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Opening Lines

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Daniel Faigin

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Jun 7, 1985, 1:52:02 PM6/7/85
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In article <58...@ucla-cs.ARPA> al...@ucla-cs.UUCP (Alex Quilici) writes:
>Specifically: what's the best line you've ever used or had used on you?
>If the line only worked because of the situation, mention that too.

I can't think of any lines -- I met and got involved with my
finance' because of the ACM Regional Programming Contest. ... Who
says you can't meet nice ladies in programming!

Daniel
--
UUCP: {akgua allegra ihnp4 hplabs sdcsvax trwrb cbosgd}!sdcrdcf!faigin
ARPA: sdcrdcf!fai...@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA --or-- sdcrdcf!fai...@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU

W: SDC, 2500 Colorado MD 52-46; Santa Monica CA 90406; (213) 820-4111 x6493
H: 11743 Darlington Avenue #9; Los Angeles CA 90049; (213) 826-3357

Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.
-- A. J. Perlis, SIGPLAN 17:9 Sept 1982

ri...@ucla-cs.uucp

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Jun 7, 1985, 5:28:14 PM6/7/85
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>Specifically: what's the best line
>you've ever used or had used on you?

Well, I've never actually used this one but I have been dying to:
(from Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark")
Hey, babe, I'm just about starvin' tonight.

>I'd start this discussion, but if I knew good lines I
>wouldn't be asking, right? :-)
>Alex

Quit trying for sympathy you simp! :-)
--
Rick Gillespie
ARPANET: ri...@ucla-locus.ARPA or (soon) ri...@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU
UUCP: ...!{cepu|ihnp4|sdcrdcf|ucbvax}!ucla-cs!rick
SPUDNET: ...eye%ri...@russet.spud

Laurinda Rohn

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Jun 8, 1985, 4:25:28 PM6/8/85
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In article <59...@ucla-cs.ARPA> ri...@ucla-cs.UUCP (Richard Gillespie) writes:
>Specifically: what's the best line you've ever used or had used on you?

When I first started working here and was just getting used to the
computer system, someone I had met only once before came into the
terminal room and said, "Why are you on a 1200 baud line when you
could be running at 9600? Here, I'll show you what to do..." It
worked. He's still my SO!


Lauri
ro...@rand-unix.ARPA
..decvax!randvax!rohn

"I told you when I met you I was crazy..."

Greg Woods

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Jun 8, 1985, 8:11:50 PM6/8/85
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I think the most effective opening "lines" are not "lines" at all. I am
assuming here that by "line" you mean a standard line to use on anyone. I
personally doubt if such lines would be effective in starting anything more
than a one-night stand (if that). Truly good "opening lines" are appropriate
to the given situation and person, or, more likely, the conversation that
is taking place at the time.

--Greg
--
{ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!noao | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!noao}
!hao!woods

CSNET: woods@NCAR ARPA: woods%ncar@CSNET-RELAY

rich

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Jun 8, 1985, 11:33:33 PM6/8/85
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In article <58...@ucla-cs.ARPA> al...@ucla-cs.UUCP (Alex Quilici) writes:
>Keywords:
>
>All this talk about when one knows a relationship is over
>has gotten me really depressed. Let's change the subject
>and discuss starting relationships. Specifically: what's the best line

>you've ever used or had used on you? If the line only worked because
>of the situation, mention that too.
>
>I'd start this discussion, but if I knew good lines I
>wouldn't be asking, right? :-)
>
>Alex

No one out there will ever believe this one, but it was GREAT!!!!

It does need some backround though...

In 11th grade I was on a long (500mi) school bus trip. In the
nineth hour of this journey I was quite fidgety so i promptly
started walking across the the tops of the seats. I then saw a
freind of mine making out with this very appealing young lady,
so i decided to say hello. They were in the back seat so i climbed
from seat to seat and sat myself on the shelf above them. They
both sat up and my feet were hanging over and just bellow her
shoulders. She look up at me and in doing so in noticed her
"shapely" upper body. She said "Can i help you." , in a rather
bothered tone. I responded with,


" Yes, I was just wondering if I could fondle your breasts with my
toes"

It was the best line I have ever used . By the end of the
weekend we were inseparable....


may it happen again someday Though people my age no longer
put up with my *hit. Have a good day.

-rich

Beth Katz

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Jun 9, 1985, 10:17:55 AM6/9/85
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A good "opening line" is a nonchalant backscratch late in the
afternoon when the other person has been sitting at their
terminal for too long. But you should probably know them
before then. Maybe this is a way to turn a simple friendship
into "I'd like to get to know you better."
Beth Katz

Adam Beslove

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Jun 9, 1985, 3:15:23 PM6/9/85
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I was alone in my dorm room studying math a girl from my class, and she
gave me this classic:

"Why don't we just turn out the lights and fuck?"


Another one that didn't work out for a friend of mine was:

"Want to come over to my place and see my dog?"


>>>>Adam Beslove (c)1985 (aka Odious Verity)
======================================================================
(UUCP: ...!cbosgd!osu-eddie!beslove)
(CSNet: beslove@ohio-state) The world is my sandbox,
(ARPA: beslove%ohio-state.csnet@CSNET-RELAY) humanity my playmates.

Frank Silbermann

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Jun 9, 1985, 10:43:00 PM6/9/85
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In article <hao.1589> wo...@hao.UUCP (Greg) writes:
>
> I think the most effective opening "lines" are not "lines" at all. I am
>assuming here that by "line" you mean a standard line to use on anyone. I
>personally doubt if such lines would be effective in starting anything more
>than a one-night stand (if that). Truly good "opening lines" are appropriate
>to the given situation and person, or, more likely, the conversation that
>is taking place at the time.

So why don't you set up a few hypothetical situations, and then give
the readers some sample opening remarks that would be appropriate.
Alternatively, you could post some rules of thumb on how to decide
what sort of opening remarks would be appropriate, given some situation.

What you've told us so far is of no help at all.

Frank Silbermann

oys...@uwmacc.uucp

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Jun 10, 1985, 1:15:34 PM6/10/85
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In article <58...@ucla-cs.ARPA> al...@ucla-cs.UUCP (Alex Quilici) writes:
>
> Specifically: what's the best line
>you've ever used or had used on you?

Not a line, but an action: she sat on my lap and kissed me. Worked
wonderfully! It's been nearly 6 years, and we are no longer SOs, but we
still have a very close (almost telepathic) friendship.
--
- joel "vo" plutchak
{allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!oyster

"Take what I say in a different way and it's easy to say that this is
all confusion."

Alpha Carinae

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Jun 10, 1985, 6:21:16 PM6/10/85
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> (...) Specifically: what's the best line
> you've ever used or had used on you? (...)
> Alex

Well, I asked a girl once if she wanted to go into the hills with me to
look through my telescope. She smiled and said "Yes".

Imagine her disappointment (relief?) upon arriving at my observing site
when I got out of the car, opened the trunk, and began setting up my
scope!
--
Frank Dibbell (408-746-6493) ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,sun}!amdahl!canopus
Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA [This is the obligatory disclaimer..]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I call it 'tranya'. I hope you relish it as much as I."

buch...@agrigene.uucp

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Jun 10, 1985, 6:40:29 PM6/10/85
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> All this talk about when one knows a relationship is over
> has gotten me really depressed. Let's change the subject
> and discuss starting relationships. Specifically: what's the best line
> you've ever used or had used on you? If the line only worked because
> of the situation, mention that too.

'HI. Do you know anything about existentialism?'
I don't remeber why I was interested in learning about it; I was in a strange
mood at the time.

--

Barry Buchbinder
Agrigenetics Corp.
5649 E. Buckeye Rd.
Madison, WI 53716 USA
(608)221-5000
{seismo,ihnp4,harpo}!uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!agrigene!buchbind

buch...@agrigene.uucp

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Jun 10, 1985, 8:27:44 PM6/10/85
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You probably should know then before then, indeed. In some states a
backscratch to a stranger may, in the eyes of the law, be a form of sexual
assault.
Its OK if you already know the person a bit, but that would be a "changing
direction" line, not an opening line, as I see it. For the less shy, how about
an offer of a foot or back massage (:-).

Anna Beaver

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Jun 10, 1985, 11:30:10 PM6/10/85
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>
> I'd start this discussion, but if I knew good lines I
> wouldn't be asking, right? :-)
>
> Alex

Maybe that is part of the problem. ..... Why not try to be real.

--

~l
/l
/5l\
/ 0l \
Annadiana Beaver / 5 l \
A Beaver@Tektronix /____l___\
,,,,\__,,,_/,,,,
"I'd rather be sailing" wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

mms...@acf4.uucp

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Jun 11, 1985, 1:27:00 AM6/11/85
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>/* ri...@sdcc12.UUCP (rich) / 11:33 pm Jun 8, 1985 */

> No one out there will ever believe this one, but it was GREAT!!!!

Come on, your writers make those stories up. :-)

Gregg Mackenzie

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Jun 11, 1985, 2:33:21 AM6/11/85
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"Say, Momma! What it is wit' jo fahn self!" -- Venus Flytrap

"I'm extremely wealthy." -- Les Nesman

"Do you like to wake up to breakfast in bed, or do you just want me
nudge you?" -- received at Tulagi's in Boulder, Co. (It worked on me!
But then, I'm easy :-))

Me? No lines. I just lick my eyebrows :-).


Gregg Mackenzie
denelcor!gmack

Danger Mouse

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Jun 11, 1985, 10:07:12 AM6/11/85
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A guy I know, while doing his clothes in a laundramat,
walked up to a rather attractive woman and said:

"Buy you a wash? A spin-dry?"

They dated for at least several months...

SJB

ANDREW VARE

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Jun 11, 1985, 12:23:48 PM6/11/85
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In article <3...@osu-eddie.UUCP>, bes...@osu-eddie.UUCP (Adam Beslove) writes:
> I was alone in my dorm room studying math a girl from my class, and she
> gave me this classic:
>
> "Why don't we just turn out the lights and fuck?"
>
> "Want to come over to my place and see my dog?"
>
> >>>>Adam Beslove (c)1985 (aka Odious Verity)

another which I've used (to no avail) has been:

"wanna play frisbee down at Black's beach?" (clothing
optional there!)

or
"hey baby, what's your hurry?
relax-don't you worry,
We're gonna fall IN LOOOOOVVVVVVE!"

"Want to play with my pet Iguana?"

all it takes is some imagination, people...

atv

Bennett Broder

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Jun 11, 1985, 1:39:59 PM6/11/85
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I have generally found that the best opening lines are spread out on a
mirror next to a razor blade.

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

r.mitchell

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Jun 11, 1985, 3:52:26 PM6/11/85
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Several months back, this same topic came up. I collected what I
thought were some of the best lines, which follow. Apologies to the
originators; I deleted all references to your identities:


"I'd really like to lick apricot brandy out of your navel."

"Hi. I'm Big Brother. I've been watching you..."

"Would you like to join me in the Bahamas next week?"

Did you have a color television when you were a kid?
(Flesh this out with the old "settle an argument" trick, ask her
what color Fred Flintstone's dog Dino is. This has *never failed*
to generate further conversation.)

You're "no parking", aren't you?
(Another two-parter. Explain that you're trying to guess her sign.
This is so stupid that it's almost bulletproof in the right kind of
bars.)

The cutest one I've ever gotten (from my current girlfriend) was after our
first date. She got up and turned off the light, and then said,
"Why don't you surprise your roommate and not come home tonight?"

"What's your blood type?"

I once had a lover confide to me that many men had told her she had
a beautiful smile, but I was the first to say she had a "terrific grin".

"Wow, I like your jeans. Did you design them yourself?"

"Let's have breakfast together; shall I call you or nudge you?"

"I can't help noticing that you left your peas."

"If you went swimming with me, I'd lick you dry."

"My appendix is about to burst, would you drive me to the hospital?"

------------
Rob Mitchell
{allegra,ihnp4}!mtuxo!jrrt

d...@ucla-cs.uucp

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Jun 11, 1985, 3:54:44 PM6/11/85
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In article <20...@sdcrdcf.UUCP> fai...@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Daniel Faigin) writes:
> ...

>I can't think of any lines -- I met and got involved with my
>finance' because of ...
^^^^^^^^
Aha! So you *are* marrying her for her money...

-- David Smallberg, das@{ucla-cs.ARPA,cs.ucla.edu}, {ihnp4,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!das

Nomi Harris

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Jun 11, 1985, 6:54:57 PM6/11/85
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One of my relationships started out with an inadvertantly
intriguing opening line. I was in the computer room at
college and was trying to fix my .path, so I said to the
guy at the next terminal (without even thinking), "Could
you please finger me?"
Nomi Harris
allegra!alice!nomi

d...@tove.uucp

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Jun 11, 1985, 8:35:40 PM6/11/85
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Oh, come off it! Your request for "sample opening remarks in hypothetical
situations" completely ignores the point he's trying to make.
--
Dana S. Nau, Computer Science Dept., U. of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
ARPA: dsn@maryland CSNet: dsn@umcp-cs
UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!dsn Phone: (301) 454-7932

buch...@agrigene.uucp

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Jun 11, 1985, 9:44:36 PM6/11/85
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Joe!!! YOU HAVE TO TELL US MORE!!! You are to concise; I'd like some context.
Did you know her before the kiss? If so, how well?
"Worked out wonderfully!" I'll say. I'm not sure I'll get to sleep easily
tonight.

Vicious Oyster

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Jun 12, 1985, 10:56:31 AM6/12/85
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In article <1...@agrigene.UUCP> buch...@agrigene.UUCP writes:
>> Not a line, but an action: she sat on my lap and kissed me. Worked
>> wonderfully! It's been nearly 6 years, and we are no longer SOs, but we
>> still have a very close (almost telepathic) friendship.
>> --
>Joe[l]!! YOU HAVE TO TELL US MORE!! You are to concise; I'd like some context.

>Did you know her before the kiss? If so, how well?
>"Worked out wonderfully!" I'll say. I'm not sure I'll get to sleep easily
>tonight.

Since you asked, and since I'm not sure if you're joking (and since my
machine can't seem to find your machine, although we're just a couple of
miles apart):

It was at a party of some friends of hers, who were friends of friends of
mine. I had met her at a party at the friends of mine, who were also friends
of hers (and she coincidentally lived upstairs from those friends, one of whom
was an ex-SO, who also coincidentally was the brother of a woman who lived on
my dorm floor as a freshman; and the ex-SO didn't take our subsequent
relationship very well... but I digress) the week before, and had talked to
her a bit at that time. Well, we talked a lot more at this second party. I
do believe that what led directly to the incident was discussion of body
language, like "what would it mean if you sat on my lap?" which she followed
up with the appropriate action, and the counter-question/action "what would
it mean if I kissed you?"

(Now do you realize why I usually strive for conciseness?)

(Incidentally, if anybody at U. of Pitt. knows a short, plump genetics
grad student who comes originally from Wisconsin, tell her "hi" for me,
and try to point her towards using USENET.)

HouseSS

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Jun 12, 1985, 12:21:00 PM6/12/85
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One night about 3 years ago, I was at a local singles' bar with my
girl friend. Half way through the night my eyes met with those of a
very attractive man. I went over, asked him to dance, and then said
"I hope you don't think me too presumptious, but can I have your phone
number?" He didn't and a romance began that ended in marriage a
year and a half ago. Hard to believe, but occasionally you DO meet the
person of your dreams in a bar.

Sally House
Tech. Pubs.
Denver

s. dugan

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Jun 12, 1985, 2:31:10 PM6/12/85
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>Specifically: what's the best line
>you've ever used or had used on you?

I've had two. The first was when a rather casual friend (who was a piano
student at the Chicago Conservatory) told me he had written a piece for me! I
was in High School at the time and VERY romantic! I immediately fell head-
over-heels in LOVE.

The second was when another casual friend commented on the fact that he had
never seen my legs. This was during my "flower child" days in high school. I
was very self-conseious about my lack of figure, etc and covered up by wearing
ratty clothes. He challenged me to wear a dress/skirt a day for one week. I
did him one better. I wore a dress/skirt a day for a whole month! I got more
compliments in that one month than I think I ever had in my life! It really
helped me come out of my shell a little bit. I also ended up dating that guy
for about three or four months.
--
Sarah E. Dugan
"You have to kiss a lot of frogs
before you find a prince!"

Greg Woods

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Jun 12, 1985, 3:43:15 PM6/12/85
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> So why don't you set up a few hypothetical situations, and then give
> the readers some sample opening remarks that would be appropriate.
> Alternatively, you could post some rules of thumb on how to decide
> what sort of opening remarks would be appropriate, given some situation.
>
> What you've told us so far is of no help at all.
>
> Frank Silbermann

Because, Frank, I'm trying to point out that trying to think up "opening
lines" is a waste of time. You have to react to the situation *as it happens*,
not through a set of rehearsed behaviors. I'm sorry *you* don't think it's
any help, because you are still stuck on finding some magic opening line
that will make it happen instantly. My experience has been that it doesn't
happen instantly or predictably. If you disagree, that's your perrogative,
but please don't speak for the whole net. I thought it was *more* helpful
to get people off of trying to come up with a "magic line" and into reacting
to things spontaneously.

ron vaughn

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Jun 12, 1985, 10:37:58 PM6/12/85
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>Specifically: what's the best line
>you've ever used or had used on you?

i'm not going to make any guarantees here, but one line that might
be worth a try:

"hey sweaty, wanna' dance?"

this should only be used at bars in oklahoma late in the evening.


ron vaughn ...!ihnp4!ihdev!rjv

rich

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Jun 13, 1985, 1:23:00 PM6/13/85
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In article <5...@denelvx.UUCP> gm...@denelvx.UUCP writes:
>
>
>Me? No lines. I just lick my eyebrows :-).
>
>
>Gregg Mackenzie
>denelcor!gmack

you too?

-rich

sonntag

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Jun 13, 1985, 1:52:10 PM6/13/85
to

I don't know how good this line is, but it worked for me. When I
met my current SO, we spent about ten minutes on opposite sides of a
rather large and loud conversation staring into each other's eyes.
When we finally got a chance to talk to each other, I really didn't
know *how* to tell her that it was lust at first sight (and I probably
wouldn't have had the guts if it wasn't obvious that she was similarly
afflicted), so I tried:
"So, which end of the tube do you squeeze the toothpaste from?"

It turned out to be the wrong end, but I guess we'll find a way
around that problem. This was about four months ago, and she's moving
in this weekend.

"Life is good." - I said that.
--
Jeff Sonntag
ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j
"It's a hard rain a-gonna fall." - Dylan

The Polymath

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Jun 13, 1985, 2:04:23 PM6/13/85
to

An artist I used to know used the following line:

"Hi! Want to screw?"

He said he got slapped three times out of five, but the other two were
worth it.
--
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe)
Citicorp TTI "How goes the rat race?"
3100 Ocean Park Blvd. "The rats are winning."
Santa Monica, CA 90405 -- Paul Lynde
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
{philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe

ron vaughn

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Jun 13, 1985, 11:23:13 PM6/13/85
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i've heard a friend use this line many times, i don't know who
it is original with. he's a big star-wars fan.


person1: we've got to stop that drat vader, we've no time to lose!!

person2: you want to come up to my flat later and sing the blues??


see, this is a case where you didn't have a pick-up line, but got one!
isn't that neat? no? oh. sorry. i'll go away now...


summary: don't mumble.

ron vaughn ...!ihnp4!ihdev!rjv

Frank Silbermann

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Jun 14, 1985, 1:24:30 AM6/14/85
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In article <hao.1589> wo...@hao.UUCP (Greg) writes:
>>> I think the most effective opening "lines" are not "lines" at all. I am
>>>assuming here that by "line" you mean a standard line to use on anyone. I
>>>personally doubt if such lines would be effective in starting anything more
>>>than a one-night stand (if that). Truly good "opening lines" are appropriate
>>>to the given situation and person, or, more likely, the conversation that
>>>is taking place at the time.

In article <4...@unc.UUCP> fs...@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann) writes:
>>So why don't you set up a few hypothetical situations, and then give
>>the readers some sample opening remarks that would be appropriate.
>>Alternatively, you could post some rules of thumb on how to decide
>>what sort of opening remarks would be appropriate, given some situation.
>>
>>What you've told us so far is of no help at all.

In article <tove.232> d...@tove.UUCP (Dana S. Nau) writes:
>Oh, come off it! Your request for "sample opening remarks in hypothetical
>situations" completely ignores the point he's trying to make.

What point is that? That it's a useless discussion?
Suppose the authors who wrote your textbooks took his attitude.
You buy a C book hoping it will give you good sample programs so
that you can get ideas to improve your own, and all it says inside is:

I think the most effective sample programs are not sample
programs at all. I am assuming here that by sample program
you mean a standard program to use for any specs. I personally
doubt if such programs would be effective in starting anything
more than a trivial toy program (if that). Truly good programs
are appropriate to the given situation, or, more likely, the
problem that needs to be solved at the time.

I'd say that such an book was pretty useless.

Or is his point that trying to improve one's human relation skills
is a waste of time? Just as reading other peoples best programs
can help improve your own programming skills, hearing other peoples
most successful conversation-starters can improve your own ability
to meet people.

Frank Silbermann

Greg Skinner

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Jun 15, 1985, 10:05:47 AM6/15/85
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A friend of mine once told me that when he needed to know what time it was, he
went over to a terminal where a woman was sitting and typed

% date

the woman asked him, "Are you asking me out on a date?"

I don't remember what happened after that.
--
It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes we wonder how I keep from goin' under.

Greg Skinner (gregbo)
{allegra,cbosgd,ihnp4}!houxm!gregbo
gregbo%houxm...@harvard.arpa

J. Eric Roskos

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Jun 16, 1985, 10:05:40 PM6/16/85
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> "Do you like to wake up to breakfast in bed, or do you just want me
> nudge you?" -- received at Tulagi's in Boulder, Co. (It worked on me!
> But then, I'm easy :-))

Actually, this is a widespread piece of graffiti, also. (It's even listed
in the "Dictionary of Graffiti".)

I notice a subtle difference in the male-type-person*'s responses to this
question, compared to the female-type-person*'s ... many of the male type
responses include instances of indirect boasting. I think this is
interesting for a variety of reasons; there is this subtle difference in
the interpretation of the question.

* This phrase is used here so that Sophie will not come out of net.women and
attack me.
--
Full-Name: J. Eric Roskos
UUCP: ..!{decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!vax135!petsd!peora!jer
US Mail: MS 795; Perkin-Elmer SDC;
2486 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32809-7642

"Gnyx gb gur fhayvtug, pnyyre..."

alb...@ucla-cs.uucp

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Jun 17, 1985, 1:31:30 AM6/17/85
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*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***

Glenn Reid

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Jun 17, 1985, 2:11:58 AM6/17/85
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The whole trick to opening lines is just to be an interesting, magical
person who always says the right thing. Anything can be the right line
if you are cool, and if you are not, quoting Humphrey Bogart or Greg
Woods will not buy you, well, 'tweet', as they say in Maine.

Quick linesmanship boils down to "how fast can you accurately assess this
situtation?" (and a little bit of "can I stick my nose in without pissing
anybody off?"). Once in, you're on stage, and the first 30 seconds counts.
You have to justify your reason for existence and be able to adequately
explain why you have just disrupted someone else's life, and you have a
very short time period in which to be convincing.

In other words, it is a very low probability technique, used to advantage
only by those people who enjoy it, and who usually have very little
interest in the outcome.

Glenn Reid
(P.S. These are definitely not the opinions of my employer(s))

J. Eric Roskos

unread,
Jun 17, 1985, 9:04:27 AM6/17/85
to
[Referenced article is Frank's textbook analogy.]

No... it's more like buying a book by someone who has worked with IBM machines
all his life, when you want to learn about "computers" in general...

Lord Frith

unread,
Jun 17, 1985, 1:40:53 PM6/17/85
to
> In article <58...@ucla-cs.ARPA> al...@ucla-cs.UUCP (Alex Quilici) writes:
> Specifically: what's the best line you've ever used or had used on you?

"Hi honey... so what's your badge number?"
--

UUCP: ...{decvax,ihnp4,allegra}!seismo!trwatf!root - Lord Frith
ARPA: trwatf!root@SEISMO

"Give a man a horse... and he thinks he's enormous"

to...@shasta.arpa

unread,
Jun 17, 1985, 5:08:27 PM6/17/85
to
At the Portland Usenix I wanted to meet the guard at the door of
the tutorial I was taking. I had gotten incredibly lost driving
in from the airport and I needed to go back that night to pick up
my boss, so I asked him for directions. Unfortunately he told me
to ask one of the other guards. The other guard asked me out.

But I continued to be friendly and he finally asked me out the
last day I was there. I had a great time.

Richard Carnes

unread,
Jun 18, 1985, 11:15:43 AM6/18/85
to
>An artist I used to know used the following line:
>
>"Hi! Want to screw?"

This reminds me of the Lenny Bruce Technique for Getting Women Into
Bed:

*****

Lenny to current SO: HEY WHAT'S-YER-NAME!! YA WANNA SCREW?!?!?!

She: Not so fast, Lenny. With me, it has to mean something.

Lenny: IT ***FEELS*** GOOD!!! DOESN'T THAT MEAN ANYTHING TO YA?!?!

*****

But I can't say I've have much luck with this approach.

--Richard Carnes

Matt Crawford

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Jun 18, 1985, 12:23:46 PM6/18/85
to
I'm told that the following is good, but I don't believe it.
You be the judge.

"Do you want to fuck or do I owe you an apology?"

_____________________________________________________
Matt University craw...@anl-mcs.arpa
Crawford of Chicago ihnp4!oddjob!matt

Hari-ette Seldon

unread,
Jun 20, 1985, 11:36:10 PM6/20/85
to
Last October, i had just found out about how to setenv the
organization and name for posting articles. i also had just
finished reading all 4 _Foundation_ books by Asimov. I posted
a couple tests and then found this in my mailbox, from one of
superusers here:


Subject: Re: testing
In-Reply-To: your article <7...@sunybcs.UUCP>

that did it hari-ette, your and your foundationists
are banished to the other side of stars end (or whereever...)


well, i had no idea what he meant by that! i wondered if
he was going to blow my acct away or what! so, i chatted to
him. we ended up chatting for about 5+ hours until about 3:30am.
well, that was over 8 months ago. we are now SO's and are
very much in love!
--
Sue Wroblewski
SUNY @ Buffalo, CS Dept.

UUCP: {burdvax, rocksvax, bbncca, decvax, rocksanne, watmath}!sunybcs!ugsue
Csnet: ugsue@buffalo
Arpa: ugsue%buffalo.csnet@csnet-relay

Dyslexics of the world, untie!

Glenn Reid

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Jun 21, 1985, 10:51:53 AM6/21/85
to
^

> Anything can be the right line
> if you are cool, and if you are not, quoting Humphrey Bogart or Greg
> Woods will not buy you, well, 'tweet', as they say in Maine.

This is not to cast a stigma over poor Greg. It was supposed to illustrate
that even quoting someone as sage as he has proven himself to be is not
always enough. My apologies to Greg (mail refused to go through) and
anybody who got the wrong idea.

Anyway, it occurred to me that opening lines are usually only used when
you've exhausted all other possibilities, and your options are either to
risk some stupid line or forget all about it and go home. Many have been
the times that I've thrown caution to the winds, because of a feeling that
if I don't act now, I will never see said person again. I don't care if
I get to "go home with somebody" or whatever is commonly taken to be the
goal of pickup lines; I just want to increase my chances of seeing her
again, so that the normal ways of getting to know someone are given a
chance. So I go and make a fool of myself. I think making a fool of
yourself in an obvious manner is about the best way to meet somebody.
Have no shame. Not crude, mind you, but foolish.

--from the very SHORT AND TO THE POINT .signature of-- Glenn Reid

Gregg Mackenzie

unread,
Jun 22, 1985, 2:47:41 AM6/22/85
to
> >Specifically: what's the best line
> >you've ever used or had used on you?
>

This one worked once - I witnessed it: "Spit or swallow?"

Gregg Mackenzie
denelcor!gmack

Michael M. Sykora

unread,
Jun 24, 1985, 5:01:00 PM6/24/85
to
>/* gm...@denelvx.UUCP (Gregg Mackenzie) / 2:47 am Jun 22, 1985 */

>This one worked once - I witnessed it: "Spit or swallow?"

Ok. But can the same results be obtained consistently in future trials
of this experiment?

Michael M. Sykora

unread,
Jun 24, 1985, 5:06:00 PM6/24/85
to
>/* gr...@adobe.UUCP (Glenn Reid) / 10:51 am Jun 21, 1985 */

>. . .


>So I go and make a fool of myself. I think making a fool of
>yourself in an obvious manner is about the best way to meet somebody.
>Have no shame. Not crude, mind you, but foolish.

Whether this works in general can only be determined empirically, but it
is almost certain that you will meet many women who like foolish
acting men.

I can understand the desire to distinguish oneself, but why opening lines?
Why can't people just say hello? When I go out with the intent of
meeting women, I try not to go with the notion that I'm their to provide
entertainment.

>--from the very SHORT AND TO THE POINT .signature of-- Glenn Reid

Mike Sykora

Frank Silbermann

unread,
Jun 24, 1985, 9:55:47 PM6/24/85
to

In article <adobe.600> gr...@adobe.UUCP (Glenn Reid) writes:
>The whole trick to opening lines is just to be an interesting, magical
>person who always says the right thing. Anything can be the right line

>if you are cool, and if you are not, quoting Humphrey Bogart or Greg
>Woods will not buy you, well, 'tweet', as they say in Maine.

True. But making the initial contact is the hardest part.
A clever and appropriate introduction is sometimes all you need
to give yourself enough courage to go ahead.

>Quick linesmanship boils down to "how fast can you accurately assess this
>situtation?" (and a little bit of "can I stick my nose in without pissing
>anybody off?"). Once in, you're on stage, and the first 30 seconds counts.
>You have to justify your reason for existence and be able to adequately
>explain why you have just disrupted someone else's life, and you have a
>very short time period in which to be convincing.

Sort of like making a television commercial! This is why it's so difficult.
It's easier though, if you have experience. If you don't have experience,
the next best thing is to get expert coaching from someone who has.

>In other words, it is a very low probability technique, used to advantage
>only by those people who enjoy it, and who usually have very little
>interest in the outcome.

Also true. Keep in mind that since you don't even _KNOW_ the attractive
stranger you are approaching, it can't matter very much if you're rejected.

Frank Silbermann

Gregg Mackenzie

unread,
Jun 30, 1985, 7:29:13 PM6/30/85
to
Me:

> >This one worked once - I witnessed it: "Spit or swallow?"

Micheal M. Sykora:


> Ok. But can the same results be obtained consistently in future trials
> of this experiment?

I don't know. I've never used it myself. I'd be too afraid of having
my countenance struck in a manner that could not be mistaken a counter-
offer for kinky sex :-). That's why I tacked "may offend" onto the header
line. I just found it amazing that it actually worked!

(As the evening wore on, though, it became evident that the gal was a
little different. She was a real railroad enthusiast. She kept telling
everyone that she wanted a train for Christmas. :-))

Gregg Mackenzie
denelcor!gmack

Frank Silbermann

unread,
Jun 30, 1985, 9:04:30 PM6/30/85
to
References:
Sender:
Reply-To: fs...@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Followup-To:
Distribution:
Organization: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Keywords:


I have found that as long as I'm not obnoxious about it, almost any
opening line will do, provided that the woman was already interested in me.
If I'm not the woman's preferred physical type, then I must constantly
entertain her with my wit and personality (difficult!). Any minor mistake
or lull in the conversation will result in an immediate rejection.

The expert "pick up artist" is not so much a more outstanding person in
any way than you or I; he succeeds largely because he approaches only
those women who are likely to be receptive to him.

So how to tell? This requires a good ability to read "body language".
A person's words tell only what he thinks, but his gestures will tell
what he feels. We have some capacity to for reading body language.
By looking at a person, most of us can tell if he is sad or happy,
frightened or secure, relaxed or exited. We learn in nursery school
that a smile means one thing, a frown something else. Just as surely,
body language will reveal whether a person is interested in getting
to know you better.

Once, I ignored body language, refusing to trust any intuition
that my rational mind could not verify. The trouble with relying on
a person's spoken words, however, is that many things one would like
to tell you would be too embarassing to verbalize, or would make one
feel too vulnerable. Another difficulty was that I could not pay
much attention to someone elses gestures and posture while also
concentrating on my own feelings (usually fear and embarassment).
Eventually, I realized my mistake. I read everything about body language
I could find, until I felt confident that I could believe what I saw.
A bonus was that concentrating on the other person's emotional state
distracted me from my own discomfort.

In case any of you are interested in further reading (and I hope that
you are), let me recommend two current books that are very good:

BODY SPEECH by Samy Molcho. This book has many good photographs,
making the information easy to absorb.

LOVE SIGNALS by Dr. David B. Givens. This book concentrates on
gestures and postures seen in all phases of courtship,
from inital meeting to the beginning of foreplay. It is
a little more difficult to follow, since it goes into much
more detail and with out benefit of photographs, but the
information it contains is priceless.

Frank Silbermann

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