‘Asian playboys’ and rationalism : a qualitative study of the processes Singapore pickup artists use to 'Pickup' women on dating websites

• Main Author: Waikar, Prashant
• Other Authors: Premchand Varma Dommaraju
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/66143
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Using qualitative in-depth interviews with 12 respondents, this paper analyses the strategies, known as ‘game’, pickup artists (PUA) use to ‘pickup’ women from dating websites. Operating from a Weberian framework of rationalism, this study discusses (1) how learning ‘online game’ is taylorized, (2) the enactments of ‘PUA masculinity within dating websites, and (3) how participation in ‘online game’ results in self-commodification. While the intent of the respondent is to dramatize individuality within his profile, he paradoxically engages in self-objectifying processes instead. Within the rationalist framework, this paper articulates how each of these processes are governed by a highly rational logic, wherein the emphasis is on exploiting the most effective, and indeed efficient means, to successfully negotiate each process.