In an attempt to up the quality of debate.....

One of the more misunderstood and maligned part of MRP is the idea of dread aka The 12 Levels of Dread aka (and I dont know where this came from) dread game. You can find it linked off the sidebar here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/2l7pqe/the_12_levels_of_dread_the_rules_for_any_long/

A major complaint of mine about RP is its propensity for making up names for shit that already exists. I know why they do it - it sounds cool and they want you to think that only they can do what they do (just like lawyers and investment bankers). So it comes as no surprise for me that the drive by scorners of the bloops never really took the time to really dig into the concept before jumping straight to the very end and coming up with that conclusion that is so barely informed that its almost BiggerDish.

With that in mind, I figured that there is some value in going through the concept point by point to see where the major pain points are. Before I start I feel I need to direct your attention to something that was in massive fucking letters but that people decided to gloss over:

To clarify, these are sequential. You don't go past level 5 if you are happy in the relationship. You don't "cheat" until you have tried everything else and the marriage is already over.

Yup. Remember that. It says not to cheat.

Ok on with the post......

Dread Level 1: Learn to recognize and start passing Shit Tests. Begin building a strong, indefatigable frame where you are not affected by her sexual denials. Your readings will inform you about the basics of Pickup Artistry and seduction. Begin leading your wife more and begin seducing her. .

Of all the levels, I think this one is actually the most vague. I believe this to be intentional to force new RPers into looking through some of the material (money grab?).

So what does it mean and is it effective? Actually its three points in one which helps muddy the water but they have one thing in common - be more fun, be less butthurt. Shit tests cover two general points, playful banter and boundary setting. Now it seems hard to believe that guys have managed to get married without the ability to banter at all but here we are. Flirt with your wife.

To me the greater applicability of level one is the idea of saying no and of not reinforcing a negative idea of sex by getting all sulky if she turns down your initiation.

I'd like to think that this is all self evidently a good thing for pretty much any relationship so moving on.

Dread Level 2: Develop an action plan to improve the major areas of your life. Develop the physical, spiritual, psychological, financial and personal areas of your life. Your journey begins at the gym where you need to lift heavy weights to exhaustion 3-4 times a week, working each muscle group at least 2 times a week.

https://www.ajc.com/news/health-med-fit-science/the-bigger-the-pecs-women-definitely-prefer-buff-men-study-shows/mN7nZX45Q2ZbwAkbrbfIlI/

http://www.newsweek.com/men-muscles-and-money-are-more-attractive-straight-women-and-gay-men-showing-717053

Is there even anything to debate here?

Dread Level 3: Begin to build a life apart from your wife. Join a club. Take up a cause, discipline, or calling. Get busy.

Dont be a clingy bitch. Let her miss you. Its something that even made it into Chris Rock's last standup special. Now obviously this is something that varies from person to person but it strikes me as obvious that people will need time to go to the gym and engage in other hobbies as outlined in level 2. RP frames this as giving her some needed 'hamster time' but realistically I think this is taking time for oneself away from what is essentially an unhappy marriage.

Dread Level 4: Begin conditioning your availability to your wife with her treatment of you. Your are busy now. You don't have time for a sexually disinterested, annoying, or angry wife. Take up another cause if you need to. This is a great time to join a martial arts club.

Pretty sure they could have just had 11 levels of dread tbh.

Dread Level 5: Upgrade your clothes and start dressing ‘up’ more of the time. Top off your solid, masculine, strong, indefatigable frame. You should be acting like the Captain of your Ship and leading your relationship. You should be actively using Kino and seducing your wife.

Also pretty obvious. The wording on this one makes me cringe a little bit but yeah, dress better when you've toned up and start kissing and touching your wife when sex isnt an option - especially if she has a reactive libido.

There you go, the suggested levels of dread for a man trying to get his way out of deadbedroom hell whilst still working on his relationship. This is also called passive dread. I think I could sum it up like this:

'Lift, read the books, take some time for your own happiness, bring the fun back, dress better'.

Onto the controversial stuff.

Dread Level 6: Begin to study pickup artistry. Before you do anything stupid, use your newfound knowledge about the stages of seduction and pickup artistry on your wife. Give it some time and apply this knowledge to seducing your wife. Use pickup game first to try and save your marriage.

Oh.

Dread level 7: Begin to practice pickup artistry and learn how to approach pretty women and hold an attractive conversation.

Ok starting to get dicey? Actually I'm not sure. I do this all the time because I work with and socialise with a lot of pretty women. Am I preparing a branch swing or just being a guy with a normal social life?

Dread Level 8: SHOW your wife that you are capable of talking to pretty girls in public. Start with waitresses. If you are with your wife and it has been 20-30 days since she gave you the 'favor' of her body, and you strike up a conversation with a pretty young thing right in front of her 1 or 2 things will happen- probably both. First she will lose her shit and accuse you of all kinds of things. MAINTAIN FRAME/Amused Mastery. You are finally getting your wife to respond. That is the important thing- there is hope for the relationship. Second, shortly after you get home she will probably fuck you with more passion than your honeymoon.

At this point, you are 7 months into the process along the suggested timeline. 7 months with no improvement in the marriage whilst improving yourself and all RP suggests is to have a nice chat with a pretty girl.

Now I have my doubts about actually how effective this would be if you didnt border on inappropriate but just getting a few laughs going might well be enough to stoke the fires of jealousy.

[Women's POV]{https://www.womansday.com/relationships/dating-marriage/advice/a7493/jealousy-is-good-for-you/}

Dread Level 9

Too much of a blather screed to go into but this is basically obviously suggesting that you will leave her if things dont improve and withdraw from the relationship more extremely. Personally I think this one is pointless at this stage and should be skipped for....

Dread Level 10: TELL her how it is going to be- or else you are leaving and filing for divorce. I got to this point in my marriage before it turned around. I told my wife: "You have a simple choice to make. Fuck me...or fuck you."

I also think you can't ultimatum someone into loving you so this is basically divorce anyway. However it does definitely give the wife the opportunity to really look at herself and her actions before things happen.

Dread Levels 11 & 12: Cheat

Pretty clearly if someone blows through level 10 they dont care anymore. I don't condone cheating and think its pretty fecking obvious that you should just wait for a divorce to go through but hey, some people stay together for the kids.

So really, the only truly objectionable things here to a stable marriage are DL9-12 and for things to have gotten that bad, the relationship really isnt there anymore anyway.

Thoughts?

TL;DR - Dread isn't that bad and hard to argue with when it comes to the prescribed passive dread, and isnt exactly out there all the way up to and including level 8.