Pick-up artist Neil Strauss, author of “The Game,” a New York Times best selling book that chronicles Strauss’s journey from having very little success with women to being arguably the world’s best pick-up artist, has a new tip-giving MySpace page. Therein he provides pointers and strategies on his blog and videos to men who’d like help with picking up women.

Strauss, once a writer for the New York Times and contributing editor for Rolling Stone, gained his ranks as a pick-up artist in the seduction community under the pseudonym “Style.” The seduction community is a loose-knit group of men who seek better sex lives and romantic success with women through self-improvement. Three years after joining the community, Strauss wrote about his experiences for the New York Times.

Strauss has recently released a new book called “Rules of the Game,” which is a two-book set that includes tips for how to pick up women and also contains stories for what not to do when picking up women.

Reporters Yasmine Bikul and Jesse Fernandez have cataloged their feelings about his MySpace page:

Yasmine Bikul: As a women reading “The Game,” I found his book to be more genuine than his MySpace page. When you enter his profile in the “about me” section, his first words are, “I am a selfish prick.” At first I was totally turned off by this remark but as I continued to read, Strauss revealed that this was the most successful personal ad that he put in a newspaper.

As you continue on, you find his blogs which give out pointers on how to pick up women. In his explanation of what techniques work the best to pick up women, he references women as an object rather than a person. Strauss was more into women as a prize rather than a gift, which is demeaning and disrespectful to women everywhere.

Jesse Fernandez: I don’t think his MySpace page is necessarily disingenuous. “The Game” is about his personal journey as a person, so I can see how his personality would show through, and in turn, why he would seem more genuine. What he’s done in his MySpace page is separate the tactics he learned on his journey from the journey itself. His MySpace page is simply an informative resource so it can’t really be held to the same standards of being genuine. Sophomore psychology major Michael Stearns said that pick ups are “not degrading unless your pick-up involves something degrading. It’s just a way to initiate conversation.”

YB: Although I don’t believe that the art of picking of women is second nature for most men, I do believe that learning techniques from another person seems fraudulent. Randi Lively, a business major at Sac State, agrees.

“If you are learning how to pick up women from other people then it’s not the real you.”

Child development major Shara Deloney adds, “Either you got it or you don’t. A website can’t teach you how to pick up women.”

JF: I disagree completely. As Stearns said, a pick-up is just a way to get two strangers into a comfortable conversation. Whatever a guy says to get into a conversation doesn’t extend into the area of getting to know each other. There are a lot of really good guys out there who are intimidated by women, and as a result they come across as awkward. What’s wrong with teaching them to not be? A website itself cannot make you good with women, but experience can help you improve and eventually become good. One of the very positive aspects of Strauss’s MySpace page is that it encourages guys to go out, get over their awkwardness and get the experience with women they need to improve themselves and their lives.

YB: I do agree that experience can help men improve their techniques. So how are they going to do this while surfing Strauss’s MySpace page? Most of the men who sent in their video blogs to win prizes didn’t look “socially awkward,” they look like they would have done those crazy antics with or without Strauss’s push.

Communication major Mike Osborne says he doesn’t need the site.

“I personally wouldn’t go to the website because talking to women isn’t hard. It takes practice and paying attention and learning from each experience. Picking up women isn’t hard but most men psych themselves out,” he said.

JF: I think the key part of what Osborne said is that men psych themselves out. That’s exactly why most men might avoid women by filling their time with things like the Internet. They’ve psyched themselves out and Strauss’s MySpace page encourages them. In addition, it gives them social tools to work on and perfect for themselves. I think Strauss provides a good service to men who would like the help, and I recommend the website. The only tip I would give for navigating his MySpace page is that most of the useful information is contained in his blog. The videos are more for entertainment value.

YB: In addition to reading his blog, I would also suggest that both men and women read Strauss’s book “The Game.” Unlike his MySpace page, which seems to be geared more toward men, his book makes him relatable to men and women, giving great pointers and insight on how many socially awkward men view women as a wonderland. Take it from me, I have kissed a lot a frogs in my day and the one thing women want most from men is respect. Strauss forgets to mention that in his book and MySpace page and that is why I find him out of touch with which “pick up lines” really work. How about asking her name and complementing her shoes? The rest is up to you.