Rather than attempt to control my partner I tend to view relationships in the following fashion:

I view "Emotional Support" as an investment, if I don't want to provide it I don't care for the person expecting it. It's possible that men who are not willing to provide that just aren't seriously interested in a relationship. This goes without saying but some guys just want to fuck, or just want someone to date…

Even though I'm a CIS male I have to say, I really don't give a fuck about any of this Male rights bullshit. I'm far from a perfect human being but the idea that women need to earn less than me in order for me to feel like a "man" is insulting.

I'm a few years into my relationship. The sex was never great, I would say we're not very compatible on that front. I keep telling myself that we work well together in other ways, that good sex shouldn't determine whether I'm happy in a relationship or not. I'm basically in inertia mode at this point. I know in the…

Just so you know "gypped" is an ethnic slur referring to the Roma, more commonly known as gypsies. I had a friend who would use the term "jewed", I made sure he understood what he was saying.

I prefer Galentines day. Didn't know it was celebrated outside of Pawnee.

I'm asking you a question based on the information in the "proof" you provided me. If your response is that a majority of the women who are part of the "54%" of Americans who will celebrate V'day tomorrow will be buying their male partners gifts then I think I'm done here, thanks.

"only 54% of Americans are even bothering to celebrate it this year" - from the article you linked to.

I don't have any peer-reviewed academic studies. Therefore my anecdata must exist in a vacuum devoid of any connection to reality, I get it.

I think your boyfriend has it pretty good. Even if my gf got me a $7 record I wanted for V'day I would consider it a major score so don't worry to much about price. I would much prefer this over a $7 bar of chocolate.

I don't consider splitting the tab for a dinner or buying someone candy, a gift. That's just me, you can consider it whatever you want. Some of the other things stated in the link you provided I do consider gifts (flowers, articles of clothing). My standard is a personal standard, yes. Call it horseshit logic if you…

Wait you bought your boyfriend vinyl for V'day? I want to sign up for this as well.

Where do I sign up for that?

I'm not grumpy. If you want to blame me for my situation, feel free. I don't think my dislike of consumerism or Valentines day is the cause. I just think the women I date have an concept of what V'day is and buying me a present is not part of it.

Thats pretty awesome, I wish I had an arrangement like that. I usually buy my gf roses, I know she would be disappointed if I didn't (she said so). A nice dinner out a few days after when restaurants are less busy, that sort of thing.

I like that. If you do ever want to do the fancy dinner, pick a date a few days removed from V'day (my gf and I are going to dinner on Monday, which is a federal holiday we both have off). Pizza and a bottle of wine, which btw I love, is our typical weekend (though it's usually more than a bottle, I can be a lush on…

The people I date are not shitty and I am not wealthy. I don't besmirch women for getting their male partners presents on V'day, in fact I think it's great. I don't think it's the norm though, and until I see evidence to the contrary, I'm going to stick with my opinion.

I'm still going to disagree. Just because an article states that women spend an average of $96 on their partners does not mean that a majority of women get their male partners presents on Valentines day. You and the people you know are outliers. Good on you for reciprocating though.

I don't think the people I date are shitty. This "holiday" is clearly geared toward women, most of them acknowledge this and act accordingly.

"Unfortunately, it seems like the idea is that men spend money in exchange for sex"