[Z in Oregon]

That:

"Women should pay for dates, and go out of the way to make their beau feel special and valued, and buy him nice gifts, and expect nothing into return."

...was a reversal of the standard case, which tends to be:

Men should pay for dates, and go out of the way to make their date feel special and valued, and buy her nice gifts, and expect nothing into return.

The obvious unfairness of the reversal was intended to illustrate the often obscured unfairness of the standard case.

A point being made.

Personally, I belive all dates should be dutch.

[ValerieUSA]

The obvious unfairness of the reversal was intended to illustrate the often obscured unfairness of the standard case.

You want fairness... stick with sports. Oops, it's not fair that some people are born athletes and others are not.... The fantasy world of "Fair" is for children and "fair"y tales.

[longtermmemmory]

"...Personally, I belive all dates should be dutch."

A man paying for his date was a way of demonstrating ability to provide. (like an engagement ring demonstrates the seriousness to commit to marriage)

There are certain items that should not change for men to be men and women to be women. (ie a man should NOT recieve flowers from a woman. A man should NOT be proposed TO by a woman.) In courting some things are a demonstration of social skill. (manners, politness should never be mistaken for weakness. Whereas the absense of manners politness should call your own judgement into question.)

Dutch? Well if you are just friends ok. She is just a F***buddy and you to are her F***buddy to her, it makes financial sense. But as part of courting?

If money is an issue, there is more than one way to have a romantic dinner. (picnics, cook together) not everything has to be chateau de snooty.