How (and where) would you like to be approached?
This goes for both, women and men.
I (M, young adult) had a couple of past relationships, most with amazing women. All of them I did meet organically. Either via school/uni/work, via friends or even through a video game. Never have I been using the apps apart from ensuring I really don't wanna be on there. Furthermore, I do not drink (anymore) so bars and clubs are also not a place I visit. Instead, I have found out about board game cafés that I regularly visit with friends. I also go to a sport club to practice and sometimes just take a stroll around nearby parks. This is all to say that I go out and meet people naturally.
Meeting my past partners was usually pretty straight forward. We had a common location we would see each other frequently. If they caught my interest (note that this does not necessarily mean romantic interest, just interest in general), I would observe from a distance for some time before making any move. Then, if there's no obstacle (behaves displeasing, fears male interactions, etc.), I would attempt to engage a conversation to get to know her better with the goal to find out what kind of relationships are possible (friendships, dating, sport/game/food buddies, etc.). Sometimes a friendship was created, another time a relationship and other times it turned out that we have few mutual interests. This has been working well over the past years and I have met some wonderful people that way.
However ... for the past year or so I have developed a gut feeling that most women do not want to be approached in public spaces anymore. Whether it is sport club, board game café, work or online through a video game. It feels quite distant and superficial. Apart from a quick small talk, there rarely is any deeper conversation going on and god forbid you share something about yourself.
It is saddening to see that many women isolate themselves from my curious attempts to get to know them. I can't tell much about men as I don't approach men in the same way as women. And truth to be told, it is much simpler approaching men. Usually a simple "Yo bro, wanna join me?" suffices.
So my question is how would you like to be approached and where (this can also be dating apps btw.)? Again, this goes for both women and men. I personally wouldn't mind being approached at any of the places I previously mentioned (and in one case I was!). But since statistically speaking apps are the go-to place for "approaching" is there still any chance for the old-school organic way?