This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and it’s the use of disclaimers in a lot of content, especially the content aimed at beginners. I don’t mean this as a finger pointing exercise, but I notice it the most in Tom Torero’s material. Now, I understand why he has to say things like “if you haven’t done 200 sets then don’t do…” because for that person, it’s absolutely true. The thing I wonder is, if someone has to be told that disclaimer over and over again, do they really deserve to succeed?
For example, he uses the adage that pickup should be 10% theory, 90% action, and for beginners that’s true because they can consume theory as a weasel. But I often stop and think to myself, if you don’t have the wherewithal to realise that’s the truth on your own, then you’re not going to succeed anyway.
I understand that this is coming from my own position, and that I lack empathy. I didn’t have the hours of walking around, desperately trying to push myself into set. I realised that I wasn’t going to get better without failing first and so just went for it. It’s why I’ve always gravitated towards the deeper parts of pickup and life in general, rather than the beginner’s material. Then again, maybe all a beginner needs is someone who doesn’t give a shit about their feelings.
Yours unfaithfully,
Thomas Crown
Thomas Crown PUA 