Reply
Thread Tools
Advice Needed on Meeting Women None
Old 05-06-2009, 09:40 PM   #1
Mogura
Core Member [175%]
I am not the droid you're looking for...
MBTI: INFJ
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,031
 
I'm not looking for advice on wooing women. I'm just looking for advice on meeting women. I seem to be at an impasse on this topic, so I am looking for some fresh ideas and out-of-the box suggestions.

Some background info that might be helpful: I am single (never been married), in my late 30's, friendly and personable to the point that I can carry on a conversation, but shy enough that I cannot initiate a conversation or approach a complete stranger and "hit on" them. I have been away from the dating scene for several years.

Here are some ways of meeting women that don't work for me (and why they don't work):

1. Nightclubs and bars - Smoke, loud music, booze, drugs, hip-hop music, obnoxious boys, party girls. Need I say more?

2. The Internet - Online dating sites are populated with either nut-jobs or ultra-perfectionists (or ultra-perfectionist nut-jobs); the rest are all liars.

3. Approaching someone in a public place - Not culturally acceptable in the country in which I live (Japan), so a woman would not respond to well to it.

4. The office - IT department, small company (30 employees), high male-female ratio (the few females that are here are already married with kids--doh!).

5. Introduction through friends - All of my friends, co-workers, etc. are married with children (i.e., they don't maintain active social lives).

6. Church or other religious institutions - Same as #2.

Edit: I should clarify my motives/intentions/goals here. Ultimately, I am looking for the one to spend the rest of my life with. But I have to start somewhere, so I figured meeting a few nice lasses would be a good start...

 

Last edited by Mogura; 05-06-2009 at 10:51 PM.
Mogura is offline
Reply With Quote

Old 05-06-2009, 10:03 PM   #2
JustMel
Core Member [422%]
It was once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to.
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,891
 
The only thing you don't have listed is a personals ad in the newspaper....

Not everyone online is a liar or ultra-perfectionist nut-jobs. Sounds as if you haven't been to the "right" sites. Some of the people here have had luck with dating sites so hopefully one of them will chime in. Others have met people on this forum and those relationships seem to be doing well.

What country do you live in, if you're comfortable saying, that might help some of us come up with ideas.

Is there a bookstore or local cafe that singles frequent that isn't a club type setting?

One of my best friends met his wife at Bed, Bath and Beyond. He asked her opinion on the sheets he was buying for his bedroom. He wasn't really there to buy sheets, he just figured it was a good place to meet women on his lunch break. They talked, sparks flew, he bought sheets and they exchanged phone numbers. Three years later they have a set of twins and are still so sickeningly in love it makes you want to poke yourself in the eye or check your blood sugar. BUT he still tells every guy he knows to go to those type places at lunch time. (I don't know if you have those type places where you are.)
JustMel is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 10:08 PM   #3
Thinker
Core Member [117%]
Only one life...make it a good one
MBTI: INTj
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,685
 

  Originally Posted by JustMel
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
One of my best friends met his wife at Bed, Bath and Beyond. He asked her opinion on the sheets he was buying for his bedroom. He wasn't really there to buy sheets, he just figured it was a good place to meet women on his lunch break. They talked, sparks flew, he bought sheets and they exchanged phone numbers. Three years later they have a set of twins and are still so sickeningly in love it makes you want to poke yourself in the eye or check your blood sugar. BUT he still tells every guy he knows to go to those type places at lunch time. (I don't know if you have those type places where you are.)

It's killing me.....What type of sheets did he end up buying?

Thinker is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 10:10 PM   #4
JustMel
Core Member [422%]
It was once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to.
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,891
 

  Originally Posted by Thinker
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It's killing me.....What type of sheets did he end up buying?

600 thread count, cotton, blue. He still has them. Still in the package. They keep them as a reminder of "the day our lives became forever intertwined". I told you it's enough to make you want to check your sugar....

JustMel is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 10:15 PM   #5
DanteFalling
Member [28%]
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,132
 
Okay, the first thing I'd do in your situation is get out some graphing paper and a mechanical pencil (not even joking) or pull up an Excel file and jot down 10 reasons I want to meet women or a woman.

From those, work out whether you want to simply meet more women or a woman at a time (meeting women as a group could be beneficial in your conversation skills or in getting you ready for pre-dating, while searching for a LTR woman might help you put yourself in a framework of looking for a person you really want to be with/procreate with/etc).

If you're just trying to meet female friends to hang out with, actually ask your married friends if they know of any single women who simply want to hang out and watch movies/go to the opera/watch sport events, etc. In this group, you might try significantly older and significantly younger women (I did this on individual dates and non-dates, and I liked it 18-45).

If you're looking for LTR, then I'd suggest starting with examining yourself first. Especially if you're looking to procreate successfully, think about picking a woman within 5 years of your age. That way she's young enough to likely produce healthier offspring but is old enough to want them (not as likely to accidentally get pregnant, abort them, not leave you randomly because she's young and wants to explore life, and near your age it's more likely she'll have some life experience and therefore high success rate at helping you with the childcare). So, long story-short, pick a woman within 5-ish years of your age.


Next list: What can you as a partner provide for the type of person you're looking for?
I don't mean money, gifts, or other valuables.
How much time are you aiming to spend with a person?
What are some things in your life that make it inhospitable for a prospective mate?
What are some basic, idiosyncratic needs you have?
What is your ten-year game plan at this moment?
What are some activities you REALLY enjoy doing?
What are some self-improvement activities you'd like to start? (running, playing piano, CPR, chess, a book club, swim class, etc). Pick something you ACTUALLY like doing. Find a local community college and take a class. Or volunteer for something you really believe in. You could volunteer at a hospital or Habitat for Humanity.

I often find that if you put yourself in the life you'd like to be in/improve your current life, you tend to fall into a sphere of people who have at least one similar interest or are also interest in things you like/similar intelligence, etc.

Other alternatives to taking a class: I've heard the online "meetup" site meetup.com has produced good results, but I've never tried it. Supposedly it's a similar idea to the college class. You meet to do something useful or interesting, so there's less date pressure and more of a chance you'll not meet a nut-job (but maybe this is where the perfectionists lurk
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
).


These are just my opinions. Results vary. And, I'm odd.

P.S. I don't think you actually need to start most conversations. Most of my successful flirting has been catching someone's eye while they're talking to another group and looking as if I'm intrigued by them or approve of what they're saying (only do this when it's true).
DanteFalling is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 10:16 PM   #6
Stratego
Veteran Member [57%]
"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire. "  Aristotle
MBTI: InTJ
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,283
 
It can be expensive, especially if you have a tight budget, but it might be worthwhile to try a pay site like e harmony.

Even if it doesn't work out, you're not any worse off then before, just out some money, and when you think of the possibility of success, the cost is minimal.
Stratego is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 10:30 PM   #7
Mogura
Core Member [175%]
I am not the droid you're looking for...
MBTI: INFJ
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,031
 

  Originally Posted by JustMel
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The only thing you don't have listed is a personals ad in the newspaper....

Wow, I thought people just read those for "entertainment" purposes. Ha ha. As for me, newspaper personals are out...

  Originally Posted by JustMel
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
What country do you live in, if you're comfortable saying, that might help some of us come up with ideas.

Japan.

  Originally Posted by JustMel
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Is there a bookstore or local cafe that singles frequent that isn't a club type setting?

As for bookstores, I wish. Well, there are bookstores here, but I am under the impression that a lot of people go to them for "alone time". At least their body language seems to suggest as such. The same goes for cafes. Unfortunately there aren't Borders or Barnes and Noble-type bookstores with built-in cafes...

  Originally Posted by JustMel
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
One of my best friends met his wife at Bed, Bath and Beyond. He asked her opinion on the sheets he was buying for his bedroom. He wasn't really there to buy sheets, he just figured it was a good place to meet women on his lunch break. They talked, sparks flew, he bought sheets and they exchanged phone numbers. Three years later they have a set of twins and are still so sickeningly in love it makes you want to poke yourself in the eye or check your blood sugar. BUT he still tells every guy he knows to go to those type places at lunch time. (I don't know if you have those type places where you are.)

Sounds like he got to put his bed sheets to good use! Ha ha. Good on him. I'll have to give some thought as to what type of shops are near my workplace. Lots of restaurants and women's clothing shops (designer labels) in the area...

Mogura is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 10:46 PM   #8
Henry
Member [34%]
LOL SRS BIZNESS SELF-PORTRAIT AVATARS?
MBTI: iNTj
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,385
 

  Originally Posted by Mogura
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I'm not looking for advice on wooing women. I'm just looking for advice on meeting women. I seem to be at an impasse on this topic, so I am looking for some fresh ideas and out-of-the box suggestions.

Some background info that might be helpful: I am single (never been married), in my late 30's, friendly and personable to the point that I can carry on a conversation, but shy enough that I cannot initiate a conversation or approach a complete stranger and "hit on" them. I have been away from the dating scene for several years.

Here are some ways of meeting women that don't work for me (and why they don't work):

1. Nightclubs and bars - Smoke, loud music, booze, drugs, hip-hop music, obnoxious boys, party girls. Need I say more?

2. The Internet - Online dating sites are populated with either nut-jobs or ultra-perfectionists (or ultra-perfectionist nut-jobs); the rest are all liars.

3. Approaching someone in a public place - Not culturally acceptable in the country in which I live, so a woman would not respond to well to it.

4. The office - IT department, small company (30 employees), high male-female ratio (the few females that are here are already married with kids--doh!).

5. Introduction through friends - All of my friends, co-workers, etc. are married with children (i.e., they don't maintain active social lives).

6. Church or other religious institutions - Same as #2.

Edit: I should clarify my motives/intentions/goals here. Ultimately, I am looking for the one to spend the rest of my life with. But I have to start somewhere, so I figured meeting a few nice lasses would be a good start...

1. Don't do bars and clubs. Pure gristle.

2. Some guys have luck with the internet. I haven't. That said, if you sincerely can't approach in public (which is always awkward), figure out how to make the internet work. There's a way some guys do it, I don't know what it is but I'm sure there's a way.

3. Could you describe the country or at least region?

4. Don't use the office for dating. Unless you plan to marry said individual.

5. You'd be amazed how much friends and family love to find you matches. They'll know someone who knows someone.

6. Church actually isn't a terrible place, and they're not all polarized. Although they probably will be more homely than average.

Henry is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 11:10 PM   #9
NoStoneUnturned
Banned
 
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,917
 
Walk around with your pants undone while not wearing underwear.

If done, the women will find you.
NoStoneUnturned is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 11:27 PM   #10
Mogura
Core Member [175%]
I am not the droid you're looking for...
MBTI: INFJ
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,031
 

  Originally Posted by NoStoneUnturned
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Walk around with your pants undone while not wearing underwear.

If done, the women will find you.

I've tried that, but it didn't work. Wardrobe malfunction (had the pants on backwards)...


To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mogura is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2009, 11:41 PM   #11
Brittle
Member [23%]
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 958
 
I think Dante had some great suggestions - put yourself into an enviroment where you can meet people outside of a "dating" set-up. Take a class in something interesting such as language, cooking, dancing (from personal experience, dance classes are always desperate for more men... I ended up dating someone from a class, so I know that can work), or whatever else tickles your fancy. Again, volunteering for a community group or hospital offers some great opportunities.

Or borrow someone's cute kid and take them to play at the park... seems some women find that kind of thing adorable! (and you can give the kid back at the end of the day). Failing that a cute pooch can work just as well
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



Good luck!
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Brittle is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 01:07 AM   #12
BostonIan
Member [31%]
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,242
 

  Originally Posted by Mogura
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Some background info that might be helpful: I am single (never been married), in my late 30's, friendly and personable to the point that I can carry on a conversation, but shy enough that I cannot initiate a conversation or approach a complete stranger and "hit on" them. I have been away from the dating scene for several years.

"Can't initiate a conversation" just means it's a skill you're currently bad at. Practice initiating enough, it should improve. So, I'd just get repetitions, find any excuse to approach people. Ask for directions, ask for the time, carry on polite conversations with clerks, ask for book recommendations in a book store (you're buying a gift and don't know the first thing about whatever section she's browsing), ask if they need help doing/carrying whatever they're doing/carrying, etc.; find every excuse.

You could even find some practical task where you'd need to approach a lot of people. For example, curious about something? Conduct a survey. Politically involved? Go door to door collecting signatures for whatever. This is all more for practicing initiation and comfortable conversation than meeting women.

For meeting women, just put yourself in a closed, recurring group with them - people who you'll connect with and see repeatedly. Volunteering is great, or you could take a class, join some social organization. Once you're in the group, just talk to them. Something about eye contact and speaking makes a woman's face reveal her interest level, and, even if she's not interested, there's no way to form social bonds without speaking. Talk to everybody in the group.

I'd go about the socializing without being goal-oriented, somewhat blasé. If you're in a rush, I think that means being less picky, not wanting it more or being over-invested in any particular potential partner.

 

Last edited by BostonIan; 05-07-2009 at 01:35 AM.
BostonIan is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 04:34 AM   #13
tntblaster
Member [03%]
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 148
 

  Originally Posted by Brittle
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
from personal experience, dance classes are always desperate for more men... I ended up dating someone from a class, so I know that can work),


Good luck!
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Women don't realize you're there looking for a date if you do this? I assumed it would be a mainly couples activity as well... Interesting.

tntblaster is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 05:30 AM   #14
raz1337
Member [05%]
 
MBTI: ISTJ
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 201
 

  Originally Posted by tntblaster
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Women don't realize you're there looking for a date if you do this? I assumed it would be a mainly couples activity as well... Interesting.

Gotta find the right class for the right age group, though. You might end up with people in their 50's...

raz1337 is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 09:08 AM   #15
Xanthippe
Member [15%]
MBTI: INTP
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 603
 

  Originally Posted by raz1337
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Gotta find the right class for the right age group, though. You might end up with people in their 50's...

I'd recommend something trendy and athletic, like Zumba classes, at the intermediate level. A lot of older people may be unable to keep up.

Xanthippe is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 09:14 AM   #16
Nomadofthehills
Member [11%]
MBTI: INTP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 466
 

  Originally Posted by Xanthippe
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I'd recommend something trendy and athletic, like Zumba classes, at the intermediate level. A lot of older people may be unable to keep up.


I'm curious, do other INTJs inherently dislike anything trendy? I certainly do.





Nomadofthehills added to this post, 0 minutes and 54 seconds later...

  Originally Posted by Mogura
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
3. Approaching someone in a public place - Not culturally acceptable in the country in which I live (Japan), so a woman would not respond to well to it.

Considering it is not culturally acceptable, seems like it would be the perfect way.

Nomadofthehills is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 09:26 AM   #17
LPM
Member [14%]
MBTI: INTj
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 588
 
Women are just about everywhere you look. They make up about half the total population. Try talking to some of them as you go about your day.
LPM is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 09:34 AM   #18
JustMel
Core Member [422%]
It was once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to.
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,891
 

 
Sounds like he got to put his bed sheets to good use! Ha ha. Good on him. I'll have to give some thought as to what type of shops are near my workplace. Lots of restaurants and women's clothing shops (designer labels) in the area...

You could always be buying an outfit/shirt for your mom/sister/cousin

JustMel is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 04:00 PM   #19
Kele-De
Member [06%]
MBTI: intj
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 246
 
(1) Get a dog: It may seem obvious or cliche, but I love dogs and when I am out doing my thing I rarely check out men but I always check out the dog and want to touch and talk to the dog and I will assess a man's attraction based on how he interacts with his dog. (2) The gym: I like to work out alone and definitely notice the guys who are focused and keep to themselves--especially the ones who wear thought provoking t-shirts. (3) Online dating: Yes there are a lot of bad apples but after closing hundreds of profiles and suffering through many first dates I think I may have met a better than good match. So keep on truckin!
Kele-De is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 04:40 PM   #20
Mogura
Core Member [175%]
I am not the droid you're looking for...
MBTI: INFJ
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,031
 

  Originally Posted by Kele-De
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(2) The gym: I like to work out alone and definitely notice the guys who are focused and keep to themselves--especially the ones who wear thought provoking t-shirts.

Okay, I have to ask... in describing the guys' T-shirts what exactly do you mean by "thought-provoking"? A logo or something written on the shirt ("Save the Whales", "E=mc^2", "I'm with Stupid", etc.)? Or the way the shirts "conforms" to their perfectly sculpted bodies?

I do hit the gym 2-3 times a week. Regrettably, my T-shirt is not thought-provoking in either of the ways described above. It's clean, though!

By the way, I thought that trying to meet women at the gym is a bad idea. Not that I would be against the idea. But most women seem to be...

Mogura is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 04:52 PM   #21
JohnDoe
Core Member [130%]
MBTI: INFJ
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,203
 

  Originally Posted by Kele-De
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(2) The gym: I like to work out alone and definitely notice the guys who are focused and keep to themselves--especially the ones who wear thought provoking t-shirts.

Conversely, I know alot of people who think that going to the gym to meet women makes you a creep. So beware this approach.

JohnDoe is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 05:33 PM   #22
JustMel
Core Member [422%]
It was once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to.
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,891
 

  Originally Posted by Mogura
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Okay, I have to ask... in describing the guys' T-shirts what exactly do you mean by "thought-provoking"? A logo or something written on the shirt ("Save the Whales", "E=mc^2", "I'm with Stupid", etc.)? Or the way the shirts "conforms" to their perfectly sculpted bodies?

I would say where I buy my thought provoking t-shirts but I think it'd be against the rules for advertising. I'll send it to you though.

Then again my idea of thought provoking and someone else's may.... probably aren't the same thing.

JustMel is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 06:29 PM   #23
Brittle
Member [23%]
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 958
 

  Originally Posted by tntblaster
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Women don't realize you're there looking for a date if you do this? I assumed it would be a mainly couples activity as well... Interesting.

Some couples do go, but it's surprising how many singles are there - especially women (again, they're usually desperate for more men in these classes). The great thing is, although it does attract a lot of singles, it's not seen as a "singles scene"... it's more somewhere to have a bit of fun, learn a new skill and socialise in general.

As to the age groups, I was doing a Latin/Ballroom class (some salsa, rumba, foxtrot, etc) and there was an incredibly diverse age group.. anything from late teens to octogenerians. However the majority seemed to be in the 25-45 bracket.

One of the benefits about the dancing class is they do dances where you switch partners throughout the dance, so you get to meet quite a few people without having to ask for a dance and risking rejection. Once you've been going a while, you start getting to know familiar faces and approaching them becomes a lot easier.

Brittle is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 06:32 PM   #24
Mogura
Core Member [175%]
I am not the droid you're looking for...
MBTI: INFJ
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,031
 

  Originally Posted by JustMel
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I would say where I buy my thought provoking t-shirts but I think it'd be against the rules for advertising. I'll send it to you though.

Then again my idea of thought provoking and someone else's may.... probably aren't the same thing.

Those were definitely... umm... thought-provoking... I like the Winnie the Pooh one. Ha ha... I sent you a link you might enjoy, which is a little more my style (if only they made moisture wicking T-shirts...)

Mogura is offline
Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2009, 06:39 PM   #25
DanteFalling
Member [28%]
MBTI: INTJ
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,132
 

  Originally Posted by Mogura
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Okay, I have to ask... in describing the guys' T-shirts what exactly do you mean by "thought-provoking"? A logo or something written on the shirt ("Save the Whales", "E=mc^2", "I'm with Stupid", etc.)? Or the way the shirts "conforms" to their perfectly sculpted bodies?

I do hit the gym 2-3 times a week. Regrettably, my T-shirt is not thought-provoking in either of the ways described above. It's clean, though!

By the way, I thought that trying to meet women at the gym is a bad idea. Not that I would be against the idea. But most women seem to be...

I have to admit on the rare moment when I've gone to the gym in the past (been a year now, oops), I have hated when the average male has tried to hit on me, but then again, they all seemed like S or strong F types. So, maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

DanteFalling is offline
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Myers-Briggs, and MBTI are trademarks or registered trademarks of the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Trust in the United States and other countries.