—u/PastOrdinary
Answer #1: "Depends a little on the how. If it's someone I've already met a couple of times, like a colleague/fellow student or friend of a friend, I don't mind if he is forward and asks me out — that confidence is attractive, and something I'd envy in him, lol.
If it's someone I don't know or just met, I prefer if he gives me his contact information rather than asking for mine. I'll most likely say no if it is the latter.
Something simple like, 'Hey, I really enjoyed talking to you and would like to go out sometime to get to know you better. Here's my number.' That puts me less on the spot and if he's not my type, there won't be the awkwardness of immediate rejection. But that's just me."
—u/Mugwumpen
Answer #2: "Yes, but PLEASE be straightforward and say 'date.' I had a man ask for coffee, and I thought it meant as friends since he was kind and seemed polite. I’m also autistic so I don’t see social cues."
—u/katcomesback
Answer #3: "No. When someone approaches me, I instantly put my guard up. I’d rather get to know someone through work, mutual friends, hobbies, or other shared interactions where I’m in a relaxed environment and feel comfortable opening up to them about whatever common factor brought us together in the first place.
Having that icebreaker makes the situation a lot less awkward and doesn’t put me on the defensive like cold approaches do. It allows me to talk to the guy and get a glimpse of his personality, which will make me way more receptive to being asked out unlike when total strangers accost me on the street for date requests."
—u/peach_faced