Overview
- Ackman posted that his youthful opener was “May I meet you?” claiming it almost never drew a no thanks to politeness and proper grammar, and he said it could work across genders.
- The post drew tens of millions of views and thousands of replies as users turned the phrase into a meme and flooded X with parody images and videos.
- Ackman followed up that the line works best while moving on subways or sidewalks, and he replied to users by urging one to “Try again” and saying he wasn’t wealthy when he used it.
- People tested the line in public and on apps with mixed results, including reports of at least one Stanford student landing a date alongside many documented rejections.
- Critics called the advice out of touch and flagged wealth and status as factors, while dating experts said Gen Z often wants clear, low‑pressure guardrails even if overly formal phrasing can fall flat.