When did going out for an evening turn into "date night"?

[MoodySky]

Sorry but it's such a crap expression.

But why do headlines need to be full of cliched crap (I know it's clickbait and search engine optimisation)?

What is wrong with 'Five ideas for days out from London'? Why are they always 'much needed'?

Anyway that article is a thinly disguised advert for some boots that would get ruined by the suggested activities and the writing style is a giveaway that it's the work of AI.

'Tis the creeping impact of our American cousins.

I actually think the concept of date night within established couples is a real problem too as it implies they don't need to make any effort the rest of the time, a quick perusal of Mumsnet backs up my theory! It is also the constant monetisation of society, it's not a thing unless we've paid £££ take Christmas "experiences" as a second example.

We go out as a couple just because we want to, no special time

(And don't get me onto daddy daughter dates!!!)

@PheasantPluckers has put it more eloquently

You don't have to use the phrase if you don't like it. If others want to use the phrase, fine.
Any other big issues like this? 😆

It's up there with mindful, gratitude journals, wellness, curating, gifting, reframing, making memories, play date, reaching out etc.

And a woman who owns her own business or works in a managerial role is a 'boss bitch' 🤢

To be honest, I have very young kids and no grandparents around and can't afford babysitters often. This means me and my partner have very rarely the opportunity to go out together, even for simple things like a meal or a drink (maybe twice a year). Calling it date night means we consider this a special occasion and we treat ourselves, make sure we don't look at our phones and we focus on each other. It's not about spending money particularly (although adding babysitting fees to whatever we want to do inevitably makes these expensive "events").
We also make an effort for each other every single day, not in the shape of shaving legs, perfumes, nice garms, but in the shapes of giving each other some me time, helping each other out with all the chores and hardship of parenting, making sure we're kind and compassionate even when we find things hard...

Well. I like date night. Its so rare that my husband and I get out alone together that I like the sense of occasion in giving it a name.

Why piss on someone else's bonfire 🤷‍♀️

Drives me nuts. One of the greatest advantages of being married is not having to bloody date any more. I go for dinner with my husband. Ir the theatre or the pictures with my husband. I do not date him. I stopped dating him when I married him!

..

We do date nights. It's making a special effort to have a night just about us. Not about friends, not about kids, not about anything other than us.
We make an effort, nice clothes, nice makeup for me, book a table at a grown up restaurant, go to slightly nicer bars for drinks before hand. It's a really lovely thing for us and it feels special.
If we were just going for dinner, it doesn't feel as special.

Usually, when someone goes out of their way to piss on someone else’s bonfire, it’s because their own life is lacking/miserable.
And I say this as someone who has never used the phrase ‘date night’, but couldn’t give a shit if someone else does.

As a concept it is good - particularly if you don’t have family babysitting available and have to pay for a sitter, it can be tempting to only book a baby sitter to go to a party or when you are invited to another couples house or dinner with friends or an event of some sort.

Actually booking and paying for a babysitter just so you and your DP can go out just the two of you does you good.

It could do with another name/term but Date Night does sum it up well.

When some hack came up with the idea on a slow news day.

Oh goodness, I have never heard of that.

I am currently having a 'Duvet Day' it seems. In that I got up once earlier to go downstairs for tea and the newspapers (which DH had valiantly gone out for) and then got back into bed again and am still here . (Or because it's just the only sensible place to be on a wet windy Sunday morning.. )
Or maybe I am having an at- home 'daycation' ?

I think it's cos it sounds completely wanky. I could not keep a straight face if I worked in personnel and needed to tell someone I was part of the 'people team'.
I am post menopausal but I suspect I would have found it just as wanky a few years ago.

That's called Bed Rotting now.

Do keep up dear.

Yes. Because logically speaking, every team with people, is a people team. It would make sense if there were animals. Animal team. People team. 4 legged team, 2 legged team. Could apply too. But where only people. People team is clearly, incoherent nonsense. Happy holidays people!

It is also the constant monetisation of society

Yes! everything we enjoy is now designed and worded to squeeze as much money as possible out of us, to further enrich those at the top.

SM has enabled and encouraged this 'the more you show you're spending, the more superior life you have' attitude.

I'm of the much older generation and this is true.

Journalists at large come up with clichéd nonsense all the time. Every report is 'damning', every politician's speech is 'keynote' and success is always 'barnstorming'. Also, there is no anger, only 'outrage'.

Language evolves.

Everything has to have a label now. You can't be a bit worried or nervous about something (an absolutely normal human condition), you have to "suffer from anxiety". Which of course is very unfair on people with genuine anxiety.

Same as play date, we used to call it going to a friends house