I think it's great that people help me with my insecurities and my confidence. Flirting and understanding the system (male-female relationships) that's all okay.

But here's the biggie: Don't you think all these routines and tricks are rather manipulative?

I'm okay with stuff like David D. Angelo's 'Double Your Dating', but mystery method and others where they have their whole routines scripted, isn't that wrong?

I'd like to be myself and not some kind of robot.

I can't really give arguments as it's more my intuition, but it feels wrong to me.

I'd love to hear your opinion and I'm always open minded.

it's called "natural game". it's when you become versed in "social dynamics", so you know what kind of behavior works and what doesn't. and you are yourself, just the best yourself you can be.
it's like learning to program a computer. you need to digest a whole set of rules and techniques about what works best and what doesn't. your code is not less yours because of that. it's yours. but it's the best code you can write.
same with pick-up.

routines and canned materials serve the purposes of the learning process: they give a feel for what works, and they help boost a noob's confidence by giving him something that Just Works so he can focus on his own inner game instead of trying hard to figure out what to say.

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nice guys don't get laid
"It's disrespectful not to bang them when they sleepover." (Hellhound)

I was thinking the other night while driving home about how the whole "you are the prize" mindset also serves the same ultimate goal: boost your confidence and make you less outcome-dependent. in the end, it's all about being self-confident. and this is what I am working on right now. also related to the A.N. visit. I am working on myself to be sure I "feel and believe" that I am the only chosen boyfriend, that I will not make any mistakes, and nothing N. says or does will change how J feels for me, and whatnot... we'll see

_________________
nice guys don't get laid
"It's disrespectful not to bang them when they sleepover." (Hellhound)

Its called inner game. You have to paint a picture of yourself and what you want. Then focus your energy to change in improve to become that person. routines that are scripted work at first because it makes up for nervousness, BUT after a while Natural game takes over. You adapt your personality to what best method suits you. I don't use routines, tricks, scripted openers, peacock too heavy or any of that stuff b/c its just not me.... I keep it simple and use the foundations of pick-up. complete self - Confidence, balance (by balance i mean not too many negs not too many compliments but a nice mix of both), strong eye contact, keno escalation, non-verbal sexual escalation, DHV (I personally do this through social engineering so i never have to SAY anything to DHV its just an aura). If you can master those foundations of game you still be yourself and NOT FAKE while doing them with an even hotter class of girls then if you do MM or crap like that.