Each week, local "women about town" Anjl Rodee and Marilynn Mee answer OnMilwaukee.com readers' questions about relationships, romance and whatever else is on your mind. They point out that this column is "for entertainment purposes only," but they mostly say that so they don't get sued. Send your questions to Anjl and Marilynn at anjlandmarilynn@staff.onmilwaukee.com.

Dear Anjl & Marilynn, I'm single again and would like to start dating. How do I "pick 'em up" without looking like a loose perv?

Dear Perv,

Marilynn: Are we going with the assumption that "'em" refers to females? Because if not, we'd have to defer to some of our experts.

Anjl: Not necessarily. Pick up lines are pick up lines, no matter what you're picking up, right?

MM: What do you mean "what?" Isn't this a "whom?"

AR: To each his own. I've seen some strangely matched couples lately.

MM: Anjl, please, no comments on that guy from Elm Grove I went out with ...

AR: OK, back to the question at hand. Personally, I think that if you avoid pick-up lines altogether you'll be better off.

MM: Yes, absolutely true. As a single person who goes out occasionally, there's just nothing better than a guy who will walk up to you and smile, look you in the eye and pay you a sincere compliment. Something like, "You look great in those jeans" or "I really like your hair" or something like that. It's a thousand times better than some cheesy pickup line. I wouldn't even be interested in a guy who would be lame enough to use a pickup line.

AR: Well, I picked up my boyfriend in a bar. I gave him a totally sincere and complimentary lie. I told him that we'd met years earlier and that I'd bought him a drink and since he hadn't returned the favor, I've been stalking him ever since. Worked like a charm, although he says we'll never last, as our relationship is built on a lie.

MM: Yeah, but it was only a little lie. At least you didn't go up to him and say, "Hi, I'm rich and I can buy you things."

AR: True that.

MM: And speaking of picking up someone in a bar, keep in mind that there's a huge difference between a little liquid courage and stumbling, drooling drunk.

AR: I thought we weren't going to talk about that guy from Elm Grove?

MM: As I was saying ... compliments from a drunk guy just don't count. And whatever you do, when you're paying the compliment, don't stare at her chest.

AR: But what if he's complimenting her chest? OK, I think we've established that flattering certain body parts is not a good idea. For me, a sense of humor goes a long way. If a guy uses a corny pickup line with the intention of making me laugh, I'll take a pickup line over a compliment any day.

MM: I would agree with that. But it had better be funny, and not lame. Guys over think this whole compliment thing. You're out someplace and see a girl that you find really attractive -- just tell her why you're walking up to her. Don't over think it.

AR: Yeah but one girl's compliment is another girl's insult ...

MM: Like what, "You remind me of my grandma?"

AR: The guy that walks up to any girl and says that shouldn't leave his parent's basement. No, I meant that personally, I'd rather someone recognize my rapier wit than my stellar butt.

MM: But if I'm wearing a lot of layers, no one will see my rapier wit. What is "rapier," by the way?

AR: (Sigh.)

MM: Well?? You can't see any kind of wit from across a club! Rappy or otherwise!

AR: (Another sigh.) I guess I just don't want to be picked up in a bar then.

MM: Getting back to the question: if you're really shy, you can always write a note.

AR: If you really like her, you can write it on a $10 bill.