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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 6, 2023

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poor friend

Pretty much answers your question. An exceptionally poor "friend" at that. You can sever a friendship without tanking his reputation.

but there is no grand female obligation to avoid embarrassing awkward men

One might say there is also no grand male obligation to not make women uncomfortable either. But the equilibrium is men try their best to not do it, and women don't make a big deal out of it if it happens. I think a lot of this overly female-centric discourse is oblivious to the fact that men are women's brothers, cousins, and fathers (It could have been an alternate-reality version of you). (Maybe too many sibling less kids in this generation, I don't fucking know)

If you let behavioral standards slip it turns into a race to the bottom.

Pretty much answers your question. An exceptionally poor "friend" at that. You can sever a friendship without tanking his reputation.

We're taking OP at his word here and we have already found OP to be a complete flummox. From the women's perspective I'd bet it looks something like: this wierd guy from our study group who I barely ever talk to took me aside at the fucking library and asked if I would have sex with him casually while being friends.

If we just take a second and look at it from her angle, everything becomes much clearer.

I agree in the reddit universe, OP bungled it up past any reproach. However I was talking within the universe 2rafas comment exists in.

Even worse -- "guy who's been doing my homework for me wants sex in exchange -- does he think I'm some kind of whore?"