If men are from mars, women are not even in the milky way

Hands down, my favorite reading for today was "Tips for Women: How to Have a Relationship with a Guy" by Dave Barry. In fact, this might top the list for the most fun reading yet. The essence of what I will say about this passage is that it is entirely based on truth. And that is exactly what makes it so hilarious.

Barry writes in such a way to emphasize the heart of the matter: men and women live not only on different planets but in different solar systems. There is just no way that a man and a woman can ever share a common mindset. Though Barry employs a fanatical use of hyperbole, every person reading this story is thinking the same thing: THIS IS SO TRUE! 

When it comes to relationships, women over think and over analyze literally every tiny detail they can remember to tell their girl friends, and men hardly think at all. And they certainly don't discuss it with their friends. I think most of us college-aged students are old enough to realize the complexities of relationships with the opposite gender by now. One of my longest relationships ended two days after the guy was still insisting that everything was fine. (Clearly it wasn't, but who was I to know??)

I love how Barry is obviously completely unashamed about this perpetual situation, because it is one that simply cannot be helped. Men say, "Huh?", while women wonder what is running through their minds. I do not believe that all men are like this, but I do believe that every guy has been through or will go through this unknowing, unwilling, non-ready, in-denial-of-reality happenstance whilst in a relationship with a woman. It made me laugh a lot when Barry said, "Do not expect the guy to make a hasty commitment. By 'hasty,' I mean, 'within your lifetime.'"

Also, the "Basic Guy Logic" that Barry described is both incredibly funny and true. Guys in relationships are always jealous of their single friends, because there is NO WAY that being in love with the same woman for the rest of your life will ever be as fun as frequent and unemotional flings. There's just no way. They will miss out on all the nights alone... with the cat and the TV and the potato chips. Who would be OK with missing that? No one.

Barry is a hoot, and he knows what he is talking about when it comes to the interaction between men and women. His sarcasm and vivid metaphors are extremely funny, and he gets his point across with ease. I would love to read more of his writing in the future.