There’s a non insignificant amount of women dating only for free meals, and a lot of them expect men to pay for any number of friends. A lot of guys have opted for lower cost or zero cost first dates, like walks to screen for this.

I’ve never discussed who will pay before a date in my life

Either this person in incredibly tactless or this is some kind of incel meme shitpost.

Either way, whomever is passing it around seems to have a bone to pick.

It wouldn’t even cross my mind as something a woman would assume a date was expected to do.

Idk, really depends on the dynamic between them all. If they’re broke college kids and he’s an older person with a stable job and surplus cash? If he’s picking the restaurant to impress her, knowing she can’t afford it? If he already offered up thread in order to entice her out?

But that makes the “date” feel more like a Sugar Baby relationship than a proper date. Also might explain why she feels the need to bring a friend.

Anyone afraid to go to an agreed meeting in a public place NEEDING a friend along is beyond weird