Playing hard to get is the oldest trick in the book. It makes the mind crazy and the libido strong, but it's not just for the girls. In this day and age, one of sexual liberation and therefore promiscuity, the fellas can exercise their right to withhold just as well as the girls.

So, why do guys play hard to get?

1) He's ignorant.

- Many guys, possibly the majority of guys, just don't know what they're looking at when faced with an interested girls. It's one of the reasons that girl frieds are such a precious resource.

2) He's shifty.

- Some guys enjoy picturing themselves as Don Juan. It's a point of pride for them to juggle girls, toy with their emotios or even play them off of each other. These are usually the guys who hide their three girlfrieds from each other, never want to move in and later on in life start a different family in every state. Simply put, some guys are just cruel. They enjoy the attention and usually they enjoy the ensuing drama even more. It's a good idea to stay away from these guys, even if you seem inextricably drawn back to them. They're bad news and they're not the relationship type.

3) He's a jerk.

- Some guys are simply not the settling down type. They will sell you on a whole bunch of nonsense like, "I've got to be free" or "I don't believe in monogamy" but it's always the same problem. They just don't want to tie themselves down.

4) He's damaged.

- Some guys don't have the emotional or mental infrastructure to facilitate a serious commitment. These guys aren't always bad. Sometimes they just need patience and encouragement. It's also possible for them to be callous, shallow and thoughtless. At any moment they could turn into jokers or two-timers. It might be because they don't wat to settle down or it might be because their impulses push them to sabotage the relationship. Either way, the important thing to remember is that he's just as flawed as anyone else. Give him time and let him know how you feel.

5) Two way street.

- Being the only active party in a relationship can be frustrating, and while playing hard to get can be fun and effective at the beginning of a relationship, there comes a time when everyone needs to start committing themselves to the relationship more seriously. This means talking about feelings, committing more seriously to your partner and taking the appropriate steps. If he's not matching up to this, it doesn't matter what the reason is. You deserve to have your feelings reciprocated.

So, what's your say?