Woweee, this thread has gone off into the absurd since I last stopped by. A guy makes clearly well-intentioned suggestion and people rip it apart just because it had some undertones that could be interpreted as paternalistic or sexist. The few women who have chimed in seem to find the suggestion that men look out for their well being charming.
The OP's remarks didn't seem alien to me. When I moved to the South, I soon noticed how men here would often show an almost comical (to me) amount of courtesy to women--real pre-"women's movement" stuff--and the women here receive it with grace and nonchalance.
The OP's remarks didn't seem alien to me. When I moved to the South, I soon noticed how men here would often show an almost comical (to me) amount of courtesy to women--real pre-"women's movement" stuff--and the women here receive it with grace and nonchalance.