Had a very interesting example the other day of the power of pre-selection.

Met up with some buddies and we went to this event. Bit like a beer festival I suppose. It's outside, there's music and lots of tables. Everyone drinks beer until late in the evening.

One of the guys I was with bumps into one of his friend and he brings us over to his table to join his group. I'm sat on the end of the table with a few other guys and two girls, both early 30's. I introduce myself and start making some conversation.

Very quickly, the girl sat next to me starts making conversation. what do you do, how do you know X etc. - the usual pleasantries.

As this goes on, it becomes very apparent that she is vetting me. She is doing what I would call "the job interview".

Lot's of questions all aimed at vetting me, my status, my frame etc. What's your job. Where do you live. What are you hobbies. What's your politics. What music do you like. With a few IoIs sprinkled in.

I hate women like this, and I always find it's the late 20s - 30s women who do this. As soon as she started I became disinterested. But it's still fun to wind them up and play upto the crowd.

A short while later this guy turns up, presumably someone that she knew. He pulls up a chair between me and her and they have a brief conversation. Her demeanour is one of complete apathy beyond social pleasantries. She goes back to interrogating me.

Some time later, a girl turns up. This girl is smoking hot. Mid twenties. She squats down next to him and they begin chatting for 5 - 10 minutes before she walks off.

Almost immediately interrogation girl turns her undivided attention towards this guy and her entire demeanour changes. Her apathy turns to flirty and playful. No interrogation at all.

Quite frankly, I was happy to get rid of her and go back to chilling with the main group. But for the next few hours (until I left) she was following him round like a puppy.