There are rules

I was told there are rules to follow to be called a gentleman. I know a few by instinct, not to kiss and tell is one. I really don’t call them rules, for me it’s just politeness. Anyway, I got some tips from women and recalled some of it as much as I can.

- always give the lady the best seat with a better view
- on a car or PUV, always let the lady get in first
- when alighting a PUV with your lady, get out first then assist your lady
- open the doors when a lady is getting in, let her in first of course
- Still, open the doors when going out, BUT, get out first (somebody told me this, check out the scene outside first, just like a bodyguard )

These are the rules I did not know at first, not on instinct that is.

So are we gentleman? I took 3 short personality quizzes found on the net, put myself on the test I thought – so vain. The first two quizzes have almost the same questions and got the same results – “I am a gentleman”. But the third quiz result was 56% Gentleman, wtf – 56%?! !

So I scrapped the test and asked real people (men & women) on what they think should a gentleman do.

And I got these unedited responses:

“respect and appreciate a lady even if she’s ugly..” – JR, 29 yrs old

“hmm, don’t talk openly about girls.” – LU, 45 yrs old

“always have a woman walk on the inside of the sidewalk, avoid public fights, keep your word, respect your elders, apologize when your wrong, don’t use profanities, don’t kiss and tell, pay your bills, don’t spit…” – JE, 50 yrs old

“shutting up during arguments with women. “ – RB, 36 yrs old

“open the car door for a lady. “ – CL, 41 yrs old

“offer a ride, ask a lady to order first” – JG, 35 yrs old

“treat a lady with equal opportunities, do not discriminate and do not hurt a woman physically, emotionally and psychologically.” – JP, 26 yrs old

“opening of car doors, during s__, make her c__ first. “ – WP, 39

Some of the replies I got are generally acceptable and doable i think. But generally hard to keep. Therefore, I came up with 10 tips that could probably pass off a man as a gentleman for the moment. These tips are easier to keep at least 75% of the time.

10. Don’t be late
9. Offer a ride (I lost a cellphone doing this, be wary)
8. Open doors
7. Pick up your woman or if you meet somewhere, walk her to her car
6. Always give the better seat
5. Always be on the danger side
4. Do not check out other women if you are with one already (try your best)
3. Watch your words, don’t give them lightly, when you do, stand by it (a very good friend told me this)
2. Pay attention and listen well, try to respond please (you think this is easy?)
1. Don’t kiss and tell

It’s downright impossible to itemize the rules without writing a book about it. But to be safe, remember another rule that supercedes all rules – different strokes, for different folks. If you don’t know, ASK!

take at your own risk – quiz links -
http://www.quizcat.com/test2/25.html
http://www.funquizcards.com/quiz/personality/the-gentleman-test.php
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouagentlemanquiz/