Bring Back These 8 Old Fashioned Dating Habits

We Should Bring Back These 8 Old Fashioned Dating Habits

So, what if men treated women like they deserve to be treated? What if men actually acted like gentlemen? What if they actually held doors open, did things out of the blue just to show they care and actually respected you the way you deserve?

I mean, look at how the dating scene has become today. It’s a total fiasco.

Emojis? Meetcute? Online dating? Texting? tinder?!??!

What happened to the old timey dating scene? Where you and the guy you’re sweet on shared a malted milk chocolate in a shamefully racist and discriminatory establishment?

Ah, the good old days. Besides all the terrible racism and bigotry and generally awful human behavior.

But hey, we’ve got awful human behavior today. I mean, have you seen tinder?

Basically, my question is, “What if today were more like yesterday?”

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Let’s begin:

1. What If We Still Dressed Up For Dates

And I know women still do this, but I’ve seen too many guys show up to dates in hoodies, jeans, and sandals (ughhhhhhhhhhhhh) to stay silent on this.

Put some effort into how you look! You don’t have to wear a whole suit, but like, maybe wear a suit if it’s appropriate? Suits are awesome and you want to impress your date.
 

2. What If Guys Still Picked Women up at the Door

No, guys, we don’t want to “meet you at the bar”, we don’t want you to honk outside our houses, and we don’t want to get a wasted text at 4 in the morning saying “whaasatasss uppp?”

Don’t call me to tell me you’re outside! Come up to my door, knock, and greet me – like a normal person.

A little effort goes a long way.

3. What If We Stopped Expecting Sex

Since when is one datethe threshold for “OK it’s time to hook up now and it’s weird if you don’t”?

Look, if you’re super into a guy and you want to sleep with him on the first date, fine! That’s cool! I’m glad you’re sex positive and comfortable and confident about what you want! No judgement here.

But for people who like to wait and get to know someone a bit first, it’d be really nice if sex wasn’t expected on the first date. I’m looking at you, tinder.

All these suggestions wouldn’t have to be made if Real Men Still Existed

4. What If We Banned Cell Phones During Dates

Dude. I don’t want to look at your stupid face while you’re slack jawed and staring at your phone, giggling about something I can’t see.

Plus, you don’t look attractive bathed in the electronic glow of your phablet.

Just put the phone away and concentrate on the person in front of you! You know, the person you’re on a date with! Is that too much to ask?

5. What If We Were Clear About Our Intentions with Each Other

Now, obviously, I’m not asking a guy to tell me “I am officially courting you and will not stop until we are married”, which, I mean, if it’s the right guy, that’d actually be really hot.

I’m talking about telling me if you’re meeting up with me now but meeting up with your f-buddy later that night.

If this is just for fun and you don’t see anything coming because of it, that’s fine, just tell me! It lets me know what to expect and doesn’t set anyone up for a letdown.

Honesty. It’s kind of hot, right?

6. What If We Asked Each Other Out On Real Dates

Meeting at the bar is just so lazy, you know?

When’s the last time a guy asked you to an honest-to-god dinner? Or to go ice skating! Or for a walk in the park!

Or anything besides “let’s grab drinks!”

I get it, it’s easier to be on a date when there’s alcohol involved. that’s why god invented flasks.

Anyway, it’d be nice to go on real dates instead of just “meeting up for drinks”, like our grandparents used to do before they fought in wars and then boned each other to make our parents. Gross.

7. What If Men Still Gave Women Gifts

OK, so giving us a gift on the first date is coming on a little strong.

But a small bouquet or a few tastefully picked flowers would actually be a super sweet and romantic gesture!

Guys used to liven up dates by showing a display of affection at the beginning, and guess what? it worked.

Try flowers next time, ya lunk.

8. What If We Were Still Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to Each Other

That’s a really weird and convoluted way of saying: “open the car door for a lady like a gentleman, ya dingus.”

It’s a small gesture that takes literally almost no effort (unless you don’t have a car and have to buy one in order to make the gesture, in which case, maybe don’t worry about it).

And yet, it goes a long way! Guys that open the car door for me charm the pants off me (literally and figuratively.

So next time, give the date a little extra thought and make a couple touching gestures, and boom. You didn’t need Tinder after all.

Until next time,

Rebecca Mercy

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48 comments… add one
  • Sandra D. July 8, 2019, 1:17 am

    This is exactly what I’m talking about! I’m only 18 and I love old fashioned dates! It’s kinda sad that most guys my age already want to bang on the first date like it’s the norm and then the relationships only last a few months (or a year, if you’re lucky). It’s so hard to find a guy who is very respectful of the other’s pace and who is a responsible, mature gentleman.

    • Angus September 26, 2023, 8:02 pm

      Because also so hard to find a girl who is respectful to others, who is responsible, mature gentlewoman.

  • Jim November 15, 2017, 11:24 am

    W

  • Paul September 15, 2017, 3:39 pm

    Whatever happened to the real good old fashioned ladies that we once had?

  • Jim W September 6, 2017, 6:13 pm

    Good luck for many of us good single men today trying to meet a good woman that isn’t a Whore at all.

  • Paul December 19, 2016, 6:53 am

    Well i do have to say that i really miss the old days when dating was certainly so much Easier and most men had no trouble at all meeting a Good old fashioned woman as well.

  • Ben August 18, 2016, 6:56 am

    I wish that i could go back in time when meeting a Good woman was a lot Easier at that time and coming to her house and meeting her parents which her parents would’ve wanted me to meet them too to see what i was like.

  • TheTruth May 17, 2016, 8:06 pm

    I really wish i could find a Good old fashioned woman which they Don’t Exist anymore Unfortunately.

  • Ron April 20, 2016, 8:30 am

    Quite a Change in the women of today compared to the real Good old fashioned women we once had years ago, that is for sure.

  • Paul March 24, 2016, 8:30 pm

    Well it is very hard for us Good single men today looking for a real Good old fashioned woman that really Doesn’t exist anymore like we once had since the women of today are NOTHING at all like they were, otherwise many of us men definitely could’ve been all SETTLED down by now with our own Good wife and family that many of us still DON’T have today since many of us are really NOT single by choice.

  • TheTruth March 8, 2016, 8:07 am

    Speaking of good old fashioned habits, where are the good old fashioned women that we once had that were really so much better than today.

  • TheTruth February 5, 2016, 9:13 pm

    Speaking of good old fashioned dating habits, where are the real Good old fashioned women like we use to have compared to the women of today that were Nothing like they were?

  • Frannie Jo June 3, 2015, 4:31 pm

    I love when we go on a date, maybe after we get home, I get a message saying “it was nice spending time with you/ having you around”.

    I also love holding hands in public.

    I love it when you kiss me in the middle of conversation.

  • Helen Peters June 2, 2015, 10:59 am

    Would this be great!? I feel many would love to see the old fashion dating scene again. What a great time that must have been. You really took things slowly compared to today where things move so quickly and I think that is why people get so mental over dating and things like that.

  • Tina Crown June 2, 2015, 10:43 am

    I agree with most of the others here. I also wish that we could go back to these ways, but I feel it would not be an impossible adventure. I will just worry about the way that I date men and look for one that has a similar interest in dating the old fashion way.

  • G. Piper June 1, 2015, 11:48 am

    Well, going back to old fashion dating habits would be great! I wish it would happen, but I am more of a realist. Thanks for the hope though :)

  • Kim Vincent Jones June 1, 2015, 11:32 am

    Wouldn’t this be great? Too bad it would take a major overhaul of our dating culture today, which I think is something that the internet ruined. Old fashioned dating habits are great, realistic and very becoming!

  • Wendy Tens May 24, 2015, 11:30 am

    It would be nice to bring things like this back into today’s culture. Just something that is not going to happen anymore and I blame the television and movies for making youngsters think that it is OK to meet someone for sex and things like that.

  • Dancer G. May 24, 2015, 11:16 am

    Great idea! Who wants to take on this task of making sure that everyone is on board with this? :) Being realistic also has to be a part of these types of things. Great post!

  • Yancey George May 24, 2015, 10:59 am

    YES WE SHOULD. When the dating culture goes back to this, we will see happier marriages, less teen pregnancy and even happier people in general. Great idea!

  • marty s. May 24, 2015, 10:45 am

    old fashion dating routines are just that, old. it is a new era and there is no reason that we should not be doing something new even in the dating scene, right?

  • Saul Goodman May 24, 2015, 10:23 am

    It would be great to see dating like this again. Everything was so innocent back them compared to now. You meet a person in bar and it seems that clothes are flying around the room before you even known their name.

  • Chase M. May 24, 2015, 10:09 am

    The bad thing is that I am not sure we can just “bring” them back. The dating culture has changed so much and I just do not see them coming back without a lot of work from EVERYONE that feels the same way.

  • J. Quick May 24, 2015, 9:53 am

    I still see the dressing up part where I live. With the rise in public pajama pant sightings, just about anything else makes it seem they are dressing up. Good list here!

  • Koleman Jees May 22, 2015, 9:17 pm

    I know my parents have brought this up on occasion. They think that the dating culture has changed a lot since they were dating. Of course, I have to remind them that was more than 40 years ago LOL.

  • HoneyBear May 21, 2015, 10:50 pm

    Yes we should. The dating world would be way better off if the man and woman acted like this. Back in the day it was well worth the time to date a person for a while to get to truly know them.

  • Nicky S. May 18, 2015, 10:32 am

    I agree. I loved watching old movies that include love like this, or even listening to my grandparents talk about how they dated back in the day. It was such a different time then, do you really think that can happen again these days?

  • W. Steffen May 18, 2015, 10:15 am

    There is no reason to think that this would be great. Most people would agree. However, I am 18 and this is a different time. Even though I would like to do this for my GF, I do not see her accepting it the way I present it. That is not going to help, is it?

  • G. Harold May 18, 2015, 9:41 am

    Even though we should bring these back, don’t you think that the times have changed so much that it just might not fit anymore? Today’s youth has a different mindset and it is not one with flowers, dancing, courting or even respect in many cases.

  • Amad Reedum May 18, 2015, 9:23 am

    The best thing that you can do to keep things fresh with your girlfriend or wife can be found on this list. There is no reason to do ALL of them, but if you can show them any of these once in a while, you are going to reap the benefits for sure.

  • Jesse Hinkman May 18, 2015, 9:07 am

    I still send my girl flowers once in a while even though we have been together for 10 years and that was something that I did when we first met. It brings her back to the day when we knew we loved each other most and that makes for a better relationship.

    • Karz July 1, 2015, 3:38 am

      Hope u guys are married or still in dating ground

  • Grace May 16, 2015, 4:05 pm

    That would be so nice to see. In some cases you might see a relationship like that, but it is not very common. Thanks for posting these, they bring back great memories!

  • OldTimer May 16, 2015, 2:47 pm

    Wouldn’t that be great!? Old fashioned dating seemed more adventurous and spontaneous. What would children do if they were told to date a person for a few months before deciding whether they are “the one”?

    • Nancy May 18, 2015, 10:54 am

      LOL. They would look at you and be all like “whhhaaaaat”. The word “love” is tossed around so loosely these days and it just makes it harder to be sure you found the right partner in crime!

  • Kiki May 14, 2015, 9:51 pm

    There should be a group that gets together and discusses how we can get these things to come back. Dating back in the day was so nice and each of you knew what was going on and what was expected for the other. *Sigh* It would be so nice.

  • Gerrard May 14, 2015, 9:29 pm

    I would have to agree. The youth today do not know what it takes to become a “couple” and are racing to the sex and that is not good for the kids that usually follow.

    • Muhammad July 3, 2015, 7:08 am

      i, (a female), actulaly agree with SOME of the advice, but for some of that advice with which i agree, i agree with for reasons other than, because HE doesn’t like it . some of this advice is not unsound. for example, the don’t-discuss-clothing-thing-but- please-and-flatter-him bit- i agree it’s nice to listen to what another person has to say because you sincerely want to know about your date, or at the very least, to keep the conversation flowing. also, only discussing one’s interest in clothing material things does indicate a shallow person. any way, i agree with some of the advice, disagree with some and half-agree with the rest, but for slightly different reasons than, he don’t like it . it’s really a matter of consideration and courtesy of your date’s feelings that’s really all it is. and the same advice might go for men don’t discuss only YOUR interests, and DON’T get sloppy drunk .this advice goes BOTH ways.

  • Wanda May 13, 2015, 12:42 pm

    Wouldn’t that be awesome? For us older folks, we knew what it was all about back then. Today’s “dating” barely even requires that you met in person.

  • Valerie Walker May 13, 2015, 12:26 pm

    It might seem old fashioned to some, but this would be great! The habits for dating and relationships back in the day were awesome. You got time to know the person, met their family and decided SLOWLY if they were the one for you.

    Most of this happens in a bar these days and that is sad.

  • W. Digler May 13, 2015, 12:08 pm

    My wife would be so happy if ANY of these old fashioned habits came back. We talk about this all of the time and it usually starts when we hear about teen pregnancy. Of course, we assume that the couple is not ready for a baby AND if they did ANY of these habits listed, it might have been avoided, or they would at least have the time to decide if the person they are with was the “right” one.

  • C. Sorenson May 11, 2015, 8:39 am

    I would love it! Back in the day things seemed to be so proper and that included the way the dating scene was. It would be the right thing to bring back even one of these things and give woman what they deserve during a date.

  • Daryl M. May 11, 2015, 8:21 am

    Back in the day it was so nice to be able to dress up, meet a woman at the door and court them for a few weeks. That was the step BEFORE you really go to know them. Today, you are at the bar, you see someone that is likable and that is who you wake up with in the morning. I would go back to this day in age any time I could.

    • Giulia July 1, 2015, 10:44 pm

      I certainly dont want soticey to go back to a time when it was ok to beat a woman behind closed doors, routinely cheat on your wife, while you violently enforce fidelity on her, or have to use some rosetta stone-type keymastering device to get her undergarnments off, so you both could enjoy a little carnal plaeasure. But all in all, theres at least ONE of the dated, comedically-intended axioms listed here, that might STILL ring a little note of truth, even in our modern world>There are few things that make a female look WORSE, than when she agrees to go out with a man on a date, and proceeds to spend half her time dividing her attention between him, another woman she bonds with at the bar, or even worse, another man, bartender, musician in the house band, whatever the case may be. We understand youre a social animal. But how bout controlling your animal instincts once in a while? You fully expect men to do the same with theirs so, turnabout can only be fairplay here.Many women THINK theyre just expressing independence, and showing the man, how attractive and charming and alluring they are to other men, women, people in general, to enforce control and a pattern of respected obedience, in the man like a common canine. But what they DONT understand, is that in reality, most guys may already thinking that the girl in question, is at best, suffering from a mentally-dibilitating short attention span, or at worst, has the potential to be nothing more than an attention-seeking, trifling flirt, who will bring them nothing more than infidelity, misery, and disappearing cash, from their bank account.I know men can and DO, things that are equally bad, if not worse. But for the purposes of THIS discussion, maybe it wouldnt be the worst thing, if women simply attended just this one little session of charm school, just for the day.Being the same, flirt with every person in the place -boor that you despise in men, hardly makes you anymore of a lady, by imitation.

  • Candice G. May 11, 2015, 7:59 am

    Totally. I was on a date one time and the dude was on his smartphone the enter time. When I seemed annoyed, he noticed, but his excuse was that it was the “Final Four and needed to keep an eye on the score”. I should have walked right out on the guy, but I at least got dinner out of it. What that a bad thing?

  • Chad F. May 9, 2015, 11:53 am

    ALL great things that we could all hope for and get one day. Women deserve to be treated in these ways when you first start to court them. Today, you meet someone at a bar and there are clothes on the bedroom floor that you do not recognize in the morning. Not a good scenario.

  • Perry T. May 9, 2015, 10:56 am

    This would make for a different dating scene for sure. My girlfriend and I talk about this quite often. Would it be so bad if you dated a person and did NOT have sex with them right away?

    • karen b. May 22, 2015, 9:43 pm

      Not at all. The person that waits to have sex is better off than those that do not.

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