Alright, I give you the benefit of the doubt. I don't think negging works at all.
''Oh my gosh! He said that my earrings look exactly like the earrings of his 8 year old sister! He sure doesn't put me on a pedestal, treating to me like a little girl and all. Jeez, I'm so attracted to him!''
I mean, seriously?
I have to agree, it doesn't make much sense. It just sounds ridiculous. There are experienced guys here who swear negs create attraction though. I never try to neg intentionally, it just sounds too "pickup routine-ish" to me. I do tease women in a natural way, however.
I have also seen a lot of different reasons for negs given by pickup gurus:
I think Mystery said that he used them to disqualify himself as a potential suitor. If the girl thought he was hitting on her, she would put her b!tch shield up. But by negging her, he convinced her he wasn't trying to pick her up, and that bought him the time to sneak in under her radar and make his pitch.
Someone else (can't remember who) said they should only be used when the girl acts up, to sort of goad her back into line.
And of course there are the more usual reasons - to take her off her pedestal, lower her value, make yourself a challenge, show her you're not going to kiss her @ss, etc.