So you say to yourself, it's hopeless,

I've tried everything, men are another species, I do not understand them.

Many, many, many women say the same things, and many have even given up on the dating scene altogether.

Do me a favor: don't give up.

Read on and see if what I'm about to say doesn't change your dating acumen forever.

Now ladies, the operative idea is this:

context is everything.

What the heck does that mean?
It means this.
When you embark upon your dating journey, you are to approach it from the standpoint of being in control.
You are to do this:

1.	Keep the focus on you. This is YOUR game, not his. You are out to judge him, see if he's good enough, determine whether you're interested. You are not, repeat NOT to feel insecure or otherwise worried about what he thinks of you.
2.	Ask questions. Forget what everyone has told you about not asking a man questions. You need information; therefore, you need to ask questions. But do just that -- get information. And whatever you do, don't ask questions like a district attorney. Determine what information you need to have, and then formulate your questions in a cute and funny way!
3.	Don't have an alternative agenda. This is hard to explain, but the crux of it is that many women enter opposite sex encounters "wanting" or "expecting" something. Men feel this and it's scary. Just enter the encounter with no expectations or hopes, and think of it as strictly an information gathering session.
4.	Don't have an alternative agenda. This is hard to explain, but the crux of it is that many women enter opposite sex encounters "wanting" or "expecting" something. Men feel this and it's scary. Just enter the encounter with no expectations or hopes, and think of it as strictly an information gathering session.
5.	Listen. Listen to what he says. Smile and nod. Don't react, respond, or otherwise show judgment. Accept his answers at face value and be done with it.

Now, two more things:
first, I want you to meditate on what I've just said. Go find a quiet corner and assimilate these ideas into your consciousness.
Second, get yourself into a situation where you can practice these techniques and gather information.