CMV: If done correctly, there's nothing wrong with cold approaching.

I see a lot of mixed opinions on cold approaching from people online.

It's always a mix of men arguing that cold approaching never works or that they were "told" that women don't ever want to be approached and just want to be left alone. Or women claim that women don't ever want to be approached because they don't want to be approached or they claim that dudes don't know or when how to approach properly (valid).

The vast majority of women I've dated were through cold approaches, with a small handful through OLD and through friends. Cold approaching has been my go-to since day one. I've got phone numbers/IGs/Snapchats/etc from cashiers, grocery store workers, at gyms, coffee shops, at bars, on the bus or the subway, all kinds of places. Hell, I got the most numbers ever in my life as a grocery store stocker because women would make conversation with me and it gave me a chance to spit game if I was feeling them. Sure, I've been brushed off and rejected dozens of times and even if I get a number it doesn't always materialize into something but that's just how dating works. Most of my friends only date primarily through cold approaches or OLD same as I do.

Granted, there are situations when you shouldn't approach someone, but 99% of them can be recognized with some pretty basic nonverbal cues. People make it glaringly obvious when they don't want to be approached or flirted with. Even me, a high-functioning autistic man, can interpret when someone doesn't want to be bothered or just isn't feeling me. But people online act like a decent cold approach is tantamount to sexual harassment, that it never works or only works for insanely hot people, or that bothering a woman in public is the worst thing any guy could do.

In my opinion, if you:

• Can read basic verbal and non-verbal social cues
• Are a good sport, can handle rejection, and understand how and when to disengage
• Have decent conversational skills; you don't need to be a conversationalist
• Can accept that you can't talk to everyone and some people just aren't for you
• Can tactfully make conversation without coming off as pushy or aggressive
  • But understand how and when it's appropriate to make your interest clear

I don't see why you would have any significant trouble with cold approaching. If it's just not for you then I can respect that but that doesn't diminish how effective it can be if it's done properly.