More poetryspam -- for Twin, who knows why

[marnanightingale]

Men and Their Boring Arguments

One man on his own can be quite good fun
But don't go drinking with two -
They'll probably have an argument
And take no notice of you.

What makes men so tedious
Is the need to show off and compete.
They'll bore you to death for hours and hours
Before they'll admit defeat.

It often happens at dinner-parties
Where brother disputes with brother
And we can't even talk among ourselves
Because we're not next to each other.

Some men like to argue with women -
Don't give them a chance to begin.
You won't be allowed to change the subject
Until you have given in.

A man with the bit between his teeth
Will keep you up half the night
And the only way to get some sleep
Is to say, 'I expect you're right.'

I expect you're right, my dearest love.
I expect you're right, my friend.
These boring arguments make no difference
To anything in the end.

Wendy Cope

Comments

[j-v-lynch.livejournal.com]

linked.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I'd say: "We don't either".

But - that would either start an argument -

or you'd say "I expect you're right."

So I won't say anything until I sort this muddle out.

Talk to you later -

(but note that Wimsey expected intelligent agreement or disagreement. The "I expect you're right" wouldn't have worked with him. But he wouldn't have kept you up all night, either. That way, at least. But he's fictional :<( )

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

But he is "one man, on his own."

And apparently quite good fun, though I agree with Harriet that "they oughtn't have told."

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

I don't think the Inklings would agree with you. Or for that matter, my experience with the Winterdarkians, lo this many age agone.

But then, I'm rather lacking in most of the feminine virtues so... Perhaps it's a girl thing?

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

You keep saying that... and yet. You're probably one of the most ladylike people I know, and I mean that entirely as a compliment.

And certainly you have the feminine (and yes, sometimes masculine) virtue at issue in spades:

When a discussion turns into a dispute becomes an argument starts to smell like a fight -- you can let it go. And very often do. S'one of your more loveable characteristics.

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, I can. But I don't want to! And when I run across a bunch of fellows who are willing to dig in and chew it out, I'm in alt. There was one arguments I had with a good friend (male) that ran along for hmm... about six years. (And I won, and was really, really gracious about it :-).

Of course, the minute drama, angst, tears and Hurt Feelings enter into the mix, my stomach starts to hurt. I need that masculine indifference, that lets one go at it hammer and tongs for an hour, then break for a beer and forget all about it.