So I wanted some 21st century insight on the role of chivalry in modern dating and what
better person for this damsel in distress to talk to than her resident knight in shining
armor? Hello.
Thank you first of all so much for being here. Glad to be here, thanks for having me. Does
your horse need any carrots? Oh he's good, I already fed him. What did you feed him?
Hay. Hay! Do you have a knight name? Sir Mix-A-Lot? Taken. First question that I have for you
since you are my resident knight in shining armor and I want to get some insight from
the male mind on chivalry in modern dating, please enlighten me and our viewers on what
chivalry is exactly? Chivalry according to the Webster's Dictionary, is the sum of the
ideal qualifications of a knight including courtesy, generosity, valor and dexterity
in arms. Okay, so 21st century knight though, bring it down for me: Do guys think about
chivalry these days? I think chivalrous has been replaced by courteous. Could you offer
an example? Opening up doors for ladies. But I know that some guys get nervous about say
opening up doors for a woman because sometimes women assume that by opening a door or being
courteous based on the fact that they are female is a sign that maybe a guy thinks that
women can't open doors for themselves or are weaker. Sometimes I think it kind of says,
'Hey I'm a man. You're a lady. I should be doing this for you. And you can't do it on
your own.' Your sign of chivalry is basically communicating that I can't do it on my own?
Is that what you just said? I've thought about it. What about say something a little bit
bigger like picking up the check? Especially in like a first date situation. Is it chivalrous?
Absolutely. I think that guys should do that. Have you ever had a woman rebuff you for being
chivalrous? Mmm-mmm. You're just 100%. Always a go. Wow. Yup. Homeruns. Yeah. Every time.
Knocking it out of the park. Good for you resident knight. Do you think chivalrous goes
both ways? Do you think women can be chivalrous towards men? Well by evidence of me wearing
a suit of arms I'm going to go ahead and say the answer is yes. This whole debate over
modern chivalry in relationships especially as it pertains to men and how they act toward
women, I think the problem that we encounter is the fact that it's an outdated term. Because
it's not so much chivalry, it's that word that you brought up, courtesy. It's simply
another word for courtesy or respect. So can women be chivalrous? I hope so. I would like
to be courteous and respectful to a man that I am dating and I love and I want to show
him the same kind of courtesy that he would show to me. Maybe in different ways. So what's
an example of a woman being chivalrous towards a man? Being barefoot and pregnant. Just kidding.
No. Not necessarily opening the door, not as I've seen on some websites woman buying
a man flowers. It's a different kind of communication, but picking up the tab every now and then,
making food, just going out of your way to make that person's life easier. Would it be
courteous for a woman to open the door for a man? Absolutely. Social convention would
say it's more of a man's job to do that but if I'm going into work and there's a dude
behind me will I hold the door for him? Totally. But would you--cause I am always a knight--hustle,
hustle up to open the door for that fellow? If he was cute. If he wore his khakis well.
I might doth my hat to him. So the ultimate question with all of this that I wanted to
get to with you, resident knight in shining armor is chivalry dead in modern relationships?
Answer: No. Courtesy should always be there. I think we could say that chivalry the term
might be dead but equal opportunity courtesy should be and we hope is alive and well. And
that's the way it should always be right? Always. And I just realized I'm holding this
sword by the blade! Oh no your hand! Oohhh! You're bleeding, somebody get a towel! You're
a knight shouldn't you help me? I can't do anything! Oh feminism!