Why do girls say they want a nice guy?

If you have seen the film "What women want" there is a telling scene where just after Mel Gibson's character starts hearing women's thoughts he hears a woman thinking how nice it would be to just be directly asked out or something like that. So he does exactly what she was thinking and is shot down. Now sure, maybe he isn't her type. But the point is that there is way too much emphasis on trying to work out what women want.

I’ve never once read an article on how to pick up women. I would say just be who you truly are and the right one will come around.

The classic romantic gestures are a very bad idea if you want to have any success with women today. That's not to say that you should be a jerk, but flowers, etc. are out. It's a slightly different story once you have an established relationship.

I've experienced this my whole life, to myself and people all around me, and it's a true thing. My theory is women are terrified by nice guys who would make great husbands and wonderful fathers because it's something of a life snare that you could get caught up in and goodbye to good times and hanging on to your youth and freedom. Also related, falling in love is really scary. There's something very comfortable about being with an asshole because you don't let yourself become too comfortable with them, which is itself a comfort for women. But that's the real trap cause eventually you've spent so many years with assholes that you're either stuck together or you're damaged goods no longer capable of being in a healthy relationship.

I've never had any trouble getting or keeping a woman.

Sounds like the problem might be with you?

Why would you think that every woman wants the same thing in a man? It's really all about attraction. You could be the nicest person in the world, or the biggest jerk in the world. If someone isn't attracted to you, they aren't attracted. Perhaps the women that you are attracted to, just aren't interested. I'm sure that there is someone out there who is attracted to you and you aren't paying any attention to them and they are wondering something similar about you.

I've always hated flowers as a gift. They die. If you are making a compliment, make it genuine. I don't know what you are saying in these compliments, but daily compliments would seem to me like you wanted something from me, not that you were just being nice.

I will also say that attractions change over time. When I was younger I was attracted to the outer package more than who a person was. Now that I'm in my 40s, there are very few men that I look at and judge by their looks. I can't tell you if I'm attracted to someone until I know them and can see who they are.

You are trying to rationalise something that is impossible to rationalise.

Oh, like straight men have realistic expectations of women!

Love is ridiculous and nonsensical, start by accepting that and things will start to make a little more sense. Then, maybe, start thinking of women as individuals with their own likes and dislikes, anyone who expects all women to behave the same way is going to find reality frustrating.