French Men Playing the Game

It may come as a surprise to some of you to learn that not all French men are born with inherent seduction skills. Some are even downright tonguetied in the presence of the opposite sex. Lucky for them, one American export has come to the rescue.  The Game: Les Secrets d'un Virtuouse de la Drague is now found on the (rapidly expanding) shelf of self-help books such as Casé en une Semaine (or, Get a Woman in One Week), for men sans clue. And in case these would-be Don Juans want some hands-on training, they can also hire the services of self-styled seduction coached such as the former techie geek Arnaud Olieric (in the photo below), who charges €75/hour for his training, which relies heavily on the strategies for achieiving the goals of The Game: to become a PUA, or pick-up artist.

To be clear, these men are not learning how to be in a relationship, they're learning how to get laid. As quickly and as often as possible. Olieric even tests his "students" out on the field, such as Jardin Luxembourg or the Champs-Elysées, where they have to get two phone numbers in five minutes.

Arnaud in action (from the Journal du Dimanche)

While some accuse this type of behavior as predatory and immature, others defend it as necessary for some men to overcome their timid nature or fear of rejection. "We always make our intentions clear that we're only looking for a one night stand," say one of the seduction coaches. In Paris, there are even a members-only clubs and forums where men share stories of their conquests and swap techniques. Virtual locker-rooms, if you like, such as FrenchTouchSeduction and the oddly named NaturalTechnicsDevelopment.

Some of the more common pick-up lines can be found in the Naughty Paris Guide, but ladies who want to be sure of finding themselves with a no-strings-attached liaison (or, conversely, to avoid them at all costs) may want to study these French guides more closely to know how to spot a PUA when he strikes. ;)