Yes, it’s a thing, as described at the Good Men Project by Andrew Smiler. “Although it can be awkward,” Smiler writes, “I recommend having at least a little conversation about gender roles — especially as they apply to dating and sex — during the first date.”

https://twitter.com/AndrewSmiler/status/421387174937112576

What about those gender roles that we seek to minimize? Smiler explains:

It’s not possible to have a completely gender neutral date. Gender, our cultural and personal notions of how people should act based on their biological sex, influences too many aspects of our behavior to be completely neutralized. In the dating context, gender roles provide an outline of how things “should” work. But in a day and age where equality is the expectation, why stick to a rigid outline based on your genitalia?

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! http://t.co/TlBuvtHnPu — James Taranto (@jamestaranto) January 12, 2014

Does Andrew write for a living? MT @jamestaranto HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! http://t.co/lGcm38qbnM — Ivan Soto (@Ivan_Soto) January 12, 2014

Wow. Just. Wow. RT @jamestaranto HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! http://t.co/KQG7HXvQFO … — Will Antonin (@Will_Antonin) January 12, 2014

Mother of God…RT @JonahNRO: So this is a thing. Good luck with that. The gender-minimized first date. http://t.co/oZPrliYpXN — Niles Felterbush (@wolodjowski) January 14, 2014

I dont even know what to say about this. http://t.co/Biy8Pl2Lkp — Smarterchild (@realadammalloy) January 12, 2014

A guide to a 'gender-minimized' first date. Tragic. http://t.co/VehbrIFsSM — An Gíogóir (@AnGiogoir) January 13, 2014

How did we get to a place where this is a legit article? http://t.co/sTpyqkvuSS — Rob Pierce (@RobPierceKY) January 12, 2014

Pajama Boy as gateway drug: RT @JonahNRO: So this is a thing. Good luck with that. The gender-minimized first date. http://t.co/zSWQ3inf8U — SFK (@stephenkruiser) January 14, 2014

@jonahnro You talk healthcare on the gender minimized first date. — Paul Demos (@UpperWSGuy) January 14, 2014

You men don’t seem to get it.

"There’s very little of starting to date someone that requires sexually dimorphic genitalia." http://t.co/N9zMydBnTa — Nate Rethorn (@NateRethorn) January 14, 2014

Lost me at "sexually dimorphic genitalia" MT @JonahNRO: So this is a thing. The gender-minimized first date. http://t.co/jo68EVE0i9 — David Freddoso (@freddoso) January 14, 2014

Be careful out there, guys. Not all women are ready for the gender-minimized treatment.

@freddoso @JonahNRO "gender-minimized first date"? Belongs in the "what's the point, then?" file like Decaffeinated coffee… — Annie (@bloodless_coup) January 14, 2014

As single woman,NO.Just no. RT@JonahNRO: So this is a thing. Good luck with that. The gender-minimized first date. http://t.co/zzCHFONv3p… — Kelly (@flyoverangel) January 14, 2014

Gender-minimized first date? I think I'll be single for the rest of my life if that starts happening. I am a straight WOMAN. I like MEN. — From Flatwater (@FromFlatwater) January 14, 2014