but, why not let your date pay for their own meal.
No resentment and maybe they'll show a bit more respect.

Aaargh...the old hot to cold in under 24 hours.
It could be that she wasn't expecting much, had a shit-happy good time with you and suddenly her walls went up and that fear of being hurt again took the reigns the next day. Or maybe you were supposed to just use her and get on with it that evening and instead you were a complete gentleman rather than the selfish a-hole she was hoping for? I've had that 'not like other guys' comment a few times before (well obviously, I'm a whacko) and it's actually insulting because they say it like it's a compliment even though it's really their way of saying sorry you aren't their type.
Chin up man, if you're capable of getting dates then just keep shifting that hay until maybe you get pricked by that needle. I'd rather pay for two than eat alone.

If you've been told that enough times to be tired of it, maybe it's not those “flakey [sic] women” who are the problem. Maybe it's you.

^^^ @inexperienced - I tried that once sort of. I offered to pay 4 times when we were looking at the bill together and she insisted on paying her share only to go tell my friend that I screwed up by "making her pay for her meal". You can't win because you're either too nice or you're too forward or you're treating her like a woman who wants to be treated this way when she's actually very independent a doesn't need a man to take care of her or whatever! The only thing I know anymore is that nothing is ever good enough.

I'm sorry your date didn't work out but are you really that bitter over paying for a meal, seriously. I'm a woman. I could not even conceive going out with a guy to get a free meal, that is ridiculous. I can feed myself and so can most women. Do you really think women are that cheap we would waste hours of our life with someone we don't like for a free meal, ha ha. You took a chance, she took a chance, it didn't work out, move on. Go dutch if that really bothers you!!

Women in B.c have a world wide rep for being beyond flakey, men are known locally for not being up to par. I'll bet my dollar on the world rep being accurate and the local myth is purely a scapegoat.

I have never been bitter about the cost of the meal because that is small peanuts to find out if somebody is worth my time. If I buy a homeless guy a meal I would not expect the date to continue, it's a nice gesture as buying a meal is, a thanks would be nice though.

What I resent is the fact that far too many woman in B.C. have purposely mislead me into thinking the night is going well so I put more effort into it them only to have the carpet ripped out from under me after my emotions have been led astray. I know if a person is attracted to me. Hair tossing, eye contact (rare here) fidgeting, playing with everything around her. Chemistry, it seems to be there for an instance.

"That was so good please call me and lets hang out again."
"ok".

Then for some magical reason never ever known every time 24 hours later like a princess turning back into a pumpkin.

"sorry, we are not on the same path".

WRONG.
We just stood on the same path for five hours and it was then best night they supposedly had. Either I have been dating compulsive liars for ten years or I'm a complete sucker and have no idea what body language or english is. I always ask why....

"I'm very attracted to you and the night was really fun It's just uhh I uhh It's uhh I'm very focused in life and I'm looking for somebody thats right for ME but we can be friends and still hang out right?."

WRONG again. Friends in Vancouver = emotional tampon time, I could care less about their last fifty shitty dates while they are supposedly on the best one.

Getting laid here is beyond easy, trying to get into a relationship is like solving pi. Takes forever.

After living in B.c for over a decade I actually do think women here are that cheap and neurotic they would go on one date and bail. I speak from multiple experiences and most men I talk to say the same thing DINE AND DASH.

Don't be sorry that my date that didn't work out, be sorry for the countless confused women here that have no idea how shallow they are and the horrible one sided dating scene they contribute to. Women in B.C. never know a good thing until it's long gone.

Like me. That was my last date here. Moving far away.

Move out of Vancouver , because this " world class city " lol , is definitely full of flakes.

You will have better luck anywhere else in Canada.

Most Vancouver women do not deserve a good man.

i have never experienced this kind of shallow dishonest culture anywhere else before.

it really is a vancouver thing,

Vancouver's toxic social environment of the last 10 years is here to stay

There are women who are afraid of the guy becoming agressive or violent if she rejects him. Or some people are just afraid of being honest because it's a difficult conversation: it's awkward, people get hurt, etc. It's easier to say it over text than in person. From a woman's perspective, men are coward as well. How often do men say they will call you back but never do? At least, she told you after instead of just ghosting.

Hmm... You've been repeating this same date mistake for the last 10 years... With multiple different women. What is the common denominator in each date? It's YOU.

I would not suffer through a meal with someone in order to get it free.

It sounds like you are picking the same type of person or type of woman.

Good luck in your next city.