Flirting...

Flirting has always been around, its how you show someone you like them...but when did it become the same as being an ass?
I've noticed recently that when people flirt they just act like asses to each other, seems a bit backwards. Its how I've always done it, which isn't helpful, but I feel like if you like someone shouldn't you want to do something nice for them instead of being a bitch and teasing them? Sure bitchiness and teasing are important cause they are all in jest, but when its 100% of the flirting?
If a relationship is started off of the basis of being asshole-y to each other how can it ever be successful and last?
The wierdest thing about it all is that I LOVE being the on recieving the ass-ish treatment because it tells me the person is interested or likes me enough to tease me. Thats so backwards, but yet I still love it. And its the same with my friends, they all love when their significant others are ass-ish to them, but they also love the cute romantic stuff. Why do we need the asshole-y tendencies when the cute romantic ones also get the same idea across?
Even as I'm writing this I'm not sure if I even want to give up being an ass to people I'm interested in, its just how it goes these days. But does that mean that romance is actually dead? If we enjoy the unromanctic stuff just as much as the romanctic stuff why do we need the romantic stuff anymore?

So do we need romance anymore? Or have we become so dependent on the teasing outlook on dating and relationships that we don't need it anymore. Discuss.

- Barksdale <3