Well, that’s pretty amazing all by itself. Not a very common thing anymore, and I notice it more and more as my daughter grows.

I like to hope there is ONE person teaching their son to be a gentleman, because otherwise, I’ll try to lead my daughter to a convent. Seriously, it seems that the concepts of genteel behavior are lost almost everywhere I look.

Now, I’m not talking about rushing to open doors and sir-walter-raleigh style flashy displays of coat-puddle covering. That’s crap.

What I’m talking about are the basics. The things I was taught, the things I learned from my father, an old school gentleman if ever there was one.

Simple rules, mostly. A man never touches a woman uninvited. A man never makes a “move” on a woman. A man treats a woman with respect at all times, and that means while in her presence and not in her presence, and in fact a man shouldn’t discuss a woman with other women or other men.

I’ve been chided for this attitude on a number of occasions. I have never so much as touched a woman without a specific invitation, including shaking hands. I’ve never rubbed up against a woman in a public place, except in a crowd where such was impossible to avoid, and frankly, I try to avoid those circumstances. I specifically address women as “Ma’am” and I do not speak familiarly to them unless invited to do so.

I do joke and flirt verbally, and I do so with women whom I believe to be receptive on the basis of humor alone. While I will say I find a woman attractive, etc. and even on occasion make mention of my secret lust, this is ONLY HUMOR and it is ONLY DIRECTED AT WOMEN WHO “GET” IT.

In retrospect, I see that there were women I knew through my life who were interested in me, and waited for me to make the first move. Several, in fact. Also, in retrospect, those women, for the most part, were trouble, and I’m happy not to have gotten involved. Even women with whom I’ve been intimate, it has always been my practice allow them to initiate activity of, er, any kind. hell, I’m always ready. When they’re ready too, it makes the whole experience much nicer. Much.

I’m amazed at the people who miss this. I don’t think this is for everyone, this is just the way I’ve always felt, your mileage may vary. I don’t judge other men for their actions until it comes to the point of force, but I won’t tolerate less than gentlemanly behavior(by my definition) from anyone who sees the daughter.

Oh, and I think I might add, I’m armed.