Gentlemen, Is chivalry dead?

[a Soviet Pie]

Chivalry isn't dead, it's just taken for granted now a days. Or, in the example you mentioned with the coat, some men think it's wimpy to show emotion. We have a scientific word for them. They are called douche bags.
No, chivalry isn't dead, you just have to look for it. It's hiding under a rug or something.....

 

[Magnesium360]

The traditional gentleman is pretty much gone, but with its passing there is coming a more modern gentleman and a revised concept of chivalry. Certain gentlemanly concepts are now outdated, but you can still practice respect, the finer points of social interaction, etc. Gentleman still exist, but they're currently evolving to a new, modern type of gentleman better suited to the current world.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

Not dead, no. In short supply, most definitely, but not dead.

Then again, it was likely always in short supply.

 

[George Palmer]

Chivalry is not dead. Unless of course you already have a boyfriend.

 

[MikailCaboose]

It's not dead per se, however it just will have to adapt to become gender-neutral, or it will just end up causing the entire original problem. Though, I just don't see gender equality truly even happening anytime soon anyways.

 

[Death God]

In my school, yes. Quite dead. I try to be chivalrous but people don't appreciate it anymore. I still do it but it's more out of habit now.

 

[Mr Mc Twiggy]

I try my hardest to uphold the values and etiquette of the gentlemen, though i must admit sometimes it seems to others to be an odd way of acting, and not always entirely met with joy and/or understanding...much to my dismay...

 

[sketch_zeppelin]

To qoute, i belive it was Dave Chapelle: "Chivalry is Dead...and women killed it!"

 

[Uncreation]

Erm... i don't think it's quite dead. It is dying though, as far as i can tell. And i for one am not going to cry for that. Nope. I consider myself an equalitarian. I have no problem with acting nice and respectfull to other people, quite the opposite. But i don't agree with acting nicer to someone, based on the sole fact that that person is female.

So, i myself just try to be polite to everyone, not just women in particular. Yes, i will hold the door open for a woman, but i also do it for men, just as much, for example. So, i guess maybe i am against chivalry in the old sense, but i am not against being nice to people. ALL people, regardless of gender. So, in your example, i would ask you, would you also offer your coat to a man if he was cold, or just to a woman? Based on that, i would agree with you or not.
So, i don't want to be a gentleman, i want to be just plain nice.

 

[inflamessoilwork]

I would say not. I am always chivalrous when out with a lady, and they always seem surprised to see it, which is good for me =)

 

[zehydra]

Chivalry is more than just manners, it's specifically oriented towards one gender, and that kind of social inequality really has no place in a society that highly values gender equality.

You're using an old definition, so that's understandable. But modern-day 'gentlemanly' groups like the Art of Manliness focuses on treating everyone in a gentlemanly fashion (yes I love the word gentlemanly, it's just somehow awesome). Just like everything else, the definition has changed with the times.

Then a discussion on whether or not Chivalry is "dead" is impossible, due to ambiguity. Instead of changing the word's meaning, I wish people would just make new words.

 

[Axolotl]

Yes and considering chivalry was created to enforce a rigid class system I think its a good thing it's gone.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I prefer to think not, but evidence I have seen in everyday life draws me to the conclusion that chivalry is dying, if not already dead.

 

[Blind Sight]

Chivalry is more than just manners, it's specifically oriented towards one gender, and that kind of social inequality really has no place in a society that highly values gender equality.

You're using an old definition, so that's understandable. But modern-day 'gentlemanly' groups like the Art of Manliness focuses on treating everyone in a gentlemanly fashion (yes I love the word gentlemanly, it's just somehow awesome). Just like everything else, the definition has changed with the times.

Then a discussion on whether or not Chivalry is "dead" is impossible, due to ambiguity. Instead of changing the word's meaning, I wish people would just make new words.

True, humans do love using the same words to mean different things. Hell, I study political science, everything in that field has double or triple meanings. When someone says 'I'm a liberal' I usually say "what kind? Old, new, reform, centralized, non-centralized, socially democratic, left, right, Lockian, Hobbesian, or Millist?" To make things even more confusing, old liberalism is pretty much modern day conservativism. My head hurts.

Still, I assume you use words like awful once and awhile. Awful originally meant to be 'full of awe' and was seen positively, but it changed through time to mean something negative. A lot of the words we use had far different meanings before.

History: Making language fucking confusing for the past ten thousand years.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Well with the way feminism is going on at the moment yes feminism will kill chivalry. I believe a great feminist said something along these lines will get name latter That Feminism should look for equal opportunities and rights for women but should endanger what it is to be a woman. Meaning women in their quest for equality should not emulate men and as such chivalry should be able to exist in a society of equal rights.

 

[starwarsgeek]

As a resident of the great state of Alabama, I can tell you that good manners and the behavior of a gentleman are still much appreciated here.

 

[CRoone]

I don't figure that chivalry is dead. Perhaps living up to the whole traditional kit of ideals all at once is a bit much to handle in this modern, urbane age, but it's still no excuse not to show manners, proper etiquette, and common courtesy. I hold doors open all the time for perfect strangers, and I've yet to get chewed out for doing so. Therefore, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing, because that's what I do. If a woman takes an issue with it, well, at least I didn't slam it in her face. Surely that would count for something.

 

[OldRat]

No, of course not. Why, just yesterday I challenged a vile ruffian into a right and proper duel to the death after he scandalously sullied my fair maiden's honor. Our swords clashed fiercely, but by the end of it my noble purposes and my superior breeding and class yielded supreme. I ran the rapscallion through, from belly to the back, and allowed him a most splendid last sight of my victorious face.

After I had slain the rogue, I was forced to lay the back of my hand on my maiden's silky cheek, for she dared to defy my chivalrous purposes and insisted that I had in fact been a brutish trodgolyte for so vanquishing a fellow man. It was for her own benefit, to banish forthwith such defiant humors from her. And while she did fall down sobbing, she will surely see the error of her ways and thank me tomorrow for sternly reminding her that womenfolk are never to believe themselves equal to a right and proper man, such as myself.

I shall now retire to practice the true virtues of the high ideal of chivalry and oppress my peasants with my fellow knights for fun and profit. I bid you farewell.