With each passing year, we are constantly challenging societal norms just because we can. We are thinking much bolder, with a "what if I do this and see what happens?" kind of mentality.
Of course, our society should continue to be open-minded and advocate for what it believes is right. But when it comes to dating, only to a certain extent. If anything, we need to go back to how dating used to be, when it was done right.
In a simpler world, we would meet our future spouses in an incredibly romantic way, much like our grandparents and parents did. Now, our love lives are constantly in shambles. If you're 20 years old and have been on a date before, congratulations, you're doing a lot better than the rest of us.
At this point, we are so desperate for love that we will pretty much accept anything and are no longer concerned with little details and expectations. And that needs to change.
To me, a guy getting the bill on a date is a timeless concept. While women continue to fight for equality on a number of issues, dating will always be the exception. When a guy pays for you, that is the definition of chivalry. It gives you confirmation that you are not just a friend, you are someone he considers romantically. Splitting the bill doesn't cut it either. You split the bill with your friends, not the guy you're dating. Understand the difference.
This sets the tone for the ENTIRE relationship. Holding the car door open for you. Standing up when you go to the bathroom. Picking you up from your house instead of meeting at the restaurant. Asking you out in advance, not last minute when he feels like it. The list goes on. This should not be interpreted as "taking advantage of a guy" because you're not.
If he likes you, he WANTS to do all of these things for you. He wants to wine and dine you and give you that sense of security that this is real and genuine.
So yes, you should expect a guy to pay on the date because that's the right thing for him to do. Hopefully, he was raised well by parents who not only taught him to do this but also explained why it's important.
And, by default, raise fewer douchebags. Girls aren't idiots. We will bring our wallets and pay for ourselves if they don't offer. But once it comes down to that, any chance of romance in the relationship is gone because the guy has proven how he feels. It may sound harsh, but it's just as readable as a person's body language.
The dating game has definitely changed over the years. Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble are suddenly giving us new perspectives, causing us to lose sight of what real love is. The thing is I don't care what year it is. I don't care how little you've known each other or if there were no sparks between you the whole night.
No matter how old-fashioned the idea may seem, a guy getting the bill will never get old.
