Women, have you ever had the experience of classmates/co-workers, etc., suddenly finding you an

[raccoon]

interesting person when they hear you're part of a heterosexual (IME) couple? People that ordinarily might say hi to you but that's about it.

I have.

Guys, if you've had such an experience, chime in.

What is it with that?

[OriginalGeek]

1. 99.3% of my classmates from High School

found me suddenly UN-interesting when they discovered me on Facebook and realized I had become an atheist and a Liberal.



(I went all 4 years of HS to a fundamentalist, baptist-run school).

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. The ex-MsMiddleFingerMom was neck-snapping-doubletake gorgeous.

.
.
.
I never got flirted with so much (even blatantly hit on) than when I was out-and-about with her.
.
.
.
Once, I bought her a large terrarium for her birthday. We had gone to a greenhouse to find plants
for it and the young worker there ignored my wife (even knowing it was HER b-day present) and
was flirting outrageously, even suggesting that I come back alone to shop more.
.
I had to put my arm around my wife (to restrain her) and physically lead her out of that place,
,
I had tried to deal with it by totally ignoring this woman's blatant attempts and my ex was ANGRY
with me for a LONG time because I didn't get in her face about it.
.
.
.

[In_The_Wind]

4. Perhaps ...

Is this what you were referring to?

[raccoon]

5. I think we're on the same page. nt

[In_The_Wind]

6. Then yes.

The feelings seem to inspire others to want to be closer.

[Quantess]

7. What is IME?

Nobody ever suddenly became interested in me when they found out I had a boyfriend.

[raccoon]

8. In My Experience. nt

[tabbycat31]

9. yeah and it works the other way after you break up

I'm still feeling the effects of this 2 years later.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

10. After I married, a few months shy of my 24th birthday...

I felt that open season had been declared on me. As though a target had been placed right on my chest. It was mostly married men...who figured a wedded female would be less inclined to want more than sexual variety...at least that was my take on it.

[raccoon]

11. I'm confused. You're saying that the married men thought you would be less inclined to

be interested in them because you were married?

[Moondog]

13. No. She's suggesting that they would think that she might be more interested

in entanglement-free sex.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

20. Perfect! Thank you!

[Sekhmets Daughter]

16. No, they thought I would be MORE inclined to be interested

in a purely physical relationship because I had a marriage to 'protect'

[Moondog]

18. Sorry, thought you were gone. I'll delete if you wish.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

19. Here I am...delete what my friend?

[Moondog]

21. Um, well, #13

and #18 as well.

Wasn't trying to step on your substring. (Even that sounds vaguely, well . . . never mind).

[Sekhmets Daughter]

22. No I appreciate your explanation...

I had, indeed, stepped away from the computer... In fact you said it so much better than I!

[Moondog]

23. So, then. No harm, no foul.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

25. none whatsoever....

I've been popping in and out all day...it's nice you can cover for me!

[Moondog]

12. It's been true in my experience, at least as a matter of degree.

But the older I get, the more exaggerated that degree becomes.

I have a couple of theories as to why this happens, but they are only theories.

[Ron Obvious]

14. Yes

Probably in part because people in love become more beautiful. Must be a hormonal thing.

[NewJeffCT]

15. Right after I got back from my honeymoon

after I had married my first wife, I remember a very attractive woman at work coming up to me an openly flirting, even though I was now wearing a shiny gold wedding band. I worked in a large office building with several thousand people in it, and I'm sure I would have remembered this woman if I had seen her before. It never went anywhere, but it was kind of strange.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe my short-lived post honeymoon happiness and confidence, combined with my nice tan, combined to make me seem attractive. Before I met my now ex-wife, this is the kind of woman that wouldn't have given me the time of day. And, even if she did give me the time of day, it was because I had approached her and asked - not her approaching me.

[raccoon]

17. In my experience, it was more like people of either sex acting like, "Oh, you've got a boyfriend!

You've got status now!"

They didn't SAY that, but they might as well have.

[LeftofObama]

24. I've been in two long term relationships in my life.

Both times it seemed like I got hit on all the time by single people who were available. I've been single for a while now and it seems like the only people who hit on me are single women who are looking for a sugar daddy, or decrepit old married men who want a hook up and then go running back to their wives to tell them how much they love them.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. people want what they can not have. also, they look at you through different eyes.

as if searching for that "thing" that someone else has found in you and why did they not see it, too.