Had a very interesting example the other day of the power of pre-selection.

Met up with some buddies and we went to this event. Bit like a beer festival I suppose. It's outside, there's music and lots of tables. Everyone drinks beer until late in the evening.

One of the guys I was with bumps into one of his friend and he brings us over to his table to join his group. I'm sat on the end of the table with a few other guys and two girls, both early 30's. I introduce myself and start making some conversation.

Very quickly, the girl sat next to me starts making conversation. what do you do, how do you know X etc. - the usual pleasantries.

As this goes on, it becomes very apparent that she is vetting me. She is doing what I would call "the job interview".

Lot's of questions all aimed at vetting me, my status, my frame etc. What's your job. Where do you live. What are you hobbies. What's your politics. What music do you like. With a few IoIs sprinkled in.

I hate women like this, and I always find it's the late 20s - 30s women who do this. As soon as she started I became disinterested. But it's still fun to wind them up and play upto the crowd.

A short while later this guy turns up, presumably someone that she knew. He pulls up a chair between me and her and they have a brief conversation. Her demeanour is one of complete apathy beyond social pleasantries. She goes back to interrogating me.

Some time later, a girl turns up. This girl is smoking hot. Mid twenties. She squats down next to him and they begin chatting for 5 - 10 minutes before she walks off.

Almost immediately interrogation girl turns her undivided attention towards this guy and her entire demeanour changes. Her apathy turns to flirty and playful. No interrogation at all.

Quite frankly, I was happy to get rid of her and go back to chilling with the main group. But for the next few hours (until I left) she was following him round like a puppy.

Update on protoge.

He has been walking the line between beta and RP. His instincts are beta, but he can't deny that the things/advice I tell him inevitably turn out to be true.

He has, to his credit, suppressed his beta instincts and enacted my advice when given. He comes to me for advice, I give it, he disputes it, and then reluctantly enacts what I say. It hasn't been entirely smooth sailing, but he see's (and admits) that I seem to have some "deeper understanding" that he cannot deny.

The young lady in question is a very attractive (HB7/8) and for a guy who gets enamoured by any women he speaks to it's been a lot for him to overcome those beta tendencies. Especially when no other plates are on the scene - I've tried to push (and so has he) but his SMV is still a bit lacking. He really lucked out on this one.

I had thought that this was a bit of a lost cause. He failed to strike while the iron was hot and instead fell back on beta game. We went from strong moves to double dates with his friend. Somehow, even when I thought all was lost, he managed to seal the deal.

Of course that didn't stop him from letting his beta tendencies out - paying for her to go to a concert with him, and only days later having her over again to spent the night (and morning).

He says he just wants casual (plate) but his actions seem to say the opposite. The comfort tests have already started and I've warned him of what is going to come.

We will see how the next episode of this sage plays out.

(This is an abridged version, a forum writeup will probably come in due course once the saga has played out).