There use to be a time when everyone knew their position. It used to be all about waiting for him to come up to you. So, whatever happened to the guy making the initiative to get to know you? Am I lost? Are we not in the 1950s anymore?

The 21st century has given us everything from speed dating to online dating. Relationships are not how they used to be. Back then, the guy would court the girl of interest and try to win her over with flattery and special attention. Now, it’s all about being forward and, more often, women are the ones making the first move.

Yes, we are in a state where women are working hard for their money and demonstrating skills in high positions, but when it comes to other aspects of life such as dating, women shy away from the light.

Call me old fashioned, but I still think the man should make the first move, plain and simple. While women don’t necessarily need pebbles thrown at their windows or a scene out of Casablanca, it’s nice for them to know they are being pursue and admired, not feeling like the aggressor.

If the guy is interested, he should take the initiative make the first move. Minus the ‘Hey shorty, wassup wid it? Hook it up with the digits’ because hunny, that is so not attractive.

Many women still expect men to know when to make the first move. They will give you that opening for you to obviously sweep right in and dazzle them with a your quick opening line. Furthermore, women expect you to be sophisticated and smooth. Pretending to have that boyish, third grade behavior and throwing her the ‘do you like me? Check yes, no or maybe so’ note doesn’t quite fit a woman’s image of being romanced by Prince Charming.

Women like to put men up to the challenge of how to go about approaching them, by not making the first move and allowing the man to step up to the plate. If he comes up to her in the bar and bores her to tears with his personal sales pitch, convincing her of the Top101 reasons why she should be dating him, this shows one of two very unattractive traits:insecurity or an overzealous confidence.

If me don’t make the right move at the right time, a woman will usually think he is weak or just not interested. Her readings from Greg Behrendt’s, He’s Just Not That Into You, will all start coming back and opening up that particular can of worms, can be deadly. However, now a day, many guys out aren’t afraid to have the woman make the first move.

“Whoever has the personality to make the first move is who does it,” said junior photography major Justin Short. “These days, it doesn’t matter.”

Oh, but it does matter! I know what you’re thinking. ‘Rosa, it’s the year 2007, grow up!’ Look, I’m up to speed; I wear jeans in public and go out with my friends until all hours of the night. But on relationships, I happen to follow the rules, because to me, it is the man’s job to approach me. The men are the ones who should be making the first move.

Let’s say women do make the first move. Many men will see this as them being a bit too forward or desperate. I’ve seen too many women make this mistake and it eventually blows up in their face. However, there are those few bold and confident women who won’t sit around waiting for the guy to decide what to do.

“Why are you going to let him walk away when he could be your Mr. Perfect?” said junior international business and marketing major, Veronica Rivera.

Relationships are tricky, but breaking the ice is always difficult. Men should know what to do. I’m pretty sure they pull guys get aside in the 7th grade and talk over the ones and twos of dating. Even though women are clearly becoming more and more dominant when it comes to making that initial leap, guys shouldn’t get too comfortable. Men, keep brushing up on those pick-up skills and talk to the one are interested in. If one says no, move on to the next. It’s all about trial and error.

Rosa Pastran can be reached at [email protected]