Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Three Game Mindsets

Fundamentally, there are three different paths that can be taken, in the area of romantic relationships. This is true of all people, whether simple or wise, brilliant or clueless, well-versed in Game Theory or utterly unaware, whether single or married, whether religious or agnostic and whether male or female. Each path offers various ways to reach each goal, although some are more effective and intentional than others. Game Theory, in so much as it offers truth about the male and female natures, the present sexual and relational markets, and practical strategies for both men and women to maximize their attractiveness, is valuable for all people to know and it is practically useful for people who seek relationships. Fundamentally, the three mindsets towards romantic relationships are: a long-term centric relational mindset, a short-term centric relational mindset and a romantic-avoidance mindset. I will briefly explain what each of these fundamental approaches is, what matters most to the sort of person in each group, and mention several well-known internet writers who operate according to such mindsets.

Long-Term Relationship Game
People in this category are seeking deep, rich, fulfilling lasting relationships with a person of the opposite sex. In their quest for love, they seek out a potential mate who is a high-quality person all-around, and not merely sexually attractive. The centrality of developing and enjoying a holistic relationship with a real person is at the forefront of an LTR-centric person. Such a person recognizes that communication, dedication, sacrifice and hard-work are needed to develop a rich and fulfilling relationship, and is willing to work towards that goal. While many men have varying success in long-term relationships and marriages, a man who effectively applies Game Theory in his relationship, by being a strong leader, embodying masculine character traits, and being in a relationship with a high-quality woman, will consistently reap the benefits of a strong and satisfying relationship.

There are a few prominent Gamers who focuses their energies on developing lasting relationships and benefitting others. Dave In Hawaii, Obsidian, Cless Alvein, and Alkibiades are fairly well-known ones who spring to mind.

Short-Term Relationship Game
People in this category are primarily seeking casual sexual relationships, either for just a single night, or for a period of several weeks, months or years. These sorts of people are looking for physical chemistry, sexual attraction, excitement, amazing sexual encounters and sometimes variety in partners. The character and personality of potential mates is not especially important to the Short-Term Gamer, since all relationships are intended to be fairly short, and all partners are completely fungible. Concerning self-development, men who seek short-term relationships work to maximize the effectiveness of their Game by practicing sparking attraction as quickly as possible. Women who seek short-term relationships try to maximize their raw sexual appeal and appear as physically attractive as possible. The Sexual Market, which consists of all people seeking casual sexual relationships, is an extremely competitive and cutthroat market, where generally the best men are extremely successful, and those with only moderate Game reap substantially less gratifying results. The objectifying nature of the worldview that necessarily comes with an emphasis on casual sex often leads such people to assign numerical values to the sexual attractiveness of a person. Here is Roissy's Sexual Market Value test for men and for women.

Of the three categories of Gamers, most of the best known and most popular ones are Short-Term Gamers, who seek casual sexual relationships and primarily pursue personal pleasure in relationships. Roissy, Roosh, Tyler Durden, Talleyrand and Krauser are prime examples of people with this mindset.

Romantic Relationship Avoidance
People in this category have decided that, either permanently or just for a period of time, they do not want to pursue any sort of romantic relationship. This does not include people who want to be in a relationship or desire sex but are unable to attract a suitable partner. Instead, this only includes people who voluntarily and intentionally have chosen not to pursue romantic relationships. There are many various motivations for such a lifestyle choice. For some, they choose not to pursue relationships because they value their freedom and independence too much to be willing include someone else in their world. For some, they renounce romantic relationships for the sake of a higher cause, frequently a religious one. For some, they are sufficiently dissatisfied with the present selection of people in the dating market (Relationship Market and/or Sexual Market), and therefore they have decided that pursuing relationships simply isn't a worthwhile use of time. Besides these three, I'm certain that there are many other motivations for adopting a relationship avoidance strategy.

While this is a relationship mindset, in one sense is an anti-mindset of sorts. The sorts of people who intentionally aren't pursuing romantic relationships also are the sort of people who either write about other things, or who don't state their relational stance publicly. As such, there is no one that I can conclusively link to as holding this mindset. I can however, link to some prominent people who write some excellent commentary on the current state of the dating realm. Novaseeker, Anakin Niceguy, and Snark are some who spring to mind as offering solid social commentary without strongly showing an inclination towards either Long-Term Game or Short-Term Game.

11 comments:

  1. Roissy [is a] prime example of [a person] with this mindset.

    Is he? He's written repeatedly that he believes that a long-term relationship, or multiple long-term relationships, is superior to all other forms of male-female relationships in terms of making a man happy:

    http://roissy.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/the-lifestyle/

    http://roissy.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/better-than/

    Otherwise, I like the post.

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  2. Yeah, great observation, FB. Roissy is a well-known advocate of long term relationships. That's what his blog is ALL about. Who could possible misread him as anything else.

    I do find it quite fascinating that F.B. can quote Roissy chapter and verse, if you will, effortlessly summoning knowledge of posts almost a year and half ago. Self-appointed Prophet of the Cult of Game? Or: fawning sycophantic beta?

    History will decide.

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  3. "I do find it quite fascinating that F.B. can quote Roissy chapter and verse, if you will, effortlessly summoning knowledge of posts almost a year and half ago. Self-appointed Prophet of the Cult of Game? Or: fawning sycophantic beta? "

    You argue like a woman. Remember what Screwtape had to say about flippancy?

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  4. Justin:

    Yeah, great observation, FB. Roissy is a well-known advocate of long term relationships. That's what his blog is ALL about. Who could possible misread him as anything else.

    Very easy to misread. That's why I put in the links. When you go to a gunfight, never forget your ammunition.

    I do find it quite fascinating that F.B. can quote Roissy chapter and verse, if you will, effortlessly summoning knowledge of posts almost a year and half ago.

    Yeah man, I mean it's not there's some sort of SEARCH ENGINE or something named GOOGLE that can perform these tasks!

    Self-appointed Prophet of the Cult of Game? Or: fawning sycophantic beta?

    For a guy who claims to hold truth in high regard, you're having an interestingly allergic reaction to this bit of it.

    History will decide.

    I'm disappointed, man. No red-faced ranting about how I'm a destructive nihilist? I expect better from you.

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  5. Eumaios:

    Remember what Screwtape had to say about flippancy?

    That reminds me...

    "But Flippancy is the best of all. In the first place it is very economical. Only a clever human can make a real joke about virtue, or indeed about anything else; any of them can be trained to talk as if virtue were funny. Among flippant people the joke is always assumed to have been made. No one actually makes it; but every serious subject is discussed in a manner which implies that they have already found a ridiculous side to it. If prolonged, the habit of Flippancy builds up around a man the finest armor plating against the Enemy that I know, and it is quite free from the dangers inherent in the other sources of laughter. It is a thousand miles away from joy; it deadens, instead of sharpening, the intellect; and it excites no affection between those who practice it."

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  6. @Ferdinand: Despite Roissy's intellectual position that he think long-term relationships are the best, would say that his practical life shows that LTRs are what He most seeks and personally strives for? Though I am aware that he extols the virtues of good LTRs and the ever-elusive Perfect Woman, it seems to me that both in his writing and in his lifestyle, he primarily engages in Short-Term Relationships, and expects all relationships to be Short-Term. Would you agree that both his writing and his lifestyle are primarily STR-centric?

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  7. F.B., Play it off however you like, you are the who either has a good handle on his every post, or is taking the time to deeply research his archives, to "correct misunderstandings", or whatever your motivation is. You are like Roissy's White Knight, ever ready to jump to his defense.

    Eumaios, defending F.B. by saying that I argue like a woman is kinda funny. Have you seen his hysterical rantings, as he devotes regular blogspace to "destroying his enemies"? Reminds me of Lady Raine --> pure drama queen behavior. So, big E, are you now F.B.'s sycophantic beta, sticking up for your buddy with your high powered shaming language?

    The funny part, the real irony is, I take Game quite seriously, the opposite of a flippant approach. Far from using shaming or personal attacks, I continue to address the philosophical issues themselves, the very opposite of flippancy. So that dog won't hunt.

    I enjoy F.B.'s personal attacks, his vindictiveness is proof enough of his character. I will, however, continue to point out the foolishness of his ideas when I come across them.

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  8. Silas:

    Would you agree that both his writing and his lifestyle are primarily STR-centric?

    His writing? Yes, without a doubt. His lifestyle? I dunno. I don't know the guy, and neither do you, so we're both inferring how he behaves from his own words. Taking a guy like Roissy at 100% face value isn't smart, because writers of his talent know how to BS effortlessly - the onus is on the reader to sort out the facts from what's fake. I don't think Roissy's ever talked about what he does NOW, as opposed to things he's done in the past. I'll grant you that he's probably spent the better part of his life in a STR mindset. As for how he behaves now, neither of us can say with certainty, so I stand by my original assertion.

    Justin:

    F.B., Play it off however you like, you are the who either has a good handle on his every post, or is taking the time to deeply research his archives,

    You make it sound like searching the Internet is some sort of time-consuming, Herculean task, as opposed to all of thirty seconds on Google and all of ten seconds pasting the links.

    to "correct misunderstandings", or whatever your motivation is.

    My motivation is to spread the truth. You know, TRUTH, that thing you regard so highly as to title your blog "The Truth Shall Set You Free"?

    You are like Roissy's White Knight, ever ready to jump to his defense.

    Correcting people when they get things wrong is "white knighting"? You have a disturbingly warped view of the world.

    Have you seen his hysterical rantings, as he devotes regular blogspace to "destroying his enemies"?

    I have no enemies. Just folks who I smack upside the head when they embarrass themselves.

    Far from using shaming or personal attacks, I continue to address the philosophical issues themselves, the very opposite of flippancy.

    Coming from a guy who just tried to attack someone for no other reason than offering up a factual correction, that is just unbelievably rich.

    I enjoy F.B.'s personal attacks, his vindictiveness is proof enough of his character.

    And your dishonesty is proof of yours.

    I will, however, continue to point out the foolishness of his ideas when I come across them.

    You haven't addressed any "ideas" at all here - you're making a non-issue into an issue in an attempt to insult me. That's just lame.

    In any event, two comments of this is enough. Enjoy your evening.

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