Dawne-
As you seem to be getting responses only from women, I feel it my duty to represent my gender, if not to speak for all us men.
A few observations:
Re-entering the dating “scene” after divorce, I found the practice of the man paying to be much more expected now than say, 20+ years ago. I feel that this is somewhat of a generational shift in attitudes, with the tail-end baby boomers more inclined to split the bill, while the Gen-X[YZ] expecting the man to pay. I understand that millennials don’t date so the issue is so far moot, but admittedly this is from second-hand information.
I urge everyone to heed your advise and make a first date short and inexpensive, so it doesn’t really matter who pays.
There is a corresponding practice for the woman to offer to split the bill, with both parties expecting the man to refuse and to pay the bill. The offer is actually appreciated, particularly when it is apparent that the woman makes at least as much as the man.
Being asked on a date by a woman who follows the one-who-asked rule can be a lot of fun.
While almost everyone will say that they are more interested in the intelligence and character of their date than on how much money they make, that doesn’t mean that someone’s wealth is not a consideration in deciding who to date. However, those who are impressed by how much one party, presumably the man, pays for a date are probably not on this website anyway.
Those were my two cents, which in this economy represents a significant portion of my income.
Contributing Male Member’s Profile:
Unassuming, artistic, Asian-american, architect. Enjoys good food and wine, skiing, cycling, art, architecture and culture, children and dogs. Boston-born, lived in Europe, settled in MA, loves VT. Seeks someone graceful in many dimensions. Non religious. BOSTON AREA. 48 yo.
Well gentlemen or ladies. What do you think?
