It is often reported that men grow silent. For example, among other times, men have the reputation of going silent when they're mad. I suppose this cannot be disputed from even casual observation.
Does anyone ever ask why? ...the reason I ask is, in fact, one of the reasons. Men often feel they don't want to be heard, based on responses to their efforts to 'speak' (is that why they aren't often asked, 'Why?'). So it becomes quite natural to simply 'be quiet'.
I think it worth considering why men often feel like they don't want to be heard. I have sensed this within myself at times. Often it is accompanied by an anger...at the notion of not being worth being heard. Of course, it would be wise not to reach this conclusion. But, nonetheless, the feedback, intended or not, seems to be quite tempting along the lines of, "I don't want to hear your side of the story, just listen to mine...and shut up."
Hmmm, I wonder why men grow silent....
(And, for any female readers out there, I'm not putting this all at the feet of the women in mens' lives...though men may feel it there, I think men feel this in a lot of places in their relationships).
...more to follow on this one; it seems wrong to leave it only here...as this is only half the story. The sad thing is, both halves (of the story) seem too often to be skipped.
