I'm a newb. Plain and simple. At the game, for sure... but with girls in general too, I feel.
I started reading The Game 3 days ago. Has been the only thing I've thought about since. Don't think for a second that I think for a second that I understand anything about your world. I am clueless. But The Game struck a chord with me. I need to grow. I need to change. I need to better myself and become a more confident, alpha-capable male.
I'm 23 years old. I've never put myself out there for girls despite (hearing, but never truly believing) that I'm attractive and "could have any girl you (I) wanted"...
That doesn't fucking matter. I haven't done anything to prove that to myself or anybody else. A few of my friends know that I've been studying how to pick-up and they are half supportive and half humored by my goal. Whatever.
So I go out to a bar I've never been to with my roommate and his girlfriend. They each know my goals. When we arrive, hardly anyone is there. And they are all older and nothing I'm interested in.
(There was this kinda okay 5.0 super-drunk girl who grabbed my ass and apologized that she "had to grab a nice ass", but when I turned around she walked away. I'm trying to work on game, though... not hooking up with super-drunk chicks who come asking for it...)
20 minutes later, a lot of people around my age start to file in, and their interaction shows they are all familiar with each other. Maybe 2 groups of 10-15 people each. Not a whole lot of beauties, but who am I, an AFC, to care about that quite yet?
Anyways, I thought, "Screw it. I'm trying to change. And I'm not going to change by thinking about it." So I approached this girl who was waiting by the restroom (she had a large flower in her hair) and said: I like your flower.
Her: Thanks
Me : Are you wearing it for any reason or just because it's cute?
Her: (Misunderstanding me) Thank you. /smile
Me : /smile
Then I walk away since I've already got my back foot ready to move so I don't look confrontational. I move on towards the men's room. That was it for this chick. My goal wasn't to get a number or make out... just to start talking to people I don't know.
Then, a bit later, while back at my chair, I notice these two girls standing and directly facing each other while talking and one had an interesting dress on, so I figure that is a good way to start... I go to the bar to grab another beer and when I have it I turn around and go to the girls talking and stand next to them and...
They act like I'm not there. They boxed me out completely, not even acknowledging my presence even after I said, "Excuse me..." Haha! I didn't feel embarrassed at all since I didn't care so much about their reaction; only happy that I had the balls to try an approach.
When they were done with their sentences (I stood their for about 15 awkward seconds) I worked in an "I like your dress" and received a "thank you", then I walked away to not feel any creepier than I already did.
Understand, I did not feel rejected since I honestly did not care how they reacted. I'm new at this and I don't expect to pick up girls or make quick friends immediately. That's not how it works. In fact, I was really excited that I tried and failed. Screw it. The fact that they completely boxed me out has me really trying to figure out some girl dynamics right now. Wish I had somebody around to show me something. I feel like I'm doing this alone. Oh well, gotta start somewhere.
Anyways, throwing out there what I've got so far. Not a lot, but quite a bit for me.
Encouragement is welcome. As is complete criticism. I'm here to grow.

Hi My friend. I just read your post and I completely understand the way you feel about being new and feeling a bit misunderstood by most people.

First of all, Forget about your age, its no surprise that the best Pick Up artists in the world are now in their mid 30s since they had the natural need to develop their skills with women because, as you, they, at their mid 20s where having no luck at all. Maybe thats the case for most of us. Myself included. Learning about game being 23 years old =)

I encourage you to read MYSTERY METHOD. Its a really comprehensive Pick-up, guide book that can teach you lots and lots of interesting stuff that you completely ignore right now. Its an eye opener.

if you are completely new i almost feel that I could give you a bit of advice for starters, and maybe explain to you a few of the things that you relate to us in your field repport, If you want, you can send a PM and add me on msn.

take care, let me know ! good luck.

_________________
".. I will learn all that I've forgotten, I will succeed where I'd previously failed, and even if I don't I wont stop, cuz this is not just about girls, this is about Life "

Just going out to talk to girls is great to start. You don't need to make it more complicated then this to start. In fact, the 'Newbie' mission is to go to a mall or place with a lot of women and just smile and say 'Hi' to 20-25 of them. This is just so you loose some nervousness about going to talk to random people. You seem to be on that path.

Learn that being ignored (like with those 2 girls) is OK. They can't have judged you, it's not about you, they don't even know you. Maybe it was your technique, maybe it was their mood. Whatever. Don't take it personal and move forward. Don't take it as failure, use it to learn.

Cheers!

Bass and TheJ, thanks for the responses. I kept thinking about this today, my approach to the two girls, and I can't stop laughing at how ridiculous it was. I walked straight next to two girls having a closer-than-1-foot conversation... I'm pretty sure they were there with some college boyfriends and their body language from the beginning was not open to anyone approaching. It wasn't about me really "opening" them... it was just about doing it. It was about getting out of my comfort zone and not being attached to the outcome. So success and failure at the same time. One thing I've learned: wait for a comfortable time to approach, which is not when two girls are involved in a closed-off-stance conversation. It's small, but it's something.

Funny side note: While at the bar last night, there was a large woman who cut in front of my friend and I at the bar and even though she wasn't attractive I said, "You're beautiful, but you're not THAT beautiful. There's a line", she looked at me with no real expression and turned back around. (I was NOT trying to hit on this chick. I was really annoyed with her.) So I moved into her discomfort zone and said,
"What are you drinking" and while she is responding I interrupt and say, "Buy me one too". She says, "Why don't you buy us one?" I respond, "Who is us?" and she points at another gross-but-not-as-gross girl she was with saying, "Me and Whitney". I say, "Wow, what is Whitney drinking, I'll buy HER a drink!"
That pissed her off pretty good. She didn't say anything, just turned around. And the bartender still got my drink first.