Small talk is where wing-things really come in handy.
"Wingman" originated as an air-force term for a pilot whose plane is positioned behind and outside the leader's, or the gunner's, in an aircraft flying formation.
In the air, the wingman watches the gunner's back and sides, protecting him from enemy fire so he can shoot without impediment. In the dating world, a wingman keeps a woman's friends occupied while his buddy tries to pick her up. The term has expanded past this original definition. A wingman can also be a friend who has an easier time approaching attractive strangers, so he'll go along with his buddy to strike up conversations.
And the "wing" notion stretches across gender and species:
• "wingwoman" is a female "wingman"
• "wingpet" or "wingchild" (a cute dog or child, respectively) attracts cooing females
It’s good to know that wing-thing is not one of the most pleasant dating ideas because being a wing-thing is a thankless task. There's nothing in it for the wing-thing besides feeling generous, although a single wing-thing can later demand payback. Here are some dating ideas and rules for deploying your wing-things, be they men, women, children, or animals.
• Your wing-thing should understand his role before you set off on your adventure. Don't try to enlist him under the auspices of a normal night out. He should be aware of your goals so he's not left sniffing his underarms when you ditch him later.
• Have a strategy in place before you enter the target location so that you don't panic once you're face-to-face with your person of interest. Devise a signal for indicating that you are now okay and would like to be left alone. This could be a word, like "Oreo," or a gesture, such as pulling thrice on your earlobe.
• Once you've reeled in your mark, don't become so involved that you stop paying attention to your wing-thing, especially if it's a baby or animal who can't fend for itself.
• If the pet or child you're using to attract potential lovers is not your own, admit this up front to avoid any later misunderstanding.
• One of the most important dating ideas about wing-thing is that you cannot turn your back on your wingman. If you are heavily involved in your flirtation, your wing-thing should sense this and excuse himself to visit the men's room, get a drink, etc. If you'd like him to get lost, enlist your signal.
• Be solicitous of your wing-friend. Should she begin to flag and request relief, assess her services thus far. If she's put in a few hours, give her a "get out of jail free" card and go at it on your own.
Jodie Brittain is the CEO of Australian Online Dating site, Slinky - the dating site for Australian Singles looking for great friends and genuine relationships. Join singles from all over Australia and Sydney for Free!
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