Much of the article you linked to can be summed up by, “Oh no, women are free to be individuals, what are we to do!?” I sincerely hope that we never quite figure out what the rules of dating ought to be in an age of equality, because if we do, we'll be stifling diversity. Instead of treating your partner as a representative of his or her class, you ought to treat him or her as an individual, with idiosyncratic wants and needs from a relationship.

Gender roles in relationships are a crutch for those with the emotional IQ of an adolescent. If, in this brave new world of feminism, you have to *gasp* communicate with your partner and figure out what he or she wants, that's a good thing, not a bad thing, at least in my book.

In any case, I have always found that people who complain about the failings of the opposite sex invariably end up dating people who validate their low opinions. What can I say, good luck to you, hope you manage to find some happiness in your life regardless of being in a “culture” or “system” that actively works against you.

This is false. Have you ever wondered why almost every society preceding the 20th century west had patriarchal qualities? Why they all seem to have similar “cultural norms”? The fact is that the presence or absence of a uterus affects much more than just the biophysics of reproduction. It permeates both mind and body. I'm not saying this is good. I'm just saying that's the way it is.

Wow. I didn’t know grown men played coy. How many posts have you had on here? You know damn well know you’ve had plenty of discussions about “Patriarchy”.

“That to one side, I also don't understand where this became a matter of “bad female dating behaviour”. Women want different things. The same woman might want different things at different times. How is this bad behaviour? How is it any different from men? I'm not denying that women sometimes behave badly on dates. Men do too. Hell, I'm sure I have. So what? Women. Are. People. Do you get it yet?” -Simon

Dude when are you gonna stop hiding behind the “women are people” shield?
Women aren’t entitled to corner offices, and promotions either Simon. So when that small business owner decides to pick a HIM over a HER, It’s because the owner wants different things. It’s just ordinary human inconsistency. That man got the raise and she didn’t because sometimes men behave badly. There were only 2 candidates. It wasn’t gender. It was odds. And it’s nothing SHE should be frustrated about. She wants something from a man. Right? Men are people! Remember? There’s nothing wrong here.

No Simon, that is a specific story of entitlement; it is not about “choice” and “individuality”. You do not perceive the entitlement that women have in dating because you are a bigot. But it is there. As I accused before, I don’t think you feel women have any entitlements. Try to name one female entitlement off the top of your head. You can’t… Can you? Because you think there are none and you are wrong!

“Let me break it down for you, since you didn't get my little hint: Everything you've written says that all the power in the your relationships is with the woman, or at least that's how you look at it. But here's the rub – that's nothing to do with the woman. That's you. You're walking into an interaction (date) knowing you want something (pussy) and prepared to do pretty much whatever it takes to get it (pay, not pay, crawl on the floor, whine incessantly). Since you apparently work in sales or customer service, you should be able to see the problem here – you want something, and at least in your mind, she doesn't care. “ – Simon

No Simon,

Power in my relationship depends on the area and the woman. I have never dated Gina Carrano, so I have always been the more physically powerful. When I was in college I dated a trust fund girl, so she was the economically more powerful. Later on I dated a PHD student, but I have a BS from a top 5 private University so maybe educationally that was a push. Currently, I am the more economically powerful one in the relationship, but she is the more socially powerful. I am an extreme extrovert, but she still tops me.
Do you even have a coherent definition of power? Because I don’t think you do.

“In case you still don't let me break it down further. Since you pretty much gave yourself away here the minute you put finger to keyboard, you probably do the same when out on a date too. Most women object to being considered as ambulatory vaginae with inconvenient extra body parts attached. The fact you're prepared to sleep with them pretty much regardless of what they do isn't a complement – it makes it clear you not only have no interest in her, but no respect for yourself. About the only women who aren't going to run a mile are manipulators who'll use you for whatever they want and then move on. That probably just reinforces you perception of ordinary human incosistency as “bad female dating behaviour”, since I don't doubt you see a lot of the real thing.” – Simon

No Simon,

You don’t need to date sea horses to explain their courtship rituals. Observation is a powerful tool. You should try using it more. And while I can “date” with the best of them (I am good in most any social setting) I tend to prefer women whose idea of a “date” is just hanging out. If my perception is tainted by anything its spending time with women whose idea of dating was unconventional.

MOST men once considered “Marrying” to mean a gal to clean and cook for you. Eventually most folks figured out there was a problem with that expectation.

MOST women currently consider “Dating” to mean a guy asking her out, picking her up and taking her somewhere… eventually folks will figure out there is a problem with that expectation… even folks like you.