They have starved themselves of the possibility that they can realize their own intentions. It also means that the real payback for your actions is realizing your intentions. You have put yourself into the center of action, and that is very rewarding in itself. I know that for many, this seems like only putting yourself in line for rejection. You might be amazed to find out how pleased and fascinated men are to know that you've been thinking about them, that they have figured into your imaginative life.
Men are, for the most part, ignored in our society.
One approach, honestly, would be to be yourself. So it is possible that unconsciously, in a similar way, if he attempted this exercise, he would find you fitting easily into his own imaginative story. And, to be honest, his fears. Trying to get to know someone else, as difficult as that is. Trying to get over our fears of strangers, rejection, pain, violence, and ridicule.