What is flirting? What is teasing? Is it fairgame to 'play' with peoples emotions and tease them?

I don't know if I do either, because I don't know what they are. If I knowingly express any interest, it's because I'm truly interested in you. If I give a compliment, it's because I truly mean it. I don't say things just to be nice, or just to make some one feel good.

It depends on your viewpoint I suppose. Some people do not like to flirt at all, while others almost thrive on it.

I do not think it is necessarily playing with their emotions unless you take it too far. Flirting has the ability to make people laugh, cheer up someone who is depressed and make people feel good about themselves, so I do not think it is a problem unless it is meant either in some sort of malicious way, or a person is trying to play around behind other peoples backs looking for extra options.

Usually I do not like to flirt at all, but lately I have started to rethink it and feel that it is not necessarily a bad thing to do with people you whose company you enjoy.

I found this on the net........Flirting is, in my experience, something of a lost art, especially amongst nerds. They simply don’t understand how to flirt. Too many young nerds have hit some sort of mystical, magical combination of bad influences that seems to have convinced them to make all the wrong moves. It seems to be split into the camp that believes that to get the girl you have to either be intensely sincere to the point of being creepy and the camp that is so nice and obliging that they may as well tattoo “WELCOME” on their backs and resign themselves to a career of women wiping their shoes on them.
But hey. You want to learn how to flirt and clearly many people have gotten the wrong impressions so let’s start off with what it’s not:
Flirting isn’t complicated.
Flirting isn’t a wide variety of subtle signals you have to keep an eagle-eye out for.
Flirting isn’t intense.
Flirting isn’t making fun of people, “negging” or generally being an azzhole.
So let’s move on to what it is and how to flirt.
Flirting is, at it’s core, a way to engage, size up and generate attraction in a perspective mate. It’s light and it’s friendly. It’s a combination of banter, body language and teasing.
Let’s break it down. Flirting really comes down to a three key points:
Teasing
Teasing, put simply, is the art of saying something mean that really means “I like you”. Flirting is essentially teasing with intent. It’s banter; a playful back-and-forth between two people. It’s fun and inclusive and a little silly, and when done right, it’s incredibly attractive.
There’s a certain structure to teasing as flirting; in another context it could look like a couple verbally jousting for social dominance. The keys are tone of voice and to be careful not to make the teasing too harsh. An easy short-hand to teasing is to imagine the other person as your bratty little sister; you’re needling at them for a reaction rather than trying to actually insult them. As you’re teasing, you can incorporate a number of ideas. You can start a role-play, establishing some sort of ridiculous fantasy situation; if she talks about a love of cooking or food, you can say “Hey, you can totally be my personal chef. I’m going to have you make all these insanely elaborate meals for me.” If she’s clumsy or drops something, “Wow, you’re officially the worst personal assistant I’ve ever had. It’s bad enough you wear these inappropriate outfits around the office, but this is the final straw.” “That’s it. We’re totally breaking up. Give me back my CDs and I’m keeping the dog.” Think of it like an improv exercise, especially if she teases you in this manner; the response is should be”Yes, and…”, extending the scenario.
Challenging is also an important part of teasing and flirting. Too many nerds have Chronic Nice Guy syndrome, and won’t stand up for themselves when a woman gives them ****; a teasing challenge is a playful indicator of some spine as well as bait into being more aggressive. Challenges work on the same part of the contrarian part of human psychology; by telling someone they can’t have, be or do something, the first impuse is “Yeah, I totally can”. You can challenge in any number of ways; you can call her a name: “Dork”, “Princess”, “Brat”, “Crazy”. Challenges can be a miniature cold-read, giving them an opening to open up about themselves: “I bet you must drive your parents crazy.” “You can’t be from around here; you must be a West Coast girl. I can always tell.” It can be physical: “OK, obviously we’re going to need to settle this in the manner of our ancestors: thumb-wrestling. And I should warn you, I’m totally the thumb-wrestling champion of the Eastern seaboard.” It can have a certain sexual edge to it to raise the heat:”Your last boyfriend just didn’t spank you enough, huh?” “Don’t make me come down there little girl, I’d eat you for breakfast”.
A rule of thumb is that if she’s not laughing, agreeing with you, playing along or playfully disagreeing, then you’re doing something wrong. Dial it back a notch until you figure out what you did wrong, then calibrate accordingly.

I saw this question,and I got into a conversation about it with someone privately. Here's what I could say. There's a way of flirting that is good,it shows that you have an interest or enjoy speaking to a person, that you want to show a person that you enjoy their company. There's also a way of flirting that can be harmful if not done for the right reasons. Some people use flirting as a way to make someone jealous. There are also people who take flirting way too far. Teasing can be the same, there's harmless teasing,as in just joking or having fun with a friend or partner. There's also teasing that can be hurtful. Teasing can be one step beyond flirting,so I'm told, that it can be much more hurtful then flirting.

It's never ok to play with a person's feelings or emotions though, by flirting or teasing them.

See, that's one of the things that people misunderstand about me. I am polite and respectful and sincere, but I'm not a push over or door mat. I don't tolerate games and other BS.

I agree, there must be an underlying need to seek attention or maybe have a type of power over the opposite sex? I think light flirting is fun, but hard out in your face is just a turn off.

"fairgame".....Absolutely.

Not to put too blunt of a point on it but, not everyone is good at it. But, some are.

Just as not everyone is good at receiving flirts or teases

You gotta be on your "A" game to flirt or tease with the uptight prudes out there. Otherwise, it is just an exersize in futility.

Could be,some people just crave that attention.I don't think there's anything wrong with a little harmless flirting or banter between friends, but I think sometimes it can go to far too quickly. Some people seem to want all attention on them also, and to me,that can be a big turn off. So can the really hard,in your face,as you said.

I hate PC...

PC hates you too, big boy, lol. JK

Naw it hates me cuz I break the rules alla time.

Now it appears I shouldn't joke around with people I like....

It starts with eye contact and body language. That's the easy part.

You can say anything as long as you say it confidently.

I seldom give complements on looks. I prefer to complement accomplishments or personality traits. That means you have to get to know them a little first.

You have to challenge them a some. Then they've earned your complement.

After that you can start playing. "You're awesome! I should hire you as my personal assistant. But, I can only afford to pay you in oreo cookies and if you screw up, I'll eat the middles before you get paid."

Accuse them of flirting with you. Use double entendre and innuendos.

Push and pull. "I'm starting to like you. I should leave before I get into trouble." Or; "You scuba dive? That's awesome! I love scuba diving! It's so cool you do that! Too bad you're not my type." Playfully turn away and fain leaving.

Touch!

Lastly, you have to break rapport. Allow them to think you're leaving. THEN come back and say "give me your phone number." You do this because they may not realize they like you until you're gone.

These are a few of the things I do. I keep it light, fun and playful.

Oldhippie. Noone says dont flirt or tease. Have fun, just dont take it to the creepy or doormat levels. Everyone has different boundaries and the attraction must be mutual.

Flirt away. Just don't do the Glenn Close and burn my rabbit.

well i feel everything is ok untill u aren't hurting anyone's feelings whether that is flirting or teasing. But no one got the right to hurt some other person....

thats wat I feel.....

If you want to flirt, keep eye contact for 4 seconds then look away. If you want assert authority keep eye contact for more than 4 seconds.

Would you elaborate on this please?

Oh crap, I looked away.

My Torgo, what bloodshot eyes you have...