Urban Thought Collective

It was 8:15 AM. I was already fifteen minutes late for my eight o’clock class. This would be my third tardy in the last two weeks. The professor had given me that “you might as well go ahead and drop cause you aren’t passing my class” looks the last time I strolled in halfway through her calling the roll. I was well aware of all that but I couldn’t help myself. I had to stop and talk to The Golden Child. It’s not everyday that a brother gets an opportunity to speak to a goddess. She was on her way to another class in the same building but didn’t seem to be in any rush to get there.

Maybe being fashionably late was her style too. Her name was Tori; she was from Philly, a junior finance major, Delta, and easily the most beautiful woman on campus. I don’t think all the brothers called her The Golden Child. That was the nickname that my roommates and I had given her freshman year when she strolled into our lives for the first time. Anyway, here I am face to face with her trying to think of something clever to say. This might be my only chance. So what do I say?

“I guess when you are that fine, the professor starts class when you get there, huh?”

Her reply:

“I know you aren’t trying to kick it to me this early in the damn morning!”

Uh…..Yeah! What’s wrong with that?

In recent months, I have had a couple of female friends tell me stories about being approached on their way to work or after an early morning workout at the gym. Each of them was appalled that a man would try to spit game at such an hour. My reply was “he felt like that was his one shot. How is he going to just let you walk by and not say anything?” Neither of them really appreciated that answer.

Around the same time, I witnessed a young brother getting shut down after trying to holla at very attractive business woman on the street. The brother was in his mid 20’s, wearing baggy jeans and one of those tight bedazzled t-shirts that for some reason has become popular lately. She was in her mid 30’s, wearing a business suit looking like a young Oprah in training. I think if he had caught her at the bar during Happy Hour, he would have had a better chance. It also would have helped if he didn’t start the conversation off with “Hey shawty! You look smart. Where you work at?”

Believe me, I’m no expert, but it seems like most guys don’t know how to approach a woman. I decided to do an impromptu survey of some of the single women in my address book and ask them how they want to be approached.

Top five replies:

1. He should say something funny
2. He should say something clever
3. He should say something funny followed by something clever
4. A simple “Hi! My name is” will do
5. Anything that I haven’t heard before will work

Let’s discuss…

Ladies, what should I guy know before approaching you?

What’s the cheesiest line that ever worked on you?

What’s the worst line you ever heard?

Brothers, do you have premeditated lines ready for the next woman you see?

Vincent Slaughter is writer from Atlanta who describes himself as grown-ass man. loving son. faithful mate. flawed. occasionally funny. southern gentleman. humble, yet cocky. gemini. sometimes selfish. forgiving, but not forgetful. thankful. optimistic. thinker. doer. believer. reader. writer. a work in progress. learner. Above all, human. His thoughts on love and relationships also featured on www.skoolboisplayground.blogspot.com.