Everyone has seen movies, heard jokes, and maybe even dealt with the clingy girlfriend. She wants to know where her man is all the time. She can't stop talking to him. She praises and compliments him on a level that is borderline questionable. Essentially she *clings* to him like nobody's business. But as a girl who has been around the block, I'm here to tell you it's not just about girls.
Enter: the clingy boys.

Listen fellas, you aren't the only ones who moan and groan when someone won't give you the space you need, or manages to suffocate you via sweet nothings. Girls deal with it too. And to the ladies reading this who never have (and probably wish you had yourself a clingy man) you are lucky, lucky individuals.

Now let me disclose- I am not talking about giving your girl some compliments and attention because that's totally baller. But overwhelming them with your presence when they just need some space, not letting them have any independence, needing to know everything? You should never have to stalk your significant other. You should appreciate them, and love them, and grow together, not chase them like a scary game of tag.

I'm not here to bash on young men trying to woo young women, but I am here to give them a PSA that clingy is just as unappealing to us as it is to you. Think of this as your wakeup call from your Relationship Fairy Godmother. I'm going to explain to you what not to do when you're trying to wow that girl you drool over in your history class every day.

Don't get too affectionate right off the bat.

Ladies love compliments and that is no secret. But talking about all the things you love about them after a week is just going to make you look like you are trying way too hard to get some, or that you are already in love after one date and thats scary for everyone.

Let some mystery remain.

Mystery is fun. Its always cool to learn new things about someone you're interested in. If you guys both share your entire multi-decade life story in three days, there's not going to be any layers to peel back as the relationship gets deeper.

Independence is healthy.

If your girl goes for a run by herself or sits in her dorm to eat dinner every once in a while, thats not a sign that she's asking you to join. We all need a little alone time, and if you invite yourself, it makes it really hard for us to say no, so either we're gonna be miserable or you are. We aren't near as about the hidden meanings as society likes to believe.

She isn't going to spontaneously fall for her male friends now that you're in the picture.

So many guys have issues when girls have guy-friends because God forbid she hangs out with more than just them. So if you really want to impress her, let her hang with her guy-friends, because if she didn't want to get with them before you, then dating you isn't going to push her over the metaphorical ledge.

Learn the difference between protectiveness and jealousy.

For the love of all that is right, this is the most important thing in the world. Protectiveness is looking out for your girl when you can, and it is sexy as hell. Jealousy is looking out for yourself in spite of what your girl wants. That's not sexy.

Find a middle ground when it comes to PDA.

A sweet kiss from your man in front of your friends can be perfectly adorable. But holding her hand while she's trying to eat her salad or open her drink because you can't bear to let go is excessive.

So fellas, next time you have a problem with a clingy girl, please know that we really do experience the same thing when we are trying to find the one. Do your part, and manage to be attentive without smothering your lady-friend; it will do nothing but make the world a much more wonderful place.