"Be interesting."

"Billionaire hedge funder Bill Ackman has been mocked on X for advising young men struggling to find a date to go up to a woman in public and simply say: 'May I meet you?'

"Claiming that he found success himself with this technique, Ackman added: 'I think the combination of proper grammar and politeness was the key to its effectiveness. You might give it a try.'

"Some felt his advice was hopelessly naive and unrealistic. But at a time when 45 per cent of men aged 18 to 25 have never asked a girl out in person, he should be applauded for offering some kind of solution to our current crisis.

"Increasingly, we are seeing a generation of 'lost boys' opting out of education, employment, marriage and fatherhood, in favour of more dystopian pursuits, often found online.

"Scott Galloway, an NYU professor, investor and podcaster, published a bestselling book this month, 'Notes on Being a Man,' which highlights the problem and encourages men to 'get out of the house,' 'take risks' and 'don’t let rejection stop you.'

"I would add another piece of advice to this list for my fellow men: be interesting."

~ Rob Henderson from his column 'You Don't Need a Better Pickup Line. You Need a Better Life.'