Pick-up school goes on the pull for Scots students of seduction

IT IS causing pulses to race and hearts to quicken as the party season approaches - but probably for the wrong reasons.

• Confidence tricks: Pick Up Artist Training charges 900 for a month-long intensive course to teach men how to chat up women - either using a 'shotgun' approach or being more of a 'sniper'.

A controversial new "seduction school" has been set up in Scotland to teach hapless male suitors how to succeed with the opposite sex.

Pick Up Artist (PUA) Training, which has launched in Glasgow and Edinburgh, offers men tutorials on how best to chat up and seduce women.

But the course of true love never runs smooth. MSPs and women's groups have expressed concern over the business, claiming it is sexist, exploitative and could lead to women being subjected to sexual harassment.

The company's logo, which features images of women with their underwear around their ankles, has been singled out for criticism amid claims that it sends out a "dangerous" and "deeply offensive" message.

The firm describes itself as "the first Scottish attraction and lifestyle company" and states: "We teach guys pick-up skills and secrets - everything from how to approach women, to techniques to getting a kiss and getting her home."

It offers a range of "pick-up tutorials" which range from 80 for a taster session to 900 for a month-long intensive course.

Students are given lessons in smiling, body language, fashion and voice tonality before being invited to try out their skills at bus stops, cafs and bars. They are encouraged to choose between using a "shotgun" approach - using pick-up lines on many women - or the "sniper," targeting just a few individuals.

The firm's website states: "During the day girls have a lower guard to guys approaching them.

"The fact that it rarely happen works to a pick-up artist's favour.

"However, girls can get really flirty at night and this can lead to a lot faster escalations."

Sandra White, the women's rights campaigner and SNP MSP, said she was "deeply concerned" by the firm's activities.

The Glasgow MSP said: "To my mind, their actions could lead to women becoming a target for unwanted advances and sexual harassment

"The logo, which features two women with their underwear at their ankles, is not only deeply offensive, but dangerous in the image it portrays.

"Once again we are seeing women being treated as objects to be used by men and it is high time it was stopped."

The Scottish Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation (SCASE) claimed the venture sent out harmful messages to both sexes.

A spokeswoman said: "This appears to be yet another cynical money-making scheme which feeds on men's insecurities and encourages them to focus on duping women into having sex with them.

"We should be supporting people to develop positive communication and respect, not learning techniques where human interactions are reduced to a cynical formula that suggests that women can be fooled and duped into having sex with men who have so little self-belief and confidence that they have to pay for this scheme."

Hilary Cornish of the Edinburgh Feminist Network claimed the venture promoted "predatory" attitudes and "a disturbing objectification of women".

She added: "I am torn between feeling pity for the men involved, and the exploitation of their sexuality, and deep worry for the attitudes towards women it displays."

A spokesman for PUA Training Edinburgh, whose instructors wish to remain anonymous, admitted its work was contentious, but insisted its goal was to empower men in a positive way.

He said: "We are more than aware that what we do is controversial and is bound to upset a few people.

"But all we basically do is give guys confidence which will open doors with girls. We teach people how to speak with strangers, which is just being sociable, really.

"Obviously (our teaching] can help you with your love life, but first and foremost we teach people to be more confident and sociable."

The pick-up coach strongly rejected the suggestion that they taught students to pressurise or hassle women.

He said: "One of the fundamental things that we teach is to always leave a girl better than you found her. If you get rejected there is never any animosity, you politely wish them a nice day and move on. There is absolutely nothing predatory about what we do."

Despite issuing a strong defence of the business, the Edinburgh-based entrepreneur said he planned to "reword" some of statements on the website to tackle misconceptions and "make things clearer".

The world of the pick-up artist came to international attention when The Game, which chronicled a journalist's encounters in the "seduction community", become a global best-seller in 2005.

Neil Strauss's book, which contained a host of psychological techniques purported to help men to attract women, was made into a US TV series called The Pick-Up Artist.

Despite proving to be a huge commercial success, the book was panned by critics, with The San Francisco Chronicle referring to "a puerile cult of sexual conquest" and calling Strauss's tactics "sinister" and "pathetic".

The wit to woo: ten of the worst chat-up lines

• Are your legs tired, because you've been running through my mind all night long.

• Do you work for Royal Mail? I'm sure I saw you checking out my package earlier.

• You're just like a parking ticket. You've got fine written all over you.

• There must be something wrong with my eyes, I can't take them off you.

• Hi, I'm Mr Right. Someone said you were looking for me.

• If I had one chance to rearrange the alphabet, I would put U and I together.

• There's something wrong with my mobile phone. It doesn't seem to have your number in it.

• That's not a bald spot. It's a solar panel for a love machine.

n I'm afraid of the dark. Will you come and keep me company tonight?

n Do you believe in love at first sight, or do I have to walk past again?