Would you pay someone a princely sum of RM315,000 to learn about how to flirt and seduce women through online courses? Well, two persons in Hong Kong did just that and later regretted that they had engaged the services of someone who goes by a somewhat wicked name of “Professor Devil”!
Flirting and seduction are usually a complex and nuanced social interaction, I’m told. And, it’s important to approach these matters or the opposite sex with respect and consideration because their personal boundaries and comfort level are paramount.
But some people want quick and sure-fire approaches. And that was how this 33-year-old “professor” capitalised on such a need.
Initially, he had charged two persons separately, RM18,600 and RM45,000 respectively, for online coaching lessons. Then he got bolder and demanded more for specialised and personalised coaching. And how much did he ask?
One of the victims was asked RM192,000 more to pay for an expensive gold watch while the other was asked to fork out an additional RM58,000 to refurbish the “coach’s” wardrobe.
They refused to pay. The “coach” decided to stop the lessons even though the duo had paid him quite a sum earlier.
But, somehow, the duo discovered that the “coach” had even uploaded videos of their personalised coaching sessions onto the Internet without their consent. They demanded that the videos be taken down but the “coach” refused unless they gave in to his earlier demands. The victims decided that enough was enough and reported to the authorities.
Interestingly, the “coach” was charged under the Trade Description Ordinance, which is under the purview of the Customs and Excise Department. The offence was for misleading omissions in a commercial practice in that he charged his clients more than the initial quote!
The “professor” was found guilty and ordered to do 160 hours of community service. He could have been fined RM58,000 and given a custodial sentence of up to two years for that kind of offence.
Let me share some things that I do know about attracting the interest of the opposite sex. I once had a randy colleague, a bachelor then, who was always in demand with women, married or otherwise! I decided to ask him his secret of success.
What he told me blew my mind as it was just a simple act: he listened to the women’s talk and problems!
Being the inquisitive reporter that I was, I decided to cross-check the truth by asking one of the women who was always hanging out with him after working hours. She replied in a matter-of-factly way: he’s a good listener!
Bingo! So, that’s one of the secrets to a women’s heart then!
Flirting should always be consensual, and it’s crucial to respect one’s boundaries, I’m told. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues like body language, eye contact, and facial expressions in order to gauge one’s interest and comfort level.
And one should give priority to respectful and positive communication. There must genuine interest in getting to know the other person and avoid using aggressive or offensive language.
Always ensure that your flirting is appropriate and conducive in a light-hearted and playful manner. A sense of humour helps but know the parameters of the jokes you might want to tell to avoid being offensive or inappropriate.
At best, treat the other person as an equal and engage in active listening to show your genuine interest in what your date has to say.
Remember, every individual is unique. What may work for one person might not for another. It’s important to be adaptable, respectful and attentive to the individual you are interacting with.
Build a genuine connection and establish mutual comfort and interest. And dressing well can make you feel more confident and attractive, too.
Jeff Yong, with many years of journalism experience behind him and an eye for the quirky as well, re-lives his passion for writing columns in Weekly Echo after having done so with New Thrill & The Malaysian Post many eons ago.