I'm probably going to take playing hard to get as either a lack of interest or just be put off by having to play this stupid game.

Yup. A couple years ago I quit my job and started at a new place. Because I wasn't restricted by rules against dating co-workers, I decided to ask the receptionist at my old job out. We'd been pretty flirty for several months and I really liked her. I'd also heard through the grapevine that she had a crush on me (pretty high school I know, but hey). But she turned me down, said she wasn't available that night. She also turned down a different night and didn't offer an alternative. But we still texted and stuff, so I asked her again a couple weeks later. Still no, same as before. But she was still flirty on the phone, so I decided to ask her one more time a few weeks later. Same as the other two times, no deal.

After that I just stopped talking to her. I didn't know what her deal was, but she obviously didn't want to go out with me. But after a month or so of not talking to her I got a facebook message from her best friend who used to work in my department at my old job. She was asking what the deal was and why I was ignoring this girl. Apparently she was pretty upset that I wasn't talking to her any more. So I told the friend that I'd asked her out three times and got shot down every time, so it was obvious she wasn't into me.

So her friend then explained that that's how this girl operates. She doesn't go on any date with a guy unless he asks her FOUR FUCKING TIMES! Because then it shows that he's really interested. Up until that moment I was debating on whether I should give it another shot. Maybe she really was busy those three times I asked. Maybe she really did want to go out with me. But after that was explained to me I completely lost all interest. I just can't put up with that level of immaturity.