I feel like I have obsessed over PUA material so much in the past that I don't even adhere to a routine anymore.

I just started gaming again lately, but I feel like girls are more receptive towards me being myself and attempting to hold a conversation than actual game. Maybe I got rusty on the whole PUA thing? Not sure lol.

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If you are not a PUA, you are a noob.

nope, it's the confidence you gain behind the routines and how sure of them that makes them work, not the actual routines themselves, they are more of just an autopiliot to give you something to say when you are starting out, along side a game plan so you actually try to get to know someone and move things forward

once you understand you can just go chat someone up, get to know them, then try to move things along, they are no longer needed

all you need is some genuine interest and some confidence, as well as the ability to present yourself as best as you can

(not to mention most of the communication that is happening is body language anyways)