These days, the “nice guys” we meet usually reside in an isolated community us girls like to call “the friendzone.” It’s locked from the outside — once you’re in, good luck getting out. And the “bad boys,” disguised in shining armor and New Balances, get the spotlight with no trouble at all. But why? Why have we become so afraid of boys who will genuinely treat us well, to the point where we shut them down completely?

Bad boys have some kind of allure about them that draws us in. We see a troubled, angsty boy who would probably only be nice to us, and no one else. He would show us his exclusive “sweet side” that no one else gets to see, like a private screening of a new Oscar-worthy movie. And something about that is attractive to us. Why I couldn’t tell you — but it’s the truth. Also, they’re mysterious. We don’t like predictable. But wouldn’t it be nice to know where you’re going before you get there?

Let the boy take you on a date. Odds are if he’s asked you out, he probably has something planned other than a “Netflix and chill” date (date being a strong, strong word). One date doesn’t mean wedding bells or even a Facebook official relationship. Giving him a chance can’t hurt — and if it doesn’t work out, at least you and him will both know you gave it a shot.

He is not your ex boyfriend. It’s not fair to attach your ex-boyfriend-heartbreak and stigma to this guy, who walked into your life with a clean slate and no strikes against you. He didn’t break any promises to you, kiss any other girls at parties or dump you out of nowhere. It’s also not fair to shut him out completely just because you now have “trust issues.” You’re preaching to the choir, honey — don’t we all? We’ve all been there. Once he earns your trust, let him in. Go open the gate to the friendzone and free him.

We tend to take on our significant others as projects. Fixer-uppers. Charity cases. But why? As women, we are instinctively and inevitably nurturers. We feel like we can save them, take them under our wing and be their saving grace, rescue them from their own sins and issues. Wrong. Dead wrong. Those aren’t your burdens to bear and people can’t be fixed. They aren’t old houses that can be flipped and refurbished like on HGTV, then suddenly be brand new. They’re people. And just like us, they have to figure things out. There comes a time where a man needs to, well, man up.

Maybe you’ll go on one date and maybe you’ll date for months. And maybe, just maybe you’ll marry the “nice guy”. You’ll tell your kids one day about how you almost didn’t let him take you out on a date and laugh about it as you flip through the wedding photos, your hand in his.

All in favor of the give nice guys a chance campaign, say “Aye.”