Bedroom action keeps us buzzing but nothing beats romance

Sarah Arvidsson and Paul Cousins celebrate their first Valentine's Day together. Picture: Craig Borrow Herald Sun

CHIVALRY is not dead or at least it shouldn’t be, according to a Herald Sun Valentine’s Day survey.

Despite liberal views on office flings and sex on a first date, some old-fashioned traditions still hold true, with half of the 2700 readers polled believing a man should always pay on a first date.

The survey revealed many of us believe there’s nothing wrong with office romances, with a third of respondents admitting they had dated a colleague.

And one in 20 respondents had hooked up with their manager.

More than half of those polled had “sexted” while almost a third of readers had dated someone they had met online.

We’re not shy in the bedroom either – a fifth of those surveyed thought it was fine to have sex on a first or second date while half had been in a friends-with-benefits relationship.

While two-thirds of those polled did not believe it was necessary to get married before children, half of those polled who weren’t married wanted a traditional big wedding with an engagement ring and reception.

When it comes to the most important attributes in a partner, honesty and a sense of humour were priorities while physical appearance and being financially well-off were at the bottom.

More than 40 per cent of respondents felt age was irrelevant when it comes to true love.

Almost 94 per cent said it was inexcusable to break off a relationship via text.

Two-thirds of respondents were between 14 and 20 when they had their first kiss.

Clinical psychologist Dr Janet Hall said she believed people were still romantics deep down and valued commitment, living together and being in love.

“I used to see young people being OK to have sex on a first date or even a first ‘hook-up’ at a pub at the end of a boozy night,” she said.

“Now I see over-50s willing to have sex on a first date after meeting on the internet.

“So values around sex have certainly loosened up.

“However most women would still be happy to be the bride in white and have a romantic honeymoon.

“Most men are happier in a loving and steady relationship too. Research shows that these men live longer.”

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