Senior year of high school we had to choose a topic to debate in my dual enrollment English class. I elected to debate the merits of men paying on the first date. That is, I defended why men shouldn’t pay on the first date. I cringe when I think back on my arguments, because they were rudimentary and based more on wit than wisdom (what’s new?), but I still stand by the assertion: We need to recall the age-old notion that men pay on first dates.

The rule should be either:

a.) Whoever invited you on the date pays (which can be the man then), or

b.) You split the check.