I agree with you and disagree with you. Haha. Let me break this down.

I believe whoever does the asking should pay. If you ask someone out you are asking to host a social event, called a date. For the same reason that you would not invite someone to a party and then show up on their doorstep demanding to be catered to, cleaned up after, and entertained....you don't do that to someone you have asked out on a date. You've agreed to host. So host. Put up or shut up.

That said, there are a few caveats.

1. Equality comes from sharing the dating burden. Meaning if he asks you out, then next time you ask him out. And if you ask him out, who's hosting? You are. So host.

2. It's also okay to make arrangements beforehand about foing dutch. Some people are uncomfortable talking about personal finances with people they don't know well. Coffee dates are a good fix for this. Low investment while you get to know each other. You can kick it up a notch once you both know the other is worth further investment.

3. If you are the guest of the date, then act like a damn guest or don't bitch and moan about the other's hosting. That goes for both parties, obviously, but as a woman who has asked men out on dates ....let me point out two more things.

1. Lots of times men refuse when asked because it makes them feel emasculated. Witness the irony of men all up in their feels about not being appreciated when they won't allow you to do things to show them your appreciation because of "Manhood". Make a choice, gentlemen. Which is it?

2. Men want to have their cake and eat it too. This is a double standard and just as hypocritical as what they are accusing women of. When you are asked out on a date, your job is to be amenable, not make an ass of yourself, decide if you want to engage further with the oerson who askes you out, and be respectful. Turns out, easily 3/4 of the men I asked out only said yes because they figured if I asked them I was agreeing to sex and they were going to get an easy score. They didn't say yes to a date, they said yes to a hook up. Even though what I asked for was clearly a date.

And then the pouting started. And the attempts to control. Neg. Manipulsation. Negotiation. And...and...and... You get the picture.

I think many women would like to ask men out more, especially if it would relieve the pressure of all the dunderheads trying to "shoot their shot". But that won't happen until men learn to respect their sexuality more and see women as people instead of a warm place to shoot their load. Just saying.