Was that a routine?

It goes without saying that I’ve explored a lot of the Pickup Artist Community in the past few years.  I’ve met a lot of PUAs, read countless books, e-books, watched more videos than I would care to remember and listened to more podcasts that you’d want to in a lifetime.

Even though I no longer study the Seduction Community, I still get the occasional question asking me for my opinion on various gurus, their teaching styles and whether I believe more in natural game or routines.

On the topic of the efficacy of routines, one guru wrote the following to the guy who reached out for my opinion:

ANYONE who tells you not to use routines does not know what they are talking about.  Routines work the best.  Natural game will never be anywhere near as good.  It’s for guys with small comfort zones who are too pussy to try the shit that actually works.  Do the shit that works.  If your comfort zone is too small, then GROW IT BIGGER.  Do not work with shitty methods that fit into your narrow idea of what is “acceptable.”

“Natural game” as taught by the community does not even resemble the game of actual naturals.  Actual naturals say the same things every time.  They are basically using self-scripted routines.  Sometimes they even lift material from other guys they know or from movies or whatever.  Real naturals are basically doing canned game all the time.

“Natural game” as taught by the community is just a reaction against the earlier, more effective methods.  It’s an outgrowth of retarded community politics and the ego clashes of self absorbed gurus.  They care more about “reinventing the game” and “making their mark” than they do about the success of the students.  It’s also an easier sell, because students are too pussy and they think they can get laid by doing the same weak shit they’ve always done and just “being themselves.”  Haha what a joke.  Being yourself doesn’t work at all when “yourself” is devoid of personality, dominance, identity and anything that would attract a female.

So the authors write ebooks that are easier to sell, but the methods don’t work.  It’s a sucky situation, because natural game has become trendy, and tons of guys are now failing with it.

That’s why in <guru program> we toughen you up and grow your comfort zone with material that takes a lot of balls, instead of being complicit accomplices to you remaining a pussy for the rest of your life.

Here’s my response to the guy who asked for my opinion: (more…)

[This post is dedicated to JC because he's the one who kicked my ass for not writing more often] 

During the last David Wygant free seminar I organized, one of the guys asked David:  “What is your take on canned material?”  

For some reason, this topic comes up EVERY TIME I attend a seminar. 

Should you or should you not use canned material?  What is canned material anyway?  I really wish I would receive sexy girl pictures for every time I hear that question.  I’d sport the naughtiest grin every day!

In the Seduction Community, canned material is loosely defined as bits and pieces of “stock” openers, topics or verbal games that can be used at any given time to get someone engaged in a conversation.  Personally, I have nothing against canned material but the effectiveness of canned material really depends on how and when you use it.

To all who loves canned material, I want to ask:  why are you using it?

USING CANNED MATERIAL AS OPENERS

• If you are using canned material to create powerful situations for the woman to respond to, those are awesome!  
   
  These types of openers are just fun to do.  Overall, they HAVE to be delivered in a situationally relevant way but using canned material to setup situations is just fun.  The key point here is that you are having fun with it.  You aren’t trying to get a specific reaction, you are doing it to entertain yourself… and when you are doing it like that, your natural, attractive, powerful self comes out.  You become instantly more memorable and intriguing.  If you want some fun ideas, David Wygant talked about the tic-tac-toe opener that his client used in the supermarket in his Pickup Podcast interview.   He also provides other ideas in his bonus follow-up interview.
   
  Even using cheesy pickup lines could work.  Pickup lines are a primitive form of canned material but delivered properly, they are just hilarious!  One night, I had a friend who dared all his boys to use pickup lines to talk to girls.  They were bored so they just did it for fun.  As he walked up to this one Asian girl, he couldn’t stop chuckling.  The girl knew something was up since he couldn’t keep a straight face but he finally said:

  -  Hey, do you know kung fu?
  -  Why?
  -  Well, ’cause your ass just kicks ass! [as he said that, he motioned a swift kick in the air]
  -  [girl couldn't stop laughing]

  Keep in mind:  no matter what kind of canned material you use for opener, you should transition quickly to normal conversation.
   

• If you are using canned material because you don’t know what to say, don’t use it.  Learn to think on your feet instead.
   
  I know a lot of pickup companies advocate the use of canned material as training wheels but I strongly disagree.  The only time I would advocate the use of canned material to get over approach anxiety is if the guy NEEDS to realize that it is not a big deal to talk to a stranger.  Once he realizes that talking to strangers is normal, then I would give him observational skills exercises to train his mind to think on the spot.
   
  The problem with always relying on canned material to start conversations is that it subconsciously trains the brain to believe that you need to say something interesting or witty to make you successful in approaching.  I’ve said it many many times.  What you say matters little.  It’s how you say it… or what you convey through it that is important.  By relying on canned material, you subconsciously tell your brain NOT to trust its instincts.  Instead of learning to become outcome independent while approaching women (because they are supposed to work), you get stuck in EXPECTING a good reaction from your openers.  Learn to trust yourself from the beginning.
   
  The other problems I see is that you don’t learn to develop your observational, listening and improv skills.  These very skills teach you to be well calibrated (or socially relevant) in social settings.  Without these skills, you will always come across as the weird or creepy guy. 
   
  Furthermore, being in the moment uses the intuitive side of your brain.  Using a routine uses memory which is a completely different side of your brain.  Why would you use something that might be detrimental to your future development in social skills later down the road? Once you learn to trust your ability to talk to any strangers without fear of negative feedback, you can build upon that foundation to powefully project your personality.

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