I've been involved in the pickup "community" for a very long time now. It feels about as long as I've been able to drive. 33 now. I'm a haggard old bitch, about 100 in "PUA years." I want to write something about expectations vs. reality.

For most of the time I did pickup, I thought I was building up to some kind of cumulative social glory, where I wouldn't have to be lonely at all anymore, where people would respect me, where opportunities would just fall in my lap. I thought I'd wind up living inside a stock photo of a group of people laughing at a bar.

For most of the time I did pickup, I was deep into RSD and all their backshot air promises of "identity level change." Kept waiting, waiting, waiting, for the other shoe to drop. Five years in, and why is everyone still so fucking mean to me? Why do I still have to fight so hard for every little crumb of pussy I get? Aren't I supposed to be ALPHA?

Here's my word of warning to you: cold approach is a means to an end. It's a vehicle you step into, that carries you from point A (dry penis) to point B (not dry penis). It's a complicated but standalone skill that you should approach learning in the same way you'd approach learning how to use a bandsaw. Don't attach other dreams to it.

Because here's reality: nobody is going to think you're cool for knowing how to pick up girls. Nobody.

The majority of the girls you approach are going to be either disinterested but flattered or disgusted that you dared to coexist on the same planet as them. 99% of people you know are going to consider your interest in cold approach to be some kind of a red flag, or article of embarrassment. Your friends will vocally pat themselves on the back in your presence for being "above" pickup. A portion of them will animorph into secret seething haters out of jealousy. Another portion will call you a misogynist.

A tiny minority of true friends will be happy for your accomplishments and support you. 99% of people will consider you a clown.

All the while, you will probably be constantly talking yourself out of putting in hard effort with approaching. You're going to be waging a losing war against the voice in your head that agrees with the 99%. And on top of that, every fade haircut dipshit with an ebook to sell is going to be feeding you bad advice that will keep your dick even more permanently dry than before.

Pickup is often a thankless gauntlet of humiliation.

My point in all of this is that the only way to do this long term is to focus on the reward (getting to fuck hot women) as being worth the cost of admission. And not needing any other benefit out of it. Be the 0.01% of guys who can go out alone, stay the course, fuck the hot women, and not need to brag about it to people.

Cold approach (especially daygame) is a gauntlet well worth running. Just don't be surprised when people who ostensibly care about you stick their shins out to trip you.