I am above average in looks and while lots of people do like being approached, it is sometimes not so fun. I've been stalked, assaulted, molested - this is not an issue you'll hit online. And it's easier to filter the really bad news without any possibility of someone following you home.

yes, the people choosing to stalk, assault, molest are the problem and I’m sorry you experienced that and its good you found a mitigation.

its important that everyone else knows this has no bearing on whether they can approach at all, and simply choose not to stalk, assault, molest.

the issue (and proof) is the lack of accountability to those that harassed you, lots of guys believe they will be marked as one of those harassers from simply saying hi. when its much more likely thats not so, and the issue becomes the lack of accountability for the person overfitting and accusing in their attempt to filter out actual harassers

we can create accountability in both scenarios.

Just walking up to a girl in person and saying "hi" is a nuanced thing. If you set off the creeper alarms at all you're DOA, so you need to have an aura of genuine chill and say hi to them in a way that seems completely casual and un-premeditated. Then you need to have them in a captive situation for a while to make some progress (standing in line, etc) and you need to come up with a reason to continue interacting with them later, and you need them to find you funny/charming/attractive/interesting enough that they give you contact information and don't just automatically ghost you.

This applies to when you approach girls cold. If you're really hot it's a different game, girls will just give you that look when you're walking around on the street, at the mall, etc, and if you walk up and say hi to them they will fuck you if you play it cool at all.

There are other approaches such as manufacturing social proof and demand for yourself

Many women are pretty traumatized by the captive situation logic, because a lot of guys do that and its pretty obvious. Like a beggar on the street “asking a question” and you already know to ignore it but want to give the benefit of the doubt that its not about money

Manufacturing social integration is a deep but fairly simple topic that many people find attractive, but it nullifies the need to try to prolong an interaction with a woman and is pretty much the opposite. where essentially you’re too cool and have too much going on to entertain her. if you’re interested in women, plural, it doesnt have to be hard or a coveted thing with much work behind it. and you’re not putting her in a captive situation so your already ahead of the pack

honestly most attraction are gender neutral concepts that work with business partners and relationship partners a like