Men, our standards have been compromised.

A few weeks ago, I was eating lunch with some of my friends. During that time, two girls walked past me outside and I saw them through the glass wall.

I smiled at them, gave a little nod and turned my attention back to my drink, I didn't wait for a reaction because I know they won't give me any.

One of my friends saw that and I knew she wanted to ask me something but can't really arrange her words.

"I know girls would like that. Only guys do it so seldomly, girls just don't know how to react. They just turn away and walk. Plus, a lot of guys do it menacingly or with something else in mind, it's sexual harassment at some point."

She high-fived me.

"nobody does that anymore. Not a smile, not a compliment, no nothing. Even with friends. What does that makes everyone? Under-achieving."

True, if you can't even compliment a friend, how are you going to say nice things about your girl/boyfriend?

The boys put forth minimal efforts, the girls just don't expect so much anymore.

This every day transaction in life and the common man's reaction to it has dragged us well below of what we men are really capable of. Chivalry is dying and we're already digging it's grave.

Come on. Where has gone the days where men wrote seducing poetry and play music to woo women.

Once during my foundation years, I gave a bar chocolate to this girl after chatting with her online a few days. Why? Because she told me she likes chocolates. Trust me, that should be a good enough reason.

However what happened after that were gossips and backstories about me trying to court this girl. I like her, sure, but not that way. So I backed off eventually to avoid further under-the-breath talking.

We shouldn't be extra nice to girls only when we like one of them or when we're trying to get something from them.

A lot of what we are doing now doesn't help in elevating either gender's standards.

what do we do on first dates?

A lunch and a movie? Boring.

A walk in the mall? What are you thinking?

Come on. Go to rooftops, explore your city, get lost on public transport, play hide and seek, even indoor archery is available now. Go experience things you both haven't done before so you can learn together and you don't have to worry about sucking at it. Then after all that you guys can chill and maybe watch a movie.

One more thing, I know a lot of guys do this. An invitation to a girl to be a couple through text or phonecall.

Minta couple through SMS? Kau nak aku lempang kau ke hape. Tak gentleman langsung! Kau nak anak kau kena hantar rombongan meminang guna 3G je ke nanti?

first of all, please find a classier word than 'minta couple', what the heck is that?

Why all this? Because the standards of relationship between men and women needs to be higher. Standards of relationship between humans, should be higher.

Girls, don't jump too early into a relationship with a guy whom you think is extra nice. They should be extra nice. Come on, raise the bar higher. Test him to the limits. Call him for lunch when its heavily raining outside and traffic is murder or ask him to accompany you doing a stressful assignment or whatever. You might worry he'll back off, but who needs a man who doesn't go all out? Just don't do it all the time.

For the girls who argue that they wouldn't be any men courting them with these standards I say if you want an average man who does average things then I won't stop you.

Guys, if everyone does the same things the world would be so redundant, and all the girls would have no difference. Make the girl you're after special, one of a kind. Go ahead, push the envelope, go that extra mile. Call the local radio station, dedicate a song to her. Buy her favourite flowers. If you can't do it for her, do it for yourself. Would you settle in mediocrity? Would you accept a girl who accepts mediocrity?

Cause in the end, if we settle for less, eventually all we are going to be are just mediocre workers, mediocre achievers, mediocre parents, mediocre everything and that will carry on for generations. Mediocre generations.

For ones who have already stepped up their game, kudos to you gentlemen. I salute every single one of you.