Must-Read: How to Hit on a Stranger

About the Author

Rick has never written a serious thing in his life, some of which can be found at ESPN the Magazine, McSweeney's, Radar Magazine, Deadspin, Flak Magazine and The Morning News. The rest can be found here. He lives in Los Angeles, is a White Sox fan, and maintains a personal blog.

See All Posts by RickP

Don't be a creep

The hardest part about picking up girls is also what makes it so easy: They are everywhere. On the negative side, it can seem like there’s almost too many out there. On the subway, in the club, at the bar, in the movie theater. And there’s a sense when someone is walking down the street on their own that it’s their private space, and so any awkward attempts at hitting on a lady is going to go nowhere. But that’s not the way to look at it. Instead, every chance encounter on the street should be seen as an opportunity to talk to a new friend. The big problem with that mindset, however, is that if you go about doing it wrong, then you’re going to come off as one terrible creep. Hence the struggle when trying to pick up strangers.

So today we’re taking you to Men’s Health, where they have an article about how to go about hitting on a complete stranger without seeming so, what’s the word for it? Oh, yeah. SUPER-CREEPY. The piece has some good information in it to keep in mind next time you’re trying to find a gal at the bars. For example:

Master Eye Contact

Focus, man! Keep your attention on her eyes, not her mouth—or anywhere lower. A swift eye-to-eye gaze and a smile can put someone at ease, says Gottsman. Just remember not to look past her (which shows you’re not interested in talking, even if you are), look down (which makes you appear nervous), or stare when you think she’s not looking (she can totally see you).

Head on over to the above link for some more options, and then you’ll be able to turn off the creep-o-meter quickly.