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Mystery Method - Criticism and Controversy

Iain Sharp, writer for The Sunday-Star Times, suggests that Mystery Method's reliance on pre-rehearsed routines and lines may become problematic as the lines become overused and known to women. He writes:

'[Mystery] also suggests that rather than outright flattery, males on the prowl should approach beautiful women with vaguely negative comments, which he terms "negging". Sample: "Nice nails. Are they real?" Surely, though, once this line becomes known, women will show the authenticity of their nails with a quick swipe to the face.'

In response to this brand of criticism, Mystery replies that pickup artists should eventually learn to generate original opening material, but until then "fake it 'til you make it".[5]

Anderson Hephzibah, writer for the Daily Mail, also criticized Neil Strauss and Mystery’s use of memorized routines in their seduction methods. Hephzibah writes that, “Enlightenment came when [Strauss] chanced upon the How To Lay Girls Guide. It led him to an online community of self declared-sack artists, with pseudonyms such as Herbal and Mystery… Just as women dress largely for other women, so PUAs seem to score those bedpost notches to impress other men. Fortunately, their emphasis on conversational 'routines' and quasimilitaristic tactics make them easy to spot.”

Mystery counters that "the Alpha Male is always the center of attention".[6] Other pickup artists, such as Neil Strauss, prefer to operate "under the radar".

In the PR Newswire US, a writer describes Mystery as “a suicidal PUA that uses magic and various attention-getting techniques to seduce girls.” [7]

Frances Whiting, writing for The Sunday Mail, also criticized Mystery Method tactics used by Mystery. She writes: “Mystery advises would-be wooers to: ‘Take the victim down from their friends, family and home. Once isolated they have no outside support and in their confusion are easily led astray.’ Oh, I'm sorry, clearly I'm reading from that other well-known book about male/female relationships, Dating: A Stalker's Guide…and why any man would follow Mystery's advice I do not know.” [8]

Satoshi Fujita (from Japan) argues that Mystery's tactic of delivering negs "[only] works for the Westerners who already have advantages like good looks or are used to frank conversations with strangers of the opposite sex. But for the below-average Japanese guy, offending someone you've just met only turns the woman off and blows the guy's chance forever."