Mark Titus Reveals How He Successfully Slid In His Future Wife's DMs | The Yak 3-27-26
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Mark Titus successfully 'negged' his future wife by repeatedly sending crying laughing emojis to her Instagram stories, which she found uniquely engaging.
- ❖The story of Mandy Moore's marriage to Taylor Goldsmith revealed she slid into his DMs as a fan of his band, subverting the typical narrative.
- ❖Traditional friend setups are declining, but some believe they are still the safest way to meet partners due to mutual vetting and comfort.
- ❖Connor plans to take salsa dancing lessons, inspired by his grandfather's advice that learning to dance is the 'ultimate cheat code' for social interaction.
- ❖Barstool's workplace culture is characterized by intense, often personal, banter and viral moments, exemplified by the 'cuck' jokes directed at Connor and Moresh's car crash abroad.
- ❖Moresh's car crash in the UK, caused by driving on the wrong side of the road, resulted in airbags deploying and the car being totaled, becoming a significant, albeit traumatic, viral event for him.
Insights
1Mark Titus's Unconventional DM Strategy for Dating Success
Mark Titus successfully initiated contact with his future wife by consistently reacting to her Instagram stories with crying laughing emojis, even when the content was not inherently funny. This 'negging' approach stood out from other men sending typical 'hard eye' or 'heart' emojis, making her curious and eventually leading to direct communication.
Mark Titus recounts, "She posted a picture of herself. You're like, 'This is hilarious.' She said the reason I caught her eye was because like other dudes that were sliding into DMs were like hard emojis or like hard eyes or whatever and she and like I was negging." He did this multiple times, including on a Splash Mountain photo that 'wasn't funny at all.'
2The Decline of Traditional Friend Setups in Modern Dating
The hosts observe that proactive friend setups are no longer common practice among younger generations, largely due to the prevalence of digital dating apps and DMs. However, they acknowledge the value of meeting through friends for mutual comfort and a built-in 'vouch' for character, especially as people age.
Connor states, "I don't think people are really setting people up anymore... I don't think people are proactively saying, 'Hey, I have this friend who I think that you would be good with.'" He also notes that meeting through a friend is preferable because "someone vouching for this person" adds extra credit.
3Connor's Pursuit of Salsa Dancing as a 'Cheat Code' Hobby
Connor is actively seeking a new hobby outside of sports, with salsa dancing being his top choice. He was inspired by TikTok videos and his grandfather's long-held belief that learning to dance is the 'ultimate cheat code' for social interaction and meeting people.
Connor explains, "The one thing my grandfather always said... 'the number one thing you got to do is just learn how to dance. It's the ultimate cheat code.'" He plans to take lessons to make 'salsa friends' through recurring classes.
4Barstool's Internal Culture: Viral Moments and Personal Banter as Content
The Barstool office environment thrives on personal jokes, viral incidents, and a unique brand of banter that often becomes content. Examples include the ongoing 'cuck' and 'jizz janitor' jokes directed at Connor, the 'Bush Boys' esports team's unexpected success, and the dramatic car crash involving 'Moresh' in the UK, which quickly became a meme.
Connor mentions, "If you Google Connor Griffin... it's the not MLB player... but now when you just type in Connor Griffin, it's the not MLB player... that pops up. So, I'm in the clear." He also details how 'Moresh' crashing a rental car abroad became a joke, with people asking him 'why'd you crash the car, man?' and 'free moresh' becoming a rallying cry.
Lessons
- To stand out in online dating, consider unconventional or 'negging' approaches that spark curiosity rather than generic flattery, as demonstrated by Mark Titus's emoji strategy.
- If seeking a partner, leverage mutual friends for introductions, as a personal 'vouch' can increase comfort and trust in initial interactions.
- Actively pursue new hobbies through classes to foster continuous social interaction and build new friendships, as suggested by Connor's plan for salsa dancing.
Notable Moments
Moresh's traumatic car accident in the UK, where he drove on the wrong side of the road, resulting in a head-on collision, airbag deployment, and the car being totaled.
This event, while traumatic for Moresh, quickly became a viral Barstool meme, with colleagues and fans joking about it, highlighting the company's unique culture of turning personal mishaps into content.
Ella Griff's controversial take on work-life balance, suggesting people should go out more on weekdays despite having jobs, which led to widespread criticism online.
This moment illustrates the public scrutiny faced by Barstool personalities and the disconnect between the perceived 'easy' nature of their jobs and the realities of a typical 9-to-5, sparking a debate about work culture.
Barstool employees were invited to a client dinner, only to be told there was no table for them and they were expected to 'tend bar,' later receiving a GrubHub gift card as an apology.
This anecdote reveals a humorous, yet somewhat insulting, internal event that highlights the company's informal approach to client relations and employee roles, even at high-stakes events.
Quotes
"She said the reason I caught her eye was because like other dudes that were sliding into DMs were like hard emojis or like hard eyes or whatever and she and like I was negging."
"The number one thing you got to do is just learn how to dance. It's the ultimate cheat code."
"I don't think people are really setting people up anymore."
"You never want to be the guy that totals the car abroad."
Q&A
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