Love + Sex

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Joe Hottie: Where have all the alpha males gone?

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Getty Images


Hi there,

First off, I apologize for the long time between these posts. I'm just now settled back in the city after attending to some family business, so hopefully things get back to normal soon.

While I was out, my editor Christie directed me towards a question that Leonora had posted on her Cosmofied blog . "There must be an epidemic going on, because I cannot, for the freaking life of me, find one man who is interested in hitting on women," Leonora complained. "Have you [men] become so lazy that you won't make a first move, even when it's clear a girl is checking you out?"

In a back-and-forth email correspondence, Christie echoed this sentiment. "Where have all the alpha males gone?," she asked me, mentioning that she's been asked out three times on Facebook in the past week or two, but that all those guys could've asked her out in person when they initially met. I should mention here that both Christie and Leonora are very cute girls, so they're probably not the only ones who are plagued by the scourge of apathetic men.

At first I thought that the bars you ladies are hanging out are evidently a lot different than the bars that I visit. At my favored watering holes, the vast majority of the male population seems to be hitting on any female who is upright and conscious. But then I realized there might be a disconnect about when and why guys are hitting on you ladies

Here's the thing: There's a big difference between guys hitting on chicks because they're trying to go home with them that night (which happens often), and guys who are hitting on girls because they want to date them (a much rarer occurrence). Maybe guys aren't pursuing women as much because there are plenty of attractive females in New York, and sex is easy to come by. The unfortunate reality--at least as far as traditional romantics are concerned--is that you don't have to ask someone out to dinner in order to get them to sleep with you anymore. Now it's a mere afterthought. Meet a girl who isn't going to hook up with you that night? Well, maybe you'll ask her for your number and call her later, but there's just as good a chance that you'll stumble into someone else. (Or, maybe you'll go the lazy man's route--email or Facebook. Sorry, Christie!)

And stumble is an accurate word there: it doesn't really require that much effort to meet females, at least in New York. They're everywhere! So, a lot of guys probably end up being passive about the whole process because there's no pressure to be aggressive.

That s just one man s take on Leo s question. What do you think?


Posted by J.H.

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  1. 1. Joe Hottie: Lazy Lads?

From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 55
  • joshsmom's Avatar
    Posted by joshsmom Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:16pm PDT

    I agree with you.

    I also think that at some places the women are more aggressive with the flirting, so men here in NYC men really do get to pick and choose.

    Some will go home with anything b/c it is easier that pursuing the challenge or competing with other men for a better looking girl.

    I have also heard from some men (who I think have low self esteem)who say that they do not want the more attractive girls b/c they do not want to deal with the drama that they assume comes with pretty girls.

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  • RyanMo's Avatar
    Posted by RyanMo Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:37pm PDT

    Agreed... there is nothing ambiguous about the clearly intoxicated guy in the club who's been freakin you on the dance floor and then asks if you want to cab back home with him, or the guy at the bar buying you drinks while you talk and he stares at your chest. Define, "ask you out". If what you want is a genuine opportunity to get to know someone, then those guys who asked on Facebook choose to take the "less threatening", albeit lazy, approach to confronting you about it.

    Being asked out at the bar or club can often times be interpreted by a woman as "he just wants a piece of a**". Asking for your number instead or your facebook screen name would hopefully suggest that he is willing to go beyond the club or bar scene to get to know the person behind the skimpy dress rather than just getting underneath the skimpy dress.

    See, this is what gets frustrating with the dating scene. We can either be Pigs or ----- depending on the circumstances. Chivalry has ended, and in turn it has made some men who may be genuinely interested in a woman hesitant if she appears too independant or even in some cases snobbish. Word of advice as well, dont roll with a crew of like 6 girls deep and one Queen Latifah esque friend playing body guard while you all dance with each other together on the floor or huddle up against the wall and then wonder why guys don't respond to your gestures.

    Rant over.

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  • Obama's Avatar
    Posted by Obama Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:07pm PDT

    A lot of women in NYC have STD's could be a reason why.

    Report Abuse
  • michael n's Avatar
    Posted by michael n Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:20pm PDT

    Yes women say they want an "ALFA" male. Unfortunatly in today's society if a man took control, asked that women that has been flirting, well turns out he was wrong. Now lets talk sexual harrassment. Really most every women says give me a guy with emotions, someone I can cuddle next too. Well that might work for a short time. Until the sex stops. Be real "girls" Just be straight, tell the guy directly what you want, get rid of the darn guess work, we can not read minds, JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT, remove the guess work. OH YA, nudity always works as an ice breaker.

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  • trebuchet30303's Avatar
    Posted by trebuchet30303 Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:11am PDT

    "even when it's clear a girl is checking you out"

    Heh. Women's ideas of "clear" may not coincide with those of men. Some guys---especially those who don't have egos the size of Mt. Rushmore--- may have to be hit over the head with a woman's interest. ( see Michael's last remarks, above. :D )

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  • superman's Avatar
    Posted by superman Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:06am PDT

    maybe, just maybe, us men are tired of woman's crap! today's modern woman thinks she can say or do anything she wants to a man and we're just supposed to take it! no way, you guys just aren't worth it. most of you think it's okay to yell and scream instead of talking. you play keep away with are kids after the divorce. you think it's alright to sleep around(it's not) if women were supposed to be slutty, then your brains wouldn't release a chemical during sex to promote bonding.(fact!) maybe, just maybe, us men are tired of being treated like sh*t!

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  • swissmiss162's Avatar
    Posted by swissmiss162 Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:32am PDT

    i agree with 'superman' im a girl and ive recently given up a lot of hope trying to hang around other girls because all they do is complain that their guy isnt as sympathetic as they want or isnt as 'alpha male' as they want. and i cant deal with all of it. if i want to talk to a guy or get his attention, im not afraid to go up to him and start talking. im sick of the girls attitude like 'omg why wont he come over here, im clearly checking him out' because all they are doing is staring at them or giggling with their freinds about them... and ive talked to plenty of my guy friends and they all agree that they don't know what that means. so girls, if you are going to complain, then atleast make the first move, come on. and don't complain when a guy actually comes up to you... hes not harrassing you hes just 'checking you out'. seriously.

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  • Matchless in Maryland's Avatar
    Posted by Matchless in Maryland Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:29am PDT

    I'm just now trying to get back into the dating scene and am not looking forward to it. "Superman" makes some valid points but I'm not really willing to throw in the towel, yet. It's just gotten to be so hard to know where to start with anyone these days. I joined a dating site in the last month and sent some confident, upbeat, honest emails to women who I matched up with nearly perfectly and got zippo! I even went to high school with one of them! The fact is that romantic relationships have been commoditized and you must now "sell" yourself to the other side. Before long, something like the SEC is going to come along to regulate our relationships because we have become too fixated on being sold the perfect "good".

    They actually have "dating coaches" now. They'll sell you Standard, Premium and VIP level packages on how to approach people, be it on-line, in person, etc. I caught myself actually considering this. Not that these people don't have helpful things to say but what have we come to here. I've read some bad profiles before but mine's not one of them because I know how to express myself. What would such a "coach" have me morph into? Then when I've successfully "sold" myself to the unwitting woman, has she gotten what she expected? It all just seems a little less than genuine, to me

    As for the bar scene, well I just won't do it. I hate noise and especially when it's my voice trying to yell over the house music. Not to mentioned how dignified it is (not). However, if I am in a bar and I get an obvious signal, I'm certainly not going to ignore it. By the same token, though, when I do act on it, I'm not going to be jerked around. I have no problems walking away as easily as I walked up.

    The bottom line is that you should treat people with respect and as a fellow person who may be in the same position.

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  • MistressMinx _'s Avatar
    Posted by MistressMinx _ Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:04am PDT

    I too have been wondering what happened to the Alpha Male. I'm all for equal rights, but what happened to a guy asking a girl out, or holding the door open for her?

    I don't live in a big city like NY, but still, a large metropolitan area. And, for all the flirting I try to do, nothing. I figure its one of two things (1) I'm no longer as young or as fit as I could be; or (2) men just don't have the balls (i.e., not alpha enough) to ask a confident, independent woman out.

    I don't do bar scenes because those "offers" typically mean one thing and I don't believe in one night stands.

    So, yeah, where have all the alpha males gone?

    Report Abuse
  • biancadarling's Avatar
    Posted by biancadarling Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:25am PDT

    I need an alpha man!!! Living in NY and the "men" here are slowly killing all of the romance, excitment and fun dating should be!

    After many retarded "heading downtown, where r u?" late night text messages from various other lazy players, I am finally anticipating a real date with a guy that strikes me as smart, fun and decent. I am fantasizing about a hot steamy date with a mojitos and skimpy clothes, sexy smooth talk, flirty banter and some hot summernight kisses after maybe some dancing and here is the last minute email I get:

    "Hey there - hows it going? So where do you want to go tonite? I know a few places near me but don't know your hood to well - am open to suggestions. Perhaps if you know of a place with a dart board - those are always fun... ok let me know - I am also open to just wander"

    Hmmm well that is just not turning me on...in addition he was 15 minutes late...

    All of the new York men out there please get your s* together. Give the girl a real call at a normal hour, ask her out for a drink at a normal time, suggest a place or some options, show up on time. It's not that hard and the rewards will be tremendous!

    The the whole sex thing: well you are damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. If you do come on to a guy strongly he thinks your are desparate horny, lonely, slutty. If you don't he starts hooking up with all of his other slutty dates and forgets about that stuck-up high maintenance girl giving him such a hard time. If you just make out with him a bit well then you are a c*-tease playing mind gimes trying to trick him into a relationship.

    To all of the boys reading this please "man up" and show us that the gentleman is not dead.

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