It’s not news that sexual fluidity has been working its way into the mainstream. We all know the girl who experimented in college and then went back to guys, or the middle-aged woman who left her husband for some turquoise artisan in Taos named Deborah.

Both seem to be examples of the stronger sexual preference winning out in the end. But more and more, it’s becoming acceptable for women to “hop the fence”—that is, to make the occasional gender switch-up in casual sex and in long-term relationships. I know, ‘cause I’m one of ‘em. Read more ...

Every week, the gentlemen over at GuySpeak answer questions from women the only way they know how: in guy style. Then they handpick some of their favorites and send them over to us to answer (read: fix) them in girl style. We call it GuySpeak/GirlSpeak. This week—how do you help a guy understand the difference between flirting and being creepy?

Oh, wise one, I require your sacred advice. There is this guy I flirt with sometimes, and its all good until the flirting turns into lewd comments. Is there a polite way to tell him he crossed the line without totally turning him off?

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Ever hit a guy—on request? Last week, Single Guy blogger wrote about his weakness for a good smack on the cheek. His fetish for pain had us curious to hear your stories of (solicited) slapping.

Mad admits she’s hit a guy or two in her time: “One guy was just cruising for it—he had stolen my new marshmallow flavored pink lip gloss then snuck up behind me and smooched me on the cheek with it, leaving a glob of sticky pink glittery sugary residue on my face. I was so mad I slapped him—so hard I felt his jaw crack. He guffawed and asked for another. I was more than happy to oblige! I think I slapped him three or four times that night.” Read more ...

Amy Spencer is a dating expert and the author of Meeting Your Half-Orange: An Utterly Upbeat Guide to Using Dating Optimism to Find Your Perfect Match (Running Press). We asked her the dating questions that continue to baffle us.

Q: How can you tell if a guy is stringing you along?

A: My take is trust your gut. It’s your radar for the wrong guy—I call it your “wrong-dar”—and it will tell you when you’re being jerked around and not being treated as well as you deserve to be. If you’re not feeling your sexiest, coolest, funniest, warmest, most natural self around a guy, something’s not right. Read more ...

Every week, the gentlemen over at GuySpeak answer questions from women the only way they know how: in guy style. Then they handpick some of their favorites and send them over to us to answer (read: fix) them in girl style. We call it GuySpeak/GirlSpeak. This week—what do you do with a boyfriend who’s wonderful but still lives at home?

I’m dating a man who’s absolutely perfect for me: hilarious, honest, hard-working, and treats me wonderfully. I’m very happy with him. One problem: he lives with his parents (age 28 and pays rent). He talks about moving out but hasn’t. What’s the deal?

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Every week, the gentlemen over at GuySpeak answer women’s relationship questions in guy style. Then they handpick some of their favorites and send them over to us to answer (read: fix) them in girl style. We call it GuySpeak/GirlSpeak. This week—is hooking up the best way to get over someone?

I’ve been told by several people that the best way to get over someone is to hook up with someone else. What do you think?

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Amy Spencer is a dating expert and the author of Meeting Your Half-Orange: An Utterly Upbeat Guide to Using Dating Optimism to Find Your Perfect Match (Running Press). We ask her the dating questions that continue to baffle us.

Q: What do you do if the guy you’re dating stops calling? Read more ...

Every week, the editors over at GuySpeak give answers to women’s questions in guy style. Then they handpick some of their favorites and send them over to us to answer (read: fix) them in girl style. This week, what do you do when guys who ignored you in high school crawl out of the Facebook woodwork to hit on the grown up you?

Am I being too harsh by dismissing guys who ignored me in high school? I’m getting attention now from guys who never even considered me back then. Thoughts?

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They’re both small-boned, don’t eat much—and tend to have a tough time with monogamy.

This week we can’t get enough of the idea that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt might be on the rocks after Angie’s alleged affair on the set of her new movie, “Salt.” Meanwhile, science has named the Saltmarsh Sparrow the world’s most promiscuous bird.

Coincidence? We think not. Read more ...

Every week, the editors over at GuySpeak give advice to women’s questions in guy style. Then they handpick some of their favorites and send them over to us here to answer (read: fix) them in girl style. This week, what do you do with a gay boyfriend who acts more like an actual boyfriend?

He says he’s gay, but he likes to rub my thighs from time to time. So is he really gay or using being gay as a front to feel me up?

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When it comes to the very beginning of a relationship, there are some questions that are just off-limits. To ask them is to risk appearing rude, nosy or outright crazy. But what if you could ask anything during those first few getting-to-know-you dates without the threat of scaring away your brand-new man? A little knowledge could prevent headaches and heartbreak later.

I presented this hypothetical to relationship and dating experts Amy Spencer, Michelle Fiordaliso and Heather Belle, and polled regular women for their thoughts. Here are their juiciest queries, both silly and serious.

1. Were you disappointed or excited when you first saw me? Read more ...

So, look. I’ve decided to write this article about stuff that people do on dates that sucks. Now, I’m a man who dates women, so a lot of these will be irritating things that women do; this doesn’t mean that men don’t also do all the same (or similar) annoying things.

I’ve been single since the Sumerians were settling Eridu (if you believe this psychic in New Orleans who told me my soul has been around—and single—since the sixth millennium B.C.), so yeah, I’ve been on a lot of dates.

I won’t claim I’m an expert, but I know enough to actually be helpful to you lady readers. In the interest of both men and women, I give you the eloquently titled, painstakingly wrought: “Things Women Do On Dates That Suck That I Wish They Wouldn’t Do Anymore.”

Every week, the editors over at GuySpeak answer queries from women in guy style. Then they handpick some of their favorites and send them over to us here to answer (read: fix) them in girl style. This week, we both tackle the timeless question of why older men are better at sex.

I am 23 and very attractive. Why are older men way better at sex?

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Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s start 2010 off right with a steaming hot GuySpeak/GirlSpeak, where we take the advice given by guys to girls over at GuySpeak, chop it up, then serve our words of wisdom. This week’s topic: the awkward world of couples and money.

What do you think of a guy that makes over $250k/yr, spends freely on himself but will not help a long term girlfriend out when she falls on hard times? P.S.—the girlfriend regularly prepares meals for him, does his laundry. Other than she is a doormat and he is a creep. Why do guys not help out financially?

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While flipping through a copy of People recently, I saw that in the “out” section of a recent Style Watch “in” and “out” list—sandwiched between things like “stainless steel home decor” and “molten chocolate cake”—was “long distance relationships.” This struck me as something that really could never be either in or out, so I had to hear the explanation.

“It’s part of a new green, eco-conscious attitude: Break up with your out-of-state boyfriend or girlfriend because it’s not sustainable, and date local!” Jennifer Ganshirt of Frank About Women, a marketing-to-women consulting firm, told the mag.

Granted, it makes for a lot of fantastic break-up lines: “Colin, it’s not you, it’s the environment,” or, “I think we should see more sustainable people” or even, “There’s another woman: Mother Earth.”

But beyond the fact that this is taking the green thing a little too far, is there seriously anyone who would actually use an excuse like this to break it off?

Apparently, there is. After quizzing friends, it turns out that there are even more lame ways to pull the plug. Read more ...

We’re back again for another edition of GuySpeak/GirlSpeak, where we take a close look at the advice given by guys to girls over at GuySpeak, throw in our own two vagina-possessing cents, and then have you weigh in. This week’s scintillating question: Can you turn a booty call into a boyfriend?

This guy uses me as a booty call, but I really like him, so whenever he calls I go meet him. Should I play hard to get and stop answering his calls? He always avoids my questions about a relationship.

Read on for our guy vs. girl advice ...

Here’s the thing—on paper, I’m actually one of those Nice Guys you often hear and/or read about. I’m uncomfortable to the point of nausea at the idea of being a jerk to women in order to manipulate them into sleeping with me. I do everything in my power to make a girl I’m interested in comfortable and happy, and I refrain from any remotely creepy or suggestive behavior.

So, although I actually do qualify as one of the Nice Guys, there’s a paradox—there’s no such thing. Read more ...

Welcome back to GuySpeak/GirlSpeak, where we take a crack at the questions submitted by girls to the guy experts over at GuySpeak. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree, and after everyone weighs in, it’s your turn! This week’s topic is the Old Faithful of dating questions: Why doesn’t he call? Read more ...

As we earn more money and work longer hours, new statistics show that more women are cheating on their husbands—but that doesn’t mean that men are as forgiving about affairs as we can be.

According to a 2001 survey, about 15 percent of men admit to cheating on their wives or girlfriends, and women were not far behind with a 10-percent cheat rate.

But here’s one thing that hasn’t changed—women are willing to forgive their husbands for infidelity, and men aren’t. A recent study found that men were significantly more likely to end a marriage based on spousal infidelity than women. Read more ...

If I’ve learned anything from sex scandals, it’s that texting somebody you’re hoping to sleep with can be dangerous. Especially if you’re married. Or famous. But this isn’t about dumb Tiger Woods. This is about the rest of us, and those normal, baby-step texts surrounding a first date that can often go horribly awry. Before, you’d just get a girl’s number, and if it was real, you’d set up a date with her and see her then. But now we have texting/IMing/emailing and, good lord, Facebooking each other. There are so many opportunities to be misunderstood!

These days, if you’re going on a date with someone new, chances are you’ve “talked” to this person electronically before you even get to make awkward conversation about your “crazy” work week over salmon croquettes and the second least expensive bottle of wine on the menu (can’t look completely cheap!). But I implore you: stop. Don’t text me, IM me, Gchat me or—heaven forbid—Facebook me after we’ve established our first-date time and place. Let me explain. Read more ...