected, a good friend and bosom buddy with whom you "clicked" was a friend no matter if they were gay, straight or in between.

Haele