Who should pay for the first date?

[gigag04]

Define date...

[SATX-Scrub]

Well, since I'm actually out in the dating world again, I've found that when women ask me out, they prefer to pay. Just saying. Its not how I was raised, but it seems to be the normal trend nowadays. I've found myself looking at menus trying to find something sensibly priced and it feels weird. I've grown fond of chicken and wedge salads.

[RPB]

Perfect example of a poll where the answer would be different if posted in another lake/mall/place because the "Population" and "Sample" would be biased towards people over 21 answering here ... since one must be 21 to get a CHL

I only bring that up because if I were still in high school, I'd have wondered why "The girl's parents" or "The boy's parents" wasn't an option too.



But it tickles me with the biased "poll results" which get publicized so often about "giving kids guns on campus" etc when the poll is taken from freshmen exiting a Campus Democrats club meeting, instead of at Reds gun Range.

[mot7981]

Being on the wrong side of fifty, I'll have to say the man should pay unless the woman insists. But obviously there's room for disagreement on this one.

[magillapd]

I'm going to take a guess. Most the the women said the man should pay, and most of the men said whoever asked should pay.

[WildBill]

Define date...

I am not sure what the OP had in mind, but this is a definition I would use:

5. a. an appointment for a particular time, esp with a person to whom one is sexually or romantically attached: she has a dinner date
For a first date I would say "attracted" rather than attached.

[bayouhazard]

If someone organizes a group gathering then every person or couple should pay for themselves. If someone invites people to a gathering then custom is the host provides for the guests.

[PBratton]

I think in this case we can keep it simple and say that it is two people who wish to spend some time with each other. And one of them askes the other if they wish to meet for dinner, lunch, coffee, desert, movie, etc...

[Oldgringo]

Let's assume the "who pays" question has been resolved for a moment.

Now then, who places their cell phone on the table first, the man or the woman?

[gigag04]

With the looser definition I think it's a toss up then as to who pays. If its already obvious the guy likes the girl, then he should start shelling out $

[PBratton]

With the looser definition I think it's a toss up then as to who pays. If its already obvious the guy likes the girl, then he should start shelling out $

And never stop shelling out the cash...

[J.R.@A&M]

If the man asked for the date, he should pay. If the woman asked for the date, the man should at least offer to pay.

[Oldgringo]

We're pretty clear on who pays and when.

So, I guess everybody puts their cell phone on the table at more or less the same time in the event that a call more important than the date itself comes in? Just askin' in case that, heaven forbid, I, or Mrs. Oldgringo, have to hit the datin' scene again in this century. We wouldn't want to come across as an old rube or something.

[03Lightningrocks]

Well, since I'm actually out in the dating world again, I've found that when women ask me out, they prefer to pay. Just saying. Its not how I was raised, but it seems to be the normal trend nowadays. I've found myself looking at menus trying to find something sensibly priced and it feels weird. I've grown fond of chicken and wedge salads.

I have experienced the same thing. I always TRY to pay, but have run into strong resistance from women who have initiated the date. I don't want to offend them so I do the modern thing and say thanks. It does cause one to be careful about what one orders from the menu. If I am paying and know I am, I hardly ever look at the price. I just order what I want to eat. Thing is, many women in my age range make just as much or more money than I do and could be offended by my implication that they can't afford to pay.

Dating is like one big booby trap!

Just saw the cell phone question. Funny thing is, I am so accustomed to my cell phone being at my side, I never even thought about this being rude. Would I pick it up and start talking or texting someone... no... not at all. i hit the ignore button. But I do put the phone right beside my knife and fork!

[strider67]

Although my wife of now 8 years initiated the first contact, I paid on our first date. It was me, however, that did "officially" ask her to lunch first. I agree that the more important thing here is that the man at least offer first...regardless of who pays in the end. And keep the phones holstered...IMHO.