Opinion on chivalry?

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There's nothing wrong with chivalry.
If anything we need more of if in society.

Sure, some people can take any nice thing and use it differently than it's meant and turn it into something entirely different. That doesn't change the meaning of the original thing, nor it's intent, nor does it turn those who use it as it was intended into chauvanistic pigs who deserve to be shot for daring to pull out someones chair.

Where I'm from, it's just what you were taught to do. There are manners for men to use with ladies, lady's to use with men, children to use with adults, adults to use with the elderly, etc. That doesn't mean that when someone uses those manners that they are trying to prove a point. It's just simply good manners.

If a 20 year old woman offers her seat on the bus to a 70 year old woman do you think that the 20 year old is implying that the 70 year old is so decrepit that she must have immediate need to sit? Or are certain manners that are taught to be used with a specific group of people so discriminatory and bigoted that they should be immediately outlawed?

ETA; I knew a guy that was a fireman from the Deep South who went to some large convention somewhere up North. He was a nice guy and not a chauvanist in any way. At lunchtime, a group of the people who were at the conference went to eat and were standing outside to smoke before going back in. A lady fireman was in their group and she put her cigarette in her mouth to light it, and because the guy had his lighter still out and in his hand, he lit it and held it up for her to light her cigarette. Well, she about had a stroke right there. He was being "chauvanistic" and "sexist" and he was "harrassing" her and she marched her little butt back in there to tell on him.

For attempting to light her cigarette.

It's not like he started frantically digging in his pockets. That would be overkill and would only be expected at the most formal of occasions.

Usually most girls don't expect guys to do those certain things, they are simply done. When they are offered, then you graciously accept them. They are not our "due" just for having a vagina. However, depending on where you are and what situation you are in, they most certainly shed some light on your upbringing and who you are as a person.

I don't think the situation in question has anything to do with equality. It has a lot more to do with culture and generational differences. If this happened between two younger people, it would seem odd - today. But in that man's formative years it was expected for him to do that. He's acting in the way he was taught. He's being kind in a way that he's familiar with. To him what he did was "good" behavior. I think it would be an insult to him for the young woman to turn down the seat. But I would not expect his brand of politeness (chivalry, if you will, based on gender) from anyone in today's culture. However, kindness should never be taken as an insult, and he was being kind.

If I were the young woman in that situation, I'd thank him, smile, and graciously take the offered seat, and be sure to thank him again when we parted ways.

The HELL we do


We need more civility and courtesy to others, but chivalry in the post-feminist age amounts to nothing more than inculcating women with a sense of entitlement(which they already HAVE).

I agree. This probably seems like a natural thing to do for this man, and by no means would I be angry towards him.
But I disagree about your view that the woman should just accept this. No, if she knew she was only being offered this seat based on her gender she should pleasantly reject it. This special treatment towards women should not be tolerated or accepted.

A lot of women want equality and rightly so too but they also want to keep their traditional privileges.

I don't think the situation in question has anything to do with equality. It has a lot more to do with culture and generational differences. If this happened between two younger people, it would seem odd - today. But in that man's formative years it was expected for him to do that. He's acting in the way he was taught. He's being kind in a way that he's familiar with. To him what he did was "good" behavior. I think it would be an insult to him for the young woman to turn down the seat. But I would not expect his brand of politeness (chivalry, if you will, based on gender) from anyone in today's culture. However, kindness should never be taken as an insult, and he was being kind.

If I were the young woman in that situation, I'd thank him, smile, and graciously take the offered seat, and be sure to thank him again when we parted ways.

I find your post very condescending.

Total BS - You can't be serious. You believe women are entitled to these privileges based solely on their gender?

Actually I am serious to a good degree since I’m somewhat of a traditionalist with no plans on changing.

Well, if you choose to put women on a pedestal because chivalry demands it(FYI chivalry is quite a bit more than just "ladies first" and opening/holding doors for women, my friend)despite the fact that this practice was invented at a time when there was socially and legally mandated inequality between the sexes in favor of men, then you're a doormat and I hope you enjoy getting p****-whipped.

It's about choosing to do it, not out of being pussywhipped.
And I don't put anyone on a pedestal.
Believe what you want, though.....

Do you think this elderly man was wrong in offering this woman his seat?

And do you also think the woman was wrong for accepting it?