Something that fascinates me as a dating columnist — and as a woman in general — is reading the advice men give other men on dating. I know what 'Cosmo’ and 'Marie Claire’ are telling women to do to attract men, so it’s always interesting to see what magazines like 'Maxim’ or 'FHM’ are telling guys to do. I like to compare and contrast and see how on-the-mark the male dating advice is.

One dating article for guys I recently came across was on the Askmen.com Web site. The topic was “Pickup Tips from 'Mad Men.’” (For those who don’t know, 'Mad Men’ is a TV show revolving around a group of high-powered ad execs in 1960s New York).

The 'Mad Men’ technique is admittedly old-school, the article says, but brings back some of the “long-gone male mystique.”

“The Mad Men crew appears powerful, dark and mysterious, while at the same time engaging and in-control,” it says.

The first step in the 'Mad Men’ approach: Be a man. “As much as they claim to want guys in touch with their feelings ... they really want someone to protect them and to be in control.”

I agree with this tip. I’m not saying women want a guy to be in control (at least not all of the time), and I think we really do want someone who can be sensitive and talk about his feelings. BUT, we don’t want some sissy girly-man.

Women (well, at least this one) want men who can fix things, whether it be our flat tire or our computer. And yes, a man who could protect me, hold his own should he have to defend my honor to, say, some drunk guy at the bar.

Another 'Mad Men’ technique: Give backhanded compliments. “They like to hand out compliments ... but always find a way to knock the women back to earth.”

This tip I don’t like. Whatever happened to giving out genuine compliments? Those work quite well at attracting women. You don’t have to suck up to a girl, but you don’t have to try and chip away at her self-esteem, either.

And perhaps the most confusing 'Mad Men’ technique: Speak without saying a word. “Speak when only there is little alternative. Learn to say things that are vague. Answer a woman’s question with a question.”

Wow, sign me up to talk to the guy who carries on conversations like that. What better way to pick up a girl than to talk to her without really revealing anything? (Or, more likely, to make her bored/irritated by the way you can’t just talk to her.)

So as far as dating tips go, the 1960s 'Mad Men’ might not be the best dating model for modern guys. Be a man, yes, that is timeless. But giving backhanded compliments and talking in circles? Let those dating tips stay in the past.