Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen?

A new study seems to indicate that women really do go for the bad guys (as if we didn't know this already). It seems that there are three traits in men, which (when combined) form something called the "dark triad." The traits are:

• The self obsession of the Narcissist
• The callous, thrill seeking impulsiveness of the psychopath
• The deceitful and exploitative nature of the Machiavellian

(Full article)

To me, the study seems to point out the obvious... that the "bad guy" is more successful purely because they are "triers" and play the numbers game. In my experience though, I found (and still do - lol, I'm not dead yet) that very many women are actually attracted to the "bad guys"

Comments/opinions?

Heard about that study, too.
Must be true cause I'm a fairly nice guy and I'm not exactly a chick magnet...

Guess I'm gonna start treating women like crap.

I've often said to get women I need to become a scum bag drug dealing wife beater. Go figure. Maybe it's the motherly instinct that attracts women to these guys.

When I was younger (early teens) I was dreadfully unsuccessful with the opposite sex... I couldn't even bring myself to talk to a good looking girl. By the time I was 18-20 though, my "sense of humour" had developed into what it is today.... very dry, and quite often extremely harsh (I'm the sort of person who takes the piss out of the widow at her husband's funeral)... one of the most surprising things about my life is the fact that I haven't had more good-hidings.

Anyhoo... you'd be surprised at the number of times this has happened to me:

Some friend, acquaintance, colleague or friend's friend etc walks up to me in a bar (for example) and introduces me to the girl he's trying to get together with.

Guy: Hi, this is <insert girl's name>
YMG: F**K me you told me she had big eyebrows and a fat arse, but I thought you were joking! (or something similar that I know she'd be sensitive about)
Girl: *Turns to guy with a look that says; say something*
YMG: Don't look at him, for help! He's never really been assertive since that gay rape thing
etc etc etc

Guy and girl walk off.... an hour later the girl is next to me at the bar asking if she can buy me a drink.

I've never been a scumbag drug dealer or wife beater, but my wicked, and often mean-sounding sense of humour often gives people who don't know me the impression that I'm some kind of evil sociopath... a "don't give a f**k" Jack the lad kind of guy, and to many women, I've found it to be like a flame to a moth. In my time I've had over 200 women*

I've never been able to figure it out, but many women really are attracted to the wrong sort of guy. It would be interesting to hear from any female members on why they think that is (or why they think it's wrong)

* This figure is entirely fictional

Way back when I read a book by Stephen Baxter called Evolution. It's been quite a while since I've read it, so the details are a bit hazy (and some details may be wrong), but basically It's a book about the evolution of life on earth towards mankind and beyond. Chapter one is about rodent called Purga that witnesses the meteor impact that kills wipes out all dinosaurs, chapter two is about one of Purga's decedents a few hundred thousand years later, and so forth, until the book ends reaches mankind and then some.

Somewhere in the middle of that book there's a chapter about a troop of apes with emerging complex social behaviors. When two males fight over a female they mostly posture, scream and threaten until one of the two backs down. Only very rarely do actual fights occur, and they're over so quick that the most serious injury is most likely a bruised ego. One day a stranger to the troop appears and challenges the protagonist of the chapter over a female. The protagonist tries his best to display strength, aggression and speed, baring his teeth, slamming his chest and the ground - The stranger on the other hand just rushes forward and rips of his balls.

I guess this post doesn't really have a point, the article just made me think of the book again. Worth a read if you're interested in that kind of stuff.

I agree that was a great book.

I shall keep my eye out for it next time I'm out shoplifting in the public library.

nah, you got it all wrong. the secret to women is to understand that they are competitive and shallow. they want a guy who makes them look hotter than the other women. throw some dubs on that car and suddenly they're interested. hmmmm...

You are all so cynical no wonder

It is more the confidence factor than the "bad boy" thing. That is what makes someone attractive someone that is confident in his own skin, intellect, abilities and one that is also confident enough not to let other people bother them. Especially! those that are confident and comfortable being around the opposite sex.

You put two guys up next to each other each with the same traits of confidence, style etc..... and one is a bad boy and the other is not the woman will pick the one that is not because bad boys are more of a stepping stone than a long term investment.
Women want to have fun just like men do its no secret men just act like it is so they dont have to really put forth the extra effort (which confident people do automatically) and all the while expecting it to be like the movies and wait for some beautiful sexy woman to fall on their lap and stay.

Yes females like sex believe it or not just as much in some cases even more than a man. Men also tell themselves women dont so when a woman is dissappointed the men have that to blame it on and not their actual performance.

So tell me who would you want for a one night stand or a romp for a few months or so the girl sitting in the corner with her shirt buttoned up to her neck acting like she is afraid of the world or the one providing a healthy glimpse of her boobs dancing on her chair?

In my vast experience (roflmao) I always found that the shy retiring types who wouldn't say boo to a goose are the dirtiest little minxes once you get them warmed up....

oh, and I'm one of the confidant men, not a bad boy.

This post has been edited by eazbak: Jun 26 2008, 09:50 AM

I think you underestimate the attractiveness of a demure woman to many men.

Madonna/Whore complex?

And there you go. She said it perfectly.

So true. Act like a narcissistic ass and treat a woman poorly and they are all over you. Try and be nice and get shit on every time. It's really annoying. Really makes you wonder how we're successful as a species.

Apparently, one theory as to why we don't ALL have the so called dark triad of characteristics (seeing as how effective it is at attracting the opposite sex) is that once it becomes too common a characteristic in the population, females will lose interest in those men displaying it, and see it as being "a bit ordinary" or nothing special.

It would appear then, that being a bit of a shit, is only successful in attracting women if most men are not shits... sooner or later, then, the pendulum will swing the other way and good guys will be up to their eyes in tops and fingers.