This is a place to share greentexts and witness the confounding life of Anon. If you're new to the Greentext community, think of it as a sort of zoo with Anon as the main attraction.
Be warned:
If you find yourself getting angry (or god forbid, agreeing) with something Anon has said, you might be doing it wrong.
I had a friend who tried the same thing, bars and such. He didn't try anybody in his friend group and he was more ir less isolated at work, so there was no real pool of people to look into. I suggested getting a cheap seat at the ballpark and he balked saying he didn't like sports. I told him even if he walked the concourse, there were still folks he could interact with. He ended up finding some girl who was an actual prostitute and got him hooked on drugs.
He ended up finding some girl who was an actual prostitute and got him hooked on drugs.
I suggested getting a cheap seat at the ballpark
He ended up finding some girl who was an actual prostitute and got him hooked on drugs.
Oof
Woah that story took a turn I Did not expect
Ez secks and drugs. That's better than a relationship.
Bruh just find a group activity - fuck I don't know, instead of paying $30 for a beer, take a painting class or something..
Just did a class and I was the only guy in it.
It was a welding class.
... Maybe choose floristry next time?
Studied electronic engineering for two years - the group I went in was like 111 dudes and 7 girls. Some dudes enrolled in electives from faculties like nursery or dentistry because the boys/girls ratio there was inversely proportional as in our faculty.
... Have you gone to a painting class? It's only couples
I'm not your mother, be creative and come up with a better idea 🤝
Get a part time job at Hobby Lobby or Michele's. Those places ooze dating-type single woman vibes. There were many things I needed for various projects that have only been locally available from these stores. I get a ton of looks going in there, and I'm like the most oblivious of dudes for that kind of attention.
Manager: "Why do you want to work here?"
Dude: "Trying to bang a co-worker."
Manager: "At least you're not just here for the paycheck. Welcome aboard!"
The local city reddit/discord is gonna have regular hangouts if your city is big enough. That's been my go-to starting point everytime I move.
I managed to get an in-person DND group going by visiting the local game store. There's also the other card / roleplay games available too.
Depending on your age, there's also the local college groups. You could join a cycling group, or a running geoup. Hell, the queer group in my town has a first Sunday coffee meetup.
It's easy to shut down any suggestions but damn, if all you ever do is naysay shit, then you're never gonna get anywhere. Do you want to find friends and romantic partners, or do you want to spend your time crapping on online dating?
The local city reddit/discord is gonna have regular hangouts if your city is big enough.
The problem with that is you're going to meet reddit/discord people that way.
Hey, my wife and I noticed you from across the canvas and just really like your vibe.
Church events work fine, too. My buddy and me went to one in a damp basement and it was about 30 people. 100% women. Average age about 22 I guess. All were dancing. They all immediately started staring at us as if we were edible. Within the hour, my buddy met what would soon become his GF, and I was approached by this amazing girl. I then went on a string of remarkable dates with her.
The kicker: It was a Christian event, but the girls we hooked up with weren't Christians at all.
Ireland is the only place where pubs are actual genuine places to meet and chat with strangers. And even then it can be difficult. Came back to France after 13 years and I was just flabbergasted at the difference. Everyone is out with their little group and no one seems to talk with anyone outside that little sphere. Only spot where it's socially acceptable to engage strangers is the counter itself and that's about it; and if you do it feels like you're a freak, honestly. I tried a few times to just meet people that way, and gave up.
Only way that worked for me was joining a hobby or sport or some other group like that. Volleyball got me a job within like two weeks of joining! Couchsurfing got me great friends, girlfriends and eventually my wife.
Couchsurfing got me great friends, girlfriends and eventually my wife.
I should totally try that. It'd be like: "Honey? How long is Rolando going to be staying on our couch? He spends all his time on his laptop giggling at that weird website full of communists and furries..." / "I don't know... Let's... Let's set him up with that friend of yours, I bet that'll get him out of here!"
I go out and interact with strangers all the time, make acquaintances and friends, and when I was interested, even met women to date. I'm autistic, awkward, and have anxiety. If I can do it, most neurotypicals should be able to as well. I think the problem most people have is that they expect things to happen instantaneously. It takes time to build rapport with an individual or group, but consistency is key. You'll often be surprised by the people who look forward to seeing you.
The true key is…counterintuitive as this sounds, not looking.
Try enjoying yourself, meeting people, doing things you like. People can sense desperation or dishonesty in you when you’re feigning interest or trying to get in their pants. Just…be a decent person, and you can find people who you get along with. It happens more naturally that way and you’re more likely to find…yknow, people you like and who like you.
And plus, once you do have a relationship, it'll be a lot stronger because you won't desperately need to be in that relationship at any costs.
I think the problem most people have is that they expect things to happen instantaneously
In my experience it's oftentimes men that are looking to date women way more attractive than them. Like some fat slob incel that refuses to date or bang a chubby chick and then gets mad they're not picking up women that are hot AF and upset "nobody will date [them]."
It's stupid, I know a guy on discord just like that. Unattractive fat guy and when I mentioned I think the biggest thing to coupling is being realistic and dating people about the same attractive level ... Dude balked at that. Was like "what about a guy that has a great personality," the man is delusional. No job, on food stamps and just getting by, living in a one bedroom (maybe studio?) apt, slobby and fat then hits the surprise Pikachu face that women don't want to date him. Not to mention his social skills. Talk about a total lack of self awareness.
Sure maybe if you were extremely rich a woman might overlook your physical appearance but let's be realistic here.
That to me is the problem most people have but I agree with the instantaneous thing too - it takes time to get in the groove so to speak. I've seen it go both ways gender wise just picking on my fellow dudes here.
Yeah, my experience, too. People hang out with their friends in their friend groups. Just sucks that they don't seem to mix anymore. Networking doesn't work if there's neither opportunity nor interest.
Surprisingly, real world isn't world of Warcraft, people won't have marks over their heads indicating something to you
I'm part of a social activity meetup group that also does a bit of volunteer stuff for folks In need. I'm already with someone but I've watched people meet and pair off in that group several times. It happens.
If you smell shit everywhere you go, check your shoes.
Yeah, I wouldn't recommend a bar either. Try taking a class, joining some sort of athletic thing (jogging, cycling, yoga) volunteering somewhere. Go to a place where you're doing an activity with a group, and the focus isn't dating. Takes the pressure off and allows for getting to know people naturally.
If you are a man, do not go to bars or clubs alone and expect anything unless you are like, insanely hot or charming. But if you are either of those things you don't need my advice. Either go with friends or do something more actively social, like a class or outright social group.
Legit though, why be rude to a fellow for rolling up politely as a dude? Like, if he's hitting on you and it isn't welcome, you tell them up bugger off politely. But just someone looking for some conversation? Man, I actually dislike strangers in general, I've got PTSD issues. But I still wouldn't automatically push the guy away without a solid explanation. And I'm actually known for being blunt about things in public. But when you go to some places, including bars, there's an assumption that it's a shared space and you treat other people as well as they'll allow.
Like, if you aren't willing to be polite and at least explain why a stranger isn't welcome in your group, maybe a bar isn't the best place to meet up? Nobody is obligated to welcome them in with open arms if they don't want to, but you do it nicely because that's a fellow human being trying to be social and friendly. You say, "hey man, sorry, this is an in group situation, we're here as an established group doing our thing." You don't dis them, you don't act like they're bad for looking at you and your group and thinking "maybe those dudes could be cool to hang with". That's a good thing if someone thinks you and your crew are interesting.
I dunno, maybe I'm fucking weird, but as much as I hate crowded places, and dislike random contact, I can't think of a single time where I would have rejected someone without a friendly explanation why.
We gotta be better to each other. We don't all hang the be friends, but we can be nice about it, can't we?
This dude is clearly looking to get laid and I bet it's very clear from the way he approaches people. You're assuming they aren't creeping.
Pottery class. You are a dirty mess, every one is a dirty mess and y'all have something in common. Plus it is an artistic expression and as long as you are willing to talk about artistic struggles being "bad" isn't detriment at all. And worst comes to show you now have a new coffee cup.
Replace Pottery with whatever is offered locally.
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth
Dating is a complete shit show. People that say to just work on your self are only telling half the story. Of course it's important to be open and actively willing to improve, but it's equally as important to identify the kind of people in your life. Legit, the only reason I'm not a complete fucking incel today is because I was lucky enough to have a friend to connected me with someone I wouldn't have ever met otherwise.
I was convinced that all my self-improvement was pointless as I kept getting shoved away as a monster for simply being a man and getting cucked by literal rapists. Felt like what I believed in must have been fundamentally flawed somehow, that I was just broken. Turns out I was just used to attracting shit people.
This is the key that too many straight men who use words like "friend zone" and "game" and "incel" just don't realise.. don't go hunting for a bride like some caveman. Go make friends. Live your life by doing the things you like, treat women like women not like a prize to be won. Make male and female friends, don't just talk to women who you're attracted to. Find friends, and not with the anticipation that one of them will turn into a girlfriend. "Friend zoned" is what people say when they don't get that they're not owed a relationship, and think that being friends with women is a waste of time. Find friends. Be who you are, be genuine. That's the only way you'll find people who are genuinely interested in spending time with you and not some persona you've adopted. If you want an actual good match of a partner, it's more likely that a friend of yours will match you up with someone than you finding the one by going out like you're on the hunt.
Because women aren't objects to play for and win like a prize in a claw machine. They're people who have thoughts and wants and desires and aren't interested in being treated like an object to be possessed while they're out having fun. If you walk up and you're obviously looking to find something to be romantically interested in, and they want to get to know people like people before anything romantic, you're not going to have any luck. Like a bunch of the other comments said, go find something that you enjoy doing and get to know the people there as humans. Talk about your shared interest, about your goals and wants and desires for your life outside of a romantic partner, and ask them about the same. Surprisingly, once you stop treating women like fresh meat on a savannah and actually try to get to know who they are as people, they stop being so freaked out and might actually be interested in getting to know you as a person.
You have to leverage the situation you're in, but something that works well for me is go climbing gym > compliment someone on their climb > strike conversation > if it goes well, ask for their insta (semi-public info) > slip into DMs (wanna go climbing again?) > make a move
Between each >, it's obviously only a step you can do if the vibes check, but it's one example of something that works. Also I won't lie doing this is a bit difficult, but you get better with practice. It also works great if you go to busy climbing gyms in different places at different times, since you'll always see new people. Final caveat is I do this for friends, since I'm already dating, but it works the same way to catch a bf/gf
I met my wife at a bar. We've been married 4 years now.
She walked in alone, looking beautiful. Made up, red lipstick, hot dress.
I was shooting pool in the back with some friends before we head to our friends dj set. She sat down in the front, nearly by the door. I handed my cue off to someone and said shoot for me, I need to take care of something.
As I walk towards her, I can see every other single dude, and the not single dudes, and a couple of ladies eyeballing her. I walked with such momentum that anyone considering trying to make the move had already yielded. I walked with such confidence they probably thought I was already with her.
I sit next to her and start chatting. Ask if I can buy her a drink. Introduce myself. Ask what she's up to. Turns out she's trying to go dancing. She was supposed to meet a friend who was running late, but the dance club accross the street they were going to had closed suddenly a few days prior.
It just so happened that my buddy was DJing the best, sold out, ballroom dance party that night. And I was on the list.
We have a few drinks and chat, convince her to come with us if she's trying to dance. She gets in the Uber with some of my other friends I was shooting pool with and I. The friends there and candid vibe set her at ease, it is a little crazy to jump in a Uber with someone you met 30 minutes ago after all.
I get to look so cool when I tell the bouncer I'm on the list, but there must be a mistake I should be listed for a +1 too. No problem, we both get in. It's litterally the best dance party I've been too. We dance, make out, the rest is history.