pwno comments on Love and Rationality: Less Wrongers on OKCupid - LessWrong

19 Post author: Relsqui 11 October 2010 06:35AM

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Comment author: cousin_it 11 October 2010 10:34:48PM *  7 points [-]

Hey, I'd like some advice.

When I hang out in nightclubs, I seem to have two discrete states with a very abrupt transition between them: an "off" state where I'm almost invisible to girls, and an "on" state where they suddenly hang on me in twos and threes. But the "on" state happens rarely (once or twice a month for several hours, max) and I'm still not sure how to trigger it, even though I've spent months on experimenting. I've established that it doesn't depend on clothing, haircut, posture or the other obvious controllable factors - it must be some aspect of "inner game" that I sometimes achieve spontaneously but can't put a finger on. I also know that it's easier to reach the "on" state after a random girl smiles at me: it becomes a little easier to make the next random girl smile at me, and (with luck) it escalates like runaway AI. Does this match your experience? What is this thing, and do you know any tricks for "switching"?

Comment author: pwno 11 October 2010 11:40:05PM 7 points [-]

Many people have the same experience. You've landed the right mindset for a brief time and your outer game improved.

I believe the mindset is mostly a function of personal expectations about your interactions with women. When you expect the interactions to go towards your desired direction, you're more likely to hit the mindset. Problem is, you can't make yourself expect positive results just like you can't make yourself expect coldness when you touch fire.

The most straightforward technique to "switching" this mindset on is to prove to yourself, on a conscious and subconscious level, that you should expect positive results. Gather your evidence, by achieving easier, related goals. For example, if you're in a nightclub and not in you preferred mindset, try achieving the following:

  • Ask 5 people for a piece of gum or the time.
  • Introduce yourself to other men or women you're not interested in
  • Ask a good looking female friend to join you
  • Call up a female friend and have a chat
  • Make and hold eye contact with 5 girls (without approaching)

You can probably come up with small goals yourself too.

Comment author: cousin_it 11 October 2010 11:53:12PM 2 points [-]

Thanks! Sounds plausible, I'll test this.