Perhaps you have forgotten the various movies .. all dramas, that a couple of 'Europeans' and various Americans residing in the Southwest participated in not that long ago.  Well at least they had met and their emotions were based on REAL/LIFE situations - doesn't necessarily justify some of the realities that occurred but at least makes them understandable....

How people can get in such a tizzy such as this other Female when their primary contact with another is through copper phone lines a CRT and a Keyboard I'll never understand but alas now days it seems that many feel that they can declare their "TRUE LOVE" for another human being that they have never met in person.  Personally I think those that do so have never experienced that emotion nor comprehend the depth and meaning those words should convey and I also think that casual declarations of LOVE denigrate the word and all that it conveys.  Guess I'm just a very old old old Duck who believes one can get to know another online, one can learn to like another online, one can find lots of things in common with one online, and it is even possible that individuals who meet online may AFTER MEETING fall in Love as I know those who have ....but I STILL BELIEVE THAT LOVE IS MAGICAL, MYSTICAL and SPIRITUAL and IT HAPPENS WHEN IT HAPPENS - but it doesn't happen to those who have never met each other in R/L.

Yes I realize that you were talking about flirting and not Love but I only had Duck Sermon 00.3685 handy so that's what you get!! So what is the Duck really saying ??? How the hell should I know except perhaps....

    TIS ALL A GAME MY DEAR ...DON'T GET SO SERIOUS OVER IT THAT IT GETS YOU IN A TIZZY   CAUSE IN THE OVERALL PICTURE OF THINGS  IT IS ALL LESS SIGNIFICANT THEN THE SMALLEST GRAIN OF SAND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN     MUCH MUCH LESS SIGNIFICANT!! 

There always have been those both children and adult alike, that if others are not willing to play the game THEIR WAY - they will do their damndest to ruin it for everyone or in kid's vernacular "those are MY RULES and if you don't like them, it's MY BALL and I'll just take it and go home".

For children and adults alike who act in such a manner the appropriate response is tactful manipulation and to do so utilizing wit and intelligence so that they don't even realize that they are being manipulated and ultimately are acting in a manner that not only had they been maneuvered into but which would have been appropriate in the first place.

The inappropriate response is to have a huge temper tantrum and VENT LOUDLY at them and call them all the APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE NAMES ....OH BUT SOMETIMES THAT FEELS OH SO GOOOOOD ...     even for a duck!