Martian vs. Venus
I read an email sent by an ex-schoolmate this morning. How interestingly true that men and women do mean different things when they say the same words. Here are some of the excerpts from that email:
"Men and women seldom mean the same things when they use the same words. For example, when a woman says "I feel like you never listen", she does not expect the word never to be taken literally. Using the word never is just a way of expressing the frustration she is feeling at the moment. It is not to be taken as if it were factual information.
To fully express their feelings, women assume poetic license and use various superlatives, metaphors and generalizations. Men mistakenly take these expressions literally. Because they misunderstand the intended meaning, they commonly react in an unsupportive manner. "
Maybe not all of you go through this but I know I definitely have experienced some of them in my marriage life. Listed below are some of the phrases literally meant by Venus but taken as is by Martian.
For example,
1. We never go out.
Martian = It has been a few days since we went out.
Venusian = We never do anything together anymore because you are lazy, unromantic, and just boring.
2. I am so tired, I can't do anything.
Martian = I have been doing so much today. I really need a rest before I can do anything more.
Venusian = I do everything and you do nothing. You should do more. I can't do it all. Please help me pick up after yourself.
3. No one listens to me anymore.
Martian = Would you listen to me and occasionally when I pause make one of these reassuring sounds: "oh", "humph", "uh-huh", and "hmmm".
Venusian = You have become a very boring person to be with. You are selfish, uncaring and bad listener.
In conclusion, Venusians out there, please choose correct words when relaying messages to Martians. Also give examples to the phrases you said just to make sure we get the correct message accross.
"Men and women seldom mean the same things when they use the same words. For example, when a woman says "I feel like you never listen", she does not expect the word never to be taken literally. Using the word never is just a way of expressing the frustration she is feeling at the moment. It is not to be taken as if it were factual information.
To fully express their feelings, women assume poetic license and use various superlatives, metaphors and generalizations. Men mistakenly take these expressions literally. Because they misunderstand the intended meaning, they commonly react in an unsupportive manner. "
Maybe not all of you go through this but I know I definitely have experienced some of them in my marriage life. Listed below are some of the phrases literally meant by Venus but taken as is by Martian.
For example,
1. We never go out.
Martian = It has been a few days since we went out.
Venusian = We never do anything together anymore because you are lazy, unromantic, and just boring.
2. I am so tired, I can't do anything.
Martian = I have been doing so much today. I really need a rest before I can do anything more.
Venusian = I do everything and you do nothing. You should do more. I can't do it all. Please help me pick up after yourself.
3. No one listens to me anymore.
Martian = Would you listen to me and occasionally when I pause make one of these reassuring sounds: "oh", "humph", "uh-huh", and "hmmm".
Venusian = You have become a very boring person to be with. You are selfish, uncaring and bad listener.
In conclusion, Venusians out there, please choose correct words when relaying messages to Martians. Also give examples to the phrases you said just to make sure we get the correct message accross.
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