Seenstr - Hacking Human Nature

This is going to seem like an odd story, and I spent a full day trying to figure out how to present this in the best way, so bear with me if it seems a little disjointed.  This particular story can be taken in many different ways, hopefully it will inspire those with approach anxiety.

First, I should point out that a huge part of the Seenstr Method is congruence, and a key concept is the 80% rule.  Briefly, the 80% rule states that once you open a set, you have surpassed 80% of the men in the room (which includes those who never even entered the room).  Conquering approach anxiety puts you in the top 20% of men competing for the attention of the women in proximity.  When you know you are in the top 20%, you should get a huge boost in congruence.  It is easier to believe that you are a desirable prize when you know that you are in the top fifth of local men.

Short version: A PUA opens sets.

Now, the story:

Recently I started taking the bus to one particular place I need to get to.  I started doing this for three reasons.  First, my guilt over the impact I personally have on the environment driving around Los Angeles is starting to get to me.  Second, it takes less time to get to this particular place I need to be via mass transit than it does in my own car (30 minutes typically versus an hour and a half).  And third, it is a terrific way to study human nature.   This story is a terrific case in point.

So I’m on the bus, hanging in the back, actually paying attention to two women in their early 30s having a conversation.  I was deep in an analysis of their issues when an HB8 gets on, rolls to the back, and sits next to me.  I would have opened her, but to be quite honest, I was more engaged with the conversation the two women were having.

A couple stops later, a guy in his early 20s gets on, moves to the back, and plants himself right next to HB8.  Describing this guy would be pretty tough, but let’s say that he was severely mentally handicapped.  If he wasn’t as extremely slow as he was, he would have actually seemed like a normal, relatively good looking guy.  In other words, he wasn’t drooling, banging his head against the wall, or anything like that.  Just… slow.  VERY SLOW.  Oh, and with the thickest glasses you’ve ever seen.

So anyways this guy naturally gets my attention.  I notice he’s sort of eyeing the HB8 next to me, and I start to wonder what this guy might be thinking.  Soon enough:

“Hey how was work?”

HOLY SHIT he opened the set!

Now pause for a minute.  How do you think HB8 reacted?  Do you think she ignored him?  Did she blow him out immediately?  Did she flat out reject him?

Seriously, what do you think she did?

ANSWER: She talked to him.

This is the moment, if you’ve got game, where you start to demonstrate your social value to the target.  Without opening, this moment is never going to happen.  I don’t think this guy was capable of doing much on his own, given his affliction, but he was able to open a set.

Are you?

Now, of course he blew it.  Not that he had much of a chance to begin with.  About 5 minutes in he dropped the dreaded “do you have a boyfriend?” bomb.  He also was way too aggressive.

I can’t believe I’m analyzing a retarded guy’s pickup, but I thought it would be incomplete if I didn’t.

Anyways, what’s the moral of this story?

OPEN OPEN OPEN.

A mentally retarded young man opened a set right in front of me.  What’s your excuse?

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