Just say 'No' to pickup artists

No thanks. (Credit: mysterypua.com)

Pickup artists—per Wikipedia, “men perceived to be skilled in the art of finding, attracting and seducing women”—are making headlines once again, as evidenced by this handy Jezebel guide to fending them off. I ran into a local pickup artist at the Revere Hotel last month (I forget his pseudonym, but his accessories included a bejeweled walking stick and a fake British accent) and didn’t think it was too hard to see through his “game”: backhanded compliments (see the Jezebel piece or Wikipedia entry for examples), repeatedly touching (or trying to touch) my arm, and ultimately, confessing that he’d trained with the pickup artist du jour, Mystery, of VH1 fame. Simply nodding, smiling politely, and excusing myself—the same way I would if I wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation with any other guy, cane full of bling or not—seemed to do the trick, though I’ve made a mental note to refer to myself as a “fancy girl” the next time I meet a prospective romantic interest.

In short: just say ‘No’ to pickup artists. Your self-esteem, and fellow singles, will thank you.