@MidgetSpinner Not an important post, but it's something I've been noticing only lately and it has me confused - not complaining though. I wondered if you guys might have any insight on what the fuck is happening here.

So basically, I spent the last 3 years in isolation/monk mode after a major breakup that honestly traumatised me - my own fault though for not walking away sooner, but that's besides the point.

In those 3 years, any time I went outside; whether it was just to go shopping, for a gig or social event, I noticed women no longer paid any attention to me. I might have got the rare look here or there, but it was very rare and I know this because I was always paying attention to whether girls looked, I think because I was starved of it during the time. To add to that, I was always good at spotting choosing signals prior to the isolation because I was consistently sexually active for years - so I knew if a woman wanted me without ever having to speak to them. I kind of lost that skill through my time alone, and with low self esteem.

Anyway, fast forward to the last month or so. I started seeing a girl around mid-August, it was an intense and passionate situationship that burned out almost as quickly as it began. The fact that I handled her so well in the beginning was a shock to me after being stagnant for so long - the girl was obsessed initially. I made a couple of posts here on how that shit show ended up, but the key takeaways are: 1. I finally got out of my drought, and 2. My original self esteem and ego were restored, and I realised I was still the man, but still needed to work on some things. I am a rusty katana basically.

That situationship ended roughly 3 weeks ago and I've been a sad, introspective sack of shit ever since.

Here's the thing though... Everywhere I go lately, girls are showing me choosing signals. Today for example, I only popped over to the shop and I had about 7 different girls eye fuck me throughout.

It's been like this for the past few weeks wherever I go. People have even been making comments on my appearance, my "sexiness" etc, but when I look in the mirror at myself, I don't see any difference to who I was in those 3 years alone. The only real differences I can think of is that I have been working out more regularly, but I'm not dressing to impress at all lately - I am still in a state of grief and depressed after what happened recently. So I don't get it. I'm not imagining things either, I am being checked out by most girls everywhere I go lately, and I want to take advantage of it but I feel low.

Anyone know what the fuck is going on? It's not like I've had a sudden change in energy, or like I'm suddenly oozing confidence again. I feel like shit lol.

@Typo-MAGAshiv Thanks again for this resurrection! Something amazing about markets is how big bubbles can go before they pop. Hoeflation is reaching epic proportions that will keep historians busy in their AI inhabited virtual machines a thousand years from now amused.

Let's compare hoes to restaurants: I marvel back in the late 80's I whined about paying for women on dates. Even paying for the first or second date and I was told to "just give in, do an awkward ask out and act like you LOVE paying for dates, and you have a good chance at getting laid". It seemed like a way to sell my soul and it turns out, men collectively did. It just got worse and worse similar to, say, restaurants!

I still see lots of restaurants being built and I'm astonished. Here's something I took photos of. I'm going to post the permits for everyone's amusement because it's utterly shocking. SOMETHING is going on! Look at these permits for a French cafe restaurant being setup on a LEASED building.

Jesus Christ! I added up about $10,000 in building fees for them to even break ground. Then they put in an easy couple of hundred grand in. I see these restaurants going up and down all over the place. In the past 7 years, I've seen some sites with rebuilds twice.

Something similar happened to fast food. Someone remarked the death of good fast food is because starbucks, McD's, Wendys look alike because those old iconic buildings were so unique, they could get in/out cheap so now rebranding a Taco Bell to a McD's is merely changing some signage and paint.

I chatted with a friend whose been devastated by Stacked Ranking and H-1bs laying off everyone and she's been out of work for more than a year. I asked her about savings and she said "We spent it as fast as I earned it". She had a gorgeous wooden deck and nice cars. I drove up until recently a 20 year old Hyundai Elentra. I got mocked for my frugal ways, but it meant sleeping a lot better at night. Going out for $70 steak dinners weekly, or even bi-weekly is insane to me. (however you interpret bi-weekly, it's still insane!)

For me, simply being required to pay for a first date was offensive and I eventually cut that slack realizing I wasn't going to land a pretty wife otherwise. It's like me griping about paying 5 cents for ketchup. But now for young men, work 60 hours a week for an ungrateful blue haired face pierced wife? I cannot imagine.

@redpillschool @Typo-MAGAshiv Merci/Dziękuję for calling me to this thead. Quite enjoyable. Strange I didn't see the callout 2 weeks ago.

I think much of it is due to the COVID phenomenon which thinned the herd and also set lower expectations, yes? People felt bad so they overripped including for take-out. TAKE OUT.

Want a laugh? One of my favorite videos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=02arY49yjDg Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehI3L9tOg8

So get this, 20% including on drink total which is basically gravy for restaurants and they often even "recommend" tips on the total+taxes. Since inflation was rampant, that means that a burger that cost me $5 to make at home now is $15 at the restaurant so a 20% tip is 3 bucks. If the waitress serving a table a check of $70 gets $14, and she waits about 6 tables at a time, that's $82/hour. There are some (that which cannot be named) Teddit posts from waitresses bragging about clearing $100k/year. So we're being squeezed by double inflation going out.

I also noticed that standards have shot way downhill. OK, pay the servers more either front or back end but still, the nose piercings are gross. Slow service. My wife nags me to tip at 20 percent no matter what. I'm Done. I'm on Mr. Pink's side now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4sbYy0WdGQ

I'm going to tip from now on in SCALE to actual work performed: If she has 6 tables and ok service, I'm calculating what is appropriate. If it's a $100 steak place, then I'm tipping 5% unless she looks and acts like Sydney Sweeney and runs the table super fast.

BOTTOM LINE: THEY ARE NOT GETTING PAID MORE THAN I EARN TO WAIT TABLES!!!!

Observation: Back about 30 years ago, the USA was a Mecca for “foodies” (or gastronomists). With cheap illegal immigrant indentured servant labor, inexpensive (albeit frankenfood) ingredients, and relatively cheap rents, I had Swiss friends visiting who put on 10 lbs in 2 weeks.

Now it’s the other way around: Europe is largely more affordable even by their standards. Funny that big American portions are no longer the norm due to shrinkflation and quality isn’t there either so what is the point? Aside from perhaps some exotic things difficult to make at home such as General Tso Chicken and such, Eff it. I found takeout places or good places for some stuff but sit-downs is no longer much of an option and that’s ok. That was the NORM for most families back 50 years ago anyway.