'Always Been A Loner...'

[Mr Trick]

Indeed it was a joke, but Xander only jokes to relieve tension in a situation, whether it's fear/horror, social awkwardness/embarrasment or (as in this case) attraction. Humour is often used to illustrate actual characteisation on the show.

Also, if you watch the scene Xander's certainly getting very 'dreamy-eyed' looking at Faith, until Cordelia tells him to 'find a new theme'.
I see real attraction on his part (not so much with Oz) and genuine interest. That's the appeal of Faith in this episode:

Later on, when he and Willow have given Faith the tour:

XANDER: She's got something, doesn't she?

Also there's the fact that they don't spend that much time together after this episode until 'The Zeppo', and then suddenly Xander is 'very up' for whatever Faith wants. 😀
Where does that attraction come from if not from their initial encounter?

Disagree. At most Xander notices that Faith is attractive and is responding to something rauchy she said with a crude joke. Its not the same thing as being obsessed or fanicing someone.

 

[RoxySilver]

Ok.... Did feminism skip your country?🙁

Oh jeez, no! In fact I pride myself in thinking that I'm quite feminist. Not the point right now.

I checked the meaning of "petty", turns out it didn't mean exactly what I thought.. my bad! Sorry.
I meant kind of mean... and I stand by that. I do believe that girls are quite mean to each other, and are naturally competitive between each other, viciously competitive at times (this is illustrated in Homecoming for instance). And I've always felt that upon first meeting, Buffy viscerally defended her "throne" at being the one and only slayer and powerful person, and didn't want other people to like Faith like they did her. I also believe this is a very natural feeling, but it might have encouraged Faith into building this loner status.

I hope it makes more sense now... Sorry again!!!!

 

[Mr Trick]

Oh jeez, no! In fact I pride myself in thinking that I'm quite feminist. Not the point right now.

I checked the meaning of "petty", turns out it didn't mean exactly what I thought.. my bad! Sorry.
I meant kind of mean... and I stand by that. I do believe that girls are quite mean to each other, and are naturally competitive between each other, viciously competitive at times (this is illustrated in Homecoming for instance). And I've always felt that upon first meeting, Buffy viscerally defended her "throne" at being the one and only slayer and powerful person, and didn't want other people to like Faith like they did her. I also believe this is a very natural feeling, but it might have encouraged Faith into building this loner status.

I hope it makes more sense now... Sorry again!!!!

No worries, thanks for clearing it up🙂

Although I would say men are just as competitive with each other just in a different way.