Is there a real difference between a pick-up line and using an icebreaker?

1. 82

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   Is there a real difference between a pick-up line and using an icebreaker?
   
   Whenever a man or woman (initiates a conversation) with someone they find attractive and want to get to "know them".... If the opening statement is anything other than "Hi, My name is...." would you consider it to be a pick-up line? We tend to associate "pick-up lines" with having a sleaze factor to them designed to make someone laugh but more often than not causes one to squirm. Is a pick-up line nothing more than a bad "icebreaker"? or Does having (mutual attraction) make all the difference in our perception of what is an "icebreaker" versus a "pick-up line"?
   
   

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2. 57

   cubsfan1537posted 10 years ago

   A pick up line is something that is said that sounds very cheesy or it sounds like something a guy or girl would say to any member of the opposite sex. An icebreaker is something that might be said on a blind date  to relax both people to try and make a nervous situation more relaxing.

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   1. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Is (cheesy) in the eye of the beholder? Could cheesy for one person be "hilarious" to another person if they share the same sense of humor or found him/her attractive?  My guess is any statement one uses to gain attention from a stranger has risk.

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   2. 57

      cubsfan1537posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      When a guy uses the line i've lost my phone number can I borrow your's that's cheesy and overused

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   3. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's a classic cheesy line. Nevertheless if a woman thinks the guy is "hot" and liked his tone in delivery of the line she's likely to laugh or at the very least smile. It's seems their attraction to man is more important than what he says. :-)

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3. 69

   baybpnkposted 10 years ago

   YES.
   Example:
   Pick-up Line:
   "Are you an interior decorator? Because when I saw you, the entire room became beautiful."
   "Are you religious? Because you're the answer to all my prayers."
   "Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I just scraped my knee falling for you."
   "I'm not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together."
   
   Ice Breaker:
   "This weather sucks."
   Talking about something both are watching on the TV or listening to. Commenting on the drink he/she has in their hand.
   
   Ice breakers always have a better chance with me!

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   1. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, but isn't the intention of the speaker the same? Gain attention? If there's a (mutual) attraction/chemistry & humor any "opening line" works. However I can't imagine saying "This weather sucks" would lead to having a lot of dates though. LOL

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   2. 69

      baybpnkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      LOL
      I shouldn't say ALWAYS because sometimes you get a guy who says a line just right and it makes you laugh or maybe it's a line you haven't heard before and it's a funny one I guess if a guy strikes out with a line he could just converse!

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   3. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      baybpnk, You have a great point about (how) a line is delivered can make a difference. I also believe the (mood) a person is in when they hear it can make a lot of difference as well. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw! :-)

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   4. 93

      Bk42authorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      To me, when a guy uses a line like the ones mentioned above I feel as if they're playing games & I shouldn't take them seriously. That's just my opinion, tho. When I was single I appreciated it more if a guy just came up & introduced himse

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   5. 69

      baybpnkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That's exactly how I take it, joking around, which is a good opener for friendly encounters. Not so good for lust-driven encounters. Most of the time those kind of encounters are discouraged by me and I would ignore those men or just make it a joke.

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4. 89

   savvydatingposted 10 years ago

   Having mutual attraction does make all the difference--to an extent. One good line is plenty if both partners are physically attracted to one another. After that, the guy needs to follow up with a solid ice-breaker. Consequently, a woman is willing to place a well executed pick-up line into the ice-breaker category if the man knows how to deliver a good line well, meaning that he must come off like the type of guy who is willing to make fun of himself. You already know this dashingscorpio--if she likes what she sees, she'll give him the benefit of the doubt. But make no mistake, he needs to act fairly normal after that. Mostly, women just need the reassurance that the guy is not a weirdo. Long story short, the pick-up line should be focused on something other than her attractiveness, like his clumsiness or too bright tie... any number of things. This is where the man needs to get creative and know how to make her laugh from her gut instead of making her feel "creeped out."
   Great question.

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   1. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      savvydating, You're right "self deprecating" humor can be a great ice breaker. Courage is required to approach strangers and as you stated after the pick-up line is used if the person illustrates they're normal it's likely to disarm a person. Thanks!

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5. 60

   Whitney Amechiposted 10 years ago

   I've never quite thought about this before, but I guess now posed with this question I would say that there is not too much of a difference between the two of them. At best, I would opt to say that a pick-up line is mainly used for the purpose of trying to get to physical with the opposite sex and that an icebreaker can just be for general conversation. However, who is not to say that an icebreaker is not just a very clever pick-up line? Or that a pick-up - as you said - is just a poor icebreaker?
   
   Nevertheless since the general concept of both is to start a conversation with someone that they have some level of attraction toward - no - there is no difference within the concept. There is only a difference within the delivery of either one.

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   1. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Whitney Amechi, Thanks for your answer.
      As they say; "perception is reality". If the attraction is mutual just about any line will work to break the ice! Most people are turned off by anything that sounds like a "canned" or "rehearsed" go to line.

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