"In the queue at the grocery store tonight when the British girl in front of me couldn't get her card to work. After several attempts, the cashier said it wasn't going to work. (Now mind you, she was a northerner, so it wasn't like her accent was anything to write home about.) That aside, she was cute, (though she could have been ugly...I was just trying to do the Christian thing) so I offered to pay the $12.14. She denied me...twice. Really?!! I wanted to turn to her and say, "come on...it's only like six quid...you can't even get a good kebab and chips for that." Alas, I held me tongue."
That was a status on Facebook from a guy I used to work with a long time ago. For the record, we are no longer Facebook friends.
This was a subsequent comment"Sigh* They say chivalry is dead obly because the art of being a lady h as s been butchered... fight the good fight, sir, your are an inspiration to us all!"
First, did you ever think that the girl at the store was probably mortified because she was holding up a line in a public place, and just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible to see what was wrong with her card? I mean, as someone who abhors public attention, and is prone to worrying, if my card isn't working I need to get away from wherever I am and get home right NOW to figure out why. Maybe that was what she was thinking. Perhaps your disdainful assumptions about what kind of person she is are a little bit misplaced. I'm sure that she wasn't declining your benevolent sexism because she hated you and didn't want to let you do the "Christian" thing. She was more likely frustrated, embarrassed, and panicked.
Second, if it doesn't matter if she's cute then don't mention it. It's not pertinent. And now you look like an ass.
Third, would you have offered to pay for a dude? Would you be this mad if a dude had said no? Things to think about.
Fourth, and comment man this one's for you, what exactly do you mean by "the art of being a lady?" Do you mean the idea that women should at all times be dependent on men and accept their help and guidance in every aspect of their lives? Because that's not being a lady, that's being a doormat. And fella, times have a changed. I mean really, isn't the whole concept of being a lady just something a patriarchal society set up in order to keep women in a subordinate, needy, and weak position? I think it might be, but that's another soapbox. I don't think there is anything inherently right about me allowing some man to open my door, or sitting quietly with no opinion as the men talk. Nope.
So maybe the fine art of being a delicate, ladylike lamb among a world of men is being butchered. But maybe it's time for that particular sheep to go off to the slaughter. Lamb chops, anyone?
