tell me have you seen him…

On a recent night out with a young lady, I came to an interesting discovery. Gentleman-like behavior is not universally agreed upon. While opening doors and picking up checks seem to fall on everyone’s list, other things in the grey area are up for debate.

This specific night, I found myself in a NASCAR-like battle for the outside of the sidewalk against my date. As I was raised, the man walks on the outside of the sidewalk to protect the women from any curb jumping vehicles with his bare hands as only a true man can. To do this day, I’ve never been put in that scenario but I am constantly prepared to perform the needed act of mansmanship. However, my date on this evening had never encountered such a skilled gentleman and therefore spent the night taking that outside lane. I finally asked if she was purposely challenging me for the gentleman badge (to be delivered at the end of every date featuring the required amount of gentlemanly acts). To my surprise, she had never heard of this prince charming task which instantly made me realize I was getting cheated out of my total chivalry score.

As all men know, the final score is all that matters so I’m here with an initial list to start the conversation and ensure no future points are lost. In addition to blocking on-coming traffic projectiles, the following four efforts should be counted towards that highly coveted gentleman badge:

2)      When she drops it, pick it up –It isn’t your fault she dropped the napkin but your chances of ever touching what is directly beneath it are linked to you picking it up. Even if you don’t believe me, is it worth the risk? I didn’t think so.

3)      Enter a turnstile first – In what seems to directly violate the natural reaction of opening the door for your damsel, you should always enter a turnstile/revolving door first. Ensuring a minimal amount of energy needed to enter a building will convince your date that she can only leave the building when you are prepared to leave and assist in her exit which comes in handy when your residence features a revolving door. Ok that may not be true, but you do come across a little lazy making her do the work getting in the turnstile last and yelling at her to push.

4)      Escort her to the car/transportation – Assuming you meet her out, make sure you not only offer but insist on escorting her to her mode of transportation. Nothing prevents a second date more than an abduction of your female interest. It also won’t help with the local authorities when the restaurant hostess identifies you as the last person to be seen with her.  Besides you saw the heels she was wearing, she couldn’t have parked that far away unless she pulled the flip flop trick (to be discussed at a later time).

5)      Make sure she made it home – Ask for a text/call when she finally arrives home. Again her safe arrival home improves your chances of a second encounter, but more importantly if she hits you one hour after you make it home, it gives you a heads up on how far you will be driving on future dates to pick her up. Gas doesn’t grow on (American) trees so this heads up may be much appreciated.

UBF – can we all agree on these counting towards the chivalry score? Ladies – what do you wish was included? Gents – what have you done that seemed to be glossed over?

onetrik..aka mr. chivalry isn’t dead if you recognize it…