If they happen to meet someone, great, they are open to dating, but they're not actively out there looking.

However, there are many single people around who want to meet that special person, and I keep hearing people asking the golden question, "Where do I go to meet someone?''

Asking around, it seems most people agree you can meet amazing people anywhere - at a bar, at work, at a bus stop. Who knows where and when that special someone will walk into your life?

But is it that easy to approach someone and start chatting to them with the hope of getting a phone number and a possible date at the end of the conversation?

It seems most girls still like guys to be the ones doing the chasing and expect the guy to approach them for a chat.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of scumbags and players out there, and many girls who have had to put up with lots of these types of guys constantly hitting on them get a little bit worn down and start to reject, or "palm off'', all of the guys who approach them.

So, when a nice guy wants to come up and talk to you, he is quite often afraid that you will reject him without even giving him a go.

This is why most guys I've talked to think it's easier to meet someone through a friend, at a party or barbecue, where the setting is relaxed.

The fact that everyone there must be a friend of someone else usually means that most people will be cool and not scumbags (hopefully).

Asking around, I found that many people believe it is much easier to meet someone and be able to strike up a conversation when there are mutual friends around.

This is fine if you have lots of friends who like to socialise, but what if you don't? What if all your friends are married or in relationships and every barbecue you go to is full of couples?