HaLeiVi, and you should know your place. If you go sideways, then why can’t HE go sideways after he opens the door for her?
As far as PBA is concerned, if he mentions me personally and attacks what I said with his usual sarcasm I will respond in kind. It has nothing to do with MY accepting the halacha it has to do with him ignoring the question I posed which was what the bochur would do in other instances.
PBA, you asked me if I would call you a “jerk” in that instance and I agreed with you that you would be. I didn’t bring up that term you did, so don’t fault me for it.
And just as Halevi pointed out, there are ways to not be conspicuous and do the right thing both in manners and in Halacha. I mentioned counting to 10 or 5 or whatever. Take two deep breaths or walk in sideways as Halevi mentioned but there are ways that one can follow the Halacha and still show manners. And as Halevi pointed out and as I have pointed out on many occasions men learn things that women do not so the act of not opening the door for the young lady will not make him seem like a tzadik in her eyes it will make hims seem like a boy without manners. There will be a miscommunication and he will probably not get a second chance to explain himself.
So if the bochur is NOT careful in all areas of his life in this regard, dating is NOT the first place he should apply this to. Manners on a date are very important. If they continue to date, he can explain the Halacha to the girl after the second or third date and not have to worry about it afterwards.