2008 Woodie Awards
I lost my number, can I borrow yours?
Stick with the cheesy pick up lines
By: Caitlin Foyt
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Lifeline
- Page 1 of 1
So apparently put downs are the new pick up lines.
Instead of opening a conversation about a woman's beautiful eyes or warm smile, some men rely on lines that target insecurities, such as noting dyed hair or acrylic nails and conceding, "Oh, well I guess they still look good."
The bizarre tactic is some form of reverse psychology, a backhanded compliment to lower self-esteem. It's otherwise known as the "neg" and it's just one strategy recommended by card-carrying "pick up" professionals.
This can be viewed as no more refined than a hard yank of the hair during second grade recess, but it's part of an elaborate system of interpersonal relationship strategies on which a multi-million dollar self-help business is built.
One such expert has his own show on VH1. "The Pick Up Artist" follows a real person who calls himself Mystery (The real mystery is why he thinks his huge furry top hat is a good idea) and his attempts at teaching insecure men how to lie to women to get them into bed.
But the guys on this show who are using these techniques have it all wrong.
People want to be with someone who actually cares about making a connection and are not caught up in a scripted game.
It's so much easier to applaud an underdog, a nice and shy guy, than the arrogant jerk.
It's a façade that isn't worth it.
In the long run, finding someone who knows the real you is much more rewarding.
Think about it: one night with a bar stranger versus someone who laughs at your stupid jokes and can put up with the hours of "World of Warcraft" and Sunday football games.
There is a middle ground between desperately shouting poetry and throwing bouquets of flowers in a woman's general direction and insulting her while she's just trying to have a good time at the bar.
It's just a matter of finding that middle ground.
And while it's impossible to speak for all women, some realistic advice for success is to get a hair cut once in awhile, wash your clothes, hit up the gym every so often and be sure to shower afterwards.
As for women - why take lip service from a bar random?
If some guy wearing a weird furry top hat and black nail polish were to come up to me and make some snide remark about what I'm wearing in some twisted attempt to woo me, the response would be a little "neg" of my own: a drink splashing him right in the eyeliner.
lifeline@cm-life.com
Instead of opening a conversation about a woman's beautiful eyes or warm smile, some men rely on lines that target insecurities, such as noting dyed hair or acrylic nails and conceding, "Oh, well I guess they still look good."
The bizarre tactic is some form of reverse psychology, a backhanded compliment to lower self-esteem. It's otherwise known as the "neg" and it's just one strategy recommended by card-carrying "pick up" professionals.
This can be viewed as no more refined than a hard yank of the hair during second grade recess, but it's part of an elaborate system of interpersonal relationship strategies on which a multi-million dollar self-help business is built.
One such expert has his own show on VH1. "The Pick Up Artist" follows a real person who calls himself Mystery (The real mystery is why he thinks his huge furry top hat is a good idea) and his attempts at teaching insecure men how to lie to women to get them into bed.
But the guys on this show who are using these techniques have it all wrong.
People want to be with someone who actually cares about making a connection and are not caught up in a scripted game.
It's so much easier to applaud an underdog, a nice and shy guy, than the arrogant jerk.
It's a façade that isn't worth it.
In the long run, finding someone who knows the real you is much more rewarding.
Think about it: one night with a bar stranger versus someone who laughs at your stupid jokes and can put up with the hours of "World of Warcraft" and Sunday football games.
There is a middle ground between desperately shouting poetry and throwing bouquets of flowers in a woman's general direction and insulting her while she's just trying to have a good time at the bar.
It's just a matter of finding that middle ground.
And while it's impossible to speak for all women, some realistic advice for success is to get a hair cut once in awhile, wash your clothes, hit up the gym every so often and be sure to shower afterwards.
As for women - why take lip service from a bar random?
If some guy wearing a weird furry top hat and black nail polish were to come up to me and make some snide remark about what I'm wearing in some twisted attempt to woo me, the response would be a little "neg" of my own: a drink splashing him right in the eyeliner.
lifeline@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story