<mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net> wrote:
> Here's a radical idea; just ask 'em out.

Right. Starting with the obvious is easily overlooked, and in many cases
it's worth mentioning what you suggest.

On the other hand, I mentioned already that my social life is actually
rather good, and I am lucky enough to have intelligent, good-looking,
and charming female friends who, as it appears, don't mind spending time
with me or communicating with me via keitai mail or computer mail
(becoming friends is not something that happens in one day - I am
talking about people I have known ranging from a few months to several
years).

So what's the matter, then? Call it "lack of an appropriate language".
Not having grown up in this country, having come here not as a young JET
but at what some might think of as crusty old age, and, having lived
here until recently with my GF from "back home", I've had neither the
opportunity nor the need to talk with anybody in Japanese about
relationship issues.

Circumstances have changed, and ignorance is annoying...

Al