The Game
This book, The Game, found popularity and notoriety a couple of years ago as an exposé of the world of Pick Up Artists.
The PUA world, as participants call it, revolves around young men using specific techniques to shag women they meet. Newbies are taught how to talk women into bed, by way of meetings, seminars and mentoring sessions, where experienced guys show how it's done, often for substantial amounts of money.
If you've read the book, you know there's a jargon to complement the behaviour, all designed to make the participants feel as if they belong. I imagine men attracted to this world are often shy or unattractive, or just plain under-confident, so they enjoy the idea of secret society membership. Belonging, in other words. It's an extension of the playground gang, except that the unpopular boys all joined together.
Two points to note about this whole sordid business.
The first is that these men have put, as the most important thing in their lives, sex with easily conned women.
The second is that these men have been brainwashed into thinking that they don't have sufficient intelligence to attract women without resorting to party tricks.
Both lead me to believe that the morale of men has reached a new low.
Guys in this world are so pathetic, so lame-brained that they can't think of something better to do with their time. No wonder women think we're dumb.
Technorati: The Game, Pick Up Artists, Morale, Party Tricks.
23 comments:
i wouldn't mind joining the said society. i think it would be fun.
and no, i'm not a low self-esteemed ugly boy who can't find women who will reciprocate my advances. making 1-night stands more efficient would certainly free up more time and energy to focus on seeking long lasting relationships - which also also a complex thing.
Well I found the book intensely funny, especially given that for this "secret society" to work means that thier techniques actually work.
...I also like that in the end Strauss met his wife by being himself and not some feather wearing PUA.
And as for men being dumb...we are, women don't need to think it, its a fact.
There are plenty of blogs out there of newby PUAs practicting the tricks of the trade. It's interesting to see how far a man is willing to go to manipulate a woman into bed, but I find it rather sad.
As silly, sad and disingenuous as players in "The Game" are, how much sillier for women to fall for it ... or for women to play their own game, and women know exactly what that is.
Even if you want to hook up with someone just for sex, there's a better, more intelligent, honest way to do that. The art of seduction is a powerful thing, but it has to be a genuine seduction with both parties being equal (intelligent) and willing players.
Wombat, men aren't dumb or pathetic, and I don't think women truly believe that. I think men and women don't know how to deal with the changes that have happened for both sexes. Too bad we can't take the blinders off that constrict us to the way things were and see that we're free to create what we want.
... and, you know, with a long, slow seduction sometimes ...
I thought Mystery, the pick-up artist on the VH1 show was revolting. My girlfriends and I decided if we saw him in a club we wouldn't even let him get near enough to us to even use a "neg" or whatever he calls it. Ech.
Oh the games that get played...and not even the fun ones.
Men in general aren't dumb but they do do some dumb things like we women do too (remember The Rules?).
We certainly like to make things complicated and really, if it costs a lot of money, it must be the answer/best thing ever.
Where has "I find you interesting" or "I like you" gone?
Ditto everything kat and just a girl said.
. "Too bad we can't take the blinders off that constrict us to the way things were and see that we're free to create what we want".
maybe we can.
yeah but you know... does it work? And does it work on men too??
i have been off the market for too long! seems to me the only guys getting lucky from the book would be the ones who wrote it! all the way to the bank, sugar!
wombat, i couldn't agree more. nice to see a guy say this.
But isn't this just and extension of all the women's magazines and the 'How to articles'? "How to lose a guy in ten days", "50 ways to attract a lover", 10 seductive techniques", "How to marry a rich guy" etc
Is it sordid when Men do it and just lame when women do it? I don't agree with the book but then again I don't agree with women's magazines. I think they are the bane of both men and women :)
What's the old saying? - There's a sucker born every minute - and Lord knows, the world is full of them.
Don, you should start your own movement: The One Night Stand Made Efficient. Loads of interested men would flock, I imagine.
Good luck with the long-term plan.
If we are dumb, then I vote we stop immediately, Indy. I do agree that the highlight was the author finding his wife the normal way, without all the flim-flam.
Yep, it is sad, Blue, and it is manipulation too. Such a waste of time making the whole 'getting laid' thing so important, and so complex.
True enough, Kat, your point about women falling for the silliness.
Funny you write that men aren't dumb and pathetic, because this post was inspired by a linked blogger who wrote that women are often obliged to dumb down for men. Despite it being a man's world. That struck me as making women look dumb.
However, a good start would be for men to start behaving more as men, and less as creatures driven by the need to have sex.
Not having tv, I didn't see the show, but I saw pictures from it Blonde Badger. Mystery is quite the attractive man, no?
Ech is about right, although apparently the Mystery Method works. Lots of women like that stuff.
Where have they gone, Girl? What happened to becoming acquainted with someone, and allowing it to lead somewhere?
What the heck is so much fun about having sex with strangers? It's all upside down to me.
Yes, Enigma, we can, that is the truth that few seem to see.
That's why we need you, to help us.
Yes, Mr Irish, the word is that it does all work. All for the pleasure of throwing a leg over a bike from a bar.
Forget that, pour me another!
Ah, that's the thing, Savannah, you're right. The guy who wrote the book would have done well, and the guys running courses to impart the knowledge make heaps of jink. Everyone else, well, they get screwed. Or not. (Little joke there.)
Hi Maryann (it is you, isn't it?) Thanks for the link, glad you're around and about these here parts.
Very good point, Scorps. Both sexes are affected by this cultural poverty, and yet the reaction to it is different.
Next, my post on intelligence sapping women's mags.
*maybe not*
Ms Mockery, it's interesting you mention that quote. I looked it up recently, and this is the complete version:
"There's a sucker born every minute...and two to take 'em."
Which only adds to your point.
So THAT'S the reason all guys I meet are twats, they've been reading this book!
oh i hated that book, and the CSI Miami episode that came from the idea. both were lame.
wise words from a male friend of mine - this book is great for men who want to bang Paris Hilton, but for anything meaningful it's a wasteland.
The thing is techniques are one thing but this book isn't supposed to lead to anything meaningful, it's written for one night stands. That's fine..that's great..it's wonderful if that's what one wants. But what pisses me off is that it's written to play women into a one night stand. No one is suggesting during this "gaming" that one tells the woman it's just for christmas.
But when you realise that men are using the lines (because we all know the techniques now) and they picked up the book BECAUSE they don't actually want anything else then you begin to think the guy not only has shit for brains but is also quite simply...shit.
Having said that, I agree with the comment about The Rules - now THAT was a shit as well. ewwww.
"the morale of men has reached a new low" ... yes! probably true...
o! i nearly 4got what I was gonna say...
o yeah, I remember years ago in the back of a newspaper seeing on of these guides advertised: something like "how to attract women: 20 sure fire ways to"... o man! If you need a book to do it you need more help than a book can give you... know what I mean
Reminds me of that American series about 10 cheerleaders and 10 "nerds" and how the cheerleaders had to learn calculus while the nerds had to go out surfing... hilarious!!
;->...
VI, I'm surprised the flower of Jolly England's manhood doesn't live up to expectation. Perhaps you should start up a remedial school for Limey Fruits to get their lovin' skillz up to snuff.
CSI ep, Skinny? Good thing I don't watch tv by the sounds.
It's not forever, it's just for Christmas.
Probably the best ever line from Ab Fab, Mez.
You're not seriously suggesting that guys have to tell women that they don't want them for the entire match, just a few minutes of the first quarter are you?
Wasn't that the point of Wimmin's Lib, so you could behave in the same fashion as men? We interpret this to mean that you understand the Licence Agreement. Apparently not.
Really confused.
If you need a book to do it you need more help than a book can give you...
Exactly, Gledwood. Especially if it's the wrong book.
lol surely your kidding but just in case..., err I thought the "point" of women's lib was so that women could have equal social and political rights as men had on a humane level - like not being sold etc. You know how we can vote now and like..go to work etc? Believe it or not once upon a time that was against the law. Women were not born with the same HUMANE rights as men, they had to be earned and fought for by women. I think the sex thing was a consequence rather than a 'point' of the movement.
And no, one shouldn't have to disclose but the game basically suggests you lie. Now, if I said - it's okay for women to lie in order to trap a husband into marriage I'd bet you'd hate it, right? So then it's okay for a man to lie to get what they want? Um no. Sure it happens for both sexes but that's a shit way to conduct oneself. And quite frankly if a man has to lie to get it then what a shit and pathetic kind of a man that is. Women hate the "I'll call you" types that never do. Just like you hate those women who lie to get what they want.
I bloody LOVE that line from Ab Fab! haha, Bubble is a crack up.
It's always struck me as odd, Mez. Men voted to allow women to vote, and we lost.
What the heck?
You'll have to expand on what a 'humane right' is. This is a new terminology for me.
Men shouldn't lie about their motives or intentions, no question. The fact that they do is something I would like to change, mostly by encouraging more important activities than chasing women.
Guys who say they'll call are still the ones who generate the most interest, showing that women don't hate them as much as you say. Until they reach 37 and want a child.
I don't hate women who lie to get what they want, it's just part of the deal to me.
Bubble is the best, agreed. How much fun to write for that character.
I love this concept. Why not really? Some of us girls are hard to approach and if the men need a little direction by all means.
BTW last night one of my male friends was checking out a girl and asked me for a good opening line - I was blank! So what does Miss Nat do? Tap the girl on her shoulder and in 'Barney-esque' manner say 'Haaaaave you met S....?' poor guy was stumped for a moment but thye spoke for a little while, enough time for him to know her boyfriend was at a bucks party...
** Barney from how i met your mother
That's the spirit, Miss Nat. Take the approaches at face value and decide for yourself.
Eminently liberated.
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