posted May 03, 2007 06:55 PM         

Kissing Across The Gender Gap

* Sending vibes
* Kiss rejection
* Kissing consensus
* How to be a great kisser

That magic moment appears to be arriving. You've swapped life stories,
laughed together, shared a meal, sipped wine, even held hands while
strolling in the moonlight. A connection has been established, and a
spark of chemistry has flown. It's been a perfect first date, and as
you sense the night drawing to a close, you begin to wonder how it
will all end. A sense of nervous excitement overtakes you. Perhaps it
should end with a kiss, but how can you be sure?

When it comes to the seemingly simple act of kissing, many of us
experience angst and uncertainty. This is especially true for first
kisses, when our own intentions may be unclear, and our date's may
surprise us. In many ways our parents had it easier. They relied on
gender-based protocols and societal romantic traditions. Gender
liberation, as it applies to the do's and don'ts of kissing, has
resulted in roles and expectations that are now even more unclear. And
while a kiss may still be just a kiss, and many of us continue to be
aficionados, few of us now seem to be masters. Like most skills, with
kissing, practice still makes perfect.

Women Send "Kiss Me Now" Vibes

While it may seem that most men make the first kiss move, in reality
women usually play an active part in the process. A woman sends "kiss
me now" messages in a variety of ways. She may stare into her date's
eyes as a subtle look of longing crosses her face. She may move in a
bit closer, touch her date on the shoulder or arm, wet her lips, and
sigh in a barely audible and ever-so-slightly suggestive manner. Even
more boldly, she may lightly run her finger across his lower lip while
smiling softly, or simply stare at his lips as the two of them move
closer, so they are face-to-face and only inches apart.

If "kiss me now" vibes are to work effectively, then both men and
women must participate in the process. Women must flirt, letting the
a man know his advances are desired and assure him that the interest
is mutual. In many ways, it is the woman who makes the first move.
Men, in turn, must pay attention to the subtleties of communication.
When invited to do so, they should slowly move in, testing the
romantic waters as they go.

Men Still Bear The Brunt Of Kiss Rejection

Most men will be able to recall at least one kissing disaster,
probably a time they misinterpreted a situation and tried to kiss a
woman who didn't want to be kissed. Some got the "head turn," only
milliseconds before their kiss would have landed, and ended up
awkwardly planting a wet one on her cheek. Others may have had the
unfortunate experience of watching a look of disgust cross the woman's
face. Either way, these are not uplifting experiences.

Although women bear some minor risk as they send "kiss me" cues to
men, it is the men who generally bear the greatest risk of rejection
associated with first kisses. Because of this, men tend to err on the
side of caution, preferring not to kiss a woman unless they are
certain she wants to be kissed. Men often report receiving mixed
messages, or an inability to decipher a woman's clues. Many would
prefer that women give them a verbal OK; something as simple as a
whispered "I wish you would kiss me," will do the trick.

Today, most men would prefer that women share the risk of rejection
associated with a first kiss. It excites them, in more than the
obvious ways. And many women are more than willing to move in for a
first kiss. Some believe if they don't take the initiative, they may
never be kissed at all.

Kissing Consensus - Where The Genders Meet

Eyes opened or closed? To tongue or not to tongue? And what do we do
with the rest of our bodies when we lock lips? Surprisingly, most men
and women seem to agree on many of the following kissing
practicalities:

No tongue on a first kiss. This is seen as something similar to sex on
a first date--too much too soon and a lot of sexy subtleties end up
being missed. Eyes open for those long, lingering gazes that lead up
to a kiss, but then closed when the two of you get too close for
visual comfort. Looking farsighted doesn't enhance your
attractiveness. When appropriate, kiss with more than your lips.
Touch, let your body be part of the kiss. Run your fingers through
his hair. Pull her closer to you. Embrace each other. Communicate,
especially when kissing problems occur. Do so in a positive,
non-judgmental manner. Tell each other what you like. Better yet,
show each other.

How To Be A Great Kisser

The key to great kissing is to simply relax. Let go and allow yourself
to be swept up in the sensation. Remember, you can't think your way
through a great kiss. Instead, simply allow yourself to experience it.
While some degree of kissing skill may be beneficial, the best
kissers are those who are willing and open to the possibilities. Let
your lips convey what your heart is feeling. Remember to stay away
from any predefined gender roles. Assert, explore and submit
indiscriminately.

Enjoy those charged moments before a first kiss. Linger in the
excitement and uncertainty. Allow the desire to grow. While you may be
tempted to get the first kiss over with and move past your feelings
of nervousness, don't do it. There is something very sexy and alive
about this time. If the two of you should end up falling in love, you
may never experience that first kiss feeling again. Enjoy it.

posted May 08, 2007 06:01 PM         

lol

posted May 12, 2007 07:21 AM         

Yeah, the 1st kiss with our man is a very special moment, and it´s never forgotten!

It´s kind of odd ( im usually a shy person) but it was me that took the 1st step to make my man go forwards on our date. I wanted to laugh cause i knew he wanted to kiss me,but somehow he was afraid to do that ( he´s very respectull). So he held my hands on his and stared at me and then looked into the sea, with his eyes closed, thinking i would be running away from him if he kissed me so soon.