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I really enjoy the concept of what is now somewhat antiquated courtesy. Storm was asking me the other day, like, month(s?) ago, what the purpose of being a gentleman is. Like genuinely, why do you do it.

And I suppose there are a number of reasons, although I really couldn't think of any good ones to give him at the time. He has a little of that effect on me, sometimes. I don't know whether it's gotten worse or better..better...I think. I'll have to pay attention. But in thinking about it, it's actually an interestingly layered concept.

For instance, why, on the first level, would you be a gentleman at all? Basically I suppose it's the same reason people treat other people well: evolution. People learned early on to cooperate with each other in order to better ensure their survival. And the benefits, I guess. For men in particular, I think treating a woman well - in many cases, being a gentleman - would probably give you an evolutionary edge on the procreation scale of things as well as the not dying one. That was a sort of tongue and cheek joke, tell me if it comes across.

But in terms of now, today, our basic society, why would you be a gentleman. I suppose you would because that's what you thought was right, how you were raised, or something. Storm is big on the arbitrary nature of the concepts of right and wrong, this was his chief argument. That there was really no point, because you're just following the construct someone else has created that dictates a positive or negative behavior. I think it's interesting, but I also think the gentleman will never go out of style.

And I also think it will never be pointless.