My take on text game and "dodgy pictures"

Finally gonna quit lurking, now that I have a (somewhat relevant) throwaway. This started out as response to CunningLanguageUser's thread, but quickly grew into something larger that I think could be useful to others. Sorry if it's a little scattered, it's my first post that didn't have a crude drawing of someone's genitals in it -___-

First, I want to make a distinction. All text game is not the same. A lot of the major players around here advocate very very brisk text game, with intentional breaks and brevity. It's clearly got some testing behind it, but it's by no means the only (or best, IMO) way to handle this stuff. Don't be afraid to go back and forth with a girl 100 times in a day if that's the way the conversation goes. It pays off, and with no cost to attraction at all. I've set up SNLs via text/OKChat. Texting is ideal because it's quick enough to be spontaneous, but there's an expected latency that gives you time to plan your responses for maximum impact, and build tension while she checks her phone every 10 seconds waiting for a response. Not in frame? Take 10 minutes, clear your head, play out some scenarios.

I've seen it suggested here that you should wait 10 minutes or so before any response (barring time sensitive things like arrival at places), and that you should keep a 2:1 her:you ratio, meaning you text her once for every two you get.

I don't really adhere to that. 1:1 is a good place to be, and if you're doing this right, you're going back and forth basically in real time, so there's no other way to have it. If it's been a few days and you had the last word, go ahead and reinitiate if you've got a worthwhile opener. As far as response time goes, unless I'm engaged with something else, I get back to her with the speed she gets back to me. If she's texting once a minute, I'll keep up. If she's taking a half hour to get back to you, don't start spilling guts the instant it hits your inbox.

When texting for something other than coordination/conversation, try to leave an obvious prompt for her to respond to. If all you have to say is "yeah, word", it's fucking over for you. Try ending every text with a question. This is just like "first date talk" that I saw mentioned elsewhere today. The less you know about her, the more fun bullshit you can chat about. Make her share her reality with you. "Who's the ugliest person on the train with you? why?" On the same token, if she's just getting back to you with "oh, cool", fuck off for a little while. Forcing a text conversation gets clingy FAST. Read the depth of her responses and be able to gauge interest.

Protip: Smilies are the fucking cornerstone of text game. You know how woo-girls will say crazy rude things and call each other filthy names, but it's okay because they're giggling? Emoticons work the exact same way. You can say some seriously ballsy stuff, and if there's a :D at the end of it, 99% of the time it's going over smooth as butter.

Texting strips out pretty much all nonverbal communication. As a result, it's really easy to set the mood and keep it playful. Always be smiling/laughing/doing something cool. Be clever, and laugh (even at yourself) often. Shitty puns are your friend. You can bust haikus on the fly? Do it son. Whatever keeps it light and moving quick.

Now, moving on to "dodgy pictures"

The two biggest factors are frame/projection and precedent.

For a lot of guys, even ones that do well with women IRL, pics/video are treated like they're the holy grail, and that we're 100 kinds of lucky to get them. Entirely the wrong way to think about it. It's a game, a form of flirtation, and if my experience is anywhere along the norm, girls do it ALL the time. It's downright reckless. There are times when I'll get things that I know are just for me, and there are times when I'm clearly getting shit that was taken for someone else, and saved, because girls reuse these things. (That's a pet peeve of mine, but I'm picky.)

With that in mind, you should project your desires the same way you would with IRL game/SNLs. That it's normal, not at all embarrassing for either party, sexy, and something you do all the time. Just as with IRL game, when you're confidently setting the mood/emotion of the conversation, women will reciprocate.

Now, precedent. Just like IRL game, tie in little situational elements in your life with things that she'll find engaging. She has a favorite food/drink? You're out having it without her, send a pic, tease her about how jealous she is. Played right, she'll start doing the same thing. While men will send a picture of a beer and a burrito with no human in it (mirror pics and the like just don't feel classy to me), I don't think I've ever gotten a picture message from a girl that didn't have her in it, regardless of circumstance. This gets her used to taking pictures of herself specifically for the purpose of sharing them with you on the fly.

Another great line of teasing is basically a game of "prove it".

I'm about to take the most relaxing bubble bath ever

Bullshit, you're watching bernie mac reruns in sweats with a bag of pretzels. Don't lie to me :D

Am not!

Prove it.

If she talks about missing you, or wanting to be with you, or anything like that, keep the ball rolling with a complement about a specific feature of hers that you wish you could see/taste/touch right now. You could start with a benign body part, like lips. Even though it's not X rated, she's going to strive to make that picture of her face as sexy as possible, and that sets the precedent for every other complement and picture that follows.

I really can't stress the importance of teasing. Ridiculousness, a-la-shit test counters, works wonders. Scenario:she sent a pic of her getting ready for a shower, nothing but panties and an open flannel. I had gotten a million pics like this from her since we started texting. PG13 and very suggestive, but not explicit.

[pic] haha please, i wouldn't even think of taking a bath without sending you a picture ;p (prece-whaaa. dent.)

Sexy, but I have a theory - you have no nipples :o

[topless pic]

Keep it playful.

As far as reciprocation goes, it varies widely. There are women that will expect you to go pic for pic with them, and there are ones that, despite sending you messages that would make courtney love blush, absolutely don't want to see any pics of your boner (unless it's the real thing).

One last thing, gents. Be tasteful and discrete with the fruits of your labor. If you go around forwarding this shit to all your bros, it's wraps. Plus, it's rude.