Article Lead Image

Using this pickup line will get you banned from Tinder

Yeah, don't do this.

 

Elijah Watson

Internet Culture

Posted on Feb 19, 2016   Updated on May 27, 2021, 4:47 am CDT

Pickup artists are the absolute worst. Case in point? Maximilian Berger, whose so-called “apocalypse opener” has resurfaced as a pickup line on Tinder.

As you can see, the cringeworthy message is filled with red flags. If you have to assure a girl that you can do certain things and that you’re not a creep, chances are you probably can’t do those things and are, in fact, a creep. 

Berger, a professional speaker, pickup artist ,and vlogger, explained how he uses the “apocalypse opener” in a charming video titled “How to F**k girls on Tinder.” The name is inspired by the idea that women would only sleep with him in the event of a global catastrophe that killed all other men (which sounds much more difficult than, you know, simply talking to a woman like a normal human being).

The reason for the pickup line’s reappearance? Berger mentioned it in a recent Facebook post and included supposed screenshots of its efficacy. Side note: any guy that actually types “would you like to exchange numerals for our cellular devices” is not to be trusted. Ever.

So now other desperate dudes have been using the “apocalypse opener,” which can apparently get you banned on Tinder.

Even other pickup artists think it’s a pathetic gambit. Here’s a message board comment from late last year:

I noticed that there’s a specific subset of horny lecherous embryos that always mass-spam this opener as an all-or-nothing gamble, it’s almost sociopathic how non-game this is. This is like playing poker with the hand you’re dealt and all chips in every time. What are the fuckin’ odds??

Look, people: If you’ve got a match, you’ve got a match—the goal is to not make them immediately regret their decision and embarrass you by showing your message to their friends. Please do yourselves a favor and say literally anything else.

H/T Distractify | Illustration by Jason Reed

Share this article
*First Published: Feb 19, 2016, 8:31 pm CST