DISCLAIMER: This post is NOT me complaining about all guys being insincere and ungentlemanly and saying "Oh em gee, chivalry is dead, guys are all tools, no wonder they're all single." NO. And I'm sure there's a million female things that are analogous to this story. This is just me noticing one polite guy and exploring my thoughts on the matter of chivalry.
Last night, I was hanging out at a friend's apartment across campus. Curfew was imminent and one of the guys there offered me a ride home. Not excited to walk home in the Rexburg wind, I said yes, please. When we got to his car, he opened my door for me to get in.
I'd just met this guy a few hours before--we weren't on the way home from a date, he wasn't trying to impress me or woo me or anything like it. That's exactly why he impressed me. It was a tiny thing, really--he probably didn't think twice about it. But I noticed it, and this is my reason:
There are a lot of people who expect doors to be opened, bags to be carried, and seats to be given up for a lady--and plenty of guys do so. However, there are a lot of guys who only seem to remember to be a gentleman when they're on a date or impressing a girl they like. It's very natural and normal for someone to put their best foot forward and try to make a good impression.
Personally, I feel that people are the most impressive when they do something good/considerate if they do it with no motivation besides simple kindness.
Men, women can open their own door, carry their own bag, stand up instead of taking a sacrificed seat, and pay for their own meal. And we DO like it when you do all those things for us when you like us and want to be a gentlemen and make us feel like you care. But I think there's more value in also doing those things for your annoying little sister, your grandma, your classmate, your teacher, your brother, your uncle, or a stranger in a grocery store.
To quote brotip #39: (censored version): Don't do things to BE cool. Do things because you ARE cool.
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