Times have changed. You can’t expect a man to pull out your chair or help you put on your jacket anymore—and why would you want help with those basic things? You’re capable of taking care of yourself. Now that we’re in the twenty-first century, here’s what a gentleman should act like:
- Make sure you get home safely. If you two took separate cars, you can’t expect him to follow you home and walk you to your doorstep. Of course, he should send you a text asking if you got home safely to show that he cares about your wellbeing (and to show that he doesn’t care about the ridiculous “three day” rule).
- Put his phone on silent. When you’re out at dinner, he shouldn’t check for texts or Twitter updates. All of his attention should be on you, even during the awkward silences.
- Delete his Tinder. Once he starts calling you his girlfriend, he should delete any dating apps he has installed on his phone. He should probably get rid of his exes’ numbers as well, just to be safe.
- Won’t pressure you to have sex. A gentleman wouldn’t stare at your breasts more than your eyes. He wouldn’t turn every conversation into a sexual one or beg for nudes, either.
- Avoid getting you drunk. A gentleman shouldn’t encourage you to drink until you throw up in a bathroom stall. He should make sure that you’re still capable of walking without stumbling, talking without slurring your words, and above all, he shouldn’t dream of taking advantage of you.
- Dress appropriately. He doesn’t have to slip into a suit and tie before meeting you for dinner. However, he should own more button down shirts than wife beaters.
- Call when he says he will. If he tells you he’s going to call you, then he should call you. It’s not that hard to pick up a phone, even if he’s swamped with work.
- Give genuine compliments. He shouldn’t copy and paste his compliments, so that he can use them on every woman he talks to. If he wants to say something nice, then he should personalize the compliment to make it a genuine one.
- Give you the WiFi password. After he gives you a tour of his house and asks if you’d like anything to drink, he should give you his WiFi password. It sounds silly, but it’s a subtle way to make you feel welcome.
- Offer to pay. Some things never change. Just like his ancestors, he should offer to pay for your meal. Of course, it’s up to you whether or not you end up splitting the bill.
