There are a few factors to look at when deciding if you want to read a PUA's advice or buy their products:

  • Do they actually like women? This is by far the most important element to me, and it's the one thing that all PUA's who are respected have in common. The shit ones will be complaining about female behavior and feminism. The good ones will have lives, and enjoy female company.

  • Is there evidence of them being good? Look primarily for (not obviously staged) video evidence. Also, testimony from PUA's you already trust, and praise from (clearly knowledgable) reddit users and mods here.

  • Do they seem like bullshitters? They should come off as "real" to your gut instinct. They should seem more like well rounded men who happen to be good with women, rather than some fake, weird playboy pick up superhero personality. If they make things seem like they're going to be easy, they are not better coaches than everyone... they just have more audacity to bullshit.

  • Is their personality similar to mine? (more for stealing lines and moves than purely taking advice) If you're an introverted fellow and you try to open with a loud bravado like Julien Blanc, you are not going to get the same results as him. Likewise if you are a loud douchebag, and you try to do some smooth, stealthy, Richard La Ruina club game, it might not go as well. This is a lot less important than the above considerations, but imitate those you act simmilar to more if you can.

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Always trust your gut instinct. If something seems silly to do, it might be silly to do. If something seems disrespectful, it might actually be disrespectful. Simple judgment calls. There are of course situations where you will lack confidence, and do mental gymnastics to make that lack of confidence look like good judgement. Try to avoid that. My overall my point however is, if it feels wrong or stupid to say or do, don't say or do it.