For me, one of the most confusing concepts of Game is idea of the Neg. The idea is that by lightly insulting a girl, you imply you are higher value by not being overly invested in that particular interaction. The thing is, a neg is supposed to be a subtle back handed compliment, not a straight out dis and too many beginners go way too heavy handed on this one.

What many PUAs lack is calibration. I made it my username because I think it's one of the most important aspects of learning game. You can't flat out insult a girl and expect to succeed but you also can't walk up to a girl and say "you're so gorgeous" without putting her in the position of control. You have to develop the social intuitiveness to find whats appropriate. So where's the middle ground?

First, consider that the neg is most effectively used on super hot HB9s or 10s. THOSE are the girls who think they are hot shit and are very used to guys supplicating and putting them on a pedestal so lowering their value while raising yours is a good tactic for super hotties.

With HB7s & 8s, negging can backfire unless you do it very carefully. The average girl who isn't a supermodel is self-conscious to some level so all that is really necessary is some light hearted teasing. Give her a hard time but don't hurt her feelings. You want her to associate positive feelings with you, not feelings of inadequacy and self-consciousness. Be challenging and make her work for your affection and attention but don't push her away by poorly using tactics that were designed for supermodels in LA, not that adorable girl you're pursuing at your small town local bar. I guess it's better to err on the side of asshole than pushover nice guy, but who wants to be an asshole? You CAN neg without being a total jerk. Calibration is key.

TL;DR: * calibrate your game & use the right tactics on the right girls. * negs are effective for super hotties * for most girls, lighthearted teasing is enough to establish dominance * don't be insulting * keep it fun * you want her to associate positive feelings with you