HOW can you protect yourself from players?

My younger sister, who is living in New York, asked me recently about the social scene in Singapore. We got to talking about the guys I've been meeting in the clubs and bars and what I've heard my female friends say about them.

I'll let you in on a little secret - Singapore has a lot of players.

Most of them have atrocious 'game' but are nonetheless doing very well with the ladies.

A surprising number of young Singaporean women don't seem to realise they're being played until it's too late.

To educate and inoculate young people from such malevolent advances, I shall apprise you of one prominent aspect of their 'game': The Booty Call Text.

Here's the general rule.

If a man sends you a late night text that reads something like, 'Hey, whatcha up to?' or 'Hey, where are you?' or 'What are you doing now?' or 'Wanna meet up?' or 'Let's meet', then this constitutes a booty call text. He???s texting you to get your 'booty'.

This is a transparent ploy to get into your pants with minimal effort or time.

If you do not want to sleep with this person, then do NOT respond.

This is not an innocent question asked over text message at one in the morning.

Any kind of response at all will only encourage the player. Especially if you respond politely or flirtatiously, you will only get more such texts later in the week, if not later that very night.

If you are an attractive female, you should become accustomed to receiving and promptly ignoring inappropriate texts like these.The Booty Call Text. Beware.

• Learn more about relationship expert Dr Date at his website: www.powerofbeingasian.com

This article was first published in The New Paper on Oct 5, 2008.