September 6th, 2006

OK, OK. Enough people have now complained about the size of the font in my rants. So in the STYLE attribute I increased the font size by a notch from:

STYLE="font-size: x-small; font-family: Verdana"

to:

STYLE="font-size: small; font-family: Verdana"

I hope that makes everyone orgasmically happy.

* * *

The hills frowned out loud
The trees split in two
The river ran up to your door
And it was all a show
To You

-From the song, To You, written by me and performed by me and Ken

It never ceases to amaze me to what lengths men will go to (me included—at least in the past) in order to impress or at least in hopes of impressing the women in their lives.

I've seen men adopt completely different personas, spend all their money and even more, travel the width and length of the world, and give up all manner of creature comfort and advantage over their fellow men, just for the opportunity to hear the cooing sounds of a grateful woman. (Actually, I'm not really sure what that sounds like, but maybe you get the point.)

And when that woman isn't "grateful" or just plain doesn't understand what all the fuss is about, nothing resects a man's heart and sensibilities faster than being reminded by the woman that he is being an idiot.

You see, true romance exists in its own world, independent of time and space. An uncountable number of songs, poems, treatises, and novels have been written trying to capture the feeling of romance, but, like all feelings, you can only get so close to capturing it in an art form. It's better to use that art form to try to spark it in someone else's feelings.

But that dreadful artificial sappy drivel that men and women make up when they don't understand what romance is (or don't have the potential to live a romantic life) is as unhealthy and potentially poisonous as a steady diet of fast food, cigarettes, and beer.

Because sweeping "romantic" gestures are as meaningful or meaningless as the intention and emotion behind them. And a man's attempt to impress a woman is most definitely not an honourable intention. Nothing says disaster like hanging off the feelings of another person. And when a man does that with a woman by trying to impress her, he is not doing himself—or her—a favour.

In fact, when his feelings turn into loneliness, frustration, and agony because she doesn't follow his imagined script, he can turn nasty ... maybe even dangerous. A man must first take care of his own feelings: start with a healthy self-respect and the rest of your relations will eventually fall into place with a lot less painful effort.

But lie down like a throw-rug and be prepared to be trod upon. And if you keep doing it in hopes that your partner will eventually notice and be grateful, then you are being a hopeful fool. Instead, you will eventually feel that great slow-burning hurt and frustration.

And you know what eventually boils up next, men, don't you? Fight or flight. Not good ... not good at all.

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