That makes a lot of sense. It's very easy to say "just be yourself" when posting on a message board, but practicing that in real life is another matter entirely. It feels terrible, absolutely terrible, to open yourself to someone and to be punished for it in some way, even if the other person isn't aware of how hurt…

It's really sad. The other night I had a conversation with a good friend of mine, who is a serious catch - she's good-looking, talented, funny, very open and alive. She generally displays a breezy confidence which is naturally attractive. If I were in different circumstances I (hetero male) would totally be hitting on…