Male Biology 101

There you are, your Honey and you, basking in thehaving a conversation about something else.
post-dinner, kids-tucked-in-calm, watching TV beforeThese differences between men and women aren't
turning in for the night. Well, sort-of watching. Yourjust stories, they're biologically based. Recent
favorite sit-com is over, and your mate isresearch has shown that male and female brains are
channel-surfing. You figure this is a great time to talkcomposed of different amounts of grey and white
about replacing the hot water heater, after all,matter. Women's brains contain about 15% to 20%
nothing much is going on. So you ask, "Honey, whatmore grey matter than men's, which gives women
do you think - should we go to Home Depot thismore processing power, facilitating their multi-tasking
weekend and pick out a water heater and see if weabilities so often envied by male friends and spouses.
can install it ourselves, or do you want to look intoThe white matter in female brains is found primarily in
getting a contractor - although they're so expensive,that area of the brain which links the brain's two
and I don't know right now if that's a good idea - buthemispheres, making it easier for women's brains to
anyway, we really do need to do something aboutrespond to verbal tasks, which is one of the reasons
that water heater and . . ."why women are usually better at talking than their
Your mate is looking at you with the samepartners are.
expression he has when he bites into a sour fruit.Men have more white matter than women do in their
"What?" you ask. "Do we have to talk about thisbrains overall, giving them that uncanny ability to
now?" he replies. "Well, why not?" you ask. "Causeparallel park in two swift accurate maneuvers, as
we're watching TV," he answers, clicking the remote.opposed to women's three or more stabs at it, and
"We're not exactly watching," you snap, frustrated.to glance in the trunk of the car and say "Oh, sure,
"I'm watching," he retorts, clicking away. "OK, fine,"that'll fit," while the woman in their life is saying "No
you sputter, "You never want to talk aboutway," when yes indeed, it fits. The white matter is
anything." Your sweetheart looks dejected. "That'salso what allows men's single-mindedness, the ease
not true. I just don't want to talk about it now." Youwith which they can focus all their attention on one
roll your eyes. "I'm going to bed." You wonder, whattask, even if that does drive women nuts when they
is wrong with men? Why is getting them to talkwant his attention on several things at once.
about anything such a big deal?Respect your man's biology! If you want to talk with
Because it is. For a lot of guys, anyway. You see,your mate about a matter of consequence, make
women are generally great talkers - they expresssure nothing else is going on so he doesn't feel torn
themselves freely to most anybody, anytime, on justbetween two (or more) points of attention. And
about any subject. Gals will start a deep conversationthen, be attentive. Wait. Many men don't have
while having their nails done, or during a commercial inthoughts just ready to pop out on cue, they have to
response to something prompted by the TV showdig deep, rummage around in their minds, so that
they're watching. Men are quite different. Fortheir next thought will be considered, genuine. His
starters, men usually prefer to attend to one thing atthought process deserves your respect, not your
a time. If they're watching TV, they're watching TVimpatience.
(don't be fooled by the channel surfing, they're stillWith just a little attention to your guy's different
watching TV). If they're cooking, they're cooking. Ifbrain power, you may find he's a much better
they're changing a tire, they're changing a tire. Fewconversationalist than you ever thought possible.
men are comfortable doing any of the above and