We are not so far removed from the days of hunting and gathering, when males where expected to bring home the bacon, or the mastodon.
Those are deeply-ingrained drives, and they show up when a man is on a date.
Typically, a man wants to feel like he is commanding the ship as it plows the treacherous seas of restaurants hosts, valet attendants, and theater ushers.
He wants to feel that he is deciding where to be seated, what will be ordered, how long things should take, and whether or not the evening's fare is up to par, even if he may not actually be able to control any of these factors.
He'll order a medium-rare steak, and send it back as many times as it takes until it's right, even though the chef may just be placing it on the corner of the grill to keep it warm without actually cooking it.
And he'll take the same responsibility for his date, even if they're perfectly happy with theirs.
This isn't simply an "obsessive-compulsive" issue.
It's his duty, as he sees it.
In many ways, it is based on a reality that may be veiled by modern behavioral standards and changing expectations in relationships.
A man is merely living up to that unspoken code of life that his male ancestors passed on through genes and words: take care of your family.
So the next time you see a man on a date ordering everyone around like he owned the place, show him a little compassion.
His intentions are correct, even if his contention may not be.