Man of Mystery

I know that the Mystery Method must work, or weenies wouldn't shell out three grand for it. So make of this what you will: I spoke to the hot blonde later; she is an organizer for a national feminist group. She said the guy was making no headway because she recognized every single thing he'd said as a line and because "he was so forward but also so nervous that it didn't add up."

What would she have done if he'd started touching her?

"Run," she said.

Now, I personally never thought groping and lying was much of a strategy for winning a woman, but, as the oldest and ugliest guy in the room, my opinion had no weight at all. So when I told The Don that I thought I could get some young, pretty woman to kiss me on the lips within three minutes of meeting her -- no one has that kind of instant success, not even the instructors -- he laughed derisively and dared me.

I went off and found two hotties. Under The Don's watchful eye, I spent 2 minutes 10 seconds talking them up, and then bent in and got a full lip-kiss from each. The Don was flabbergasted.

"Okay," he said, grudgingly, his pain evident, "I admit you've got some game."

What I hadn't told him was that about 15 minutes beforehand, one of the women had recognized me as a Post columnist. I asked her and her friend if they'd participate in a friendly little sting to put some misogynists in their place.

Okay, so it was sort of a lie by omission. Sorry, Don.

But, as you taught us, lying a little to get what you want is okay. Right?

Gene Weingarten can be reached at weingarten@washpost.com.

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