Alpha male cheatsheet

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

In all my time writing about courtship, I've never written a single word about winning someone back.  That's because I believe once you've been friendzoned or marked as a "nice guy", the reputation sticks.  Just take the loss and move on.

The great thing about meeting someone new or being in a new environment is, you can start from scratch and be whoever you convey yourself to be.  Nobody needs to know what a loser you were in high school or how you can't get laid in a whorehouse. 

To make a fantastic first impression as an alpha male, here is a cheatsheet of 10 things to remember for your first (or almost first) one-on-one interaction with a girl.  All 10 things are derived from material in this series.

1.  Say NO once in while or refuse to answer her question. 

2.  Disagree playfully on stupid trivial matters.  But if she insists on being right, don't linger on it and jump to another topic. 

3.  More than once, touch her near her elbow to emphasize a point or if something funny is said. 

4.  Your posture and voice needs to show zero intimidation.  It doesn't matter if she's taller than you, more educated or if she's Miss Universe second runner up. 

5.  Maintain eye contact and a slight smile.  But avoid having a huge, eager, ecstatic smile.  Your eye contact should include "sticky eyes" where your gaze lingers slightly longer than normal.

6.  Never lean in towards her. 

7.  Make one suggestive remark.  "Hey, you're funnier than my last girlfriend" or "I think my mom would like someone like you". 

8.  Do not sell yourself.  Don't bring up your accomplishments or positive attributes unless she asks. 

9.  Speak boldly, assertively and make strong sweeping declarations.  "Guys who have cats are usually gay or metrosexual".  If she disagrees and provokes an argument, see #2. 

10.  Resist all urge to say something sweet and sappy. 

No matter how the interaction went, you need to be the first to end it.  That is the ultimate indicator that you're not needy, clingy or invested.  If you'll likely see her again, just abruptly end it.  If not, you'll need to exchange phone numbers or Facebook. 

Before parting, give her a touch again.  If the interaction went really well, give a side hug.  Either way, you need to touch and go.  Don't linger or prolong. 

If you do all this, congratulations! She will likely perceive you as an alpha male who's confident, fun and easy to talk to. 

Three more quickie "mistakes"

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

If I were to expand this series to 15 “mistakes”, here would be three more common courtship mistakes...

Mistake #13 - Blabbing too much information

Many guys try building rapport by telling girls all about themselves, particularly his recent social activities and past relationships.  This is a bad idea. 

Instead, you need to maintain a bit of mystery.  Don't volunteer excess information.  If you avoid answering, she'll imagine all sort of crazy stuff about you.  For example, if she asks what you did last weekend and you say "I'm not sure I should say", she'll think your weekend resembled the movie The Hangover.  That's exactly what you want her to think.  The same about your past relationships.  Once she obsesses what you're not telling, it will make it likelier for her to develop interest for you.  Not to mention, her persistent attempts to pry can be taken as a strong IOI. 

Let's be honest.  Most of us live pretty drab lives.  So don't confirm it by expressing it.  Also don't update all your happenings on Facebook. 

DLV: Telling everything about yourself
DHV: Being mysterious


Mistake #14 - Expressing low standards

Don't be afraid to sound exclusive.  No girl wants an easy guy who falls in love easily with anybody.  If you have high standards, she'll assume you have options.  If she thinks you have options, she'll assume you have lots of girls surrounding you (which is what you want her to think). 

When she asks what you're looking for in a girlfriend, give detailed standards.  Just make sure she's not excluded.  For example, if she's Korean, don't say you only go for Chinese.  Don't be afraid to talk about appearances either, as long as you're not obsessed with sexual body parts. 

Also, talk about ex-girlfriends and girls you've dated and why they didn't make the cut.  Make it sound like you've rejected girls.  To avoid sounding conceited, also mention these girls' good traits and how it was a tough decision to dump them. 

DLV: Desperate for any girlfriend
DHV: Having standards


Mistake #15 - Not being "macho"

Many guys try to adapt a particular girl's characteristics in a conscious or subconscious effort to be similar (a "good couple").  If she cries in movies, you cry.  If ghost stories frighten her, you also get frightened.  If she worries about not finding a job, you also worry. 

This is a bad idea because most of the time, you assume feminine traits that makes you look totally beta. 

Women are emotionally fragile and inherently seek men to be her leader and protector.  You cannot be girlie or some chickenshit.  Don't show excess worrying or trepidation.  For example, if suddenly there's thunder, she will likely get scared or freaked-out.  You cannot.  When she's fragile, you need to show bravado...the guy who tells her "everything will be OK" or "there's nothing to be worried about" and that everything is under control. 

DLV: Being feminine
DHV: Showing bravado

Supplemental to Mistake #12 - Not taking bold risks

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

In Chapter 12, I talked about looking for IOIs (indicators of interest) to determine opportune times to escalate. 

Remember that IOIs are not proof of interest, just indicators.  No one can possibly know what's in her head.  But if she shows many IOIs, particularly strong IOIs, there's increased chance she's interested and you need to escalate immediately.  If you fail to show social leadership at such crucial moments, she may lose interest -- not necessarily because she's consciously punishing you but because she genuinely isn't attracted to guys who aren't social leaders and go-getters. 

Strong IOIs:
- She asks for your phone number or volunteers hers
- She asks to "hang out sometime"
- She reinitiates conversations when you stop talking
- She touches you repeatedly
- She tries to get rapport and build comfort by agreeing with you
- She compliments you
- She holds eye contact for longer periods of time when she speaks with you
- She calls you a player or a heartbreaker
- On her way out, she reapproaches you to tell you that she is leaving
- On your way out, she asks you where you are going
- She invents reasons to be near you, interact with you, or have isolation with you
- If you move, she follows you or waits for you
- She has a fixated look on you (the "doggy dinner bowl" look)

Weak IOIs (but IOIs nevertheless!)
- While you're talking to her group, she is particularly talkative (to get your attention)
- She asks you for a light or the time or in any way that initiates conversation
- She introduces you to friends
- She's punching your arm but laughing
- She preens her hair or clothing
- When she says or does something, she looks at you to see your reaction
- She looks at you from the side, to hide the fact that she's looking
- She's inquisitive about your past
- She avoids mentioning her boyfriend
- She laughs at your stupid jokes
- She asks you for your name
- She asks you your age
- She says something to her friend and they both giggle
- She interrupts your conversation from nearby
- She looks back and glances at you repeatedly ever minute or so
- She asks if you have a girlfriend
- She mentions your girlfriend without knowing if you actually have one
- She is playful and tries to challenge you
- She's disagreeing but laughing
- When she is sitting next to you her leg touches yours
- She giggles
- Her friends goes away (to the bathroom or bar or dancing) but she stays with you
- She doesn't flinch or pull back if you happen to get too close
- She doesn't resist when you escalate physically (or she gives only token resistance per her ASD)

Not finished yet...

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Despite posting article #12, there will be at least three more articles before this series is complete.

Mistake #12 - Not taking bold risks

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

There's many areas in courtship where you face rejection:

- Approaching the girl
- Making suggestive remarks
- Asking for a phone number or Facebook
- Touching
- Asking for a date

You need to do them all.  There's no way you'll get anywhere in courtship (and in life) if you don't gamble and risk fucking things up.  Girls can get away with it.  But society deems men to be leaders and initiators -- traits that the female brain is programmed to seek.  You have to man up, grow a pair of balls and stop thinking you can land her without risk (or worst, that she will somehow come to you). 

You also need to take risks early.  You cannot wait for that "big moment" to touch or ask her out.  If you do it early, it will almost seem trivial, as if it's just a normal part of your alpha personality.  This makes it likelier for her to accept your advances.  If you wait too long to make a move, it will look creepy, pressuring and abrupt. 

Lastly, if you're rejected, do not assume it's game over.  There are a myraid of reasons why she refused your advances.  You'd find that many times, she "rejects" you only because she was shellshocked.  Once she thinks it through, she might come around.  So in facing "rejection", just try again later.  Maybe give 3-4 chances before quitting.  Even if you truly get rejected, it's better to have the band-aid pulled off immediately than slowly. 

Some of you fear being aggressive and screwing things up.  "She's the conservative type" or "girls like taking it slow".  That's bullshit.  Even conservative shy types fantacize about being suddenly swept off her feet.  The truth is, if a girl rejects you for asserting yourself (within reason), you probably never had a chance to begin with. 

Of course, there's such a thing as being too aggressive. 

- You're too aggressive if you're trying to force a resolution or to overcome persistant resistance. 
- You're too passive if, when you ask yourself "when was the last time I took a real risk with her?" and the answer is "never", "rarely" or "it's been a while". 

I know this is a dumb analogy, but it's like walking a dog.  The dog is too aggressive if you feel constantly pulled from the leash.  The dog is too passive if the leash is always slack.  It's best to sometimes feel a bit of a tug. 

The bottom line is, girls are attracted to guys who take risk and initiative.  This has been an overarching theme of this series. 

Of course, there's good and bad timing to risk-taking.  One way to determine good timing is when you spot IOIs (indicators of interest).  Here are a few types of IOIs (a fuller list will appear as a supplemental to this article).  .  . 

Strong IOIs:
- She touches you repeatedly
- She suggests to hang out sometime
- She asks or volunteers her phone number

Weak IOIs (but IOIs nevertheless):
- She preens her clothing or hair
- She's inquisitive about your past
- When the conversation drags, she tries to prolong it
- She laughs at your stupid jokes

If you spot several IOIs, particularly strong IOIs, it's your sign to make a move.  She's practically begging you! If you don't, don't be surprised if she loses interest.  In addition to having her ego bruised, she will feel you've failed to demonstrate social leadership, which makes her less attracted. 

Even if you don't spot any IOIs, you still need to roll the dice and take a gamble -- although you'll probably need to take smaller risks and be more subtle. 

DLV: Not taking a risk
DHV: Taking bold risks and doing it early

Mistake #11 - Displaying poor body language

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Even if you know what to say to improve your courtship odds, all that becomes irrelevant if you display poor body language.  For example, I advocated not letting a girl know you've fallen for her.  But if your body language shows that you have, then all your efforts will be in vain.  People infer a great deal from body language.  There are studies that show 90% of your personality is conveyed nonverbally. 

First, let's look at your eyes.  We talked a bit about this in Article #6 to achieve a "romantic frame".  But I want to go one step further and use eye contact to express general alphaness. 

Your eyes are a dead giveaway if you're insecure, nervous or untrustworthy.  You mustn't be afraid of looking someone in the eye when you speak (while glancing away momentarily for relief).  You might think this is obvious, but I encounter people everyday who can't do that.  I walk pass strangers in the halls at work and many would suddenly look downwards or away.  When they do, I'd always feel a sense of alphaness over them. 

Also, watch for shifty eyes.  If you’re talking to more than one person, don’t shift your eyes when looking at each person.  Move your head towards them instead. 

The same about eye contact can be said for that cute stranger at a party.  As long as you're not staring like a predator, your willingness to look will establish your dominance immediately.  The trick is to look while having a slight, innocent smile on your face.  Ideally, if eye contact is made, she's the one who looks away first. 

Forget any notion that girls don't want to be "checked out".  Girls don't obsess over their appearance because they don't want someone to look -- as long as you're not doing in a perverted way (i.e, looking at their breasts). 

The worst thing to do is suddenly darting your eyes away if eye contact is established.  If she sees you doing that, you've demonstrated that you're a creepy stalker because she knows you've been checking her out but you're terrified of being discovered.  I know averting your eyes is often an involuntary response.  If you do it, just look back at her immediately. 

Second, let's look at your posture. 

Many guys make the mistake of leaning into the girl when talking.  Unfortunately, this conveys eagerness and fixation.  The more you seem invested in her, especially when she hasn't earned you yet, the more beta you appear. 

Instead of leaning in, stand straight or even lean slightly back.  When seated, you must lean slightly away (but not slouching).  If you do a good job interacting with her, you'd often find that she begins to lean towards you instead.  Do not wrap your arms around yourself or fold your arms.  The more space you take up, the more alpha you seem.  Do not fidget with your hands or make unnecessary movements.  The person who moves least is perceived as having more social value.  The only exception is making minor hand gestures to accentuate something you’ve said. 

The good news is, displaying proper eye and body language is simple.  You just need to be conscious of it.  I know this sounds gay, but you want to have a "glow" about yourself.  You display this glow with your eyes, a slight smile and proper posture.  You want to tell others nonverbally that you fucking own the place and you just got laid. 

The next time you interact with a girl, I want you to mentally recite this sentence to yourself: "I OWN THIS FUCKING LITTLE SLUT".  You might be surprised how you're suddenly less nervous and how your body responds as if it believes what you've said. 

DLV: Poor body language
DHV: Confident body language

Mistake #10 - Not getting her on a date

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Unless you get a girl on a date, all that flirting and teasing stuff don't mean shit.  Don't kid yourself.  There's a human bond achievable only when people spend physical time alone.  Not to mention, getting her on a date is an accurate way to judge how she feels about you since it requires her to invest time and effort. 

Because dating is your ultimate goal in courtship, watch how you use the phone.  The phone should only be used for one reason: to get her out.  Don't have long text or phone conversations.  That's what girls do with other girls.  If she really enjoys interacting with you, she'd agree to do it in-person.  If not, you're just her personal clown she turns to when bored. 

There are two cardinal rules for asking a first or second date. 

First, do it early in the courtship.  She will think your invitation is just a normal part of your cool sociable personality and that you're a social leader who takes charge.  If instead you wait forever for that "big moment", your request will come off as abrupt, pressuring and weird.  This makes her less likely to accept.  She will not react well if she feels creeped out. 

Second, you need to ask casually.  This is why "getting coffee" is so trendy these days.  Don't use words like "date" or "go out".  Don't offer to watch a movie or a walk on the beach.  Avoid Fridays, Saturdays and other "special" days like Valentine's or her birthday.  Your invite must sound like a passing casual remark, as if you're asking buddies to come over to play video games. 

WRONG: "Are you free this Saturday night to watch a movie?
CORRECT: "Hey, let's go grab some coffee.  "

WRONG: "I was wondering if you'd like to go out tomorrow night"
CORRECT: "Let's try some Indian food later.  "

If she's unsure whether it's a "date" or just a friendly thing, you're on the right track.  Trust me.  If the outing goes well, there'd be plenty of opportunity to escalate. 

You might not even want to ask but to command in a friendly humorous way...

- "Hey, I have a craving...come with me to get something at Starbucks"
- [on text message] hey get ur ass out, i gotta show u sumthing

Even if she's interested, expect her to give token resistance as part of her
Anti-Slut Defense.  She might say NO, make some phony excuse or raise a fuss about the time and place.  Just react in a light and teasing way and ask again. 

- "Busy my ass!"
- "You can study for your midterms tomorrow"
- "Are you always such a pain in the ass?"

If she still refuses, let it go and ask again some other time.  Remember the last article and don't show anger, spitefulness or disappointment in any serious manner. 

Even if she agrees, you should expect possible flaking.  If she does, it might mean you haven't attracted her enough.  Or it might have nothing to do with you.  Girls are emotionally unstable.  They flake on guys, on girls, even on themselves.  You must accept unstable female behavior if you're to succeed in courtship.  This is why you need to cast a big net and be involved with multiple girls.  If one flakes, text someone else to come out or just go home, jerk off and live to fight another day. 

DLV - Hesitating on asking for a date
DHV - Asking for a date early

Mistake #9 - Confessing

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

First of all, let's define "confessing".  My definition of confessing is, telling a girl directly, out-of-the-blue and in a serious tone that you're romantically interested.  Most girls will advise you to do it, that you should “just tell her how you feel".  Funny, most girls who give such shitty advice rarely follow it themselves.  She usually won't confess because she'd feel it's the other person's job to confess first. 

One of my first posts on AF was about confessing and why not to do it.  Here's the argument...

If a girl isn't attracted to you, confessing won't suddenly change her mind.  She's not going to think "wow, I'm so attracted to him now because he confessed!"  Sure, she might try to reward your honesty by giving you a chance.  But most of the time, she won't "feel it" and all she'd give is one or two pity dates.  Surely, you don't want a girl to go out with you because she feels sorry for your ass. 

There's two reasons why confessing makes her less attracted to you. 

First, girls feel most passionate over a guy when she feels doubt.  It's a natural human response.  On the forum, notice girls go craziest when they post those endless "does he like me" threads.  I’ve never seen girls go all insane over a guy who constantly showers her with attention. 

Second, doubt is effective at building attraction because she lacks control over you.  In a social arrangement, the superior is in control while the inferior is controlled.  As I've said a billion times already, your job is to give the impression that you’re her superior and a social leader.  Therefore, you cannot surrender control by confessing. 

However, you can't plant too much doubt or else she will withdraw, especially girls who lack confidence.  Like putting a carrot in front of a horse, the girl must think you're still somewhat attainable. 

Therefore, the formula to attracting a girl is...

PASSION = HOPE + DOUBT

Your courtship strategy is, always keep her slightly off-balance and guessing.  Yes, you should show interest.  But she must think whether your interest is genuine or whether it will endure.  Most girls will deny it, but deep down, they indeed want guys who are hard-to-get. 

Most guys feel the greatest urge to confess when things are going sour.  So he impatiently throws a desperate Hail Mary which, ironically, loses the game immediately.  The need to confess, therefore, is symptom of a bigger problem.  And that is, he has failed to adequately attract the girl.  So instead of throwing a Hail Mary, he should be a bit more patient and work on becoming more attractive. 

DLV: Confessing
DHV: Keeping her guessing

Mistake #8 - Losing your cool

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

To be sure, it's often frustrating dealing with girls.  She can get moody, suddenly shows interest and then disinterest (or vice versa), disrespects you, flakes on you, steps all over you, etc. 

There are many reasons why girls might do this...

First, girls have massive egos and embedded with an Anti-Slut Defense (ASD).  If she feels you've rejected her, her ego will kick in and she will get fiesty and seek revenge.  If she feels she's been "too easy" fawning all over you like an idiot, her ASD will activate and she'll withdraw. 

Second, it can be a shit test.  Shit tests are obstacles girls erect (perhaps subconsciously) to test how much you like her.  It's common amongst low self-esteem and less attractive girls. 

Third, many Asian girls (particularly brainy ones) have retarded social skills because of courtship inexperience. 

Lastly, you need to examine your own behavior and not pin it all on the girl.  Have you engaged in DLV behavior that would repel a girl? Keep in mind that girls don't primarily based their attraction on a guy's physical appearance.  She bases it mostly on whether you demonstrate social leadership.  That perception can change quickly based on your behavior or inaction. 

When encountering negative female behavior, many guys have reacted by...

- Telling the girl off
- Giving a cold shoulder or silent treatment
- Having that "pissed off" look on your face
- Talking trash behind her back
- Debating her to prove she's wrong
- Being petty and "getting even"
- Deleting her off your Facebook
- Confessing
- Crying

The most important thing for you learn here is, NEVER react to a girl's bad behavior.  Every behavior I've listed is a courtship mistake. 

High value males don't lose their cool.  He retains control, does not react and laughs off, brushes off or ignores female nonsense.  This is how you win respect and become her superior (and become attractive to her).  If you react, a girl will feel control over you.  She'd be the superior and you'd be her bitch.  Not the best way to demonstrate social leadership. 

I know it's oftentimes difficult not to react.  But you need your intellect to triumph over your emotions.  Step back and think things over.  Nothing good comes from losing your cool except satisfying your ego for five minutes.  Not only will she become less attracted to you, if she tells her peers, they will lose respect for you too.  This is how a man's social value spirals downward. 

Yes, you need to react somewhat to bad behavior.  But it must be subtle and she must not think you're reacting.  Instead, she must believe you've genuinely lost interest.  You can achieve this effect by becoming 20% less friendly.  I assure you most girls are sensitive enough to notice it. 

In any close friendship, serious arguments will happen.  If you fight it out with her and relations take a hit, you need to be the one to approach her again.  Never apologize if you didn't do anything wrong though.  Just let bygones be bygones and be big enough to approach first. 

DLV: Losing your cool
DHV: Being emotionally in control at all times

Mistake # 7 - Not suggesting yourself as a boyfriend

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Most guys fear being too aggressive and scaring off the girl.  So he doesn't present himself as a potential boyfriend until there's a closer friendship.  So he waits and waits for that elusive "best timing". 

Unfortunately, this prudent path is also a likely path to the friendzone.  The act of waiting and hesitating makes him look beta, not a take-action kinda guy typical of a social leader.  This is why many girls who might initially be attracted to a guy would suddenly lose interest.  She's not being fickle.  She simply failed to see leadership qualities. 

We'll talk more about risk-taking in the final chapter of this series.  For now, we need to understand that you need to implant the thought into her head quickly that you're interested in more than friendship.  Many girls, particularly brainy Asian ones, are so socially dense that they will not see you as a potential boyfriend unless you convey your intentions. 

There are three ways to convey your intentions, something the PUA community calls "creating a romantic frame". 

First, you can frame with what you say.  Here are a few sample passing comments you can make, in a joking manner, that conveys your intentions. 

- "See ya at 10:00.  Just to be sure, I'm not gonna make out with you"
- "I think my mom would approve of you.  She hated my last girlfriend.  "
- "Just to let you know, I don't kiss on the first date". 
- "Someday, you'll have to choose between me or your cat". 
- "That's rude! You and I are sooooo getting a divorce". 

It's OK to be bold as long as you say it in a light-hearted, funny, teasing way.  You want to confuse her a bit, making her wonder if you were perhaps being 10% serious.  This advice goes perfect with the previous article on teasing.

Second, you can frame with your eyes.  Try looking at her in a slightly lingering way...perhaps a second or two longer than required.  Or if she looks away, you continue looking at her so that when she looks back, she'll see you were looking. 

Eye contact is really powerful stuff.  We'll talk more about it in Chapter 11. 

Third, you can frame with touching (or kino).  Kino is huge and deserves it's own chapter.  For now, just know that you need to escalate physically.  During those first interactions, tap on her shoulder or the lower part of her arm to stress a point or if something funny is being said.  Once a friendship builds, try touching more frequently.  It should go from touching to side-hugging to frontal-hugging to kissing on the cheeks to even more advanced and daring kino.  Slowly venture deeper until you sense some resistance. 

Not only is kino a great way to build intimacy, it also allows you to judge how she sees you.  Does she welcome your kino?  Does she reciprocates or even escalates?  Or does she wince away?  If she winces away, do not assume this to be rejection.  It only signals where she's drawing the line at the moment.  It's probably worth reattempting later.  If she repeatedly winces away at basic kino, it's not a good sign. 

In all three framing strategies, you're doing something ordinary friends don't do.  As such, it implants the necessary thought in her head that you could be more than just friends. 

DLV: Friends first
DHV: Suggesting early that you can be more than just friends

#2 Supplemental to Mistake #6 - Saying the perfect things

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Before getting back to the series, I want to do another supplemental on teasing.

We learned teasing and being a smart-ass is a more effective way to generate attraction than being a perfect gentleman. This supplement will give a few suggestions on several types of teasing to add to your repetoire...

Strategy #1 - Disagreeing with her

Responding to something she said...

You: Are you sure about that? (with skeptical tone)
You: Are you serious?
You: I'm not sure about that!
You: I don't believe that!
You: Whatever!


Strategy #2 - Spite her

Here, you answer NO or MAYBE to something she said, especially if she's expecting you to say YES...

Her: Isn't my cat cute?
You: No!

Her: Are you going to tell me how old you are?
You: Maybe later

Her: Do you think it's OK for a girl to smoke? (she's a smoker)
You: No way.


Strategy #3 - Conditional agreement

Here, you say YES, but you apply conditions...

Her: Are you going to Facebook me?
You: Only if you're nice

Her: Are you going to get me something on your trip?
You: Only if you behave yourself.


Strategy #4 - Make fun of her

[She carries a large purse]
You: So why does a small person like you carry such a large purse?

[Her shirt is unusual, ugly, weird, etc]
You: That is a...um...very interesting shirt.
Her: You like it?
You: Not really.

Her: I like to be on top of things
You: That sounds perverted!


Strategy #5: Answering a question with a question

Here, you deflect her question by asking a question of your own.

Her: Where do you live?
You: Why? You gonna come over or something?

Her: What is your [ethnicity, age, job, etc]
You: Why do you wanna know?


Strategy #6: Stereotyping

Stereotyping is a form of extremist and exaggerated thinking that guys commonly do that girls don't.

Her: I'm from San Francisco
You: I heard only homeless and gays live there.

Her: Actually, I don't like dancing
You: What? All Korean people love to dance!

Her: When I worked at The Gap, I dated a coworker
You: I didn’t know straight guys working there!

=============================

I know I've already said this, but it's worth repeating. Go watch the SimplePickup videos on YouTube if you want to see teasing in action.

Lately, teasing is meant to be fun, not to make someone feel rotten or agitated or to prove that you are better at trash-talking. So avoid the following subjects:

- Her weight
- Her age (if she is in her 20s)
- Religion
- Politics
- Racism (unless it's positive such as "hey, all Chinese people are good at math!")
- Something cruel
- Grotesquely sexual, profane or obscene
- Physical imperfections and handicaps (her height is OK, unless it’s extreme at either end)

#1 Supplemental to Mistake #6 - Saying the perfect things

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

In the last article, we learned the need to avoid acting gentlemanly and proper.  Girls (and most folks in general) want to hang out with fun laidback people.  People who act gentlemanly are seen as uptight or desperate to prove his worth. 

As such, here are some advice on how to act less gentlemanly...

- Do not always say please and thank you.  For example, instead of begging her to do something ("can you please get that pen for me"), command her in a friendly tone ("hey, get that pen?").  And there's no need to always thank her afterwards, especially with repeated "thanks" or "that's so sweet of you".  Be a man and just accept the favor without compensating her with formality. 

- Do not apologize if you haven't done anything wrong.  Or worse, don't apologize when you don't know what you've done.  For example, "I'm sorry, but what did I do wrong?" That's just pussy behavior.  Of course, this doesn't including saying sorry if something bad happened ("I’m sorry your grandma died") since "sorry" in this context is just a gesture of sympathy. 

- Do not jump to agree.  I know if you find something in common, it's instinctual to quickly exploit it to build togetherness.  But don't.  The fact that you want to build togetherness at all is a beta move. 

- Resist the urge to say something really sweet like "seeing you made my day brighter" or "I thought of you last night".  Don't be such a sissy fucking homo.  Ask your female friends what phrases a guy can say to "melt a girl's heart".  Those are the phrases to avoid. 

- Do not “become her”.  What I mean is, if she’s into Korean dramas, you don’t also start watching them to become more like her.  If she’s majoring in Italian, you don’t start learning Italian phrases.  What you’re doing is imitating and that’s what subordinates do (like a little brother mimicking his big brother). 

- You should not respond to her every text, call or Facebook post. 

- You do not need to acknowledge every time she passes by.  Sometimes, don't say anything at all.  The same with goodbyes. 

- Watch how you greet people.  Don't say, "it's a pleasure to meet you" or "how do you do"? That's too formal and you sound like a stiff.  Cool people like rock stars would probably greet with something like "sup guys" or "hey what's going on?" That's something you should emulate. 

- It's OK to do something courteous like opening the door for her, carrying her bags or giving your jacket if she's cold.  But if you do, try to make some light teasing remark as well ("lemme hold your bag, you wimp") and don't make a big production out of it. 

- Do not use big fancy academic words.  It's OK to speak with minor profanity. 

- Never be indecisive and ask "what do YOU wanna do?" Never cater to her every desire or whim. 

- If you're on a first date or outing, do not show up with a gift. 

- Speaking of gifts, unless you and her start seriously dating, don't give any gifts at all unless it's Christmas, her birthday or a special occasion (like her graduation).  And if you must give something, it must be simple -- as if you didn't spend more than five minutes thinking of it.  Giving elaborate or repeated gifts is a sign you're not good enough and that you must bribe people for affection. 

- On a first date or outing, do not overdress.  You should look pleasant but not as if you spent more than twenty minutes preparing. 

- Do not allow her to unfairly get her way.  For example, if you guys agreed to eat at a certain location but she calls last minute wanting to go elsewhere, do not concede.  You might think you're being gentlemanly.  But if she knows she can step all over you, she will see you as lacking backbone. 

- Despite our "no gentlemanly conduct" advice, you need to pay when on a date or outing.  Just make sure it's done as if it's no big deal and change the subject quickly after agreeing to pay the tab. 

Mistake #6 – Saying the perfect things

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

We've reached one of my favorite topics on courtship!

Most guys think attracting a girl involves being the perfect gentlemen and saying nice, agreeable things in order to "build rapport".  He would talk on eggshells hoping not to utter a syllable that might put her off.  Girls will often say they want "the perfect guy" who says the things that would melt her heart.  Stupidly, many guys try rising to the challenge. 

Focusing solely on "building rapport" is a crappy idea because creating attraction often requires breaking rapport in order to demonstrate certain traits.  Consider this interaction:

Her: I really like cats
You: Me too!
Her: I have three cats!
You: My grandma has two.  It's cool we're both cat-lovers!

Here, you might rush out and tell your buddies how you just met a girl who's your soulmate and a soon-to-be girlfriend.  You have such great rapport!  But to her, she's getting bored talking to a doormat without backbone.  If she can't respect you, she will not be attracted to you, or even want to talk to you, no matter how good-looking she thinks you are. 

Instead..

Her: Do you like cats?
You: Can't stand them. 
Her: Hey, I have three of them in my apartment!
You: How much do you spend on air fresheners?
Her: They don't smell as bad as you. 
You: What a lame comeback. 
Her: Are you six years old or something?
You: Six-and-a-half, dweeb

This is clearly not gentlemanly talk.  Yet, this kind of conversational teasing is effective in courtship because you demonstrate alpha-male traits that girls are attracted to.  In it, he shows confidence, humor, unpredictability, doesn't give a fuck and puts up a challenge.  In short, these traits suggest a guy who's a social leader. 

As long as you tease in a friendly tone and avoid topics that might offend (like her weight or something cruel and in bad taste), she will likely enjoy this type of playful banter and think you're a cool guy.  However, don't tease all the time.  Just enough so she'd know it's a normal part of your personality. 

By the way, teasing is not meant to prove how smart you are or how good you are at trash-talk.  You need to know the distinction between teasing for fun (good!) and teasing because you need to be right (bad!). 

Ultimately, the ideal way to interact with girls is by treating her like her bratty older brother -- the guy who gives her a hard time but ultimately has a soft, protective side.  Within reason, you need to speak and act as if you don't give a shit about consequences.  Don't worry about saying something that you think might ruin everything.  If one verbal gaffe really causes her to lose interest, she was never interested to begin with.  There's far greater risk of you being too agreeable than being too disagreeable. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ5QYeJo9xU

The link above goes to a video from some YouTube channel called SimplePickup.  Their biweekly pickup videos demonstrates the art of teasing very well and is worth emulating even if you're not interacting in a pickup environment.  Notice they have no problem speaking bluntly, even using profanity and mild sexual humor.  They are definitely not getting phone numbers by being nice and gentlemanly. 

DLV: Being agreeable and gentlemanly
DHV: Teasing her and being a smart-ass

Mistake #5 - Logically persuading her to like you

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

My sister has been on speed dating.  In speed dating, you pay a membership fee to meet 20-25 singles for quick, one-on-one sessions lasting five minutes.  In that short period, you need to maximize your opportunity and bragging becomes a necessity. 

Unfortunately, most guys do the same thing in traditional social environments.  He would purposely reveal qualities about himself trying to impress the girl...

- "I just got back on a very important business trip".
- "I'm an environmentalist.  I believe in helping society".
- "I usually don't cuss.  I believe people need to express themselves maturely".

Bad move. 

Social value cannot be sold.  A girl cannot be convinced into being attracted to you through your logic and advocacy.  In fact, the very idea of you selling yourself decreases your social value.  Bragging and self-advocacy are symptoms of inferiority complexes.  Not only will girls consider you insecure, they'll probably think you're lying, exaggerating or have little other worth.  Talk about a lose-lose proposition. 

Furthermore, be careful about qualifying yourself.  For example...

- "I work at McDonalds, but only when I finish the semester".
- "I'm attending a community college but plan on transferring to Cal next year".
- "I’m unemployed right now, but trust me...it's by choice".

In each of these qualifying statements, you're offering an excuse for something you seem embarrassed about.  It's a form of advocacy. 

When interacting with girls, you must never be perceived as bragging, advocating or qualifying, even if it wasn’t your intention to do so.  Your words and actions must imply a "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude.  She is programmed to equate this attitude with high value guys.  From experience, she knows high value guys just don't give a shit about impressing people. 

If you can't brag or advocate, how can you reveal your positive traits? Storytelling is one effective strategy.  For example, instead of telling her straight-up that you love animals (which is bragging), you can reveal a story about how you once took in a stray puppy and hid it in your closet and how your mom got pissed when she found dog shit in the closet.  In your stories, sneak in your positive attributes as if it wasn't your intention to say it.  Girls tend to be good listeners and will likely pickup subtle cues. 

As such, the most effective way for her to know your attractive traits is for her to think she discovered it accidentally, not by you shoving it in her face.  What is even more effective is, once she discovers your positive attribute, you modestly brush it aside as if it's no big deal.  Modesty is a trait of seriously confident people. 

DLV: Convincing her to like you
DHV: Have a "take it or leave it" attitude

Supplemental to Mistake #4 - Not playing the field

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

In article four, we learned the importance of popularity and the ability to provoke jealousy.  Here are some tips on what you can do to leverage this knowledge.  Keep in mind, this is for the pre-dating period...

- Don't admit you've never had a girlfriend or that you haven't had one in a long time.  If cornered to answer, make up an imaginary ex-girlfriend.

- If available, your Facebook should contain photos of you in a party setting with friends.  If you don't have any, consider taking photos the next time you're in such a setting.

- Your interests on Facebook should speak of things like karaoking, partying, road-trips, etc.  Avoid mentioning solitary activities like surfing the web or playing video games.

- At a social setting, make sure you talk to other people.  In your target's presence, don't be afraid to flirt a bit with other girls (even your target's sister or friends).  Just don't go overboard, as if you're doing it on purpose.

- I know most guys prefer a one-on-one date with a girl.  But if she brings friends, it is actually a fantastic opportunity to gain social proof and provoke jealousy.  Make sure you're also friendly with her friends on the outing.  Afterwards, ask your target "so, what does Jane think about me?" You'll have an INSTANT jealousy plot.

- If you're going to be on Facebook for a long time, turn off your chat feature.  You don't want your target to see you on the internet for hours. The same for MSN and Yahoo Messenger.

- Most of the time, don't say you didn't do anything over the weekend, especially on holiday weekends.  “I hung out with some friends” is a good generic answer.

- Do not "burn your bridges" or let friendships die with female friends and acquaintances.  Use them to build social proof for other girls.  You will need as much female friends and acquaintances possible, especially attractive ones.

- To increase the number of people responding to your Facebook posts, make sure you liberally respond to other's posts.  People tend to respond to yours if you respond to theirs.

- You need at least 100 friends on Facebook, preferably over 200.  As pathetic as this sounds (and I've done it), you can find Facebook groups where people friend each other randomly just to inflate their friend count.  I did it when I first starting using Facebook.

- However, do not have more than 500 friends on Facebook.  It shows you're an internet geek.

- If you're in college or university, join a fraternity.  Trust me on this one.

- Wear an interesting piece of accessory (necklace or bracelet).  If a girl asks you where you got it, say your ex-girlfriend bought it for you.

- Don’t say that you hate clubs, clubbing or clubbers.

- On occasion, if she calls, tell her that you're hanging out with some friends right now (even if you're not) and if you can call her back some other time.

- In a group of friends that include your target, you should sometimes ignore your target and pretend to be engrossed with interacting with others.

- Let her catch you looking at another girl.

- If you play lots and lots of Facebook games (like Farmville or Bejeweled), don't let it show on your wall and don't let it advertise on other people's wall.

Mistake #4 - Not playing the field

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Many people read my articles and other PUA/courtship materials wanting to know how to win over (or win back) a particular person.  They believe somewhere in the deepest annuls of the Internet is a piece of wisdom that offers the key to unlocking her heart. 

They're wasting their time. 

With some variations, the best way to become more attractive to women have already been discovered.  While it will make you more attractive in general, it will not necessarily make you more attractive to any given person.  It's impossible to know any girl's unique tastes and vulnerabilities to formula a courtship strategy for that particular individual. 

If you obsess over one person (what PUAs call "oneitis"), you will have a miserable social life.  If you cannot stomach the fact that you probably won't wind up with your first choice, you should go home now.  Rarely in life do we get our first choice of anything.  So you better play the field and cast a big net. 

Just as bad as oneitis is the belief that you can attract a girl by demonstrating you're a one-women man.  In her presence, you might purposely ignore, avoid or reduce friendliness with other girls.  Isn't that what girls want? Don't they want someone to make them feel secure, that you only have eyes for her?

WRONG!

Remember, girls are biologically attracted to social leaders.  And popularity is the ultimate indication of social leader.  In fact, your popularity and ability to provoke jealousy is your greatest asset in courtship -- more important than your looks, money, education, or anything you can think of.  Many girls may not even know she's interested in you unless or until she feels jealous. 

Having your social value raised through popularity is what PUAs call "social proof".  The following factors determine your social proof...

- The number of people around you
- The number of girls around you
- The attractiveness of your companions
- How much your companions seem to like you

Simply put, girls want guys who are wanted by other girls (especially wanted by attractive girls). 

To leverage this dynamic, you need to give the impression that your life is full of friends, girls, dates, music, parties, clubbing, roadtrips and other social activities.  You must give this impression by what you say, what you do, what you wear, who you hang with, what you post on Facebook, etc.  Lie or exaggerate a little if you must.  Just make sure you sound credible and not bragging. 

If she feels you have high social proof and you can make her jealous, you're 80% there.  If you act like a "one woman" kinda guy, it will actually lower your social value.  This is one of many ironic aspects of courtship where girls say they want one thing, but actually desire another. 

DLV - Showing that you're a one-women man
DHV - Being popular, particularly with the ladies, and able to provoke jealousy

Mistake #3 - Expecting her to initiate

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

I know a lot of you younger guys want girls to come to you, perhaps for your good looks, your ripping muscles or your sense of humor.  Who wouldn't want to be approached, to have a feeling of power?

If that's your expectation though, you will have a shitty time with women for the rest of your life.  Humans are biologically programmed to expect men to be leaders and women to be followers.  As such, girls can get away with not taking social initiative, but NOT GUYS.  You will have nothing in life worth having (whether in courtship, business, education, etc.) if you expect the other person to approach first.

The truth is, girls do not develop emotional attraction for a guy based on appearances alone.  The reason is simple.  Girls want social leaders, and social leaders are hard to detect visually.  Ugly guys can be social leaders (like Bill Gates); good looking guys can work the graveshift shift at Burger King.  Her primodal brain knows that, which is why apperances are not of utmost concern (as it is for guys).

You must rely NOT on your appearance to get her to come to you, but on demonstrating leadership skills by going to her.

There is something extremely attractive to girls about guys who takes charge.  If you wait or allow her to approach first, you lose a vital opportunity to show leadership skills at the get-go.  You might be thrilled that she initiated something.  But in reality, you've already given her a negative first impression.  Any other acts of "Nice Guy-ness" on your part will feed on that initial impression ("ah, I knew right away he's a wuss").

By the way, if a girl initiates a date, I think you'd find most of the time, she wants something ulterior (help on homework? a ride to work? a free lunch?).  If she’s emotionally invested, she is unlikely to do something that bold for fear of having her fragile ego deflated. 

Don't believe most girls who claim to prefer shy types.  Perhaps the unattractive girls will (they have no choice).  But not the decent ones, and certainly not the attractive ones.  Even shy girls are fantasizing about outgoing guys. 

So this is how it works:

- A girl determines whether a guy has social leadership skills
- Based on that, she determines if a guy is physically attractive

Yes, that means her visual perception is based mostly on non-physical cues.  That's why girls can find ugly, freakish-looking Korean stars to be "hot".  Most of these "hot" guys, before acquiring fame, would not even get a second glance from girls on the streets. 

Lastly, understand the difference between taking initiative and chasing.  Taking initiative simply means showing interest first.  Chasing means you initiate repeatedly despite resistance or indifference.  The best approach to initiating is one where you show interest, but in a non-pressuring and slightly indifferent way (not in a desperate, fixated way).  We'll take more about the distinction between the two in the chapters ahead. 

DLV - Waiting, expecting the girl to make the first move
DHV - Making the first move and taking charge

Mistake #2 - Chasing

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

Chasing is defined as persistent attempts by the guy to overcome a girl's indifference or resistance. 

Conventional wisdom says you have to chase, but it is a horrible strategy.  One reason why was revealed in the previous chapter.  A chaser is almost always a Mr Nice Guy using Mr Nice Guy tactics.  But there's another reason why chasing is a bad idea...

When a guy chases, he demonstrates unconditional interest even though she has done nothing to deserve it.  And that's the problem.  People don't value something easy-to-get.  Easy guys are the epitome of low valueness.  People inherently value something if they felt they had to earn it.  Let's say you were awarded Employee of the Month for working your ass off.  You'd probably appreciate the award more than if you were selected simply because you're Asian (and the company needed to demonstrate "diversity"). 

The same concept holds true in the psychology of courtship.  Yes, you should initiate interest.  But unless she performs her share, you don't pursue it relentlessly.  Do not keep calling, flirting, giving gifts, texting or messaging her Facebook.  You must step back and let her come to you.  If she doesn't, then you need to work on being more attractive, which will be discussed in the rest of this series, or seek pastures elsewhere.  The more you chase, the lower value she'll perceive of you. 

By showing interest and then backing off, you're doing what many PUAs call a "takeaway".  A takeaway means, you stop or reduce giving attention or affection so she'd miss it and work on earning it back.  She won't miss something that's always there unconditionally. 

Needing to be earned is one major sign of a high value guy.  She would think "wow, this must be a high value guy because I had to pursue him!"  There's an interesting, reinforcing and ironic circle here.  The more she has to chase, the higher value she'll think of you.  And the higher value she'd think of you, the more likely she'd chase.  Interesting, don't you agree?!

Most girls will say this won't work ("I don't chase guys").  That's a bunch of crap.  Girls will chase, but only if you give them a reason.  This is especially true in the modern context where girls are more aggressive than ever.

Ultimately, you'd find courtship is like running after a butterfly with a net.  If you do, it will flutter away in fear.  But if you sit there and be attractive, it might just float onto your shoulders when you'd least expect it. 

DLV - Chasing (giving your affection for free)
DHV - Requiring her to earn your affection

Supplemental - 25 examples of a Mr Nice Guy

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

We talked about the Nice Guy routine in the last chapter and I gave a few examples.  Here are 25 more examples of a Nice Guy.

There are for the pre-dating stage. If you're not even dating yet and you do these things, you're surely headed for the friendzone.

1. You tell her, your friends or yourself that you don't think of her in a sexual way because you "respect her too much".

2. You tell her that you're "different" from other guys.

3. For her birthday, you spend more than 5 minutes thinking what to get her.

4. When you're with her, you purposely reduce friendliness to other girls to show you're not a player.

5. When you see nobody responded to her Facebook post, you feel compelled to respond so she won't feel bad.

6. You say "I don't care, what do YOU wanna do?"

7. You tell her that you want to know more about her.

8. You text, Facebook her or drop her a card telling you're thinking of her or saying hi "just because".

9. More than 20% of your texts contain smiley faces.

10. You talk about feminine things that she enjoys talking about.

11. You check your cellphone to ensure none of her text are ignored, even the spam ones.

12. When conversation ends, she's almost always the one who ends it first.

13. You tell her that seeing her makes your day brighter.

14. You've never refuse to answer any of her personal questions.

15. She saw you crying.  Nuff said (you pussy).

16. You never (or rarely) reject her initiation to hang out or chat.

17. She's 30 minutes late, yet, you still wait.

18. You ask for a hug.

19. You try learning about her ex-boyfriends so that you will know how to win her.

20. You lean towards her when seated face-to-face.

21. You dread saying the wrong thing to her and feeling that you've just ruined your chances.

22. Out-of-the-blue, you say she’s cute.

23. She can't walk by without you acknowledging her in some way.

24. You tell her that you'll always be there to chat, "no matter what".

25. You do favors for her, even when she doesn't do them for you.

Further reasons why many of these examples are bad for courtship will be discussed in future articles of this series.

Mistake #1 - Being constantly too nice and too available

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

It's a common theme in chick flicks.  The guy showers the girl with attention.  He is "always there", even in the pouring rain without an umbrella.  He focuses only on her.  He will return her call or text within 90 seconds, guaranteed.  They met not too long ago but he's already treating her like a girlfriend. 

At first, she shows disinterest, even resistance.  But eventually, he wins her over -- proving that persistance pays off, right?

B-U-L-L-S-H---T!

Rule #1 - Forget everything you've learned about love in movies and TV dramas.  If you want to read fairy tales, I suggest you exit this series and hop down to the Children's section of your local bookstore. 

I started this thread with this "mistake" because I believe it's the #1 reason why Asian guys fail in courtship.  About half of the other "mistakes" revealed in this series will be somehow related to this one. 

The reason this behavior leads to courtship failure is straight-forward.  Girls are biologically programmed to seek and mate with social leaders.  Social leaders do not kiss ass.  They have better shit to do than always "being there" and returning all your calls.  Altruism may get you into the seminary, but it will not get you laid.  A man doesn't become a real estate mogul, a 4-star general or a powerful senator because he constantly elevates other people's feelings and interests above his own.  Sadly, to succeed in this world, sometimes you just got to be an asshole and look out for yourself.  Her subconscious knows that -- which is why, ironically, if you're a "nice guy", you signal to her that you won't be successful. 

When you're "too nice", she will see you more of a plutonic buddy than a romantic interest.  If you overdo it, she'll likely lose all respect for you and become annoyed (like swatting off a pesky little brother).  You have to learn that a girl can never become attracted to you if she doesn't respect you.  An integral part of earning respect is saying NO, standing up for yourself and not be some chickenshit kiss-ass. 

The moral of the story is, quit the Nice Guy routine and be your own imperfect man, even if means you don't do or say the most perfect, attentive things.  The rest of this series will teach how. 

Playing the Mr Nice Guy routine may make her initally attracted to you, especially the less-attractive girls who aren't used to the attention.  But her feeling will likely fade fast.  She might even hate herself for not being attracted.  "Why don't I like him?" Don't blame her.  She's just doing what she's biologically programmed to do.  You can't blame her for that, just as you cannot blame her for having a vagina. 

DLV - Being too nice constantly and predictably
DHV - Sometimes being indifferent, disinterested or even a bit of an asshole

Preface to rebooted series on AF

(An ongoing series on AF: "Twelve common things guys do to screw up with girls")

As a preface to the upcoming rebooted series on AF ("Twelve common things..."), I'd like to state a brief theory on attraction before beginning to make the 12 chapters easier to understand.

A brief theory of courtship

Women are biologically programmed througn eons of evolution to seek one thing: the survival of herself and her offsprings.  Naturally, no endeavor can be more important. 

The best way to promote her survival is to mate with a man of high social value -- guys who are popular, has high social standing and wealth.  Logically, such a guy can better promote a women's survival than someone who's shunned, anti-social and poor. 

As such, a guy will improve his chances of attracting a girl if he displays high social value through...

- Speech
- Behavior
- Body language
- Social patterns
- Clothing
- Physical appearance
- Material possessions

When she sees high social value traits in you, her brain automatically equates "you" with "survival", and chemicals gets released making her physically and emotionally desire you.  It doesn't matter if your assets are real of if you're a total poser.  As long as she sees those traits and believes it's real, it will produce an involuntary attraction as programmed heretically. 

The funny thing is, in courtship, it's better for you to be of low social value but display high value traits than to be of high social value but display low value traits.  Of course, you want both (and people usally have both or neither).  But in courtship, if you had to choose, you should choose to have the traits rather than the actual value. 

So attracting girls is simple, somewhat.  You want to do things that demonstrate higher value (DHV) and avoid the things that demonstrate lower value (DLV).  You want to give the impression that hooking up with you will boost her chances of survival.  Yes, it's all an illusion.  The man who can best produce that illusion, whether his assets are real or fake, will be the more successful man in courtship. 

With that, let's begin...

What happened to Project Mayhem?

As I put together the charter for a new project, one tentatively named Project Magellan, I want to say a few words about Project Mayhem.  When I market the new project, I'm sure a few will wonder what happened to the old.

Project Mayhem was fully active for about eight weeks.  In that time, about 35-40 people were in it with almost two-thirds filing required Field Reports (FRs) weekly.  Not only was I an admin for the Project, I was also in charge of maintaining a tally to check who was submitting their FRs.

About seven weeks into the Project, I took a trip to Asia and wasn’t able to log onto Facebook to maintain the FR tally.  Upon returning, I discovered only 8-9 people filed their FRs in my absence.  In other words, when nobody kept score, a vast majority didn't do it.

That led me to rethink the Project.  I concluded only a few people in the Project were hardcore, natural PUAs.  The rest (like me) joined to learn the cold approach but weren’t naturals.  Once nobody was walking around with a clipboard, they stopped approaching.  I suspect most members hated approaching because it was being forced under threat of expulsion, not the fun pleasurable activity it’s supposed to be.

It seems there needs to be a "softer" approach, once that focuses less on opening, and more on making members happier and more fulfilled.  That is the intended philosophy behind Project Magellan.  It’s meant to be a “holistic” approach to improving our social lives.

I do not consider Project Mayhem a failure.  There are really good guys in it and, for the brief time it was active, the camaraderie exceeded my wildest expectations.  But I believe most were downright naïve in thinking we can just go out and become approach robots and not have it become a draining, stressful and negative influence on our emotional health.  Ironically, placing so much focus on pursuing sex and women, the point of being a PUA, is also the very thing that leads to misery.

I would have preferred to modify Project Mayhem instead of creating a new project.  But I didn’t think the survivors of Project Mayhem, those who are hardcore types, would go along with my softcore approach.

Moments of transformation

Dear JSBach...

I know u want to keep ur personal history private with all due respect. but since u had not much confidence b4 as uve stated, can u tell me more about being confident and how u achieved it?

- dude needing confidence (18 January 2011 - 08:27 AM)

Thanks for asking this question on the forum! From time to time, I will post selected questions for my blog.  This one will post on today's entry. 

My sociophobia was probably worse than most.  I grew up with a repressive mother who was highly protective and extremely critical, kind of like a drill sergeant in the military.  Even when I was in college, she insisted on regulating most parts of my life.  For example, I remember how she once embarrassed the fuck out of me when she came over to my apartment and, in front of my roommates, started berating us on how we should have placed the furniture.  Growing up under intimidation, it's no wonder I had zero confidence. 

My dad was the spineless type who avoids conflict at all cost.  So he never defended me even during my mom's most insane episodes. 

My transformation took many years.  One event that spurred the transformation was when I abruptly quit my job and moved to another city four years ago.  It pissed off my parents and was financial disastrous.  At one point, there was barely any money left in my checking account.  But the lessons I learned were invaluable.  I learned to be self-sufficient and independent.  Best of all, the new environment away from family, friends and anything familiar gave me that psychological reborn feeling. 

Another event that helped in the transformation was posted on my blog over a year ago: click here.

The event was my sister's wedding in 2007.  During those four days, I decided to come out of my shell.  Prior to this event, I was mostly the nice guy who tried too hard to come off as intelligent and cultured.  Instead, I decided to adopt a "fuck it" attitude and didn't care about my image or impressing others.  I initiated with people but not in an invested way.  In other words, I would approach you to talk -- but not in some clingy "oh please talk to me" manner.  I wouldn't talk on eggshells either just to impress or agree with you.  And as quickly as I initiated conversation with you, I would end it by talking with someone else. 

It was then I realized what young people respond to at social gatherings.  People don't enjoy the company of nice, nurturing, smart, proper guys.  Anyone who thinks that doesn't live in the remotest sense of reality.  Instead, people gravitate towards fun guys -- guys who are boisterous, adventurous, silly, teasing, indifferent and even semi-controversial.  Put it another way, people don't enjoy the company of the sweet student in class who always plays by the rules.  They prefer the company of the class clown who sometimes gets sent to the principal's office.

I remember the third night of the wedding, at an outdoor reception at a beach house just north of San Francisco.  The dinner was over and people were just mingling about.  I sat at this table and, before I knew it, realized that several people (mostly girls) started to hang out with me.  They could have mingled with scores of other people.  But it was me they chose for entertainment.  Shit like that never happened to me before.  It was one of those "now I get it!" sort of moment that I wish I experienced in high school.

For each of you, you need to have these moments of epiphany from your own experience, not by me talking about it.  Unfortunately, I pissed away my college years in a prison of insecurity.  But for those of you in your late teens or early twenties, you can follow a different fate.

I still think about those four days in San Francisco often.  A large pack of us went bike riding in the vineyards of Napa Valley during the second day.  A group photo of us on our bikes is the only photo that sits on my desk at work.

By the way, I get along really well with my parents these days.  They seem to respect the fact that I have a backbone and willing to stand up to them.  It's as if they secretly wanted me to defy them as a way for me to learn about manhood.