Oh, I'm not congratulating you on getting laid, I'm glad you overcame the situation insofar as the mental prison of inceldom is concerned.

Regardless of what you do, you at least have a good head on your shoulders. The ability to self-reflect instead of blaming others is some key emotional growth. I'm proud of you for that.

Tbf it's not entirely a skill issue (while still not being the fault of "women").

The fracturing of society for starters isn't helping, many people isolating due to that, and phones/social media/doomscrolling etc, many isolated during covid and still haven't recovered to their old ways, many can't afford to do shit else these days even if they did want to break out of it, none of that is helping and it's a serious societal issue bigger than "skill issue" in reality.

Also the commodification of dating isn't helping any, you have to be on and pay for the hook-up apps as a barrier to entry, or pay for (your own I don't just mean hers) drinks at a bar, both of which are more conducive to hook-ups than long term partnerships. Short of that "get a hobby, make friends, and hopefully one of those friends will set you up with someone." So basically if you're a FOSS/privacy advocate who doesn't drink much anymore and hates the idea of listing profiles like you're a dog up for adoption, your only option is to pray.

The only other option is to go back to the old ways: Its a numbers game. Just ask, politely and take no for an answer (and not like, lewd, like ask for a lunch date or phone number or something), but ask, anywhere and everywhere, doesn't matter if it's now "uncouth" to ask in say the grocery store, fuck it. If she's into you it'll be fine, if not, fuck it who cares worst she can do is be rude and you'll never have to talk to her again. I don't do this now because I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, but so far figuratively praying hasn't worked and literally closing out bars (has become too expensive ffs but also) has only led to fleeting infatuations and FWBs, and while those are fun I'm looking for more than that, so, we'll see maybe I'll try it.

It's a skill issue to a degree, but also dating has been negatively affected by a general trend of social isolation, the economy being bad, and the same social media brain rot that has affected everything else along with it, on top of that.