I know, traditionally, guys pay for the dinner. Why is that? Where does it say that guys must pay for dinner (especially the first one) or else they get some terrible punishment?

For your first date, who paid first and why? It's 'normal' that the guy pays, but what would you guys do/feel if the girl insisted on paying? Do you think there will be some hidden implications?

I think it's fair that whoever asked to go for dinner first has to pay. First come first serve, right? And I really don't see why it's a courtesy for the guy to pay first. Don't you girls feel that way too, or am I the only alien on the planet?

added: people have been mentioning chivalry as the reason guys should pay FIRST (usually guys); do you girls think chivalry is important?

Yeah I know I live in a democracy so everyone should be treated equally but wtf!

Rock-paper-scissors lol, or alternate between dates, like the guy pays for one, then the girl, then the guy and so on.

Haha, rock paper scissors is a good idea. For fairness, I think it's fair to alternate, or just pay for your own meal. But what about the FIRST date? Isn't that one the most important?

Its called chivalry. Traditionally dating was instigated by men and hence they paid. Not exactly something to upset the apple cart over.

Well its allways beenlike this for me the one that has to pay on dates. Like last month i went on a double date with my buddy and two blind dates. I was the one who had to pay the bill, so sad that i spend allmost 1,000 on dinner just alone. Well i also have to agree with hatesyou i have a code of chivalry that I follow and have to deal with it anyways thanks for reading this.

Traditionally, the guy pays for dinner. This is based on the fact that the man is the bread winner of the family, the family head. If the man doesn't pay for dinner this also conveys to the woman that the man is not serious about the relationship; it may also indicate to her that you are lazy, or uncaring. If on the other hand, the woman pays for dinner, or insists on paying for herself, this indicates that the woman you are choosing to date is domineering and overly assertive, which is fine if you have the balls to put a woman like that in her place. (barring shouting matches and domestic abuse as those are not acceptable ways for you to make a woman obey you.)

AnonDude is a little sexist here 0_0... "put a woman like that in her place"?

What if the woman really likes you and just wants to pay for your dinner because she cares?

I agree with hatesyou, it's nothing to upset the apple cart over. I was just curious T^T...

And Lelouch-0!! A THOUSAND dollars?? Why the heck didn't you split the bill? You're either really wealthy or really generous...

Yeah well my dad is a chef and were he works its expensive really expensive but i still follow the code were you pay for a girls dinner or anything they ask for

They should either split the bill, or alternate the order of who will pay it.

For example:

The guy pays the current bill, but the girl has to pay it the next time, or vice-versa.

The way I see it is that the first date has to be covered by the one who invited. The rest of the dates the guy should assume that he will be paying because of chivalry as others have said. But that does not mean that the girl should not offer to split the bill in which case the guy should accept her offer to keep the balance of equality.

Simply put, If the guy doesn't pay the bill the girl will think hes cheap. If the girl doesn't offer to split the bill then the guy will think that she is with him for money. If they split the bill, everyone is happy.

If I am invited anywhere by anyone and they say 'they want to take me out', that is what I expect, their treat. But I would fully expect 'if I liked this person enough to do it again sometime' I would offer to take them out. I think that's acceptable between dates and friend outings. Now if I was asked if I wanted to 'get together for lunch', or 'catch a movie' that is different wording that would make me understand that it is an offer as a friend to have a mutual meeting spot and see the same things enjoying a nice conversation, but I would be expected to buy my own way. So if you as a person said this and then out of niceness picked up the tab for the meal, then I think that would be kind. I will say this, how you act on your first date is a preview for them for the relationship if it was to become more serious.

The socially acceptable items that a girl prefers should be talked about before the date. Being honest and asking her, since you really don't know, will be your answer for any specific girl. And respectable in the getting to know your part.

Well... I for one have never been on a date to a resturant. Or even taken a girl out to burger king. But if I ever did, I would pay for it. I dont know, its something in my nature because I am a very formal kind of guy. I still open the door for women when they get out the car, things like that. I know I want to be a very proper guy, and this is what drives my actions, so in short, I don't think chivalry is dead. We should keep paying, because this shows the women that we are MEN, that we have decided to take a stand finanically! ONWARD MEN! SHOW THEM WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF! (has no idea where he was going with this conversation.)

Frankly, it doesn't matter to me who pays. I am independent enough to pay for my own things, however, that doesn't mean just because a woman doesn't pay she is not independent D: . You should already understand that we woman are far more complex than men. One of us may like to pay, while the other, would rather the guy actually be a gentlemen and pay.

I like paying for my own meal thank you but if a guy asks me on a date then it's only fair that he should pick up the tab, and if it were the other way around then I would happily pay. But the thing that I hate the most is when your friends invite you to a dinner party and expect you to pay. Here are MY factors behind who should grab their wallet in this situation. The person who invited everyone should pay, because you were comfortable at home doing whatever makes you happy and this person intrude on your time and out of kindness you accept. So therefore "who ever does the "invite" forks up the cash! And please take note of this, the person who pays is literally giving a “gift of food.” It’s an ancient courtship ritual that dates back to early Greek ancestors who gave the object of their affection figs. But humans aren’t the only creatures who bond over dinner. Anthropologist Helen Fisher, author of Anatomy of Love, points out that male owls and hawks drop rodent offerings near the females they like. And boy chimps offer girl chimps pieces of sugar cane as tokens of love. But among humans, most people expect the man to pay for the first date. In fact, 86% of people polled think the man should pay on a first date, no matter what. Why? Because women tend to feel more comfortable and nurtured when the man pays, but that is plain bullshit to me, I live in the real world where fair is fair. And men often feel like it’s their role in society to be the “caretakers.” Also, when one person pays for the other, it’s a bonding gesture. But there are some exceptions.

So, here are a few “human dating tips” from your truly: Whoever pursues, should pay. Basically, if you ask someone out, you should pay. But after you’ve dated a while, you should start trading off who picks up the check.

If it’s a blind date, get separate checks. Why? Since blind dates are usually set-ups, the experts say that neither of you is “responsible” for the cost of the evening. Or one should pay for the movie and the other should pay for coffee afterward. Then you’re on equal footing. Remember the movie Annie Hall? When Woody Allen takes Diane Keaton on a first date, he kisses her up front so they won’t be tense all evening over the ‘end of date kiss’. So when you make a date, make it clear right off the bat who’s paying so there’s no awkwardness when the bill comes.

Personally i pay for it most of the time (75%?) but i really don't mind. I mean, my gf doesn't make me do it or anything... she usually offers to pay her half but i still like to treat her cuz i know she feels happier when i offer to pay her half as well. And its not like we go out to eat all the time or we go fine dining all the time either so it actually doesn't really cost me THAT much when you consider all my other expenses...