Vast Generalities

Women are very different than men. Women say that men are stoic and uncompromising, whereas men say that women are over-emotional and irrational. This has spurred many studies and books and movies, and has generally baffled mankind since the beginning of, well, mankind.

I have the answer.

Men can see the path in front of them, whereas women live in the moment. When a serious relationship ends, men see it as just another step in their life and can move on and get over the relationship much quicker. They spend much less time pondering "what could have been" and simply accept the fact that it didn't work out and it's for the best.

Women, however, can only see that moment of emotional distress. They mourn the relationship as if it were a dead friend. They don't see that there will be another man in their future. They do not remember the faults of the relationship, but they dwell on the good parts - selectively ignoring the glaring reasons the relationship ended.

This is true in day to day male-female interactions as well. When I have an argument with a male, I don't see that it will be better tomorrow. I feel that I am sad and angry RIGHT NOW, and therefore will always be sad and angry. Therefore, when I do have a fight, I want it to end as soon as possible and have the relationship go back to normal immediately. When guys get angry, they need to just be angry for a while, cool down, then everything will be okay. Girls (especially myself) need the comfort of knowing (as soon as possible) that everything is better. They don't see the big picture.

This mindset causes women to act crazy - like it's their last day on earth, or that that man is their soulmate - even if we (deep down) know that he wasn't. Men come across as cold and heartless, even though in actuality they just have the foresight to not emotionally break down when placed in an emotionally explosive situation.

I think this also causes women to give in to things they'd rather not give in to. They think it's better to let him choose the restaurant or the movie or who has to make dinner rather than risk enduring the uneasy argument stage.

I may very well be completely off-base here. Or, I'm not, but I want to avoid any sort of tense altercations.