I used to hear about pickup artists all the time—books, forums, “negging,” the whole thing. Now it seems like they’ve vanished, and the only people left are “alpha male” influencers selling courses. Did the pickup artists go extinct, rebrand, or achieve enlightenment?
Sigh. This is embarrassing to admit. I dipped my toes in those waters for a year or so but decided it wasn’t for me. Those grifters are preying on guys, like me, who struggle in relationships, which I do. I tried out their tactics and found one of two things. 1) it didn’t work at all like expected or 2) it worked like they said but it made me feel like total shit. I gave it up. That’s not the kind of person I wanted to be.
The ends didn’t justify the means, at all. Additionally, the ends weren’t even what I wanted. The end goal for most PUA types is sex with the girl. I do like sex, but not to just get off. Call me sentimental, but I’m after a best friend who I can also have sex with. Negging someone doesn’t make them your best friend. It makes them a pawn to your manipulations.
All that said, in short, I would guess a lot of guys tried it out and realized that they’re not sociopaths like the grifters are and decided that it’s not what they actually wanted.