Talk Like a Man!

I try to not let my gender get in the way of what I want to communicate. I don't know what's going on there, but, when I am successful at concealing that I am a woman, somehow I think I've noticed there is more thinking going on for others. Maybe a lot of people are attracted to the internet for that reason; it's just thoughts, and personality and identity can be completely irrelevant. That is exactly the kind of atmosphere to best share one's thoughts about the gospel. In the case that it is my age or appearance I didn't have any plans to share my picture on the internet, and didn't for a couple years. When it did surface my husband chose a fine example of my unphotogenic-ness. That was fine with me, too, for a long time.

My dad trained me from twelve years old, on, how to think critically. He never treated me like there was anything about me that could keep me from being successful at challenging others intellectually, and so I don't either.

Recently I joined the bible.org forum and after a few days of articulating my point of view, I was told, "Be careful not to fall into a pit, my brother." Aside from the warning, I was pleased. This isn't the first time that I've entered into discussions and been called a "he." Aside from not linking up my profile to a photo and not specifying that I am a woman, there is one more technique I have learned from my discussions with my father, and on through life, to help me remain anonymous. I've been paying attention to learn how to talk like a man. Here are a few pointers that I try to follow:

--Never, ever use the word "feel" when describing what you believe. It's a dead giveaway that you're a woman. A man will never, ever use this word. Not even in casual conversation. They use instead something like "my thought for here, for this," or "in my opinion, in my experience." My dad always told me, "emotions are absolutely irrelevant." He is absolutely right.

--Be brief. I mean, go back through your entry two or three times and cut out as many details as you possibly can. Most men have an intelligence that allows them to say quickly and direcly what it is they've got going on in their minds. They don't make use of introductory or summarizing paragraphs; that's a convention no doubt started by a woman to be sensitive to their audience. Men take years to figure out that it matters to them how they come across.

--Get angry on occasion.Believe in yourself like a man does. That means that when you're being beaten down to lose the conversation, use anger to aide the impression that you know you're right. To make it really authentic, make sure you get angry when you run out of things to say. Men always do this. Anger is a useful tool to sprinkle throughout your conversation to throw them all off your scent.

--Think at least two steps ahead. Maybe you'll need three. Before you open your mouth to begin a conversation, or before you make a reply, make sure you take the time necessary first to anticipate what their response will be. Know for yourself how you will answer, and keep that in mind, without prematurely revealing it when you reply. Men hate being wrong; in fact, in their universe it just never happens, and secretly they work very hard to think comprehensively about all answers beforehand so that they don't have to be troubled by their universe collapsing in on them.

If you apply yourself to these principles, I think you will find you will be treated with more relevance.

I don't utilize these to a maximum. It's not to my liking to gain a better impression for being listened to if it has to be at the expense of being kind. But they do help in moderation.