Flirting is a cooperative effort. You can have great game and still fail if she isn't interested. You might also meet a girl that gives you a positive reaction, but you might miss it if you aren't looking at her that way. It takes two to make flirting work.

If you want to get to know girls; tell a few jokes or funny stories. If you think a girl might actually like you, tell her a dumb joke. If she laughs, she probably likes you. If she doesn't laugh, she's not interested yet. Keep trying and you will learn what works and what doesn't.

There are lots of women in this world so try talk to as many women as you can. Be persistent without being aggressive and you will do just fine. There is someone out there for everyone.

Flirtation is a lot easier and more comfortable when you know the person already likes you. And it can seem creepy to them if they don't already like you. So it might be good to not flirt until you're confident it will be well received and in the meantime just be friendly and sincere. An important aspect of potential relationships is not appearing as if you think someone's only value is if they're a potential partner. People talk to and know other people, so treating everyone well can improve chances of potential partners thinking well of you. Sometimes the best thing you can do to find a partner is to work on yourself.

Working on your self-esteem first or alongside your dating efforts will be the most useful thing you can do. This is both in terms of your own personal well-being and in how attractive you will be as a potential partner.

You and me both, brother. But, I did somehow end up getting married twice and having a bunch of kids, so, there's hope for everyone!

Flirting is a compliment. Don't be ashamed of complimenting people, we could all use a little more of it

What does your wife suggest?

You should just tell them you are not good at flirting and be more direct. It has worked very well for me. You can also work on getting a bit better by just doing so under the context that you are bad and it can be something funny between you and your match/potential partner.

Where people get into trouble is when they assume that because the other person is being nice to them, it means they're interested in something more. I know women who say they can hardly smile at a guy without being asked out on a date. But of course sometimes that are interested, and it can be hard to know without asking, which can be awkward for both.

If you think she might potentially be interested, you might consider inviting her to something casual, like getting a meal or seeing a movie. That in itself won't tell you she's interested, but if she's not interested in something casual, she likely isn't interested in more than what you have.

learning to casually flirt is hard! And you can’t learn it without trying and failing a few times… It was scary for me too. I agree with others that spending more time accepting and loving yourself would be beneficial. Another thing that would be beneficial to accept is chance of rejection. It’s not personal and also not a big deal if the person that expressed interest then moves on. I’ve made a mistake a few times really inflating my expectations and fueling my interest and then reacting very poorly to rejection, so that’s another thing I’ve tried to improve.

If you work on these barriers and take shots, you’ll get some practice and improve, and over time you’ll definitely have at least a few successful interactions which will be immensely helpful.

Why would anyone hate you? Why would you be feel like you will be disgusting?

FWIW you don't have to flirt to become romantic with a partner. You can just be straightforward and say how you feel. "I like you. You're really pretty, and you make me happy when we talk." Some people won't like that level of honesty and transparency, but it sounds like you wouldn't want a partner who wants flirting.

Don't be gross or vulgar. Don't treat anyone like a sexual object, and take rejection well. It can be crushing to work up the nerve to tell someone how you feel, only to be turned away, but that's part and parcel with consensual relationships. There are many fish in the sea, and if you hyper-focus on just one, you're setting yourself up for failure.

Once you're involved in a relationship, you can try out a little more flirting. Wink or make suggestive comments. Quick kisses on the neck or a pinch might be acceptable depending on the context. Don't do anything that makes you uncomfortable, and don't do anything that makes them uncomfortable. Part of a relationship is discovering the boundaries of another individual. You're going to cross a few lines, and it is important to react with understanding and respect. If your partner reacts negatively, apologize and adjust your behavior. This can be tough, because the boundaries may change with context (e.g. flirting at a bar on a date vs flirting at a family function) or over time (young relationships are more exciting) but as long as you demonstrate that you care about your partner, you can take some calculated risks.

It takes some growth, but once you realize that girls are just human beings themselves, it becomes a lot easier. Nobody expects perfection from other humans in casual conversation. If you say something stupid or fumble your words then laugh it off and keep going. People like people with a sense of humor who don't take themselves too seriously.

I don't know if I can take any more people hating me...

You had me until this part

It's a lot easier when it's not against the rules basically everywhere.