From our original archives! Please forgive any old links and formatting quirks.

One of these gaggle guys can provide you with an endless supply of WTF?! moments. Cue the ambiguity and confusion! Luckily, the other one can write you a song about it (or brilliantly analyze it or write an amazing novel based off of it or make hysterical jokes about it or sit there looking so hot that you forget about it…).

Presenting! The Prospect You’re Not Sure Is A Prospect and The Accessory.

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The Prospect You’re Not Sure Is A Prospect

Your male friends will tell you that this guy is definitely a prospect, because really, can guys and girls ever truly be platonic friends? But despite their reassurances, you’re not yet convinced that The Prospect You’re Not Sure Is A Prospect is interested in you in a romantic way. Sometimes he seems notably excited to hear from you, and then other times he treats you with the same polite interest and attention that he shows everyone else in the room. You can’t help but be confused when he invites you out for a drink, but then spends a sizeable portion of the evening filling you in on his latest romantic escapades. And you still don’t know what to make of the party where he never left your side but then went home without even saying goodbye. Is he interested and just a little flaky? Or does he simply value you as an intelligent, attractive and platonic female friend?

The Prospect You’re Not Sure Is A Prospect is full of mixed signals, and you’re never quite sure what his intentions are. However, he is definitely in your scene and on your radar, and you proceed cautiously but with interest, not letting yourself read too much into his compliments, dinner invitations, and the fact that he told you about his latest break-up before sharing the news with anyone else. You think there might be something there, if only you could get a more consistent read on how he sees you…

Related WTF Posts
Non-Date Snapshot #1! The Networking-Non-Date
Non-Date Snapshot #3! The E-Non-Date
Ask Jess #1! How Should I Deal With Him Suddenly Avoiding Me?
Missed Hipster Connections

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The Accessory

This guy is SO funny/smart/charismatic/talented/good-looking. He boasts some notable trait or skill, whether it’s a sense of humor deserving of its own Comedy Central special or an uncanny ability to style his perfectly tousled hair and flash his striking blue eyes, which always makes him stand out. Your friends are all intelligent, but he is brilliant; you know many musicians burning up the local music scene, but his guitar skills inspire awe and adoration from women and fellow musicians alike. You’re proud to know someone like him, and he’s one of the first people you book for dinner when you hear that your out-of-town friends are visiting for the weekend. You can’t help but show off The Accessory and revel in the fact that this impressive guy is part of YOUR life!

You think that The Accessory is attracted to you, but you also know that, for whatever reason (he’s brilliant but homely, charismatic but flaky, gorgeous but dumb, etc.), the attraction isn’t really mutual. It’s clear that the responsible, fair thing to do would be to encourage him to find a girl who appreciates him and all his wonderfulness to the fullest. But he’s just so awesome! So you keep The Accessory orbiting in your sphere and active in your social scene. You take one for the team and continue inviting him around, making sure to limit your one-on-one time so that he doesn’t get the wrong idea. You know without a doubt that, someday, he’ll find a girl who is as impressed with him as you are AND who wants to rip off his clothes. But in the meantime, why not enjoy his company as much as possible?

Related WTF Posts
Non-Date Snapshot #2! The Group-Non-Date
The (R)emasculation of Modern Men

May 6, 2010

1 F-YEAH! F-YEAH!