I have found that "treating them like a queen" isn't a good strategy either.
I tease mine mercilessly but the little things like holding her chair, opening doors, doing the dishes, etc. seem to tell her I give a rip
I treated my first girlfriend like a queen... Error in judgment.
She told me that I was too nice and bailed for a "bad boy"
I now believe in "cocky with a bit of chivalry thrown in", I have never said "I love you" and I compliment her in an asshole way.
If I mean "wow, you look great" when she asks how she looks I'll say: "You look kinda allright... a bit... sometimes... on tuesdays... " and then give her the grin that tells her I'm kidding.
When we are going out or something and she has put a lot of effort into her appearance I am a little over the top "holy catfish batman, you look amazing!"
It stuns her and you can just watch the self esteem blossom.
I guess it works but marriage would kill it pretty quick.
You want to make a chick (or a guy for that matter) stop trying? Marry that person. When you don't HAVE to try to keep that person, there is no reason to do so. We are lazy, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Few people are willing to be proactive in a marriage like they are with a girlfriend/boyfriend. I will date for the rest of my life because I like to "woo" my gf every day, I just do it my own way
Just my $.02, this is just what I would have wanted to know when I started out. :beer: