No, but for some I suppose it works. All men and women enjoy some form of the mysterious and the rebellious. Trying to find this kind of person who isn't violent or disrespectful might be a challenge. When you find him/her treat them well. They are as precious as a rare gem. Treat them nice, you won’t need advice. A better mantra.

Sort of. But you have to bring a balance of compassion in there - very few people are attracted to someone who is truly horrid. I think what the mantra refers to most is that if you want to sustain someone's interest in you then you shouldn't make it too easy for them- if something is given too easily, or given freely, then the recipient is likely to make the subconcious assumption that it can't be worth very much. Although I could never put up with a partner mistreating or disrespecting me, I do think that, particularly during the early stages of dating, someone who's "busy" on a few of the nights I want to go on a date, or puts off saying how they feel for a while and makes me wonder about how interested they really are has me a lot more intrigued than someone who's full of "I love you, I need to see you every day, I'll answer the phone within one ring if I know it's you" right after the first kiss, which tends to give a bit of an air of desperation, which is never that attractive. That said, I don't think its advisable to put on a facade of meanness just to attract someone- be yourself and be honest. Don't put your life on hold for anyone, but if you like them, let them know! This approach is more likely to take you smoothly past the merely dating stage.

This is just another rewording of 'The Law of Effort.' It applies to many relationships, even parent-child (especially from the child's side.) Anything that you have to work hard for is perceived as more treasured and more valuable. That said, it doesn't mean that the relationship that you had to work hard at is a healthy one - it can still be one-sided, abusive, disrepectful, destructive or manipulative. Bottom line - it may work in some relationships, but that doesn't make it a good idea. And it doesn't matter whether it is a male or a female doing the 'treat them mean' part.

Sounds like a building block for an abusive relationship. Seems to me that I've never had a successful long-term relationship by playing mind games; the simple fact is, setting normal boundaries based on what you want and need can be construed as "mean" especially if it is done by women -- a societal sickness. I honestly think that if you respect yourself enough to just be who you are, it can really throw somebody off, but it sets a stage for self respect and interdependence.

i had many people get rude to me and i always forgave them just like that. and then i started to realise they take advantage of my kindness and they start playing with my head as in they start saying rude stuff then saying sorry right after knowing that they would get a "its alright" from me and i begin feeling not a part of my family because my sister is very bigheaded and stubborn and never forgives just like the rest accept for me. then i herd my sister using the treat them mean keep them keen phrase and things just started to pop in my head like the people that are the ones getting rude to me are the ones that are using the technique on me and im falling for it just by forgiving because i was feeling that there not true friends and i was sucking up to them in a way that i never new i was. now lately many people have been all kind to me and lots are trying to chat to me because i have not been speaking to any of them and not been forgiving and it is 100% working thinking of the popular people in my school makes me see all the other geeks around them that give them a rubber wen they need one or a pensile sharpener just so they can get a thanks from them then go home and start thinking about that thank you while the popular people forget that they actually spoke to them the minute they turn around. thinking about all these small things that can be big which we don’t realise makes me say yes it is true! lol soz bout the spelling in this i no its kind of messed lol

I am quite used to dating men who when I say 'jump' they ask 'how high'. Now don't get the wrong picture, I am a very nice girl/girlfriend... I just like lots of cuddles! I have recently started dating a boy who infuriates me because I hardly see him but like a sucker, everytime he calls or messages me I am there in a flash despite the fact that my head tells me that I really shouldn't be. The attraction? He gives me just enough to keep me wanting more and not enough to make me bored. It's the challange that keeps me from ignoring his sms's and disregarding him altogether.