Cis Hetero-White-Male, barging in with a man-splaination!
(it's funny, the Canadian part of me insists I should apologize for this, but got overridden- but joking aside, this is NOT actually me telling anyone what to do, it's just my take on the responses so far.)
Since promptly (if not aggressively) putting down workplace flirting seems to be a fairly consistent reaction to your question, I'd leave women alone at the workplace, and not approach them about it at all, especially as long as it could somehow effect working conditions between you and the other person. Finding a job you can tolerate, much less a career path you have the drive to pursue, can be hard enough without adding the pitfalls and complications of a workplace romantic engagement or even flirtatious behavior.
And, in case you were wondering, it also seems like you are well within your right to tell anyone trying the same to you to fuck off. I don't feel this needs to be as gendered an issue as your original post- everyone should consider the workplace and their future career or financial options, weighed against a risky encounter/communication or even a potential romantic relationship, when these things arise.
(it's funny, the Canadian part of me insists I should apologize for this, but got overridden- but joking aside, this is NOT actually me telling anyone what to do, it's just my take on the responses so far.)
Since promptly (if not aggressively) putting down workplace flirting seems to be a fairly consistent reaction to your question, I'd leave women alone at the workplace, and not approach them about it at all, especially as long as it could somehow effect working conditions between you and the other person. Finding a job you can tolerate, much less a career path you have the drive to pursue, can be hard enough without adding the pitfalls and complications of a workplace romantic engagement or even flirtatious behavior.
And, in case you were wondering, it also seems like you are well within your right to tell anyone trying the same to you to fuck off. I don't feel this needs to be as gendered an issue as your original post- everyone should consider the workplace and their future career or financial options, weighed against a risky encounter/communication or even a potential romantic relationship, when these things arise.