Last night, I once again had the pleasure of DawnÂ’s company for dinner. SheÂ’s bright, witty, vivacious, and neener neener because you missed out.

She said something that stuck in my mind and got me to thinking. Dawn told me that she wasnÂ’t used to guys being gentlemen. You see, I open doors for ladies, including car doors. I held her coat while she put it on. I walk on the outside of the sidewalk. ItÂ’s basic manners that I learned from my dad, and now unusual enough to be remarkable.

Shame on you guys.

Update: I removed all the silly footnotes. It flows better without them, and obscured the fact that I actually had a point to make.

Posted by: Ted at 09:02 AM | category: About Ted
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1 Normally, if a guy pulls out a chair for me, I have to be wary if he's not going to pull it out from under me completely. I think we gals have been so desensitized to chivalry that it throws off our equilibrium when we're not being treated like shit. Or maybe that's just my personal experiences talking. You're a gem, my friend. Thanks for treating me like a lady!

Posted by: Dawn at March 10, 2004 12:05 PM (L6pam)

2 I used to try the old "stand up for a lady on the bus" routine until one woman slapped my face so hard it threw me back into the seat - stupid feminist.

Posted by: Ozguru at March 10, 2004 09:48 PM (/acvO)

3 Strange.. I do all manner of chivalrous things and have never ever heard a complaint, only praise (most often from grandmas). The trick is to identify the "feminists" and avoid 'em altogether.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 10, 2004 11:53 PM (9mpVW)

4 I've gotten the occasional dirty look for giving up a seat and such. Mostly it's surprise and smiles. I don't do it to be superior, I do it because that's the way I was brought up.

Oz, that was no lady that slapped you. I would've been tempted to punch her lights out.

Posted by: Ted at March 11, 2004 05:41 AM (ZjSa7)

5 When I used to take the bus to work, I noticed that men never gave up their seats, even when women were obviously pregnant and struggling to stand. I always was the one who gave up my seat for other women. It's memories like that that stay in my mind when we go into discussions of chivalry.

Posted by: Dawn at March 11, 2004 08:09 AM (Q0xHi)

6 Montgomery, Alabama in the 50's. My dad was a young kid in the Air Force, and he gave his seat to a pregnant black lady. The driver put both of them off the bus.

I've got one hell of an example to live up to.

Posted by: Ted at March 11, 2004 08:35 AM (blNMI)

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