I was out at a bar friday night with a scheming partner. There were two specific sets I tried to open, the results of which lead to an interesting comparison.

First I try an opinion opener on a HB8. "I know this guy that's been in a relationship for this long, yadda yadda." She responds, but is not enthusiastic or showing any real interest. I try to keep the conversation going, but when I sense that there's no use I just roll off.

The second set, I left my friend to get another drink at the bar. When I turn around, he was gone. I didn't want to stand alone so I approach a HB7 and a HB8. All I do is walk up and say, "Hi, how are you guys doing?" No less than a minute later my friend rejoins. They love us, they're touching on my chest and laughing at the stuff we say, even taking pictures with us.

Now, there are a lot of factors that went in to why the second set worked but the first didn't. My energy was different with both, my body language, levels of intoxication on both parties, etc. The point is this: the opener is not the end all to how an interaction goes.