Shall we dance?

One of my favorite numbers from the musical The King and I is "Shall We Dance" -- a wonderful moment showing two people who have very different world views creating something beautiful. The awkwardness of it all adds to the charm.

Flirting on forums and within the World of Warcraft is best done as a dance, complete with awkward moments and a bit of charm. A waltz (like in the movie) is fine, but to really get things steamy you want to try a tango.

When your opening line is "wanna cyber?" you've missed all the fun of building up to that moment. Those first awkward and tentative steps, the back and forth, the learning of each other's rhythms. All of those things make the flirting fun and well-heated, instead of just some words thrown quickly onto a screen for giggles.

Always follow the two steps forward with one step back or sideways, in rhythm. Tease, tempt, retreat. Hint, lean forward, lean back. And then throw in some quick movements, a turn or two, and perhaps several steps backward (but with a smile). All done with careful pacing, and with attention to the little details.

And if your flirting partner goes ahead and throws something out of context or too advanced on screen for giggles, then giggle along -- remember, this is still a game. Enjoy the missteps as much as the tango itself. Then when the moment is right, pause the music, resume the correct stance, and begin the dance again.