Sex, Lies, and Conversation

Tannen: "Sex, Lies, and Conversation" #2

The first thing that comes to my mind when reading an article like this is, "Has this writer maybe encountered frustrating situations like this before?", or "Is the writer possibly trying to express personal emotions in the topic discussed?" Whatever the case may be, the point she is trying to make is clear to me. It is the events and relationships that happen early on in life that may interfere and have effect on the intimate relationships that occur later on in life. This holds some truth in my opinion, and must be examined carefully to make sure and read between all the lines. Let us not neglect important detail and variables.

The way she describes the differences in being raised may be apparent, but let's not forget about the natural way that males and female differ. She states that beginning at a very young age, female conversations tend to be more passionate and helpful, rather than the more scattered and oblivious conversation of the males. She also carries on to explain that as they get older, it seems obvious that the males actually are listening and showing compassion, just in a different way. Females may constantly be staring into one anothers face, while males may seem like they're gazing off into space for the whole of the conversation. In actuality, it reveals that the males are indeed expressing their feelings as well, just in a macho way if I may put it. This is all too true and leads me back to my first point of natural born differences between males and females. I believe it's just in our blood to be the way we are. Disregarding the whole dominant male theory, it may just be encrypted in our blood, just the way that Windows are default on the computers you buy nowadays. Males will just always feel the need to be more macho and nonchalant than females. Not just in conversation, but in every aspect of life. Males don't want to cry, males don't want to seem like they care. Males will always feel the need to uphold that Alpha status, I guess it gives security in some way, not to mention a familiar magnetism to the opposite sex. Even myself, I feel the need sometimes to be more macho than I should just because I can't help it. I believe that's why males choose to converse in the way they do. It's the DNA I tell you...

In understanding the way that conversation affects couples later in life, we must examine the past. In the article Tannen explains that males seem to think that in conversation, the female is only trying to interrupt and express her own points of view. While the male is seemingly not interested in what the other has to say. I believe this all is a matter of perspective. Tannen also explains how females see conversation as a means of emotional rapport, rather than just sorting through the events of the week. In comparison to my personal experiences, this seems to be true in may aspects. I for one have a hard time staring at a girls face when talking, especially