Is it REALLY that Serious?

As a hostess at a restaurant, I see lots of men going to ridiculous lengths to please women… I ask [what I think are] simple questions and dudes go crazy:

"Would you mind sitting on the patio?"

"Oh, uh, um… Well… I don't know. It might be too cold for her…"

"Do you want to sit at the bar?"

"Wow… The bar? It's up to you, honey."

"The wait is 20 minutes."

"Whooooa! 20 minutes?? I need to ask her first."

The looks of panic I have seen in response to my [basic] questions would have you thinking I made an indecent proposal… Seriously dude? Is it REALLY that serious? Just make a decision!

This awkwardness alarmed me, so I consulted my favorite expert on masculinity, my biological dad. He blamed the weirdness on "crazy feminists" who demanded to be allowed to make their own decisions. He says women want to have it both ways: they want to be in charge, but they don't want to be held accountable. He claims a man has to bend over so far backwards that he doesn't know which way is up so he feels like he has to make a big deal out of the smallest thing -- to make HER happy, of course.

All of that is BULL. (sorry dad…) Women may be indecisive… But we want results, too. Making a big deal over nothing doesn't make us happy. I don't care how many arguments we've had at home over what may be perceived to be small issues… Don't act like you don't have the balls to commit to a table in a restaurant. Making decision makes us happy. Or at least… It makes me happy.

Other folks with whom I've discussed it think it has more to do with men wanting to be polite and chivalrous. Eh… I'm not one of those women who sits around saying chivalry is dead. I think everyone should be polite to everyone. Not just a man to a woman… And a dude who goes out of his way to make me happy is good, but don't sweat the small stuff. I'm not irrational.

Politeness is one thing. Opening doors for others, saying please and thank you, etc… all great things… But you don't have to be all timid and spineless to make me happy. I can't stand spineless men. If we're meeting at a restaurant, and you get there first, get a table. No need for the freak out. Right? Or... Is this just me?