Asking a man what his intentions are is a double-edged sword and it can backfire on you. Sure, it helps you not to get your time wasted, but it can also interrupt a perfectly developing connection.
It’s too direct and almost aggressive. It’s better to go with the flow and observe, of course without getting emotionally attached. If you sense that someone is playing on your emotions you just pull back.
A serious man will not risk losing you and he’ll immediately jolt to action and tell you his intentions. If he also fizzles away, he was never serious. You’ve ended the thing amicably and without any awkwardness.
If he had actually fallen in love with your personality and planning on how to pose the request and then you interrupt by asking him to declare intentions you may make him hesitate or even retreat.
The awkwardness never serves you in the long run. He may have potentially been a good friend but after this challenge, he may fear getting close again. Sure, everything depends on how you put the question and the tone, but the message in this kind of question is always ‘I don’t understand you. Be clear or be gone.’
Most people ask this question because of impatience and for being unable to control their own feelings.
Better to control your own feelings by reducing your availability and when he wonders what happened you can then state that you noticed both of you were getting too close and attached in the absence of a defined relationship.
In this instance, he’s the one coming after you and pleading so the setting is still perfect for a good relationship if he was after one.
