| Social cultures are pretty much the same everywhere. If you use your Internet strategy in real life, you'd still fail miserably. Here's why:
You're a stranger in a group of people who know each other well. Instead of trying to EARN your alliances one individual member at a time, you're rushing the process by standing up on a podium trying to be the "man" of the group right away. It NEVER works like this in real life, virtual, or any where. And you run the danger of being the dorky-try to be cool guy that everybody can make fun of. All it takes is one alpha member of the group to go, "What a fucking loser . . ." and you're done.
In real life, if I cold approach a tight knit group, I approach the alpha and that's it. We converse, converse, and converse until I EARN his trust and alliance. At this point, you can move on but still, one member at a time. Addressing the entire group takes time. You need to earn their trust.
Also, in a group situation, you don't neg ANYBODY. You compliment them. Alphas rely on compliance. They need to see order underneath him to feel comfortable. As long as he's not threatened, he'll make sure that you're happy. (that's the alpha's job).
The best way to do this is to take their topic and you build upon it. Get interested in their interests. Examples:
Alpha: I'm so excited that I'm going to Vietnam to scuba dive next week.
You: That's so cool . . . Hey, have YOU dived Thailand yet? That place is amazing. . .
Alpha: I met this crazy chick the other day. She bought me flowers before we even met.
You: That's hilarious. Maybe she's a crazy stalker or something . . .
You get the idea. Befriend the alpha. They will take care of you. Then move on . . . Once you get the group's OK . . . you'll feel this . . . then if you want to, get up and address the whole crowd.
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