Has looks maxxing made it easier to compliment one another? Picking up girl stories... ASMR

Appearance and Public Attention

Clayton Chapman wonders whether “looksmaxxing” and appearance-focused culture have made it more acceptable to compliment or approach strangers. He says people now frequently stop him for photos and praise his looks, but the attention feels unsettling. He grew up unpopular and is conscious of how differently people treat him based on his appearance.

He says his photos were widely stolen and circulated online, leading to recognition in several countries and thousands of messages. He also mentions that chronic pain can affect his posture and walk, and that he lives with bipolar disorder and insecurity about his appearance.

Dating and Pickup Techniques

Chapman recalls reading The Game and trying pickup techniques when he was younger. Based on his experience:

• The “dice game,” a conversational guessing or interpretation game, worked better for him than other gimmicks, though its meanings can vary across cultures.
• Being friendly and sociable can create “social proof”: people may become more interested when they see others recognize and enjoy someone’s company.
• He is selective about whom he likes and says he often approached people without expecting sex or a relationship.

He contrasts the attention he says he received in person with the disappointment some women expressed when he did not have a large Instagram following or when they learned he was unwell. He sees these reactions as evidence that attraction and social status can be superficial.

Stories from Social Settings

Much of the video consists of provocative, sometimes difficult-to-follow stories about women reacting strongly to him at a mall, a model-filled pool party, and other social settings. He says he sometimes declined advances, including during a disturbing encounter involving people he believed might be teenagers.

Experiences with the Pickup Community

Chapman recounts meeting pickup-community members in Japan. He says he did not find the people he met especially impressive at attracting women, and describes one friend whose behavior he eventually attributed to serious personal problems.

Notable References

People, places, and settings: Clayton Chapman; Japan; Turkey; a mall; a park; a pool party Books and terms: The Game; “PSL”; “social proof”; the “dice game”