History Main / PlayingHardToGet

* Cornerstone of the "Seduction Community" tips and tactics they give to men that want to be more successful with women, the argument most commonly used is "Women want guys who pose a challenge", and they claim that this is specially true for very attractive women, as opposed to a guy who is open and forward about his feelings which in case will be taken for granted and any interest in him will quickly vanish. [[YourMileageMayVary How effective are these tactics is open to debate]], [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all what is going to be said about it here]].

* Despite the quote above, [[{{Bleach}} Orihime]] didn't ''mean'' to play hard to get. When Ichigo offered to walk her home, she was surprised and told him it wasn't necessary. As the quote reveals, he let it go. She regretted the event right away.
* ''RanmaOneHalf'': Shampoo does this to Ranma in ''The Reversal Jewel'' segment (though this is due to said reversal jewel and not any planning on Shampoo's part). Ranma falls for it, not because of the lure of the chase, but rather because his massive ego can't stand the thought of losing part of his [[HaremAnime harem]], even though the harem is most definitely [[UnwantedHarem unwanted]] and eliminating Shampoo as a suitor would simplify his LoveDodecahedron. Fortunately, Akane engineers a SnapBack before anything serious happens.

However, it can also be reversed, and probably is connected to why AllGirlsWantBadBoys and Nice Guys Finish Last. {{Dogged Nice Guy}}s in particular suffer from having violated this trope.

* In ''AhMyGoddess'' Aoshima says Belldandy is doing this when she refuses his sexual advances and says that he thought she wanted him. She tells him she never meant that which causes him to get angry and attempt to rape her. Thankfully, she manages to get away.

* In ''AhMyGodess'' Aoshima says Belldandy is doing this when she refuses his sexual advances and says that he thought she wanted him. She tells him she never meant that which causes him to get angry and attempt to rape her. Thankfully, she manages to get away.

* In an episode of ''AmericanDad'', a Carmen Electra {{Expy}} ends up pursuing Steve because he's actually making her work for it (insisting on seeing her medical records, making her remove her breast implants). [[spoiler:She gets killed in a freak accident before anything can happen.]]

** Catherine Morland with John Thorpe in ''NorthangerAbbey''

* Shampoo does this to [[RanmaOneHalf Ranma]] in ''The Reversal Jewel'' segment (though this is due to said reversal jewel and not any planning on Shampoo's part). Ranma falls for it, not because of the lure of the chase, but rather because his massive ego can't stand the thought of losing part of his [[HaremAnime harem]], even though the harem is most definitely [[UnwantedHarem unwanted]] and eliminating Shampoo as a suitor would simplify his LoveDodecahedron. Fortunately, Akane engineers a SnapBack before anything serious happens.

* Masterfully demonstrated [[http://donatellosnest.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/everything-you-thought-you-knew-about-women-is-wrong/ here]].

[[AC:Webcomics]]

* Cornerstone of the "Seduction Community" tips and tactics they give to men that want to be more successful with women, the argument most commonly used is "Women want guys who pose a challenge", and they claim that this is specially true for very attractive women, as opposed to a guy who is open and forward about his feelings which in case will be taken for granted and any interest in him will quickly vanish.
** It is worth mentioning, however, that this can [[HoistByHisOwnPetard backfire spectacularly]].
*** If it does, then you move on and eventually one will fall.
** They actually specify that this doesn't mean to act aloof, but simply not being "Too available".
** Also, note that this is not specifically for getting a particular woman you might be interested, but to increase your chances of getting a very attractive woman.

->'''Oghren:''' Don't you know anything about women? You must play hard to get! Make her want more!

*** If it does, then you move on on and eventually one will fall.
*** They actually specify that this doesn't mean to act aloof, but simply not being "Too available".
*** Also, note that this is not specifically for getting a particular woman you might be interested, but to increase your chances of getting a very attractive woman.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* [[LooneyTunes Pepe Le Pew]] thinks this is what his crush is doing. She's actually just running away.
* In an episode of ''AmericanDad'', a Carmen Electra {{Expy}} ends up pursuing Steve because he's actually making her work for it (insisting on seeing her medical records, making her remove her breast implants). [[spoiler:She gets killed in a freak accident before anything can happen.]]
* WordOfGod states that Lila from ''HeyArnold'' was doing just this due to to some unresolved sexual tension connected to her suppressed darker side.

** Conversely, [[Literature/TheGame The Game]] (no, [[TheGame not the one you just lost]]) recommends the same thing to men (see real life entry below).

->--'''Orihime''', ''{{Bleach}}''

Examples:

* Maj. Motoko "likes to jump off buildings" Kusanagi does this to Batou, partly because she is TheStoic and highly professional in her work. What? You're not following the subtle romantic subplot in GhostInTheShell? Didn't you catch it when it came up, uh, twice over 26 episodes?

* In a non-romantic example, Vala in {{Stargate Sg-1}} suggested Mitchell play "hard to get" when he's trying to convince the ex-members of SG-1 to rejoin. Mitchell's response? "'''Look who's talking!''" It does eventually work, though.
* ''[[http://tinyurl.com/6m9xpw The Rules: Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right]]'' advises women to use this technique.
* [[LooneyTunes Pepe Le Pew]] thinks this is what his crush is doing. She's actually just running away.

--> '''Ross:''' She already lives in ''London''.
--> '''Joey:''' ...So you go to Tokyo!
* ''{{Real Life}}'' example: Cornerstone of the "Seduction Community" tips and tactics they give to men that want to be more successful with women, the argument most commonly used is "Women want guys who pose a challenge", and they claim that this is specially true for very attractive women, as opposed to a guy who is open and forward about his feelings which in case will be taken for granted and any interest in him will quickly vanish.

* Despite the quote above, [[{{Bleach}} Orihime]] didn't ''mean'' to play hard to get. When Ichigo offered to walk her home, she was surprised and told him it wasn't necessary. As the quote reveals, he let it go. She regretted the event right away.
* In ''EatDrinkManWoman'', Jia-Ning's friend takes tangible glee in tormenting her boyfriend Guo Lun with this trope. [[spoiler:It backfires when Jia-Ning misunderstood her intentions and starts dating Guo Lun herself.]]
* Several JaneAusten heroines find themselves dealing with a suitor who thinks "No, I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth!" translates to "Yes":
** Catherine Morland with John Thorpe in ''NorthangerAbbey''
** Elizabeth Bennett with Mr. Collins in ''PrideAndPrejudice''
** Fanny Price with Henry Crawford in ''MansfieldPark'', and not just Crawford but ''everyone'' from his sister to Fanny's uncle believes she must just be playing hard to get!

* Most JaneAusten heroines find themselves dealing with a suitor who thinks "No, I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth!" translates to "Yes":

** Fanny Price with Henry Crawford in ''MansfieldPark'', and not just Crawford but ''everyone'' from his sister to Fanny's uncle believes she must just be playing hard to get!
** Anne Elliot with her cousin Mr. Elliot in ''{{Persuasion}}''

* Not just [[PrideAndPrejudice Elizabeth Bennet]] but most JaneAusten heroines find themselves dealing with a suitor who thinks "No, I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth!" translates to "Yes":

** Anne Elliot with her cousin Mr. Elliot in ''{{Persuasion}}''
***Elizabeth Bennet doesn't really count since she genuinely hated him at the time.
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* Tenchi of ''TenchiMuyo''