Girl Talk - Boy Talk

Chas and Dave wrote a song about it and how right they were. Women just love to rabbit! Whether you calling it chatting, nattering, gassing or just plain talking, we're way ahead of the opposition in the vocal stakes. Not that I'm saying it's a reason for our men to dump us, as suggested by Chas and Dave, but I've no doubt there are times when they wish we'd put a sock in it.

More often than not, talking to another woman is far less work than trying to get a decent conversation going with a bloke. How many times haven't you tried initiating conversation by mentioning something you're sure he'd find agreeable only to receive the standard "mmmm" reply. If you know he loves BMWs and there's a fine example of one parked along the road, try saying "that's a nice car, isn't it?" and see what happens. Yepp, the standard reply. If you really want to get him talking, try "I can't see what anybody sees in those cars" and before you know it, he'll be chatting on about how reliable the engine of a BMW is (assuming it is, of course), how comfortable the interior is, not to mention how well planned the layout is and the luggage room's just awesome! And did you know it can do 0-60 at the speed of a fart? The point is, men need to be dragged into action through a good disagreement. Small talk, just for the sake of it, isn't their forte.

It's hardly surprising, given our differences, that men become frustrated at their women who constantly want to talk about things that offer no argument. They don't see the point in discussing the scent of the roses unless you happen to think it smells like sherbet whilst he thinks it smells of honey! And if you've already decided to get a Greyhound, why continue to talk about them? The subject would really only merit further discussion if you've started doubting the decision but to him, simply reiterating that Greyhounds make wonderful pets is hardly worthy of word expenditure.

Women, on the other hand, are happy to spend hours discussing various aspects of life, be it which washing powder does the job best (although I have to admit that this particular subject has a short life around here) to whether or not there's life in outer space. We'll analyse our lives from every perceivable angle and serve our emotions on a plate to be shared and devoured. When we talk about sex it's because we're either experiencing difficulties in that department or finally achieved multiple orgasm. The fact that the bloke standing next to the BMW (the one you earlier admired with your partner) has a huge lunch box isn't THAT important to us. Sure, we'll joke about it but where men stop at "I'd give her one", women will discuss 'why' they'd give him one.

How often have you known your partner (or father or brother) to pick up the phone for no other reason than because they fancy a chat? They may well have done during your courting days but do they ever call their male friends just to have a natter? I doubt it. Women, on the other hand, can spend hours on the phone to the same girlfriend, talking about anything and everything, going into minute detail about every event that's happened since last time they spoke and still finding it all just as interesting as they would've had it been the very first conversation they'd ever had. When witnessing this behaviour, men simply shake their heads and wonder how the heck we can find so much to talk about to somebody we visited with for three hours just last week. To a man, the telephone is either a means of making contact when something needs to be said or done or, for some, a means of getting a quick thrill through dialling premium rate numbers. It certainly isn't a tool designed for nurturing friendships.

I'm not saying that men will never talk; of course they talk. Men are great at discussing business deals and are generally happier speaking publicly than women are but they need a definite goal to make talking worthwhile. To them, when talking about next door's new car, the technical specs are what interest them, whereas we'd probably wonder about it's cost and how on earth they managed to afford it! Gossipy, yes, but that also comes naturally to women.

Evidently, our propensity for gossip stems from way back when we lived in caves. The men went out to hunt leaving the women to look after the cave and offspring. For those women, it was important to know what was going on around them in order to keep their own home and family safe, something which eventually evolved into gossip once we mastered the art of meaningful speech. Knowing that Missus Chucklebum could be likely to steal your food supplies or that old man Poop-pants had been known to rape women while their men were away were important things to know. Gossip was what moved this information quickly through the villages, rather like the jungle drum. Unfortunately, gossip often changes facts so poor old Annie Spottyface was seduced by Tommy Littleballs could easily turn into something that makes Annie sound as if she's slept with half the village.

Men, as much as they deny it, also gossip. They don't see it as such because their gossip takes on a different stance. Knowing that Dave has put a new turbo in his motor or that Bob's been promoted is just as much gossip as anything we women talk about. Men gossip because, going back to the days of old again, they needed to know which tribes or villages were strong and with which weapons they were likely to fight with. That sort of thing translates in our modern society to who's got the most money (money = power) and what they've earned it by doing. Facts were, and still are, important to them from a strategic point of view. My partner would call it "intelligence gathering" but no matter what impressive name you put to it and how pretty the packaging is, it's still gossip, plain and simple. They just don't do it quite as much as us ladies.

Conversation's a bonding agent between women, something that men don't need. They bond through activities; either doing them or discussing them. If they're not out on some muddy field kicking a ball around then it'll be "Did you see Beckham's penalty last night?". Oh, and "look at the knockers on that" will sometimes come into play because sex is an activity just as much as football, biking, fixing cars, fishing or downing pints.

Most of us have heard that women use about three times as many words a day than men but even so, mixed gender company, men are likely to dominate the conversation. Why? Because they need to exert their power and strength, of course. That isn't to say there aren't women who wouldn't dream of allowing a man to dominate in this way and there are also men who wouldn't dream of trying but in general, men like to have their voices heard. I'm afraid we girls have to take some of the blame for that, too, because of our tendency to tack a question on the end of a statement. Saying "that was a lovely meal, wasn't it?" allows others to jump straight in and, in the case of a man, answering the question then allows him to go on to change the subject in order to satisfy his need to dominate the conversation. Believe me, the only way we can control a conversation is to stop leaving open-ends, because while we might see them as showing a concern for the opinions of others, men will see them as weak statements from a woman who doesn't know her own mind.

Another way in which the sexes differ can be clearly seen when a woman wants to discuss something that's bothering her. I'd be reasonably well off now if I'd been given a pound for every time I heard a woman complain "he always has to be so argumentative". He isn't doing it to hurt, though; it's just his nature. Discussion's good, small talk's a waste of time. We just have to accept that they're not women (and I can assure you there are times when I'm glad my partner isn't) and let them do what comes naturally. That, incidently, also includes offering advice. Again, for him, if the conversation's to achieve anything, a solution's needed. You might not want advice but he's gonna give it, regardless. One friend complained that her husband wouldn't listen to her problems because she never took his advice anyway and if she isn't going to listen to him, why should he bother to listen to her? I can see that a man could get frustrated by women who "don't listen" but when we desperately want to share our feelings with somebody else without being "told what to do", that's when we really need our women friends.

For life to continue, women need men, but when it comes to talking, women need women. It's good to be understood.

About The Author

Sharon Jacobsen is a freelance writer living in South Cheshire, England, with her partner and however many of her three children happen to be living at home at any given time. To contact Sharon or to learn more about her work, please visit http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk

---

Relationship Advice: Words Can Hurt or Heal

"Stick and stones, may break my bones, but words will... Read More

Friends and Friendship - Who are Friends, What is Friendship

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is... Read More

Does Age Matter?

In the Asian online dating world it is not uncommon... Read More

Universal Laws for Couples

The Law of Connection: Spouses are either growing closer or... Read More

10 Reasons Why Married Couples Grow Apart (Part I)

When asked why their marriage is on the rocks, many... Read More

Love - Entrepreneur Style

For many of us, love has become a distant ideal.... Read More

Why He May Be Cheating On You

Why He May Be Cheating On YouThere could be all... Read More

My Concept

From my own personal experiences with relationships I believe in... Read More

Building the Bond in Your Relationship

A bond (relationship wise) is when two people have a... Read More

The Evolution of Love

Songs have been saying it for generations together. Ask anyone... Read More

Assuming Personal Responsibility in Relationships

Stephen Covey in 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families says... Read More

Is The Internet A Miracle Cure For Loneliness?

A few years ago a surprising survey discovered that people... Read More

Romantic Tips - Keeping Romance Alive

You've been in a relationship for quite some time and... Read More

Passions Search for Destiny

She was haunted by a man whom she had never... Read More

If You Cannot Make Friends, Make Foes

There are few desires (if any) stronger than the deep... Read More

Being Mindful of Your Mates Space

SOMETIMES I'LL ask a couple I'm seeing in therapy to... Read More

Easy Ways to Turn Any Evening Romantic

If you don't have the time, money or energy to... Read More

Extramarital Affairs: What Everyone Needs to Know and What You Can Do to Help

Recent statistics suggest that 40% of women (and that number... Read More

What Men Want From Women

Actually, it's pretty simple. Deep inside the heart of every... Read More

Catch a Cheating Lover?

Relationships. Virtually all of us are in one, or at... Read More

Victorias Secret Disclosed!

SHHHHHH, don't tell anybody, but, I know the secret.It all... Read More

Global Conflict and Inter-Religious Dialogue: The Importance of Understanding Others

As is learned in the study of Comparative Religion, the... Read More

Interview with Tigress Luv: How To Get Over A Breakup

Recently I had the opportunity to interview my personal favorite... Read More

My Broken Heart

I guess my soulmate wasn't all he was cracked up... Read More

Romancing The Senses

Romance can be experienced in numerous ways, but it is... Read More

How Compatible Are You and Your Partner?

What are the things you argue about? Where are the... Read More

Sound Seduction Advice for Dating and Romance Success

BackgroundSeduction is a subtle tool used with the ultimate goal... Read More

The Logic Of Females - Or Lack There Of

Many males complain that they don't understand females. Many females... Read More

Thinking Lingerie on Super Sunday?

February will bring with it one of the most important... Read More

Maybe Not Bones, But Hearts...And Worse: The Destructive Power of Simple Speech

Out of the blue, slap bang in the middle of... Read More

Passion Drought: Turning the Fizzle Back Into Sizzle In Your Relationship; Part 1

IntroductionMany gay men in both short and long-term relationships report... Read More

Two Kinds of Love

Love is something we all need, and want. For love,... Read More

Unfaithfulness

AS I STARED at the sunset, I marveled at its... Read More