Men of Reddit, what advice can you give to us shy people for starting a conversation with a girl?

1. My freshman year of college, I was friends with a few of the football players. When talking about asking a girl out, one casually mentioned "I mean, all she's gonna say is yes or no." The simplicity of it really stuck with me for some reason.
   — DickeysBBQPit


2. Take her off of whatever pedestal you put her on. She's probably as nervous as you are. Just talk to her as another person.
   — OwlsNSpace


3. You'll be ok if she says "ni" your life was fine before her and it'll be fine after her if she shoots you down. Move on and talk to another. Edit: I'm not changing anything
   — Ghastromancer






4. "Hi"
   — JerkCircleton


5. talk to every single stranger you can. Shit will be awkward at first, you will hate it, but you have to make yourself break out. Strangers are the best to practice on because you will likely never see them again. and if you do, even better try a conversation again. Pick nice old ladies, or middle aged women, or grown men, whatever. it doesnt matter. just get passed the fear of talking to a stranger. Once you get there then you can slide on to girls you may be interested in. The key thing here is practice talking to people. once you can start a conversation and carry one on with a complete stranger. then you can do the exact same thing with a girl. Cause a girl is a stranger too. Just one you havent banged yet.
   — SouthernJeb


6. Try this gem out, works every time, chicks love it: Did you know that original word for Pac-man was Puck man?You would think that it was because he looks like a hockey puck, but it actually comes from the Japanese phrase "Puku-Paku", which means to flap ones mouth open and close. They changed it because they thought puck man would be too easy to vandalize , you know, like people would just scratch off the P and turn it into an F or whatever.
   — Penis-Parker-2002






7. Pretend like you're talking to one of your best friends, as if you have known them for years. You know how awkwardness is contagious? So is comfort. I know everyone in this thread will say "be yourself," but if that rings empty to you, I say fake it. Fake it til you become it (watch the TED talk on body language where that's from, it might help).
   — PotassiumCurrent


8. Start by talking, but then IMMEDIATELY START LISTENING!
   — cjdudley


9. Once you grasp the concept that the way you perceive yourself is not how everyone else perceives you, you will finally learn to disregard your inhibitions.
   — MamaCita11234






10. Girls are just like guys, except most of them don't have a penis and have boobs. Mostly.
    — Jay985