Have you read Sun Tzu’s The Art of War?

@TheOneyouwerewarnedabout lol... how’s about the English translation

Mandatory reading when I was about 12.

@SW-User what did you learn from it?

@GardenSage That the art of war is deception. You mislead your opponent, throw dust in their eyes, make them think you're winning when you're losing, make them think you're losing when you're winning. To never let them see past the illusion because that means letting them see your weaknesses, where they can jab at to make your mission fall apart.

@SW-User could you apply it to your everyday life? How so?

@GardenSage I think it can easily be applied to seduction, since that also involves a lot of deception. You have to be careful to maintain that illusion and not break character.

@SW-User interesting... I’ll say that’s the first time I’ve heard that take on it.

Although I don’t seek to seduce women based on deception. That’s me though.

@GardenSage Seduction probably takes many forms, such as getting a co-worker to like you, or to attract something or someone to you. If a bee only wants a flower, and you want the bee, then you become a flower.

@SW-User I disagree... if I’m a tree, I might admire a bee... I may even try to court a bee, but ultimately I’ll Be more attracted to the bird

Well, it really doesn't matter what you're more attracted to in the end, but the act of trying to court the bee. Like changing a bit to suit the person you love, if that is what it takes to keep them.

@SW-User to be More clear, I wouldnt try being a flower, I’d only try to court the bee as a tree.. the bee may even be slightly interested in me as the tree, but ultimately we’d be happier with our own... me with the bird and her with the flower.

I tend to think those who succeed at acting like a flower, ultimately change back into a tree and then want to change the bee into a bird.

I see relationships fail in this way

@GardenSage The goal may or may not be a long term relationship. Of course, if you are in a relationship for a long time, there are more opportunities to mess up. My comments were on attraction, not full blown relationships, although teachings in The Art of War could also be applied in marriages and long term relationships.