One of my friends in my department described me the other day as “kippy.” When asked to define her terms, she said “kippy means you,” which I did not find very clarifying. “You’re like Gidget,” she explained, when pressed. (I’m like a blonde teenage girl who attracts boys by surfing… I’ve never surfed and I haven’t been blonde since I was 2. But Ok.)
Cut to a disturbing dream I had soon after: that several members of the English department were sitting around shredding me verbally because I had flirted with too many of them. I awoke, wondering if this was my conscience talking, and decided that no, it could not be, because I do not even know how to flirt. High school, undergrad, post-undergrad, you name it; the only guys who looked at me were weird artistic types who couldn’t get anyone else, or the perverts who wanted anyone.
Cut to this afternoon, as I studied with the abovementioned friend. Naturally, we got off topic, and naturally, the conversation turned to relationships (so much more interesting that even the shining beacon of awesomeness that is linguistics). In passing, this girl mentioned that I flirt with all and sundry. I was appalled. I do not flirt with all and sundry. Arguing is not the same as flirting. Being interested in what you’re saying is not the same as flirting. Lounging around in comfortable fashion is not the same as flirting. Smiling at something you said is not the same as flirting. She did not believe me, but claimed that my naivete was another flirtatious move.
“Look,” I said “you should see me try to flirt. It’s painful. Remember, I was homeschooled.”
I therefore submit a definition of “kippy”: frizzy-haired girl who grew up sheltered and reticent only to become an adventuring, wide-eyed soul stabbed by some sprite with the ability to flirt ceaselessly except when she intends to.
Maybe. Hopefully, upon further examination, this definition will prove false. I really think it’s a bad idea to be a ceaseless flirt, or a flirt at all, really. As a public service announcement to those who may know me only through my blog, I would like to clarify that I am not flirting with you right now.
Botkin Creative 
I would like to clarify that you do indeed flirt.
In response to your close: darn.
Kidding.
Davis,
That’s not what you said a year and a half ago.
Nathan,
I’m blanking on witty responses subtle enough to match this claim I’m making.
Katie- I think that perhaps the fact that you don’t ostensibly flirt at all appears to the undisciplined judge of these things as reverse flirtology.
I dunno, maybe severely chaste people are suspicious all of a sudden.
Whatevs,
T
To the degree that my prior statements have been inconsistent, I ask that they be stricken from the record.
I don’t know you well enough to know if you flirt.
But I know that I cannot flirt to save my life–if I try.
But if I don’t try, I can’t help it.
Dude, if what you do is flirting then I believe that you have flirted with me. I hereby proclaim, your sexuality being decidedly hetero, that you are not a flirt, and that Davis only wishes.
yeah, you flirt, i have seen it. hehehe
Having personally witnessed such progressive behavior over the last, oh 13 or 14 years, I am inclined to claim expert on the matter, and testify that Katie is, in fact, a flirt.
The days of Youth Group, if I might remind you, provided you with plenty of opportunities to practice your eye darts and tone changes.
Oh yes, you flirt victoriously.
Bess,
“victoriously”? As you should recall, I rarely did anything beyond freak the poor homeschooled guy out. Oh, yeah, but that’s because my flirting sucks.
This has been an oddly controversial topic.
Yes I would have to further the motion that you do indeed flirt. Although your powers have sharpened considerably in the last year.
I am or was a vicious flirt and was described as not being one.
If you are not flirting, then you’re not flirting. Your hair is the color it is because it is not because someone says it is lavendar.
Everyone is intimidated by a stunning, intelligent, funny woman. Calling it flirting is our defense mechanism.
What an entertaining debate! As a really old person, I’d like to say that joking around with people of either gender is not the same as flirting. And…. “flirting” can be all in fun. If exercised with appropriate (or, ahem, inappropriate) attire and body language, it can be serious stuff. And dangerous. So… gee, a little joking around or intellectual banter shouldn’t be misconstrued as overt sexual overtures.