Going dutch for drinks is a common strategy for a first date. It is a low risk meeting since either person can eject easily. Miss Manners is always a proponent of preserving propriety for people with interpersonal problems. Here is a section of her column from today. I am not sure what sedditors could learn from this situation, even if the tables were turned, but her advice is always good and will be useful in surprising situations.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A man I connected with online invited me to meet him at a restaurant bar. I ordered a glass of wine. As the conversation ensued, his comments were racist, anti-Semitic, sexist, materialistic, and finally insulting to me and my values.

I stood up and said I was leaving. He said that I should pay for my wine. I said no, because he invited me. I left him with the bill. What do you think??

GENTLE READER: That sticking him with the bill would not be nearly as satisfactory as flinging down money on the table, with the clear intention that you consider the price of ridding yourself of him to be worth it. But, then, Miss Manners considers the high-handed insult to have more dignity than the lowly one.