This Is Terrible Dating Advice

15 Pieces of Terrible Relationship Advice From Dating Self-Help Books

4. "The man always does the ordering. Never ask the waiter for anything yourself.”—Women's Own (1950)

• Of course you don’t. Why would you want to emasculate him like that, you heartless she-vampire?

7. "Stop dating him if he doesn't buy you a romantic gift for your birthday or Valentine's Day. ... This is not a rule for gold diggers; it's just that when a man wants to marry you, he usually gives you jewelry, not sporty or practical gifts like a toaster oven or coffee maker. It is not how expensive the item but the type of gift it is. A typewriter can cost more than an inexpensive pair or earrings, and a computer, one would think, connotes love, being such a costly item; but such presents come from the head, not the heart, and are not good signs of love at all. Therefore, The Rule is that if you don't get jewelry or some other romantic gift on your birthday or other significant occasion, you might as well call it quits because he's not in love with you and chances are you won't get the most important gift of all: an engagement ring." —Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, The Rules (1995)

Here we have the notorious “Rules.” Not much more to add. Also, if you feel this is terrible dating advice at its worst, that’s entirely irrelevant. “Feelings are heavy and nobody wants those so shut up and suck it up,” the authors proclaim.

Says Weigel: “The Rules also constantly tells you not to tell your therapist you are following The Rules. It's honestly like a cult ... The supermodel Kate Moss once quipped that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. The Rules offer a kind of emotional equivalent for single girls. Nothing could feel worse than being alone."

11. “Busy is another word for asshole. Asshole is another word for the guy you’re dating, ... THE WORD ‘BUSY’ IS A LOAD OF CRAP AND IS MOST OFTEN USED BY ASSHOLES, … Men are never too busy to get what they want.”—Greg Behrendt, He’s Just Not That Into You (2004)

• This started off as a throwaway joke on Sex and the City and then became one of those books they offer near the counter at Barnes & Noble for weak-willed impulse buyers. Except people started taking it seriously. I mean, why would anyone be “busy,” am I right, Samanthas?

Complete list (LAWeekly.com)