Erik Von Markovik (Mystery) Is Taking Advantage of Weak People!!!!! He must be stopped!!!!!

This guy Mystery (profile) self professes that he is the best pick-up artist in the world. He has had great success in the entertainment business and holds seminars teaching other men how to replicate his abilities in picking up women in social settings. He has of late been selling his seminars on DVD for purchase through himself.

Lets start by looking just at the man, and his ideals. First, his birth name is Erik James Horvat-Markovic, but chose to take on the stage name of Mystery. Where did he get this name and what does it mean? Well for those not in the loop, he chose this name because it represents an evil seducer in Christian Religion that was sent to to do the devil's work (whore of Babylon). Here is a short, self-made video. His claim to fame is the ability to convince women to like him and do what he wants. Sounds good right? Does this skill translate to other things?? What if he decided to turn this skill on his loyal followers???

This cult leader now sends mass email to his followers (I must admit I was one for a long time) but now he pimps his products on his followers. I don't mind him making money off of his skill. That is the American way. What I dont like to see is people like me to be exploited. His business is relatively unknown to anyone outside of the "pick-up" community, and I hope that this sheds some light on him in a negative way. He uses the same tactics that he speaks of in his books in his videos to potential customers, they have no idea!!! We must band together and spread the word of his manipulative ways!!!!!

Huh? So, what is your problem with this guy exactly? He suckered you into buying his merchandise?

That's a pretty tenuous stretch to think that his moniker is related to the Whore of Babylon. Do you have anything to back this up?

Seriously, the guy seems engaging and appears to speak well extemporaneously and he seems to be good at picking up women; but that's about it. As a cult leader or a svengali, he has some work to do.

And how is this a Conspiracy in Religion?


Eric

Do you not feel that he is in a way creating a religion? He has many "followers", and he "preaches" to them through chatrooms. He travels with his "disciples" to help spread his word. He has written a "holy book" for men to follow, a sort of daily instruction for them to incorporate into their lives. People pay a "tithe" at his seminars. Does this not mirror religion? I hear people quoting chatroom conversations and excerpts from his books, similar to a church advocate with the Bible/Qur'an/Torah. I feel that he originally had good intentions, but that he has taken a turn since garnering mainstream media attention (increased book sales, seminar attendance, and a television show).

He has in a way become an authority figure to many men, by teaching them how to do something they could not do on their own. When people depend on someone's trustworthiness, knowledge and authority, they tend not to question their judgment or behavior. This places the "mentor" in a position of power, and can make the "follower" susceptible to exploitation.

What troubles me is that his "religion" has become a cult. The thing about cult mind control is that it is very simple and easy to use through tactics of social influence. He uses persuasion, emotional manipulation, etc. to entice his followers to buy his products. The mindset created in this organization is of great intensity, duration, and scope. It makes it impossible to leave because of the high cost (fear of harm, failure, and personal isolationism).

I wrote this thread so people currently involved with him might break free of his reigns of control, or so that people that have yet to hear of him approach with staid reserve.

Reading about Erik makes me feel physically ill. Not only did I know him, I used to live with him in my late teens. A choice I can only put down to being young and naive. My relationship with him resulted in some of the lowest points in my life; and ended with my making some choices I still regret and can not talk about today (almost 20 years later).

I haven't given him a thought until I stumbled upon a news article. I find it hard to believe he has received so much publicity for being a successful conman to women.

What I know is Erik did not take the documented 10 years to learn his skill. He was a sexual predator and a sleaze bag long before he designed a name and a trade around it. As soon as he was old enough to go to a night club he began “picking up” women and treating them badly. Maybe this was down to his father showing him little regard. I remember his father used to tell him, “the best part of you ran down your mother’s leg,” that couldn’t have done wonders for his self esteem.

Any "pick up" that is accomplished using predetermined tactics is dishonest and a con. Women do not exist simply to be objectified by men. The women that fall for this type of approach are usually "like minded" - they will be single and out at bars merely looking for a good time, similar to their male counterparts.

To find a truly meaningful and long-lasting relationship takes time, effort, and COMMITMENT. Relationships need to be nurtured to develop. I don’t believe this kind of love can be found with the "Mystery Method" – men who sign up for this type of training are setting themselves up for short-term flings. I wonder what Erik would have to say about his manic depressive episodes? Has he ever had a long lasting and meaningful relationship?

Not everything is always as it appears. To believe you can learn valuable lessons from this man is simply ignorant.

I am not one to think suspiciously (yeah right, I am on a conspiracy board) but why would you post a link to all of his stuff?

By willfully posting these links, you are advertising for him and thusly allowing yourself to be exploited. Or are you that who is he? Or perhaps working with him?

Something just doesn't seem right here...

Ok this is ridiculous. The guys sells tips how to pcik up woman? Try being yourself first of all. The woman he picks up are easy woman, not smart woman.

This has nothing to do with religion. If this soul wants to be a liar his whole life so be it, but why in religion forum?

peace.

So, you're angry because a guy who promises to teach people manipulation is manipulative?

Did I get that right? You got drawn into this guy's spiel about learning how to pick up women by manipulating them and you're shocked that he makes his living through manipulation?

What happened? Did it not work for you as well as it did for him?

k want a girls opinion? since thats usually one of his lines(can i get a female opinion on something?) lol let me tell you this first off you wanna get into religion.....whats not from God wont last second im young and never had a problem attracting guys,im also dependent and going to college all in all i got my things together look his lines wont always work TRUST me they don't have to be unheard for them to be turned down.thats why im sure he always changes his methods because im sure after a while you will learn them and people will get bored with them. some of his lines are sort of lame and repeated, only to be memorized, hitting on a girl is looked upon almost as conquering a challenge then what happens? you know? lol just be your self and don't open you "sets" with stupid questions just to have them as excuses to talk to people look what i am trying to say is his tactics only work on a certain "type" of women. not all obviously honestly just learn how to be able to talk to people and not just women and be yourself don't be a club whore you know lol.but really not all his tactics are gonna work and if he's making a living off manipulation let him im sure if it hasn't happened yet it'll happen later and someone will blow it in his face,turn him down or something idk.like i said what isn't from god wont last look at all the negatives that come from doing what he is doing not only that but he makes a living off picking up women?when you stop and think women get turned off because it makes you wonder?how many women has he already slept with?not only that but what about std's? or possibly unknown pregnancies?maybe even payed off abortions? who knows it can be possible..... maybe even him giving the boot after he sleeps with them? you know they're not really looked upon as people? and well....thats a turn off. =) it gives you the impression of that person being dirty and just a risk to be with,you want to befriend my friend just so you can talk to me?? shoot ill let you befriend my friend and just stick with her lol not only that but honestly besides his magic and pick up lines what does he really have to offer? you know most of his lines he really didn't come up with himself he actually learns them from others males who get together and teach as well as share certain tactics that worked for them.?with out the accessories and with out the the eyeliner what does he have? from the looks of the way he speaks he sure does have lots of knowledge and an extended vocabulary have that and dress it up know how to speak and be comfortable and fun with what you have you know? also who wants to be almost 40 and still single no kids soon you'll be 50 and then when you want to settle down or maybe just still have fun you begin to lack n that one certain department spending all your money from teaching people how to get laid on Viagra then turn 60+ and after that die alone. =) it sux.

Personally, I find this whole thing to be humorous and ridiculous. I watch the show, because I think it's a bit funny, and a bit sad -- (aside from the fact that I love the (so called) reality shows). It's funny because this guy Mystery is hilari-ass. I think he is totally unappealing, (as a 40'ish year old woman I say this), and he dresses like a cross between a renaissance lover who was undecided whether to play a flute or a heavy-metal guitar when whooing his "victims" of seduction. It's a bit sad for the same reason, however, it is also sad because these "geeks" he has on the show? I'm not so sure they are intelligent in the ways they need to be in order to not be swayed by his charms, therefore, this makes them exploitation victims.

Anyone who can't see that this guy took his past teachings in sexual psychology along with his magical-past and finesse, and used it as a niche to make money, needs glasses and a new brain. All of those on "reality" TV have found a way to make money using some kind of ridiculous ploy and niche, such as that "William Hung" fellow from American Idol, Paris Hilton and her new BFF, Flavor Flav and his supposed "looking for love series", right along with "Rock of Love" by Bret Michaels, etc. For instance, Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav found silly permiscuous women who were looking for their 15 minutes and used them as a way to make their own cash. They ALL know that there are willing victims out there to help them with their niche. There is no shortage of them. Now such shows have advanced further, giving these silly girls reality show of basically their own in Rock of Love Charm School, and Flavor of Love Charm School, and I Love Money, and so on and so forth.

It is all called ENTERTAINMENT, my friend, and I for one have to admit I am "entertained" by these shows. They make me laugh, and take me away from the everyday grind of seriousness. Why? Because they are NOT serious. It's only a "show" PEOPLE, and so is Mystery and his band of merry, wayward, wingmen. Anyone who takes it beyond that, and writes this guy, and becomes part of his "clan", you only have yourselves to blame. If I was to write him? It would simply be to say I think he is funny, and I enjoy his "show". You others who feel he has some real information on how to pick up girls? Well, try just being yourselves, and not a wingman. If that doesn't work, go get a makeover, and go to a real charm school, or seek more professional venues for advise.

So see it all for what it really is, and laugh about it. Touche` to these people for finding a way to take the American Way and Dream and turn it in their favor and make a few bucks while at it. For me and my husband, we stay federally disabled and try to make ends meet every day in a more decent manner. In other words, we won't do anything illegal for money, nor will we parade ourselves as clowns on some TV show in hopes of buying us winter coats this year, or furnishing us the next loaf of bread so our son can have lunch at school this "particular" week, or fix the car so I don't have to use a screwdriver to change gears, or even buy much needed medication that my husband goes without so we can eat. THAT, my friends, is not "reality TV" but "real life ACTUALITY". In the meantime, I'll tune in to Mystery and his Show, and I will watch the others as well. Why? Because it gives me a much needed chuckle.

im an 18 year old guy who never really grew up knowing how to socialise and form connections with people. for the last 2 years, i've been following the underground community and in particular mystery's teachings. i can understand everyone's perspective that he is no more than a manipulator but his methods are more about invoking change in a person's life than helping guy's to simply lay girls. what we are talking about with these teachings is giving guy's the self confidence in being themselves, and viewing life through a social matrix. a lot of these teaching's focus on eliminating a guy's bad habits, so that he can go up to a woman he likes, make her feel comfortable, enjoy the interaction with him and ultimately form a relationship that is beyond sex. as a person who, for many years, never had the skillset to form allignments with people in general and be comfortable around strangers, i worship the guy for what he's discovered. i have trained many of my friend's in what i've learned from mystery and watched them grow up as human beings. there's nothing more rewarding than when someone turns around to you and says "you've changed my life", and you watch them become someone who women feel great around. this game is just as much about making a woman feel good emotionally, not just sexually, as it is about the guy. at the end of the day, it's about developing a person's potential.

This guy is just ridiculous , his show is ridiculous. My husband and I just find the whole thing sad and pathetic. As I woman I find him very unappealing with his cross gender, dark renaissance appearance to be nothing short of repulsive. Although I understand the world is uninteresting without different individuals, I have to agree with some of the prior posts about following with a cult like behavior. After all when did us women think that men wearing black nail polish is good , multiple earrings on their faces, boa's with no shirts , and tight skinny jeans that show off all the raisins!?!

Last time I checked women dislike the man that picks up multiple women in a club or bar, making out with more than one at a time, getting their phone number inside of 5 minutes than walking away, and sleeping with them within hours of the first night of meeting them.
That is not a 'pick up artist' that is a player' if a woman acted out like this she would be a slut!
Not an admirable quality for you men to be looking up too! The show the Pick up artist is hands down amusing but nothing to be taken seriously. I am still trying to figure out who decided Erik von Markovik was the ultimate 'pick up artist' *scratching head*

reply to post by newbreed424


So your upset because you let yourself be manipulated by another person? People are manipulative, it's how people get what they want. The dangerous people are the ones who don't know they're manipulative. You, friend, should just pay more attention next time. No one can exploit or manipulate you without your consent.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


No one should manipulate people. Manipulation is disrespectful. It encourages the manipulator to think of others as things to be used and discarded, and teaches the manipulated to be distrustful of others. Neither will help people find healthy relationships. At the same time, I don't think there's anything wrong with helping someone figure out how to keep someone interested long enough for the other person to get to know him. I've always considered it absurd that someone would judge another person's potential as a romantic partner based on a couple of sentences in a public place. The end result is that women rate "ability to meet women" highly on their scale of desirable qualities in a man. How smart is that?

If a women's values aren't strong enough to ward a guy like this, she'll be stronger as a result of the process. Usually, women don't end up regretting these sorts of things. That's because the ones who would--usually stronger women, with Christian and high strung values--know better than to surround themselves with these kinds of people looking to take advantage of them. Those same people are the practically the only ones in the community who get upset; they are simply projecting their values on the ones who volunteer for the sex, and become outraged for them, even though the girl has no problem. And a girl can always push a man a way, no matter how good is game is. Their values will do that for them.
Besides, its not always that the men who learn from Mystery are immoral men seeking to take advantage of women. Some of them are just good people, who can protect and respect a woman, who were never socially savvy enough to keep a woman's attention. I am one of those people. And since learning from Mystery, my romantic life has improved greatly. I am not and have never been one who has sought to take advantage of women. I am simply looking for my wife.

ran into this and couldn't help to leave a word of advice to you funny characters... pua is real..no i did not pay for his classes but i did learn the art of pickup and i use it to meet attractive women. and no the girls i "open" are not drunk because i do this in school in the college i attend... so that being said i think i should have made several of u feel stupid for accusing mystery of false teachings. do not blame pickup artists for spreading it in the efforts of trying to help the guys that dont know how to talk to women. you cant blame him for making money from it because as the famous quote goes..."If you're good at something, never do it for free"

so remember... u can be against it all you want but being bad at it doesnt give u the reason to down talk it