Courting a lady isn’t as straight forward as it used to be. Back in the day, dating etiquette was well-established and everybody played by the same rules. Men would open doors for women, help them with their coats, and have them home by nine. Couples would go to the soda shop for the first date, to the drive in for the second, up to “old make out point” for the third, and would most likely be getting married on the fourth.
The rules of the road have changed. Somewhere between Say Anything and MTV’s Next bus, we throw out the rulebook completely and just started winging it. Our individual quests for love and sex have become as varied and strange as life itself. This was a good and necessary change, but it has made dating ... well, terrifying. Without any concrete guidelines, how is the novice romantic supposed to navigate those first few dates?
It’s not so hard, really. As far as dating goes, the one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the simple fact that guys should be gentlemen. What follows are some suggested guidelines to help you be a true gentleman despite the weird modern reality in which we find ourselves.
1. Don’t take her out to dinner on the first date.
These days, the most popular first date is the weeknight “getting-a-couple-drinks” date. And, for good reason. It’s non-committal, relatively brief by necessity, and the drinks help to calm everybody’s nerves. So, don’t try to impress with a four-star restaurant when you barely know the person. This way, you’ll keep your wallet intact and she won’t feel beholden. Plus, if the sparks don’t fly, it’s easy to retire the evening early.
2. Hug her at the beginning of the date.
Breaking down the physical barrier at the beginning of the date makes the rest of the date so much easier. At the beginning of the date, give her a hug and tell her how delightful she looks. Also, by showing your attraction to her early on, you free her to reciprocate gestures of attraction throughout the date, making it easier for you to judge how well the date is going.
3. Look your best.
Well, duh. But, a lot of the times when guys try to dress up for a date, they end up wearing something they aren’t truly comfortable in. You should dress up a little, sure, but try to wear something that makes you feel like a million bucks. If you don’t have any clothes that make you feel like George Clooney in Ocean’s 11, go out and find some.
