I’m walking through the dance floor at a bar in Pacific Beach, holding onto my girlfriend’s hand when I feel someone grab my wrist.

I turn around. I didn’t really have a choice, this person wasn’t going to let go. Normally, I would’ve reached for the pepper spray, but I stopped when I saw that the person holding my wrist was a woman. I’ve been to a lot of bars and this was the first girl who has approached me.

She’s standing next to a guy – I assumed it was her boyfriend – who had a big grin on his face.

She asked, “Do you know my friend Brandon?”

I look at who I guess is Brandon. I shake his hand as she introduces us. Then she asks me, “Do you have a name?” I’m tempted to say no, but I don’t want to provoke whom I think is a crazy chick. “I’m Stephanie,” I say.

“OK, Stephanie, do you want to talk to my friend Brandon?” she asks.

I’ve never been in a threesome before, so I say, “No,” and turn to follow my friends. I look back quickly when I hear Brandon say my name. Before I can look away, he puts his right hand into the air and growls at me like I’m a model on an Austin Powers photo shoot. “You’re a tiger baby, yeah.”

This is not how you approach a girl at a bar. That was one of the worst, and most awkward, pickup lines I’ve heard since I turned 21.

There are others ?

Like the guy who offered to take me to Costa Rica because he needed a Spanish tour guide (apparently, having brown hair and brown eyes makes me Spanish). That wasn’t his opener, which is good because it’s not a great first line. No, his first move was to stare at me for a couple of minutes before saying anything.

? or the guy who told me how much money he’s made at the job he has in PB since he graduated from San Diego State. Good for you. He said he still lives in PB for girls like me. I know this is true ? and so do several of my friends (they turned 21 before I did).

Most of the stuff guys tell me I’ve heard before – except for the tiger thing, that guy was one in a million – and those are the wrong things to say.

If I’m at a bar dancing with my friends, I’ll occasionally make eye contact with someone who I’m attracted to. And I don’t mean accidental eye contact, such as when I’m glancing around and happen to look at a guy. That’s not a sign to sneak up behind me and start gyrating without saying a word.

But if we make eye contact and I smile, that is a sign; a sign that you should come over and talk to me. Don’t just stare from a closer distance. Say something, such as, “Hey, how are you doing?” That’s better than offering to buy me a drink or grinding on me before you even know my name.

Obviously, when someone comes to talk to you at a bar, they’re attracted to you. You don’t have to hide what you’re doing.

I appreciate the honesty, and if you’ve made it this far without growling at me, you’re probably on the right track. But it’s still possible for you to screw things up. Just because I’ve dropped my guard somewhat doesn’t mean you can undress me with your eyes. Keep that original eye contact and talk to me. Then after a couple of minutes, offer to buy me a drink (I like Vodka Cranberry).

Then, when the time is right, you can growl like a tiger and I just might purr back.

-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.