Talking in other threads earlier today, the subject of how to treat women keeps coming up. The discourse follows predictable tracks. Blue pillars say vague truisms like “women are people.” Wise, but not really dating advice. Red pillars deliver knee-jerk trauma responses like “no simping!!!” and “you’ll be a doormat with a dry bedroom!!!” We also get a lot of conflicting notions like "these women want to be treated like princesses" and "these women only go for bad boys." Then someone adds wrinkles like “you treat women you want to hook up with like THIS and women you want to marry like THAT.” It’s all a bit too contentious and complicated, if you ask me.

I reflected upon my own unusually long, varied and spectacularly successful bachelorhood and I asked myself the question: how do I really treat women? Eventually it came to me: 51/49. 51% to 49%--I treat women as just very slightly less than an equal. The 2% difference has nothing to do with gender—50/50 would just result in a deadlock, an inability to prioritize, and it’s just human nature to be prejudiced on behalf of yourself.

The best part is, 51/49 works for every woman I want in my life. If I want a hookup, she gets my 51/49, which she appreciates because it’s way better treatment than she's used to from most other guys who just want to get laid. If I’m falling in love, she gets my 51/49, which helps because I’m not putting her on a pedestal or letting myself get exploited, but genuinely welcoming a potential partner nigh-equally into my life. If I want to be friends, she gets my 51/49: I will be as down AF and full of love for you as you are for me… while remaining technically my own first priority.

EDIT: the numbers are symbolic; dating isn't math.