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That is good advice.

But…

I’m trying to imagine what this would be like if it were two guys sitting on a sofa talking about girls, and scoffing in derision at the idea that they might be ‘our better halves’. Sense-of-humour failure aside, it’s just patronising.

Seriously, if you want men to listen, don’t bash them. Your advice is perfectly good enough that you don’t need to stoop to sexist stereotypes to present it. Now maybe, as you imply, your boyfriends don’t listen, maybe they wouldn’t “have a clue” if you tested them the next day, but considering this is an advice column for men, who aren’t all like your boyfriends, you’d stand considerably more chance of gaining their respect, and getting them to listen, by avoiding ‘man-bashing’, hilarious though it might seem at the time.

Picture the two guys on the sofa: “Yeah, why can’t women think straight or just keep a cool head. Nightmare.” See? It’s repellant, and not a tune that would play well alongside those guys offering women advice.

Be nice!

Good advice and, the more I watch, the more I like this channel. Great job, girls!

Yeah, I know, hence the ’sense of humour failure’ line. But us men get so much of this in TV commercials: ooh, look how hilarious it is to portray men as useless and clueless and thoughtless and good-for-nothing, ha ha ha.

Imagine us making a video, Justin, in which we openly had a laugh about how girls are silly, while *at the same time* earnestly trying to offer them advice such as “Girls, always give encouragement to your man”, or something. Do you think they’d take that advice from us men who’d just casually demeaned their whole gender?

Here’s some advice for everyone: if you want respect from the other sex, then respect them first. Male sexism against women is unacceptable - in this chunk of the world at least. But, for some reason, it’s fine the other way around. Why is that? Because men don’t care?

I’m burning my Y-fronts immediately. Join me, men! Together we can overthrow the tyranny of women’s oppression!

I’m fascinated to know why you think I’m a woman! Are you implying that you only tune out when women are talking?

I suppose you could argue that sexism against women only exists if they believe in it too, right? Good luck bringing that up to any women you might talk to, if you can keep ‘tuned in’ for long enough.

Dear Emma and Bella,

Emma starts out by saying, a woman needs to be responded to by way of appreciating her physical attributes, that like her words are to her mind, so too, is her body to her mind. A man cannot neglect either one and believe he knows what needs to be known about human beings, and in this case a woman’s needs; if a man is not taking the time to listen to her physical needs, indistinguishable is it then to neglect her ideas, thoughts, and reasons, which is Bella’s focus.

A woman requires gratification, and it is the advancement of gratification that stimulates dispositions of health, which is one premise for any healthy relationship. The knowledge that the two of you are a team and moving forward together is what she needs to believe. Because women are intellectual beings, this kind of stimulation must also be tangibly true to her, so us guys must have a transparent plan and be moving toward the goal of greater unity even if the plan consists mostly of her ideas.

Even if she is better able to provide monetarily, her knowing that you strive to love her more than you do yourself is paramount, however do not undermine yourself with undo weakness, be a strongly founded individual knowing that women need to see that you are one hard-working man with developing integrity–admittedly a work in progress, not perfect–humble, a friend.

When you add these qualities that you have a genuine desire to empathize with the physiological challenges of being a woman, the care needed to be committed when commitment instinctively would seem counterproductive to peace and survival, her love for you will grow, and it is part of the enduring plan of gratification when she can anticipate with surety that, when you know she has breast cancer or merely a bad day, you will forever be there holding her hand.

More often than not, she will come to you for advice and direction. This time of affirmation is a gift of trust and dedication from her; very importantly then, be ready to encourage her and be encouraging when she has worked out a solution, herself, rather than you being a fixer, especially if she is a clever girl– more clever than you my friend. This process of encouragement and pride in her could be considered small, however when you recognize the greater whole, which is that she came to you as a friend, a supporter of the person who she is and the one who she is growing to become, there really can be fewer things meriting experience than the confidence you will be rewarded with, bringing to her countenance worth, and a smile that says, he loves me.

By nature, a woman wants, and needs, a man to take leading roles. Basically, a woman needs a cooperative leader, and she will take the lead to demand such leadership, therefore, she will seek to find the intuition from her counterpart for this support of her life.

In the periphery, there are probably as many different directions as there are life situations. She will be hard-pressed for satisfaction with someone who does not, at least, try to have insightful perceptions into who she is and those complementing aspects of her needs, which are not decidedly male; however, during the exclusivity of a male-female relationship, do become decidedly male in many cases.

For instance, if there is a desire for children, just as certain obligations are exclusive to her abilities, so too are certain obligations exclusive to his abilities during the process, and, though her leadership roles may be more obvious, nevertheless most women want a man to recognize that he has a leading role in caring for their offspring in ways similar to her unique provision for an infant; to give his strength for adequate physical needs: mental, emotional, and spiritual support are some paramount goals required for the understanding of what every man should know about a woman’s want of assurance.

However, a man who does not deserve a woman’s respect to lead will only frustrate her till the relationship ends, or with the two living the rest of their lives, sadly, unfulfilled. And every guy should know that women are afraid of becoming one of these gloomy statistics. The important idea here is that men should recognize that a woman needs for a man to perceive the appropriate difference between the sexes and for him to differentiate respectively, creating relational elements for their unity, which is to say for them to complement each other, therefore fostering a life of development together.

Most women do desire to carry the role of a woman and a man to carry the role of a man when there is a man in her life, and she will want him to understand those differences and for him to continue to be sensitive, willingly discovering distinctive perceptions where necessary and beneficial.

Naturally, the reciprocal should be said for a man of a woman, however there are roles that must be recognized, and those roles are dynamically different per relationships, so it is with great importance that a man attempts to discern where to give and where to receive so that the two have balance; because, it seems, through a logic I will not try to support here, that the man must be the pacesetter, not necessarily the originator, for these goals.

When we are not inordinately focused on ourselves, creating a balance is an ingenious and innate quality that humans carefully possess. When we cooperate appropriately with the practical reality of our relationships, we are healthy, and the intimacy of a healthy male-female relationship expresses the desire to commit oneself to the other’s needs.

Then, another important aspect of this arrangement is for the two to place esteem above him or herself over and toward the other; this is another relational gift and a necessity for love to develop. It has been said that mankind has known no greater love than for one to dispose his or her life toward another’s good. This is what men do for their women and women do for their men and the two do for their children, together; and, when these principles are reciprocated that amazing knowledge has been achieved and wisdom practiced.

Hence the phrase, my better half, which is usually what a man affectionately says about a woman because he knows of his blundering boyish ways; he knows this when he compares himself to her refined gentle tolerance of him.

These ideals may be in direct conflict with the self-centered beings that the best of us struggle with, within ourselves daily. However, to strive to prize and respect one another with greater importance than oneself can potentially foster greater regard from our mates, if he or she is sensitive, which is to say, if the relationship is growing healthily.

After watching your video, twice, there is much more I have to say, however I came seeking Katharine at games, to talk about Ratchet and Clank, the PS3 I got for my mother, and other funny things, but now I must go to the hardware store before it is too late.

Thank you for the discussion and your candor.

Joseph

“By nature, a woman wants, and needs, a man to take leading roles.”

Holy crap that would make a hilarious greetings card.