Woman's 'Bare Minimum' Dating Rules for Men Go Viral, Sparking Outrage

A viral TikTok video detailing what a young woman considers the "bare minimum" dating standards for men has ignited a firestorm of debate online, drawing sharp criticism from many male viewers who deem the expectations unreasonable.

Courtney Bell, a 23-year-old social media manager from New York City, posted the video aimed at "unconfusing" men about modern dating protocols. Her list of requirements includes a man selecting a restaurant, making a reservation, communicating the details, and arranging transportation for his date.

Bell's guidelines extend to the date itself, advising men to stand when their date arrives, ask questions about her, and share details about themselves. She also emphasized proper etiquette for paying the bill, instructing men to "sign with haste, put the card down, tip well."

Furthermore, Bell advised against making immediate advances, suggesting a "lovely goodbye" instead and a follow-up text the next day to confirm the date's success and propose a future meeting. "Ask availability for the next date. Also send details for what you have in mind," she instructed.

The video quickly garnered millions of views, but the comment section became a battleground. Many male commenters expressed frustration, interpreting Bell's requests as demanding excessive effort and financial investment from men with minimal reciprocity. One user sarcastically remarked, "Do all the work, spend all your money, while I put out minimal effort.' That’s all I heard."

Others questioned the practicality of some demands, such as arranging car services, with one commenter exclaiming, "Send a car? Who am I? Jeff Bezos?"

Some critics also questioned the alignment of Bell's expectations with feminist principles, arguing that expecting to be treated to a meal or have a door held open contradicted feminist ideals. "So is it down with the patriarchy or not?" one user questioned. "There seems to have to be no investment of any kind on the women’s end."

Conversely, many female viewers applauded Bell's directness and perceived practicality. Comments included appreciation for her candor and agreement that her points should be common sense. One user commented, "Unfortunately, they know this. They aren’t stupid, they just don’t value us."

Bell stated that she was inspired to create the video by her own dating experiences and those of her friends and sister. She acknowledged the "polarizing" reactions but expressed disappointment in the negative responses from men, noting the significant number of women who agreed with her dating guidelines.

"Women want to feel like they’re being courted and are collecting dating horror stories like Infinity Stones," Bell told The Post. "Meanwhile, a rising number of men feel like they’re entitled to more while doing less." She added, "With the significant number of women who agreed with the dating guidelines I laid out, one would think men would take notes on how to be a true gentleman."