[Roosh]

Smiley Face review:

Quote:

Story of the author becoming an expat through a series of offputting encounters with women in DC over the period of a month. For those that aren't familiar with his work, he is a life-long student of the art of seduction, though this book is not about instruction.

I'm usually a fan of Roosh lit, but this seemed to be more for the author than for his audience. "I'm a man of the world!" he exclaims at one point, disappointed with his (lack of) reception by DC women. I get it; it's easier to pick up women abroad as a traveled American -- I think most people knew that before opening the cover. American women are superficial and unfeminine -- again, no surprises here. When a guy that spends his professional life traveling the world, racking up "bangs," comes back to the country that largely represents his readership to complain about its women it mostly just comes off as trite and petulant.

I took issue with the inclusion of typos that made it feel unprofessional, also extrapolating opinions about an entire culture based on experiences with ONE city ONLY at night venues within a period of ONE month was just over the top. I don't have trouble meeting feminine or interesting women in the US and I'm not even a PUA. The old Roosh from "Dead Bat" was a pioneer and innovator, but this one seems entitled and lazy, especially in his writing. During the moments where he enjoys his modicum of US notoriety as a professional author before arriving at his big decision at the end, I couldn't help but wondering if he is finally a victim of his own Kool-Aid.

Overall fairly disapopinted with the product and probably not a future supporter of the new lifestyle abroad if this represents the final evolution of Roosh. It is worth picking up, however, if you've read any of his memoirs esp "Dead Bat" to see where the journey has ended. It also includes some characteristically amusing anecdotes though they seem laced with bitterness moreso than previous accounts.

Yesterday, before I saw this, I was thinking, "Am I starting to believe my own hype?" I don't expect my readers to be overly critical, but the flood of compliments online and off is gassing me up. Even girls, who don't know of my writing, say crazy shit like I'm "amazing" and "so interesting" and one girl said I was "perfect." Pefect! People here stop me and ask to take a picture with me. How can you not become arrogant in the face of this?

My stories used to be about struggle and hardship and self-discovery and now it's poosy paradise and relatively easy bangs in a bachelor pad with great women in Eastern Europe. I try to stay grounded, but I think my "success" will change the nature of the work I put out. I will probably lose some of you as I become someone different than the guy who put out Bang six years ago. I have no idea where this will go... I'm just riding the wave.

[Samseau]

The only way to avoid jealousy is to avoid talking about your successes. Stick to helping other guys achieve the dream instead and they'll have nothing to roast you over.

[Peregrine]

Introspection's a bitch, eh?

To Samseau's point, great people are those who make others feel that they, too, can become great (said Mark Twain). I'm also reminded of Kipling's classic "If", which reminds us to treat success and failure as the impostors that they are.

[Menace]

Roosh DC is your Kryptonite. It will always make you feel the way it did in Smiley Face. I haven't written a review of it, but it kind of made me feel like you wanted bad things to happen, like everything was a self-fulfilling prophecy. Of course compared to Romania or Poland the girls are going to be shit, especially at night. Next time you're back here, do like Gio does...don't even go out at night. Good writing often comes from conflict, maybe you're struggling with the fact that you've finally made it. You're semi-famous in a country having sexy women that are relatively easy for you to get. Maybe the title of your next book should be "If You're Happy and You Know It"

[Hades]

Yeah maybe you need to hit up a different part of America to get a more balanced (and less hateful) feel for it. I don't actually recommend doing it but it's possible that DC is somewhat of an outlier.

[Parlay44]

Times change. People change. Maybe it's time for an update to Bang?
Bang 2013? Bang USA? Write it from a foreigner's perspective on coming
to the US to bang American women.

[durangotang]

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

[OGNorCal707]

I think it's doubtful you'll get much "constructive criticism" on this forum, seeing as how its your site, and everyone here is more or less a follower or fan of yours. I haven't read "Smiley Face", but I did think 30 Bangs was too short, and lacking depth, and detail.

Any how it seems like you have achieved your dreams, so you are no longer struggling in the trenches, I think it's when guys are struggling in the trenches that they often come up with the best insights and work. Someone had linked up an old article of yours on another thread called "How to get laid for real" from 5 years ago, and I couldn't help but think how that was some of the best game wisdom you've ever dropped, and how a lot of your material is different now a days. The same can be said for Mark Manson, he dropped some straight up gold around 5 years ago when he was EntropyPUA, and now his shit is all preachy self-help shit, like he's trying to be the next Tony Robbins.

I still like Roosh's stuff and can't complain as the info I've gotten from his blog and this forum has been invaluable and best of all free. I respect Roosh and am happy that he has been able to live his dream, if anything I feel that he may be a little over bitter, cynical, and negative, and focus too much on battling feminists.

[Samseau]

(04-01-2013 08:21 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

Any how it seems like you have achieved your dreams, so you are no longer struggling in the trenches, I think it's when guys are struggling in the trenches that they often come up with the best insights and work.

Let's be honest here. If we could all get laid on command, who would do anything?

[MikeCF]

You've earned it.

Being a struggling broke dick, like having a minimum wage job, is supposed to be a phase.

You've moved past that.

Congrats. I hope you're enjoying yourself.

Just be nice to the people you see on your way up, since you'll see them again on your way back down.

[frogmallet]

(04-01-2013 08:17 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  

Times change. People change. Maybe it's time for an update to Bang?
Bang 2013? Bang USA? Write it from a foreigner's perspective on coming
to the US to bang American women.

even better, get some plastic surgery (or shave) and write "Bang DC".
shit, that would get the feminists all lathered up.....

[jariel]

(04-01-2013 07:47 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

Yesterday, before I saw this, I was thinking, "Am I starting to believe my own hype?" I don't expect my readers to be overly critical, but the flood of compliments online and off is gassing me up. Even girls, who don't know of my writing, say crazy shit like I'm "amazing" and "so interesting" and one girl said I was "perfect." Pefect! People here stop me and ask to take a picture with me. How can you not become arrogant in the face of this?

"Hard to be humble when you stuntin' on a Jumbtron."

Sounds like your reviewer is salty because he can no longer to relate to you.

Six years ago, you were him, now that you're not, he can't help but to be a little jealous, I mean let's face it, you're chillin, partying, and banging hot chicks in parts of the world most have never seen, while he's here trying to accept American women for who they are because he has no other choice.

[durangotang]

(04-01-2013 08:26 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:21 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

Any how it seems like you have achieved your dreams, so you are no longer struggling in the trenches, I think it's when guys are struggling in the trenches that they often come up with the best insights and work.

Let's be honest here. If we could all get laid on command, who would do anything?

Perhaps it is true that pussy makes the world go round.

[aphelion]

Bang DC really does need to be the next challenge, although I'm not sure whether it would end up instructional or satirical.

[Brosemite]

(04-01-2013 08:28 PM)jariel Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:47 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

Yesterday, before I saw this, I was thinking, "Am I starting to believe my own hype?" I don't expect my readers to be overly critical, but the flood of compliments online and off is gassing me up. Even girls, who don't know of my writing, say crazy shit like I'm "amazing" and "so interesting" and one girl said I was "perfect." Pefect! People here stop me and ask to take a picture with me. How can you not become arrogant in the face of this?

"Hard to be humble when you stuntin' on a Jumbtron."

Sounds like your reviewer is salty because he can no longer to relate to you.

Six years ago, you were him, now that you're not, he can't help but to be a little jealous, I mean let's face it, you're chillin, partying, and banging hot chicks in parts of the world most have never seen, while he's here trying to accept American women for who they are because he has no other choice.

It's a bit of jealousy on the reviewer's behalf, but it's also a great deal of ignorance too. Once you travel a lot, see the world, meet interesting friends, and nail intriguing multilingual foreign women appearance/personality wise, it really takes a lot of work to get acclimated with the scene back at home.

Being back at home, one like Roosh would naturally expect to be back in a sanctuary from the travel grind where you're supposed to be around the ones who accept you for who you are. This however wasn't the case as Roosh was greeted with passive aggression from family & hostility of the DC social scene. I thought he captured that feeling very accurately as this was merely something the critic could just not relate to. This feeling is even worse when you see friends back at home and just avoid the topic of travel altogether as it would make them bitter & jealous..but apparently Roosh didn't have to deal with this like many on this forum have including myself.

I do agree though that it is not fair to categorize all American women based on the scene in one city however, but I thought that general assumption was minimized or if anything non-existent in this book.

[thegmanifesto]

(04-01-2013 07:47 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

My stories used to be about struggle and hardship and self-discovery and now it's poosy paradise and relatively easy bangs in a bachelor pad with great women in Eastern Europe.

"See success is like suicide
Suicide, it's a suicide
When you succeed, prepare to be crucified." - Jay-Z

The Internet is a strange place I have found.

People hate when you talk about your successes.

That is why every PUA blogger's "About Page" starts with:

"I was a dork who couldn't get girls until one day, I picked up The Game..."

That is why every Lifestyle Design blogger's "About Page" starts with:

"I was a miserable cubicle dork until one day, I picked up The 4 Hour Work Week..."

But you know what? People love that stuff.

If there is one regret I have with The G Manifesto is that I would have started writing it when I was a kid, instead of at a point when I was somewhat "successful".

That is why so many hate it.

If I would have written about struggle more from the beginning, I think more "normal" people would have gotten behind it.

The funny thing is, I like to read about people's successes even more than their failures.

I want to see what works, and then see how I can add that into my life.

Roosh, I think you are about to be at an interesting crossroads.

The more success you have, the more hate you will even have.

Your "Micro-Celebrity" which we have talked about is becoming real.

Hell, it is more than "Micro-Celebrity" now.

Jealousy, Envy and Hate are around every corner.

Also, are people going to listen to you know that you are somewhat "famous"?

Are people going to dismiss you that you got a girl "just because you were on TV"?

These are all questions you are going to have to figure out and adapt with.

My advice?

Just do what you feel is right.

Don't change. People can f*ck off.

It took me a long time to learn that life lesson.

But when you reach your "best self" the best advice really is:

"Just be Yourself."

[Volk]

The reviewer doesn't seem like a hater. All I see is the honest opinion of somebody on his own right to write a review. You are not the same person you were when you wrote Dead Bat, it's just natural that you don't write the same way or about the same things. The reviewer liked the old writing style better, and that's it.

[InternationPlayboy]

At the same time it could be looked at as a good thing and a motivator for your readers. I've been reading your stuff for a long time. It makes me look and think, "Damn, Roosh was living at his moms house in DC when I started reading, and now he's an international playboy, time to step my game up another level." Let this be a way to weed out the haters. If they're gonna hate, fuck 'em, you don't need 'em. Plus, you've gotta remember what line of business you're in, of course you're gonna have haters, it's the name of the game. It's actually quit inspiring seeing how far you've come over the years I've been reading. Congrats.

[Frost]

(04-01-2013 09:14 PM)Volk Wrote:  

The reviewer doesn't seem like a hater...

That's why Roosh cares. He probably hears from eight different haters before breakfast on an average day. That kind of shit rolls right off. It's the genuine well-wishers, such as the quoted reviewer, who make you perk up and listen.

Roosh is right that he will lose the connection with a lot of readers who related to him in 2006 and aren't down with whatever direction he progresses in. Such is the cost of growth.

[iknowexactly]

It reminds me of Nietzsche-- he said something like the superior man can afford to be nice. He does it because it amuses him. (Somewhat an oversimplification.)

I advised Roosh against doing the Ukraine talk show because it would inspire haters in Ukraine; but to his credit he went ahead and did it anyway, real nerve in exploring there.

But what do you do when you've gone past where all the Betas have the nerve to go? Further still out into arctic wastes? Running orgies with models, because you can? Or do you come "back inside" a bit and help others explore what you've seen?

Maybe it's time to do some of the stuff that "leftoid haters" would look down on-- helping others--start teaching. You've sort of maxed out what you can do on your own-for now.

[Citlalli]

The grassroots element of your writing is lost somewhat now because people aren't able to relate to the position you're coming from = jealousy.

[Big Nilla]

Bang a string of 4's and fatties to humble yourself... and disgust yourself.

[poutsara]

Norton Simon Wrote:

"Life has a natural curve...You go up, plateau, and you go down. The only way to change this is to be continually starting new curves and, in this way, always remain in a state of becoming." -Norton Simon.

[Ovid]

OGNorCal707 Wrote:

he dropped some straight up gold around 5 years ago when he was EntropyPUA, and now his shit is all preachy self-help shit

The struggles he faces now are not the struggles he faced 5 years ago. It's hard to keep preaching the same message over and over again.... we naturally grow and change, advance, learn, and internalize things. Things that were revelations when learned become accepted and unquestioned pillars of our outlook, and we don't naturally want to repeat ourselves over and over.

--

When Roosh wrote Dead Bat, his game was good, but if memory serves, he didn't get laid for months. I am sure if he went back to Ecuador or Peru today, he would kill it, and have to beat the lizards away with a stick. Now, on the other hand, he has so thoroughly internalized concepts of game, and so thoroughly written about them from many different angles of analysis, that he does not think of questions like "what's a good opener to use in such and such a circumstance?" Instead, he's thinking "This city is horrible, and these women are bitchy. I can get laid like a rockstar, comparatively, in Europe with high quality women, and here the women are so damaged that it is a struggle to bed a seven, and she is a bitch." It's still a voyage of self-discovery, only now he is writing about the issues he faces today, instead of continuing to write about the issues he faced ten years ago. We, however, are fortunate that he undertook this voyage, and started where he did, because for those of us who are not at his level, Bang and Day Bang are more useful for our present circumstances than books about, say, how to effectively leverage existing fame to bang groupies.

I think the reviewer does not really want to follow Roosh's journey, at least, not yet. He probably enjoyed Dead Bat as a travel memoir, and Bang for its game advice, but would get more out of a hypothetical Bang Vol. 2 than he would out of Why Can't I Use A Smiley Face, simply because he has not travelled and cannot relate to Roosh's conundrum, so for him, it seems like butthurt complaining. I think if Roosh would write Bang Los Angeles, Bang Denver, and Bang (cows in) Montana, it would still not satisfy the people who complain that DC is an unfair example of American women. The problem is a cultural one, and though DC is, from the sound of it, a spot-on example of it, the issue is pervasive in American culture, and going to NYC or Indianapolis is not going to change things at the root.

The reviewer no doubt finds Smiley Face's conclusions unpalatable, and instead of questioning his own belief, prefers to just label the messenger with a bunch of unflattering descriptors. He may abhor feminism, even, but he would rather "stay and fight" than take a realistic look at the situation and ship out for greener pastures.

[cibo]

The fact you ask if you are believing your own hype means you're probably not that bad. This is like when someone asks if he's a sociopath which means he probably isn't.