As you mention in your second footnote, the idea of a ‘pickup artist’ carries unfortunate connotations. I’d suggest you change your headline to something that you won’t have to explain “it’s not really what you thought when you first heard it”.
Perhaps “Optimizing interaction techniques for social enjoyment”? This has the benefit that while the pickup artist is perceived as interested in social engagement as a means to orgasm, practitioners of the techniques you discuss would be perceived as interested in social engagement as an end in itself.
“Optimizing interaction techniques for social enjoyment” is too long and abstract—it signals that the group doesn’t understand what it’s setting out to do.
Perhaps “Social Optimizer”? It’s understandable and gets the overly nerdy angle w/o being confusing.
I still think the title expresses my intent pretty well. I don’t think it would have been easy to get my idea across without mentioning pick-up, but you’re right it’s going to get tedious explaining that I’m not a con artist wannabe. I originally had something like the second footnote at the very beginning, but it didn’t read well.
I like your suggestion though, it’s appropriately LessWrongian!
As you mention in your second footnote, the idea of a ‘pickup artist’ carries unfortunate connotations. I’d suggest you change your headline to something that you won’t have to explain “it’s not really what you thought when you first heard it”.
Perhaps “Optimizing interaction techniques for social enjoyment”? This has the benefit that while the pickup artist is perceived as interested in social engagement as a means to orgasm, practitioners of the techniques you discuss would be perceived as interested in social engagement as an end in itself.
“Optimizing interaction techniques for social enjoyment” is too long and abstract—it signals that the group doesn’t understand what it’s setting out to do.
Perhaps “Social Optimizer”? It’s understandable and gets the overly nerdy angle w/o being confusing.
How to Win Friends and Influence People..?
“Leadership skills”?
That’s even more concise, but I think a bit too narrow.
I still think the title expresses my intent pretty well. I don’t think it would have been easy to get my idea across without mentioning pick-up, but you’re right it’s going to get tedious explaining that I’m not a con artist wannabe. I originally had something like the second footnote at the very beginning, but it didn’t read well.
I like your suggestion though, it’s appropriately LessWrongian!