This article takes the stable marriage problem, a mathematical problem for which one of the resolution strategies is optimal for the side that is processed first, and concludes by analogy that "asking first" is an optimal strategy in real life, using anecdotal evidence as proof. Not sure how this made it to the front page, to be honest.
daymanstep|1 month ago
The motivating question seems to be "how can women get a better deal" and they come up with this solution "ask first" and try to rationalise it with the mathematical analysis of the stable marriage problem plus some anecdotes.
Noticing the inherently "zero-sum" nature of these solutions (it's either male-optimal if males ask first or female-optimal if females ask first) some feminists will gravitate towards a more "equal" solution that sounds awesome in theory yet somehow nobody has managed to practice it...