From a half-decent guy

Don't take that to mean the other half is indecent, or that from the belt down I'm little more than an animalistic being.

I'm the kind of guy that asks girls out on dates - I'll shell out the 50 bucks and a bottle of wine for the sake of entertaining conversation and the potential to get to know someone. Call me crazy since in this tiny little bubbly-filled world I live in that seems like a prohibitive cost. Especially because parties provide academically overachieving but socially awkward kids sufficient lubrication to let their inhibitions out.

The rise of the BOMO. Black-out make-out.

And I'll begin my argument by saying that my gender has thrown chivalry by the way side. Most no longer even consider letting a girl go first, standing on the street side of the curb when walking or offer to help them with their bags. Some, both guys and girls, would argue that this is not a sign of disrespect but merely an evolution of the times - feminism happened. I know, but respect never went out of fashion.

But guys can only get away with what girls let us get away with. See in a world where the Gaga soundtrack blasts and a guy and a girl grind their way into oblivion as they try to fuse their bodies into one while still leaving their clothes on (for now) all the while pretending to have a pseudo meaningful conversation which really involves exchanging first names and numbers so they can hook up later - a guy like me is fighting the odds. They sloppily make out and leave the party wondering if they'll have to be the first to text.

The guy goes home happy he hooked up but wondering if something more could have been. He might text but he'll be nervous about it and pretend to be cooler than he is. The girl goes home happy she hooked up (presumably) but she might only text if she's truly curious. "A guy should be the one to pursue" seems to be one of those tenets the times have not managed to change.

So where does the "date asking" kick in? Post hook-up? Pre hook-up, on the dance floor(That's a story for the grandkids)? Guys and girls are both looking for meaningful, loving relationships, and the notions on how to get to them are the same. But it's easier to put that off when there's a pair of willing lips at the bar.

I'm asking you, girls of the college dating scene, to hold off on the dance floor mating ritual for a week. See how many guys realize that maybe a night downtown, with a bottle of wine and awkward waitress has suddenly become the right approach.

A bientot.