WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Dale’s Dates: Princess or Pauper?

Episode Date: February 2, 2026

Join Cupid and Psyche as they ask what truly is Princess Treatment?

Welcome to Dale Dates, where we're still single, love is still awkward, and bad decisions make the best choices. Saiki, how is your Christmas break? Great. I got to go to the beach. It was 90 degrees and sunny where I was, you know, the heavenly paradise where I was taken after getting involved with some Greek gods. So I got to say, no complaints there. I got nothing on my Christmas list, but my gifts were even better. So, you know?

Hey. Still single, though. Still single. What about you? It was good. Yeah, just went home, spent time with friends and family, and had a nice relaxing break. Yeah. So, Psyche, what are we talking about today?

You know, I figure we'd start the year by telling everyone to get it together. So we'll talk about women in this episode, and we're going to talk about Princess Treatment. Okay. Do you know what that is? I think I do, but can you give me a little refresher for, for the folks back home. This is an internet phenomenon where women have come up with this idea that they need to be treated as royalty and are trying to figure out what behaviors from men are bare minimum,

what everyone should do for every human being, and how to get a level above that. And so they call that princess treatment as a way of saying, like, I am entitled to a certain level of behavior from the men I'm with in a relationship. that is beyond common human decency and romance, I need to be treated as royalty. And so many ladies are advocating for this kind of treatment on TikTok and Instagram and such. And I figure we'll talk about it now

before Valentine's Day happens, our big date, a Dale state. So that we could address it before the big day happens and people are like, you're treating me like a normal person. Where is like my royalty treatment? what I mean. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, that sounds like it's going to be a fun episode. We've got, so we've got a couple things pulled up. We've got a BuzzFeed, a little quiz.

Right, because I don't know exactly what behaviors are Prince's treatment. We've established here. We're both very single. And so, like, this is not something I've gotten into test on the field. Sure, yeah. So I think quizzing us would probably be fruitful so that we can give the, like, absolute standard for Princess Treatment. Yeah. Yeah. I will say up front, I think the whole Princess Treatment thing is kind of just a replacement for the fact that people don't treat people like they like each other anymore.

What? No. Really, you're telling me that people want to be treated especially in relationships. Yeah. And they're not getting that, so they're making up some thing. If I'm dating someone, I feel like I should just treat them like I love them, you know? What? Like, she shouldn't have to, like, come up with this game to, you know, guilt trip me into doing things for.

And, yeah. You want King treatment? I mean, if King treatment is just being treated like the other person loves me and wants to be in this relationship with me, then yeah. But there's a level of infantilizing that happens with Princess treatment. And you'll see in some of it. of these questions and we did we did some research for this episode and there there is a level in which the women are told like the more useless you are the more he'll do for you yeah and this is kind of like using the other person mindset that like we do not endorse on this podcast so yeah i figured we needed to

talk about it and then later on we'll talk about how bad it is to see your partner as a child or as a useless human being so yeah want to take this quiz Let's do it. Yeah. So from BuzzFeed. You know, we all have taken one of these quizzes. You know, you probably know what princess you are from all the Disney movies. What are you?

I don't know. I haven't taken that. I've taken that quiz in a while. Oh, come on. You have a sister. You have taken a princess one. Oh, I'm not denying that I've taken it. I just.

Who would you be if you have to guess right now? If I were to guess what princess would be. Maybe we can take the princess one around it. Yeah. Who knows? All right. Could be a little like outro of this episode. episode. Oh, a little bonus feature? Yeah, yeah. All right. From BuzzFeed, if you're currently on the dating

market, or even if you're happily taken, you probably have some opinions on the, quote, bare minimum versus, quote, princess treatment debate. Lost? I know I am. Yes. Let us fill you in. Basically, TikTok users around the world are discussing what counts as the standard for romantic relationships, i.e., the bare minimum, and what counts as going above and beyond. Yep, that's the quote, princess treatment. Above and beyond. All right. Obviously, there's a lot of gray area here, which is why we created this poll. Let's settle this matter once and for all. Are the following behaviors simply what you should expect from a partner, or are they exceptional?

Okay. Number one, texting you to make sure you got home safe. What do you think? I mean, that's just something. You should do for anybody. Yeah. Friends and family, this is bare minimum. Yeah.

If your friends don't ask you, hey, did you make it home safe? That's something you should look into. And hey, BuzzFeed agreed with us. 93% said that it was the bare minimum. Out of 40,000 votes. Yeah. So that's, again, that just falls into the category of do you care about this person? That is the category of human decency.

That's like, I feel like it's a big theme on this show. It's just treat people with respects. I don't know, man. I think we've lost it. Like, have people been raised by wolves? Like, I don't understand how this is so hard. But I guess that's why we are needed, you know? Yeah, yeah.

Next one. Buying you flowers just because. Again, like if you as a man love the woman that you were in a relationship with, I feel like that's something that you should do occasionally. Occasionally. This is not though like what we have seen from the influencers like, he buys me flowers just because. Every single day. 300 days out of the year or something like that. He's buying me $100 bouquets. Right. Like buying flowers just because every so often, Bare minimum. Buying Fours just because 300 days out of the year. Princess treatment and actually

you should not do that, invest that somewhere. Like please don't do that. So there's no like nuanced option. There's no qualifier. So we're going to go with bare minimum? Yeah, sure. That's 50-50.

50. Okay, I like that people are reasonable in this poll. I'm shocked at how reasonable. The 50-50 shows that people are surprising. That's surprising. This is so, Okay.

Next one is liking your Instagram posts. That's inconsequential. I don't care. Could not care less, really. I mean, if you care about it, I guess your boyfriend could care about it too. But like... Sure. I mean...

At the same time, it doesn't matter. I guess if you choose not to like their posts, I mean... But why doesn't matter? You know, like, do you like anyone's posts in this day and age? I feel like that's so 2013. I mean, that's pretty... That's pretty common. Instagram posts is common.

Like, I feel like that's, if someone that you're following post something, you just are sort of obliged to like it. Stories are a little different. Yeah. But this says posts. So,

and on Instagram. So, like, again, I don't know. This is, I don't think this falls in the category of bare minimum. This, like, exists on a spectrum that is not the bare minimum

slash princess treatment spectrum. No, this is not just human decency. This is like, okay, you're doing something extra. This is not necessary. Let's just for kicks and giggles, we'll put Princess Treatment.

Dang. 10% said that, okay, so 90% said that liking Instagram posts is the bare minimum. Oof. Well, I mean, I guess if you're- Maybe this is why we're single. Yeah, we're not liking enough Instagram posts. Geez, yeah. I mean, I guess if you live in a world where you have a phone glued to your face and like,

if this is your main form of communication, like if you're the kind of person, like, everything important in my life. is communicated through Instagram. Yeah. I can see how someone would say bare minimum. Yeah. Yeah. Next one, texting you good morning and good night every day.

I mean, that's something that like I appreciate. Yeah. Yeah. Like it just. Is it necessary though? No, like it tells me that you're thinking about me and that. Yeah, it's something that like I would appreciate. But it's not.

No, I don't think this is the bare minimum. Okay. Like I'm going to give some love to people that hate texting and that are bad texters. general. Yeah. Like, I think you can be a 15 out of 10 boyfriend and not text good morning and good night every

day. Yes. So for that reason, I'm voting Princess Street. Yeah. Yeah. Like, this is,

it's not the bare minimum. It's not bare minimum, but it's also not Princess Treat. Like, yeah. There should just be a middle category like, like, things that thoughtful people occasionally do.

Right. What do you mean about this? Bare minimum got 79% of the votes. 80% of people like this. And just FYI, like all of these are hovering around 30 to 40,000 votes. So like this. That's a significant amount of people. Yeah.

Next one, planning surprise date nights. You know, depends on what this means. If this means like take an ownership of planning date nights and surprise her with those plans, I think that's the bare minimum. I think you should take ownership of that in relationships. If this means like get a private. jet and surprise for the trip to France, that is Prince's treatment. Yeah. Again, this falls under the category of things that a normal person does if they care about

the person they're in a relationship with. And I want to say, this applies to both parties. Both men and women should be taken ownership of date planning. Yeah, sure. It's not like the guy has to plan every single date. And on top of that, surprise you every so often. Like, both parties in this relationship should be planning date. that are thoughtful and every so often surprise each other.

Yeah. You know? Yeah. So like I would say that on a occasional basis, this is the bare minimum. Yeah. Yeah. Let's go with that. Wow.

Whoa. That's surprising. I can't believe we've been in the minority this whole time. So 46% agreed with us and said that planning surprise dates is the bare minimum. I guess it depends on what you mean by surprise. If it's like, if it's you come home from work and you say, hey babe put like you know a nice outfit on we're going out and like it's this like crazy you know like gondola sort of like yeah that's where do you live cup but if it's she told you that

she likes doing this thing a month ago and then you go do it put that like stored that in the back of your head again like this just depends on what you mean by that like if you mean like insane surprises like, you know, fly it to Europe for a weekend or something like that. That's not the bare minimum. But if you think like thoughtful date planning, that includes an element of surprise, bare minimum, sure. Next one is carrying heavy bags. This is bare minimum. This is bare minimum. No question. Wow. Oh my gosh. Out of 34,000 votes, only 80% agrees with us that this is the bare minimum. Why would someone think this is a Supreme Court? Like, yeah. I, I think this applies to other people as well.

Like, I just think in a group of people, you know you are the one to help in this task. Yeah. You should just go ahead and do it, you know? It's like those people that don't help the elderly on a plane to get their bag. Yeah. Of the overhead compartment. You're horrible. You're like, I hate this.

Like, I've seen perfectly able-bodied men ignore that 70-year-old lady that's having a hard time. It's just be a nice person. Yeah. I'm noticing a trend that a lot of these are. are questions that are having to be asked now because we've forgotten again what I sound like a broken record. All right. Next one. Paying for non-date things, like getting your nails done and buying you coffee.

You see, those two things are incredibly different. Buying your coffee. Sure. Bare minimum. One does that for one's friends, family, acquaintances. It doesn't matter. Yes. Getting your nails done.

No. Yeah. Like unless you're married. As an occasional present. Like, hey. If it's a gift, like Valentine's Day is coming up, your girlfriend likes to do her nails. You buy her like a day at the spa, sure. But this is not the sort of thing when you're like calling your boyfriend at the register being like, may I use your credit card to pay for my nails?

Like, yeah. No, especially if it's like a dating relationship. That's just weird, you know? That is, yeah. We need a third category. We really do. Let's view the results because we don't know what they. this one. This is badly phrased.

78% said princess treatment. Yeah, I can see that. Especially with the nails thing in the prompt. I would agree with that. But the buying coffee, I think, would fall in the bare minimum. Yeah. Next one, writing handwritten love notes. Very minimum.

Like, it takes you five seconds. You should do it. It makes people happy. It's a good exercise. Do it with your friends, actually. Like, this is not love notes, but just like appreciation notes and like sneak them into their back. back back.

Okay. Yeah. Something like, I really appreciated you helping me with this. People are very happy to receive those surprises. So I think you should just do that. Yeah. And anniversary notes and like there are.

Also, if you're buying a her a card, would you write something thoughtful in the car? Yeah, just go to the grocery store, get one of those like for her. Yeah. Yeah. Take some time. Write a note. Plus, if you're dating someone, I sure hope you have things to write on that thing. So if you don't have anything to say, maybe review the relationship.

Like if you're like, I actually have nothing to write on this card. And you're grabbing that for her one. Yeah. Come to Dale's dates. We want to talk to you about your relationship. Also, learn cursive. Yes. Oh, my gosh.

Yes. Cursef. A love note in print doesn't hit nearly as hard. There's a love note in cursive. All right. So we're saying bare minimum on that. Oh, my gosh. No.

These people are monsters. This is terrible. 70% said that this is princess treatment. Now, okay, people need to get it together. This is why relationships are unhappy. Okay. When, if not in a love note, are you going to express your deep appreciation for those things that are awkward to say in front of all your friends and family?

You know what I mean? Yeah. But if you don't write it down, are you going to text it to them? Like, what is this? Yeah. Like, you can't text someone a love note? Like, no. Okay.

Well, that's disappointing. Yeah. Next one. Bringing soup when you're sick. Bare minimum. I mean, no questions. Do that for your friends and family too. Okay. Okay. Okay. Do people agree. 23% said it's Princess Treatment, which is still too much. You need to go talk to someone, you know, make better friends. Get out of their parents' basement and go socialize. Oh, well. We'll talk about them next week. Don't worry. Pulling your chair out at dinner. I mean, it's a polite gesture and something that I would do.

Same thing with like holding doors open. Like, it's a good gesture and it's something I think that guys probably should do. But is it necessary? But is it? Like, is it the bare minimum? Like, if you don't do this, you cannot be a good boyfriend, you know? I mean, yeah, that's like, I don't know. I guess maybe that's more of an indicator than it is.

I think this is just like. Like what percentage of guys who don't do this are also, are like all are doing the other things the right way? Right. Yeah. think this is like a symptom of a good relationship. But it doesn't really say much as a behavior. Yeah. You don't do it like consciously.

No, it's such like a small thing that in and of itself, it's not, it doesn't like constitute a big enough of deal. This is like, okay, let's feel the results. Let's see.

60. Okay, yeah, 60% is a bare minimum. Yeah, again, we just need like a third category for, yeah,

of like not, not. Next one. Complimenting your looks and personality, regularly. Bare minimum. Just act as if you like each other.

What is going on? You guys are dating. I feel like that you probably by now know that you like each other and you want to talk to the other person and say, hey, like I like you and you know, these are a bunch of the things that contribute to that. Again, the fact that this is a question that needs to be asked. I can't believe this is like a thing that people are like, oh, is this something I should. should worry about it.

Like, I want to see the romantic relationship where people aren't complimenting each other, where people aren't writing notes, where people aren't, you know, like, where the guy, like, isn't buying dinner on dates where, like, he isn't planning fun dates, where he isn't pulling, like, does that even exist? Where the girl doesn't ever say, like, you look handsome, she writes no love notes, she doesn't thank him for the coffee. Yeah. Like, there is no love and appreciation coming from either side and somehow.

They're together. Maybe that's what desperation is like. You know, like you're just so desperate. You get into one of those. Yeah. Oh, this list is making me want to become a monk and go out in the middle of nowhere, take a vow of silence and never talk to anyone ever again. Dear listeners, say a prayer for our brother, Cupid here. He's being dissuaded away from marriage. Oh, man. We're going to be underpopulated. You need to think about them more. That's true. Next one, planning a weekend getaway for the two of you. Again, I feel like this is such. If you are dating, this is a little much. Yeah. Like, if you have been together for like whatever amount of years, you're married, this is very

a memory moment. Yeah. Like, you know. And it's, it's such a rare thing. Yeah. That it's not a microcosm of like a much bigger sort of body of accrued habits that you've got. Like, would I be worried if we had a couple here that said, like, hey, psyche, we've been

together for 12 years and have never. gone in a solo trip the two of us. Yeah? I would be a little worried. But at the same time, there's so many other ways that you can. You could probably do other things. You have other hobbies. Maybe you haven't gone on like a two of you getaway thing.

But you go hiking every weekend. Then I'll be like, you know, like whatever. So the things that this does for you can be done in other ways. Again, like this is a great, like if it works out for you and you are able to like figure this out financially and like, you. You know, work-wise, you can get off then great. But at the same, I don't think this is a necessity. And this can be the sort of thing that ends up inconveniencing everyone in the long run.

Like, you know, you go ahead, let's say you're the girl and you plan this romantic getaway somewhere. And for some reason, you are not aware of all the ins and outs of his work schedule. And you end up, like, making him travel in the worst weekend because he has, like, huge meetings on Monday or whatever. Yeah. You know, this is the sort of thing that can end up backfiring. So I don't think this is bare minimum. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Most people agree with us. 72% agree with us and say that it is Princess Treatment. Next one. Celebrating accomplishments big or small. Bare minimum. Do that. You know, like, that will make you too. I love to see that couple that you like come home and are like, I got a promotion today, honey. And the girl goes like right.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. See how that goes. Probably just some random like German couple. that like doesn't have any. I don't know. I feel like they have feelings too. Yeah, but they don't show them. That's fair. All right.

Next one. Giving you their hoodie when you're cold. I'd definitely earn the side of bare minimum. Give your coat where people are cold. Yes, yes. Yeah. Like that's. I love to see that whim.

Again, like I want to see the person who's like in a relationship. Like a happy. Yeah. Like I don't want to see the couple that's in. I mean, I don't, the couple that isn't doing all of these things and is happy does not exist. Yeah, I don't think so.

But this is just be a nice person. Very minimum. Okay, 85% agree with us. The people have spoken, very good. Thank you all so much for tuning in to Dale's dates this week. Come back next time to hear me and Psyche finish our discussion and to hear what Disney princess I am according to BuzzFeed.