A needy woman is a big buzz kill. The problem is, a lot of women have no clue when they're acting like the human version of Velcro. But after reading this list of things that make guys beg for breathing room, you won't be able to claim ignorance.

We have enough of our own doubts to deal with without having to reassure you perpetually. So asking us to weigh in on your most minute decisions ("Should I get bangs?") is a guaranteed system meltdown. Sure, we want to be consulted on major issues, like if you're thinking about leaving town, but for everything else, assume our two cents isn't even worth that. "My girlfriend's sister won't buy a pair of earrings without getting her boyfriend's okay," says Nelson,* 28. "Unless he's paying, I guarantee he doesn't care. I'm so glad my woman has more confidence in her decision-making abilities."

Since most women are born social organizers, it's off-putting to find yourself with a girl who expects you to provide the entertainment. That makes us feel like we're leaving you in the lurch every time we have to work late, go out of town, or hang with the boys. Don't be afraid to do your own thing, like 31-year-old Tim's girlfriend does. "I was dying to watch the game with the guys, but my girlfriend and I had made tentative plans," he says. "I was psyched when she asked if we could reschedule because she wanted a girls' night out."

If your guy didn't say "I love you" at the end of your last phone conversation per usual, the relationship isn't doomed. Overanalyzing these little things will push him away... and make him think you're nuts. "My girlfriend bought me an expensive pair of shoes, which I wore religiously," says Drew, 28. "One day she noticed I wasn't wearing them and started tripping that I didn't love her anymore. She felt stupid when I told her the shoes were being resoled. Where does she get these crazy ideas anyway?" Dating lesson: Take things at face value; that's what we do.

A guy gets a little queasy when a girl attaches to him in social situations. Think mandatory hand-holding, nonstop body contact... don't make me go on. But just because we're not big on being shadowed, doesn't mean we're not into you. Take it from Michael, 30: "When I go to a party or a bar with Beth, instead of following me, she works the room on her own," he says. "Every now and then, she'll eye me across the room, but she doesn't need to be attached to me, which is great." Dating bonus: Maintaining a hands-off policy in public makes us even more eager to get intimate when we're alone.

*Names have been changed.

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