| - Be ill informed on the topic
- Brag
- Correct the girl (especially when you are misinformed)
- General ignorance
Whatever the subject is you talk about, make sure you're information is correct. If you honestly don't know about something, dont try and pass it off like you do. For example a guy was talking to my GF on msn and the topic of guns game up. He was talking about all sorts of firearms and rating them from most effective and reliable.
(H=him)
H - "I like the M14 more M14 is harder to jam up and easier to fix, less parts to replace"
GF - "have you ever shot a firearm?"
H- "yes I have but I really like to have my hands on a FN-P90 and FN Five-Seven"
His first mistake was talking about weapons he learnt about in computer games or fired a subcal version of in Thailand. My GF is quite competent with firearms and I'm in Infantry, its my bread and butter so it was quite clear he was spinning shit. However he kept going on about it like it was something to be impressed about. I got many laughs out of it
Make sure you guys know your subject matter. If you aren't an expect, don't make it out like you are because you'll get called out, or say something stupid. Ignorance is bad, dont let it stop you from reading up and learning about things. Improving yourself is only going to improve your life and in turn your game. You should be constantly looking at ways to improve, either by learning new things or reviewing past performances and determining what you could have done better.
He then goes on to mention
H- "I'm actually quite accurate with a gun"
GF - "To what distance"
H - "given it is highly "properly" maintained max was about 50m, can't be sure if it was 100m"
H- "I think it was 70m"
Bragging is not a good way to DHV. Especially if its not brag worthy. Hitting something at 50m with a scope is not an achievement. So long as the scope is zeroed, anyone who picks up the rifle and can hold a steady position will hit the target almost everytime.
Unless you are the world record holder in the achievement you're talking about, there will always be someone out there better than you. Dont make out like its something unachievable, a bit of modesty will actually help you out. Find the balance between "I'm the fucking greatest" and "It's nothing too special". Something along the lines of "I'm happy, but I'm always trying to improve/push myself harder" shows you're content with you ability, you havent been swallowed up in arrogance and you're keen to constantly better yourself
If you do manage to spin shit (as in you have no real knowledge of what you're talking about), dont correct the girl when she offers her input because theres a good chance she is right and you are wrong.
GF - "open sights or scope?"
H - "22 had a scope. you mean iron sights?"
H - " I prefer using iron sights but my sight is starting to fail me, so I like to keep it as sharp as I can"
Open sights and aperture sights are the 2 types of iron sights. So really he's correcting for no reason.
Don't correct the girl if you're not fully informed on the topic, in this case, learning from COD is not fully informed. If you havent already made yourself look like an ass, you'll certainly do it by correcting her when shes right. If you really think you're right, google it and make sure, but then again its not something worth arguing about.
This brings me to general ignorance. Just because your male and she's female, dont treat her like she doesnt know what shes talking about. Just because shes hot, doesnt make her stupid either, the old saying "never judge a book by its cover" applies.
GF-ME "well i guess he thinks he knows so much because he is now lecturing me..."
Even if you do know what you're talking about, its no reason to school her on the subject. She may actually know quite a bit, but your ignorance, or atleast his in this case prevent/ignored any input from her
Talk less, value her opinion and encourage her input. Showing you care about what she thinks will get you more points than showing off what you know. Conversations should flow, if you're talking too long she may not be all that interested or feel you dont value her opinion.
All in all, just be yourself, dont try to be something you're not as you will come across as trying to hard. That guy was trying way too hard for no reason. She was clear at the start she had a BF, and for some reason he still felt the need to validate himself. His worst mistake was after talking himself up and trying to show his knowledge of weapons, he admitted that the reason he wouldnt join the army is because they'd make him cut his hair.
H- "I prefer having long hair because I don't like to do what everyone does and be different"
Dont fall into the trap of thinking superficial things will set you apart from others. Long hair, short hair, its your personality that is going to make or break it for you on the internet so work on that.
And that concludes my rambling. The reason my GF was talking to him was because she put an ad up on a site to try and help my sister meet new friends. Because its the internet, and the internet is full of desperate weirdos, she was screening the replies to the ad. This guy was one of the few who made it to the "interview" stage. If you are coincidentally on here are on here, I apologise for using you as an example and I'll buy you a beer when I get back.
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CHAT