Life > February 21, 2008

By Kelly Curran | Staff columnist

They’re the guys who make you blush for no real reason. The guys who you could never bring home to your parents. They’re the guys whose reputations precede them, but that doesn’t deter you.

The ones who keep you waiting by the phone, only because you know when he does call it’ll be worth it. They’re bad boys; the men that women love to hate and hate to love.

I admit that my past is littered with bad boys. There’s the moody drop-out; the womanizing rich guy; the cocky frat-star; the charming guy with the super shady past. I’ve gone through more bad boys than good guys in my dating history, and I know I’m not the only one. Sometimes I wonder why these guys are so appealing, particularly to good girls. There are so many mysterious aspects of bad boys that contributes to their charm.

First and foremost, you never know what is going to happen next. They give off this careless, reckless aura that is simultaneously exciting and scary. You could get whisked off on a creative date, or you could be picking his wasted butt up from a bar at 2 a.m. It all depends on his ever-changing mood. This might get tiring, but there’s always something new with bad boys.

Secondly, bad boys follow their instincts. Those instincts are for sex. There’s no doubting the exhilaration of knowing that some sexy guy wants to do unspeakable things to you the moment he sees you. They don’t make love; they screw, ban, hump, bone or whatever lewd euphemism they prefer.

Bad boys know what they want and have a knack for getting that and more. On that note, bad boys can expose you to new and daring things. Often they are huge adrenaline junkies, as seen by their love of fast cars, daring stunts or anything else that gets their blood pumping. Bad boys can push your limits by introducing you to new sexual positions ... or even sexual locations.

Now that the library is open 24/5, I suspect there will be a surge in late night library activity – lots of it undoubtedly – initiated by our dear bad boys.

Lastly, they are a challenge. Nothing is easy with them, except maybe the adeptness with which they can remove a bra. You have to work to keep their attention, but knowing that he is all yours is a sense of accomplishment. With their devil-may-care attitudes, you know you’re doing something right if they take interest in you. Bad boys are always in demand, and knowing that he is YOUR bad boy is a feat all in itself.

What do we have against good guys? Simply, many nice guys seem to lack the spark that the bad boys have all too much of. Their doormat attitudes are frustrating to a girl who wants passion and intensity in a relationship. I know good guys get a raw deal sometimes but a little more bravado and confidence (read: not spineless) will do wonders.

Sending off the bad boy vibe will attract girls, then turning out to be a sweet guy can sometimes be a great surprise.

It’s futile to resist the bad boys. Most girls can’t even put into words the draw of a bad boy, but it’s undeniable. They are a series of paradoxes: aloof yet passionate, dangerous yet appealing, flawed yet attractive. Girls love a challenge, and figuring out or ‘taming’ a bad boy is the ultimate relationship challenge.

Love them or hate them, you must admit that they have “it.”

What’s “it?” I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to keep dating bad boys until I figure it out.