When getting to know a man, I am used to him making plans and offering to fund them. I am not used to having to pay for his anything; not his movie ticket, toothpaste, nor cup of coffee. And if the napkin it came on was for sale, I wouldn’t want to buy that either.
Blame it on social conditioning, sexism, or any other smarty mac farty-fart word.
But before you bring out your Mary Daly texts, or a copy of Steve Harvey’s Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man for that matter, let me make one thing clear. I am not that one chick who wakes up to the tune of Destiny Child’s “Bills Bills Bills”. I can pay for my own napkin just fine, thank you. So please, put your screw face back in your wallet. All I’m saying is that I am not as interested in a man who expects me to make the initial investment, as much as I am interested in a man who is patient enough for me to offer.
So fast-forward to ‘ole boy who asked me to take him to the movies. For a moment, I felt like that dude at the nightclub; small talking with a woman who just spent a quarter of her paycheck on a too tight dress, in hopes that he T-Pains her with a shot of something strong.
And men, you already know, once you buy her that drink, she is going to nod a few times, say “uh huh, yeah” a few more, and then excuse herself to find her friend that she “lost”.
Most men skip that portion of the evening, and get straight to the point (or as far away from it as possible). But I am not most men. I am a woman who pretends to be a scientist every once in a while.
So, in traditional pseudo-science fashion, I decided to turn this awkward experience into an experiment.
And it started with me asking for two tickets. Simp. Sucker. Whatever you choose to call me. I was that. But only for two hours. Then I was back to my gangster status.
When the movie was over, I expected an extended thank you hug, handshake, or choreographed dance. Instead, I received a smirk and a polite “thank you”. Which is cool. I guess.
And again, I felt like I was that dude who just bought the too tight dress a drink. Frustrated because she done went looking for her “lost” friend without even having the decency to two-step with me for half of a song.
And no, I am not a giver who always expects to get. That wouldn’t make me any better than ole’ boy, now would it? All I’m saying is that I feel more secure as friends-or whatever I’m about to be with someone-in knowing that they do not expect anything from me up front.
Generous giving opens the heart. Forced giving, is well…robbery.
No thank you to that option.
What Others Are Saying:
Things My Hair Tells Me to Say 
Dang, you didn’t even get a kiss?! You got played, movie tickets aren’t cheap. I hope he was at least eye candy and you copped a feel on his knee or something.
haha…no knee action for me that night.
Generous giving opens up the heart,forced giving is well….robbery. Very very nice T. It time for me to follow the trend my cousin,and you started for me,and start bloggin my old noggin .
:o) keep me posted on your thoughts. thanks for reading.
Next up in your woman-who-pretends-to-be-a-scientist training: learning to sniff out the potentials from the ones who are looking for a free meal/drink/ticket. Don’t worry the men have plenty of training to do on this level too, ha.
word? well, let me know what theories pop up.
I appreciate the Title because not all Men think that way. All men do not go to the club or Lounge Thirsty like a dog in desert heat. Some men, just like some lady like to have fun and embark on a night filled with good music and fun. And if a man does offer to buy a young lady a drink, maybe, jus maybe he is looking to spread the good vibrations around, or even just looking to get to know the opposite sex to feel his curiosity void. Maybe ladies are starting to buy into the hype of the Usher’s, Lil Wayne’s, and T. Pain’s of the world and wait for that shiny mouthed chrome- bedazzled necklace wear kid to to come buy them a drink without real words to be spoke while the 5 percent of real men get turned down for dressing “weird” or being to “nice” with there approach.
Nevertheless, I feel you Ms. Taylor, that is not a gentleman’s reaction to free tickets to a movie. No one should expect a “free meal” without the proper thank you with sincerity. I hope it was a good movie.
*hug*…and that my friends, is how to say thank you (via the internet).
Hope you at least enjoyed the movie!