The Community - A Beautiful Mess

I was always asked to start a blog. I've been on the internet for how long? Since '98 and I'm just getting around to starting one and I'm beginning my blog with my rant on a community I was a part of off and on since 1999. I've seen it grow into the beautiful mess it's become. Back when I was involved it was kind of cool, secretive and a great way to learn while killing time from your boring 9 to 5. mASF was this hotbed of information with guys from all over sharing their input on how to meet women. I left the forums and scene around the end of 2003 because I was in a relationship and didn't want to spend anymore time reading the forums. I jumped back in right after 'The Game' was released - I knew what was coming. I said to my friend either this is the beginning of the end or the end and a new beginning.
Companies sprang up like the industrial revolution. New pua's were coming out of nowhere
and reproducing like flies. Gurus were crowned (most of them sucked, only a handful were actually good) and a new beginning dawned.
I have to say in the years I was learning I actually became decent. Not great by any means but pretty decent. I had the pleasure and pain of dating girls that worked at Hooters, night clubs, make-up counters, etc. I never took a bootcamp or purchased an overpriced DVD set; that stuff wasn't even out when I was active (well a few bootcamps were being taught but DVD's and CD's weren't out) only a few ebooks and a ton of post on the forums.
Most of my time was spent reading the forums and going out to practice after a long day at work.
I remember going to work and sitting on the phones talking to customers and trying to read new post by guys who had good information and knowledge and anticipating getting off work so I could hit up a bar or wherever and trying things out. I remember getting excited when I picked up a girl who worked at Hooters who was very gorgeous and friendly too; she wanted to come over to my place and watch movies and have drinks and I wanted to go out because I wanted to everyone else to see me with her. I learned through experience that many of us choose eye candy because we want to flaunt eye candy not because we are genuinely attracted to the girl.

Back then the community to me was like being 12 on Christmas Day. Now it's like being 30 on Christmas Day. You start to see the commercialism and it leaves you with a rather less than impressive feeling. I know it does for many who have been around for awhile who aren't a part of the cash cow it's become. I don't know what the future is for the community. Some guys say every guy needs this. I don't think so. To me this was for the guys who really wanted to learn the tricks of the trade when it comes to meeting women, yet I've rarely seen any of these guys, guru or not being good with relationships.