Dash posted one of the best entries on this I've seen so far. Rob has been adding little tidbits from his readers. I'm avoiding making this a link fest by providing you with the URLs above, so you can go and see all the posts on the subject.
It's good to dive into the subject by describing the differences between men and women, but I think the best example is to witness a real live conversation. Scary thing is, this is a TRUE story.
Me: Honey..do I look ok? (normal question after getting ready for work and coming out into the living room)
Him: Yeah, you look great.
Me: You didn't even look at me before you said that.
Him: I know, but you always look fine.
Me: Great...you don't even care how I look.
Him: Sure I do, you always look great.
Me: Whatever.
Him: What's wrong?
Me: Never mind, just forget it.
Him: What did I do?
Me: I ask you a simple question and all you can do is say "you look fine." And you really haven't even looked.
Him: You look great. I like the outfit. The combo is very effective.
Me: Whatever. What do you think of my hair? Do you like it this way. I tried something different.
Him: It looks really good.
Me: You always say it looks good and you don't even really look at it.
Him: Not that again. Man, I can't win.
Me: Not what again?
Him: No matter what I say, I'm going to be wrong.
Me: Fine.
Him: God I hate that word.
Me: What fine?
Him: F***ked up, irrational, neurotic, emotional
Me: Is that what you think I am?
Him: Weren't we talking about hair?
Me: Don't change the subject.
Him: See, no matter what I say I'm wrong.
Me: All I asked you was if you liked my hair this way.
Him: I told you it looked good.
Me: Only good?
Him: Yeah, it's good.
Me: Only good..so it's not great?
Him: It's great.
Me: So why didn't you say that in the first place?
Him: I like it the other way better.
Me: So are you saying this way sucks?
Him: No, it's fine, but I like it the way you normally do.
Me: Hm, maybe I should go redo it.
Him: No, it's great this way.
Me: But you just sait it sucked.
Him: No, I said I preferred it the other way.
Me: Whatever. I just wish you would say what you meant.
I think this just about covers it.
Comments
Now, that's perfect. Mine was a joke, but this one is real. That sounds like a conversation that could have happened in any relationship I know of. Excellent!
Posted by: Dash at February 26, 2005 10:43 AM
You know, I can't tell you how many of THOSE conversations I have had...
; )
Posted by: Christina at February 26, 2005 11:37 AM
I cannot say I see equal neuroses here.
Posted by: Brett at February 26, 2005 01:56 PM
Yeah us men can't win... I tink that's what ****ed up my last and only relationship & why i'm now single etc...
Posted by: Gopher at February 26, 2005 04:59 PM
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...snort! that's soooooooo true to life!
Posted by: Suzanne at February 27, 2005 10:31 AM
I am just so lucky. Thirty two years of marriage and dang near none of this crap. She still wears her hair the way it was when we met, I still razz her once in a while about coloring it (and the shade hasn't changed) and she has never given me a hard time about feedback about her appearance.
There has been one small dispute. She's added a bunch more assorted pierces to her ear (used to be just one more pair per decade) which is okay with me, but she also wants to get her nose pierced, and I've disliked that since the '60s. She pouted quietly for a little while, and then settled for adding the tragus to her ear pierce collection and dropped the nose thing.
Posted by: triticale at February 27, 2005 08:34 PM
I used to have that very same conversation. I decided when I heard footsteps comin' down the stairs, I'd head for the bathroom. Flip on the fan, grab somethin' to read and have a seat. None of yall are comin' into that situation askin' loaded questions... ;)
Posted by: RedNeck at March 1, 2005 06:23 PM