The Game, I know the book's old, but still..

[RAMM]

Hey guys, I’ve been reading The Game for like the fourth time right now, and after all these years in the community(and reading pretty much everything) I kinda developed a feeling of like personally knowing most of the characters. Though I’ve never met any of the big names in the community, I feel like personally knowing them.
What I wanted to ask you is how do you feel about The Game? More specifically, how do you feel about Neil Strauss?
Before I go into details, I just wanna make sure you all know I like and admire him. I’m bringing no accusation to anyone here.
That being said. Can we actually trust the story of The Game? I do trust the facts being portrayed, but what I have a strange feeling about is the subtext Neil is trying to frame us with. I mean, I have no facts to support this, just a feeling that I’ve carried for the whole length of the book.
The subtext is – Neil is the good guy. The other guys, not so much, they’re evil. Also, the subtext is “Me and Mystery are the best, but Mystery’s got all of these issues, so I’m actually a better teacher”. I feel like it’s propaganda. Neil amoged Tyler and Papa and the whole RSD crew, which I didn’t mind cuz I guess we all felt like hating these guys, at least the way they were portrayed here. And we might also think that Strauss just did it because of his feelings towards the guys which seem natural. But let’s not forget he’s been trying to amog(or STYLEMOG) Mystery too. This brings all of it under a new light, at least to me.
I mean, he doesn’t want to ruin his relationship with Mystery so in The Game, Strauss has always had kind words for Mystery and everything so as to make us think he’s not trying to amog him, but at the same time he’s always there pointing at every flaw Mystery supposedly has, trying to make him look weak and like a kid.
Needless be said that Mystery is probably the only guy I’d trust in the whole thing, plus the only character I’d sympathize with in the book(except for the non PUAs – Hypnotica And Steve P I guess).
It might be just me but I loved Mystery getting mad, and I don’t know, even when he was depressed. That’s probably cuz I’ve been depressed, and I used to lose my cool too and become aggressive before I had a handle on my Inner Game. Or maybe it’s because I thought “here’s a man that let’s go and has the courage to do what others only wish they could”. I felt about him the way I feel about Trent Reznor, or Marilyn Manson, or Heath Ledger’s Joker, or even Pitt’s Tyler Durden and F. W. Nietzsche. The kind of man that would self destruct rather than getting down to compromise with people. Since I’m the same type of mad personality, these are the guys that inspire me the most. I just love extreme personality. So, to me Strauss actually failed to amog Mystery if that was his intent.
That’s pretty flattering I guess. It might also be the key to understanding the way he’s framing his competitors.
I mean, do you remember that post by Thundercat quoted in the Game? It said:
<<[...]This guy(Style) is probably the most evil, sneaky, manipulative bastard I have ever seen in operation. The thing is, this guy comes in totally under the radar, and that is why he is so dangerous. His subtlety is so amazing that before you know if, you are qualifying yourself to him and he has you right where he wants you.
And the thing is, he does if with both girls and guys. No one is safe. [...]
He is practically Machiavellian in nature and is someone I both admire and fear. Add to this the fact that he's a rather average-looking guy, and you have the most powerful of the Jedi, bar none.>>
I might be wrong about the whole thing, maybe Neil actually felt like that about Mystery, but on the other hand, he’s a pickup artist. He’s read about the 48 rules of power. He knows, he’s not naive. So we shouldn’t be either.

[RAMM]

damn, did I post this in the wrong place? can you guys move it in the "Other Reviews" section?

[azazels_wolf]

Thread moved.

[Devin DeStyle]

I've always seen Neil and Mystery as the best two, but I guess that's simply how Neil portrays it in his book (thought it's pretty clear Mystery is one of the best ever regardless).

You mentioned how Neil "framed" the other guys in a certain way. It actually kind of makes me sad to think he would potentially do that (not saying he even did). I have to wonder when the bullshit AMOGing and pickup stuff ends and when people will just live their lives. Neil's objective was allegedly to simply tell the story of his life transformation. I would hope he would do it as honestly as possible. I know his point of view is subjective, but I hope he didn't consciously try to "frame" the other guys in a way that is unflattering. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but I do think it's kind of weird that he has a full-flredged business going himself now.

Sometimes this stuff just gets taken too far.

[browntown]

I like how Neil Strauss entered the game after developing a career and what not, the game just completed him, while others like Tyler D's life revolves around game, which is sad, almost robotic, and not too many women will find that attractive in the long run.

[RAMM]

Originally Posted by Devin DeStyle

Neil's objective was allegedly to simply tell the story of his life transformation. I would hope he would do it as honestly as possible. I know his point of view is subjective, but I hope he didn't consciously try to "frame" the other guys in a way that is unflattering. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but I do think it's kind of weird that he has a full-flredged business going himself now.

Well, you know, when Mystery's invited at some TV show, and asked about who makes the acronims for example he says "I do." He presents himself as Mystery, a PickUP Artist and coach.
When Style goes to the same shows he presents himself as Neil Strauss, a writer guy who supposedly "infiltrated" the pickup community, whatever that means.
He always refers to the community as "Those guys actually go out and do this and that" though he's created most of the material used by PUAs.

Yep, I wish people just lived their lives
I still like style, he's a great man and artist, but I have even more respect for those out there who don't need to do this stuff to look cool. It's not cool.
Respect to Mystery

[talib]

The Game was in my opinion a great motivational story. It really gives guys hope for where their skills can go. Do I believe that Mystery and Style are two of the best PUA's EVER? NO, I dont believe they are the best. I do believe they are good and I love Mystery's love to help people. I dont know him on like a personal hang out basis but from what I can see he truely wants to help people, even though his prices are outrageous.

It's all about what you want to get out of this whole thing. I would never say Mystery is not good cause that would be a lie but lets face it there are some guys out there who are insane. I personally feel like if they had the PR he did they would be considered the best.

Now with all this talk that seems like Mystery bashing I want to say this. I use Mystery's stuff and in no way do I want it to seem like I dont respect him or Style. But I must also tell what my opinion is to give my respect to the community and the other mPUA's out there.

[Sincerelee]

Does anyone realize this is like martial artists discussing who it the best master?

For my way of learning, a combination of Mystery and Style has brought me farther than I ever thought possible.

[Mr Beast]

What RAMM wanted to talk about when he posted this was not who is the greatest PUA from The Game, but if and how Style subjectively wrote his story to influence our opinions of the other characters. I never conciously thought about it, but it is totally true that the only two persons described as good persons are Mystery and Style, but with Mystery having major instable personality flaws.

Style doesn't do anything wrong or unethical, he is almost the observer of everything going on. In the end, considering Style has his own pick-up business now, I think Style beautifully manipulated the crowds and the community to get the fame he has now. His book has sold millions of copies.

[Sincerelee]

I doubt he wrote the book with the intention of starting a PUA site and all that. I think his intention was, "Here is a society I got involved in. I did some pretty whacked out stuff, but because I was writing about it, i tried to seperate myself from it, I didn't do nearly as whacked out stuff as these guys."

It opened a door for tons of men, became a best-seller, and found a means to make a business from it.

I feel the need to say this...THE STYLELIFE WEBSITE IS NOT PROFITABLE AND GREAT BECAUSE OF STYLE'S CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS...IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING ON A DAILY BASIS...JUST LIKE HERE.

Here and SLA are good because of quality and work of the mods and the contributors.


Now about the book. Yes, it iws one man's perspective, and just like a car wreck, not everyone sees everything, nor sees everything the same.Think about it. It took four disciples of Jesus to tell His story, and one even said that there was not enough ink or paper in the world to tell all about Jesus.

If Style's story is grossly mis-told, including leaving out significant motivations for other guys' actions, then they have the same opportunity to write their own book. Being that none exists, I would accept his account as pretty accurate.

The account of Mystery sounds like a man who had clinical depression. With proper treatment, it can be dealt with. Ignoring the problem exacerbates it, and can result in suicide.