Yeah, sorry--it's that sort of stream of consciousness thing and I got caught up in the details.
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So Fiction, let me see if I am understanding you correctly. What you are trying to say is that there really is no mimicking; that what new PUA's are doing are using (hypothetically) text books and resources to learn. Once they have learned themselves, the inner core will follow?
Well, I think a good PUA ought to realize that one cannot be successful in it without a strong inner game.
I like using the sports analogy. A lot of people will not lift weights/exercise on their own. However, when placed in the context of a sport, say--baseball--it becomes clear that practicing the strategy and learning the skills will only take you so far. It should become quickly evident that weightlifting, cardiovascular work, etc. will be necessary and relevant for further advancement. In fact, a person will probably be excited to do the weightlifting because he recognizes its payoff.
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But you don't like the pyramid analogy because it gives no motivation behind the urge to learn the traits?
I think you have to take into account that the person is already motivated enough and interested enough to take himself, wipe the slate clean, and start over. Maybe I am just a special case, but after realizing what I wanted, I looked at myself and blanked everything out. THEN, I was left with certain genetic characteristics (my humor, my intelligence, my passion for things) - since these were natural aspects of me. But from those, I built upward.
I think the foundational thing isn't wrong so much as not the whole picture--it leaves out the whole genesis of the project. People only become focused on systematizing their development when they discover a particular area that they DESIRE to develop.
You mentioned that you "looked at myself and blanked everything out." But first you said that you said that this came only after "realizing what I wanted". How did you come to this realization? Presumably there was something in your life that triggered it, and being that you are on a pickup forum, that something was probably, at least in part, a lack of success with women.
Once this desire was established, you devoted your energies to improving in this area. Storytelling, conversational banter, making good first impressions...these are all tools that the PUA must master to become successful. But all of these translate into more generalizable processes that are important for everyday life.
Do you remember the line in Fight Club where Ed Norton talks about "Fight Club was the reason you cut your hair and trimmed your nails"? Some people might look at this as a bad thing, but I see it as a motivational strategy. I am--to be quite honest--a slob. Yet someone made a thread about keeping your room clean because who knows when a woman might come by, or someone in your social network could see it. Now I keep my room good and clean. It's not even conscious anymore, but the starting point, the motivational factor...the thing that gave this boring and meaningless task RELEVANCE was to be successful with women. And ultimately it is true. People frequently talk about knowing your shit in class will make you appeal more to women and provide dominance in class. If this will get people to study hard in class, great!
To sum up, when I talked about the motivational and pedagogical aspects, the motivational issues was the point that gets you engaged--what hooks you into doing a task or adopting a mindset. The pedagogical aspect was the pyramidal concept--once you determine what it is you want, you DO start building a foundation--but it is focused on the particular task at hand. And occasionally you might realize that the foundation is deeper and wider than you initially thought, so you get back to the basics.
When you master the individual tasks, often we are introduced to things that we truly love. George Carlin originally wanted you use comedy as a stepping stone into acting, but as far as I am aware, the closest he ever got to landing a major role was "Mr. Conductor" on Shining Time Station (that was the kids show with the trains).
The foreseeable objection to this view would be that things you love ought to be fostered by an intrinsic motivation, and that a true artist falls in love with something the first time he does it. I just don't think this makes sense. Frequently, to get the effects of something you need to stick with it for awhile. A superficial introduction is rarely enough.
Sigh....once again, I've rambled. Maybe if I ramble enough my thoughts will gradually become clearer. Keep challenging it though--these have been in the ol' noodle for awhile, and I needed the impetus to get them down in writing.[/quote]
CHAT
