A woman has shared the brutal response that she gives to men who say that they want to split a bill while on a date.
Look, dating can be really tough, and venturing out into the big scary world to make small talk with someone you've just met can be an anxiety-inducing experience.
This can be taken to the next level when it's time to pay the bill at the end of the evening - because as the old argument goes... who has to pay?
Everybody has their thoughts on this, but one woman has taken to Instagram to express her views, and they're pretty brutal.
Pearl, a staunch advocate of what she calls "feminine energy", believes in the importance of men embracing their traditional role as providers during initial dating encounters.
Pearl revealed her go-to response whenever a first date takes an unexpected turn, and according to her, it's never let her down.
She shared her secret weapon, saying: "When a man wants to go 50/50 with you on a date, say: 'Oh my god, I'm so embarrassed right now. Wait, you wanted to just be friends? I'm so confused - this whole entire time I thought this was a date. I'm so sorry - here's my card.'"
For Pearl, it's imperative that men understand that if she's splitting the bill, she's not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship. She'd rather employ her audacious one-liner to establish her standards during a first date, where, as she puts it: "there's nothing to lose."
Both men and women rallied behind Pearl's approach, saying that clarity in expectations from the get-go is paramount.
One person wrote: "The next move is that [Pearl] pays her half and never sees him again. She's not looking for a 50/50 relationship, and that's fine. She's sending a message loud and clear."
A second added: "I don't understand why guys can't pay for the whole bill? Why would you ask a woman on a date if you're not going to pay. Who raised you?"
Though, as you might imagine, not everyone was thrilled with Pearl's approach.
"Feminism suddenly leaves their body when it comes to money," one man said, while another added: "I pay for my meal he pays for his?? Can somebody explain to me why women don’t need to pay? I never understood that mindset."
Amid the ongoing debate, some advocated for a middle ground between the two extremes. A woman said: "I'm all for equality and I pay for my stuff, but it's just a nice kind gesture that the one who asks the other out pays for the date."
A man concurred: "I'd never let a woman pay, but a woman who offers to pay is amazing and gets their meal paid for."
What are your thoughts?