Posted on 07/13/2011 9:43:33 AM PDT by freespirited
If you've ever spent time telling a guy a story or asking him a question, only to get a blank stare in response, then you know that there's definitely truth to this claim that guys weren't designed to hear us speak. I had a similar experience at brunch this weekend when I was going on and on to a male friend about something I can't even remember anymore. When I got to the end of my rant and finally asked him if he agreed with me on the topic at hand, his answer was, "sorry, I really wasn't listening to a word you said."
Even though I was incredibly frustrated with him, he did bring up a good point, asking, "would you rather I lie and say I heard you?" This little exchange, as insignificant as it was, did make me wonder exactly what it is that makes it so easy for men to tune us out.
As it turns out, a study published in the journal NeuroImage sought to answer the very same question. Researchers found that there are major differences in the way male and female brains process voice sounds. Different brain regions are activated in men, depending on whether they're hearing a male or female voice.
Apparently, the vibration and number of sound waves in our voice makes it harder for men to decipher what we're saying. When it comes to processing a woman's voice, they use the more complex auditory part of the brain that processes music, not human voices. But the guys in the study could easily hear and understand other men’s voices as speech because that uses a simpler brain mechanism at the back of the brain.
So, next time you want to get angry and yell at a guy for "not listening," cut him a little slack – his brain just wasn't made to hear you. My suggestion would be to speak slowly and get to your point fast.
“It’s not that men don’t listen, it’s that women presume they can communicate on their terms and have a man pay rapt attention.”
“It’s not that men don’t listen, it’s that women presume they can communicate on their terms and have a man pay rapt attention.”
Well put.
But the male can counter with the 25 foot zone of protection produced by good chilli or a brat and kraut (when mixed with beer). When properly executed, even the dog drifts beyond the range of effective attention...
And whatever does get through is automatically handled by the 10 second rewind/playback loop that all males inherently possess.
Even I, as a woman, caught that.
Funny you should point that out, my boyfriend hears me loud and clear
My mission is life is to annoy!
LOL
Considering the music I listen to, it is pretty well-developed and I have no problem clearly listening to and understanding women, except if they're talking rapidly, have a high-pitched voice, heavy accent, or foreign language.
When I got to the end of my rant and finally asked him if he agreed with me on the topic at hand, his answer was, "sorry, I really wasn't listening to a word you said."Wow, I can see this article is deeply rooted in science. /s
We never had major arguments either. Then, she divorced me.
On Wednesday, she (another one) spoke of getting married.
She brought up the subject, not I.
We were looking for a condo together.
The following Monday, she broke off.
“Why?” I asked.
“I already told you!”
How do I get her back?
Those whose mission is to annoy
ought not to complain
when treated as gnats.
No. Not a complete idiot.
There is some science to it.
There you go.
you guys allow yer wimmin to speak besides saying ‘suppers ready’ or ‘ohhh god’ ???
Here in the big City a woman with underage kids has galley slave in the man that donated the sperm. He might as well submit to slavery or face a family court that will make him wish he did, getting dragged into family court is like Kunta Kinte getting caught trying to escape and having his foot chopped off.
You have family courts up there in the mountains?? Hows the moonshine???
:)
Those whose mission is to annoy
ought not to complain
when treated as gnats.
__________________
When I am buzzing, I don’t really care. A well placed uh-huh will let me finish processing. Then when I want to talk I will ask for attention.
I am well trained.
I understand that phenomena.
I can handle those parameters plenty comfortably most of the time.
Not if tired with a headache, however.
Not if tired with a headache, however.
If tired with headache, I go buzz in other places. That is why I have friends.
That’s loving.
Most hubbys would probably be happy for wifey to mostly blather to her girl friends and save the meaty stuff for hubby and wife chats.
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