Women find men to be fascinating and baffling creatures. There's probably not a woman in the world who hasn't looked at a man as if he was an alien species.
There are just things we see men do that are ... confusing to tons of women. Let's just say the average woman does things a little bit differently, particularly when it comes to friendship. For example, if you were to ask my ex who his best friend was, he would spit out the name of a person I never met and only spoke to once in the entire 12 years we were together. I don't doubt that they considered one another besties, but how? They never spoke! It wasn't just that Mike never came around, it was that they didn't talk, text, message, email, snail-mail, send smoke signals, hire sky writers, send telegrams, nada!
One Reddit user asked:
Women, what do you find most confusing about men?
Spoiler Alert: Yeah, none of the women here understand male friendships either. Or how men wear skinny jeans - but don't worry. Men were actually decently happy to respond! Enjoy some of the more popular responses - edited for language or clarity where needed.
Basic Info?
How little they know about their friends. My husband was friends with a guy for years and didn't know how old he was.
That type of stuff isn't a priority to us. We use different criteria to assess the quality of friendships.
Does he drink more, less, or the same as me? Does he earn more, less, or the same as me? Does he live nearby or work with me, so I can see him often enough without having to make special plans? Which sports does he watch, and who are his teams? Do we have similar hobbies to talk about?
That's probably 95% of it. We see no point in discussing favorite colors or favorite foods or hometowns or last names.
The Mechanics of Skinny Jeans
When you guys wear skinny jeans...where the does your junk go? Like, not sexually but as a concerned person... Does that get tucked or something? Wouldn't that hurt when you take off your jeans at the end of the day?
Depends on the guy. Most guys just have it kinda scrunched up on one side, but it's difficult to tell since skinny jeans have a surprising amount of crotch space.
Flaccid penises are really flexible; they can get into all sort of crazy positions without any harm. Just scrunching it up while putting on your pants is enough for most guys.
The real issue is the testes. Can't have pressure on those or else it hurts. Skinny jeans leave room for testes, which in turn leaves plenty of room for the penis.
- Xechwill
It's Not There
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How I can tell my husband where something is, and he can look right at it and say (with certainty), "it's not there."
Our vision is motion based. That's why women have so many jiggly parts.
- xubax
Fighting And Friendship
That guys can go from fighting and beating each other up to suddenly being back to friends, are you guys really friends? is it just taking frustration out on each other? what is it and how?
- freinlk
Two things:
1. Yes, usually its just pent up frustration/anger and once its dealt with things go back to normal.
2. It's very, very easy for guys to become and remain friends. If we share just one common interest we'll get along just fine.
Dave
Why is it that if I send you a message that has 3+ parts, you only respond to the least important or immediately relevant part?
If I'm like "Hey I saw our mutual friend while running errands. Let me know what you want for dinner I'm about to go pick it up. And did you take out the trash?" I get a response that says "Oh yeah Dave haven't seen him in a while."
We respond to the part that's important or interesting to us in a lot of cases. Generally, whatever she wants to eat is fine. Discussing the trash over text is pretty uninteresting, so pass on that.
But Dave? It's been a while! How's he?
180
Why some of the guys I know turn in completely different people when around their friends. I've seen women do it as well but never that big of a 180 as the men I know.
Essentially, men try to fit in with each other. We take in a situation and generally conform into one attitude because that's the norm for that specific group. most guys don't want to be seen as weird/different.
Admitting Defeat
Why they will throw their clothing on the floor next to the hamper when there is a perfectly good hamper right next to them. Baffling.
- katgib13
Because I want to wear it again later. If it goes into the hamper I've admitted defeat and will have to wash them sooner.
It's All Good?
What is up with having friends that give you sh*t and attitude and it's all good? It's like you all like to torment each other and laugh about it! (Not all men just the ones I know)
Ripping on each other is how our caveman brains are satisfied since we can't just beat each other up to establish group hierarchy.
- SPZX
That Greasy Feeling? You Mean Moisture?
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What's the deal with guys not wanting to use lotion or chapstick? Every guy I've dated thus far has denied my offer for lotion or chapstick when they complain about having chapped lips and dry skin.
I can deal with chapstick, but I have to wipe off the excess with a napkin/tissue immediately after applying. Lotion I absolutely won't use, hate my hands feeling like that. I can't handle the greasy feeling.
How Long Does It Actually Take?
Why does it take you so long to poop?
Do you not have enough fiber in your diet? Are man poops unfathomably large to a woman and just take so much effort to pass? Maybe you're just sitting there playing on your phone?
Most men I've met spend at least half an hour each time pooping. If a woman spent a half an hour on the toilet, you'd be worried she passed out in there or something.
Because it's another world. You get to be alone, no one telling you to do things or asking you questions. It's our safe space :)
"Nothing"
I haven't noticed this with girls but I have noticed that my husband will just like stare out into space with severe concentration and I'll be like "what's wrong babe?" and he will say something like "if all of our pets attacked me at once do you think I could fight them off?".
I've seen other guys do this too, it's just so fascinating.
(We have a medium pit mix, a small chihuahua mix, two ferrets and a hamster. So the answer was probably yes, unless he was asleep then maybe the medium dog could best him)
Lmao. He simply spoke the thoughts out loud that others cover up with "nothing."
- DrZeroH
Constant Competition
Why the constant need to have (metaphorical) 'dick measuring contests'
I was an aviation mechanic in the Marines for 5 years. I worked in a shop that averaged 25-30ish guys, while I was one of the only of 1-2 (at most 3) girls that were there. 75% of the non-work-related conversation was just them constantly comparing the most irrelevant things just to one-up each other. Not in a hostile way, just in very a 'bro' way.
Marine 1: "I ran faster than you this morning"
Marine 2: "yeah well I packed more life preservers than you and did it faster" (we worked on aviation safety equipment for helicopters)
Marine 3, from across the room not even in the conversation: "pssh, I can do more pull-ups than both of you combined"
NONE of those things have any thing to do with the other. How do you feel satisfied making these completely unrelated comparisons??
I mean I knew guys did this, I just could not believe how much/constant it happened and how irrelevant the comparisons were. so silly.
The Cupboard
Why are you unable to close cupboard doors?
Just gonna have to open it up again when I want something out!
Same Pants
How lazy can you be? My fiance can literally wear the same pants/ underpants for DAYS! Don't you feel at least uncomfortable?
It's not lazy it's being eco concious. Less changes of clothes equals less laundry equals less water used it's a no brainer 🤷♂️
Counseling
Unwillingness to go to counselling when there is a huge problem to the point of letting their counterpart suffer and or relationship breakdown - like if you love them be willing to work on stuff, don't just refuse because you don't want to do it / don't know what to expect ect / sole other stigma around counselling or self help in general / they don't see the problem themselves so don't think they need to even though they've been asked to go
I have way too many girlfriends stuck in difficult situations with men refusing to go to various therapy options available to them
I guess most men fear (rightly or not) that counselling is only being used by the woman to stock up on ammunition, or that they get reamed by their wife in front of a stranger, who also weighs in on that. And even if the counselor is really neutral, every argument would now cite the counselor as ultimate authority that, of course, assigns all blame to the man.
Probably not very rational, but i have to admit it would take A LOT to convince me to go to a counselor.
Put this into context though, a lot of men are brought up with this concept of 'boys don't cry' and that it's 'unmanly' to seek help. So there is a real stigma for a lot of men around seeking therapy/professional help and for showing vulnerability around mental illness.
Cleaning Help
Why do I have to clean with you every time you pick up a broom? I don't make you help me every single time!
If he did it alone, would you criticize the job he did?
- ItsMeTK
Too Cool
When you're starting to date a woman and you're actually attracted to her... why do some men try to downplay their actions or try to write something off for something else to "play it cool?" Some men do this up to an extent where it just becomes "too much" and it actually results in hurting the other party versus whatever their initial intent was.
We are currently voting on the correct amount of coolness to apply to women. So far we are having an issue since not all women are the same. We will let you know when the voting is done.
Friend's Opinions
When you tell him something and he downplays it or brushes it off. Then one of his friends says the same thing and he suddenly agrees with it. This happened all the time with my ex.
Your ex didnt care all that much about you, that's why.
- TCFi
Ghost
When a guy flirts with you, clearly interested, but "ghosts" you the next time you try talking to him. It confuses me very much, and it's happened to me before.
- x_joii
We're shy and probably thought of a reason why it wouldn't work.
Procrastination
They put everything off... from the simple tasks to the "absolutely has to get done ASAP". Like just go do it!
See though. The thing is usually it doesnt need to be done asap. And we almost always get it done regardless. Yes there are times that we wait to ling and it does work or we fail it or whatever, but 95% of the time it's fine.
When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
south park wedding GIF
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
homer simpson episode 23 GIF
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
Disney World GIF
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.