Relationship Stuff: Advice for Guys

I’m not a huge fan of Dilbert the comic, but Dilbert the blog is hugely funny. Writer Scott Adams has something hysterical to say about practically every topic. Based on this nugget alone, I wish he would write a dating book for men:

“Last night we were having some quality time alone at home and I made the mistake of writing myself a note while Shelly was still talking. She asked me what the note was about. I proudly told her it was about Vladimir Putin and how two of his critics were recently poisoned. It would make a great blog topic. I was quite pleased with myself, until Shelly asked, “Is that what you were thinking about while I was talking?”

“Now let me explain something to the single men out there. If you think there’s an easy way to explain to your wife why you were thinking of Vladimir Putin while she is telling you about her feelings, you would be totally wrong. And I hadn’t practiced that conversation so I was caught unprepared. I think I said something along the lines of “I only think of Russian politics during the gaps between your words.” But apparently I’m supposed to be using that time just waiting around.”

Scott gets it entirely right, if by “just waiting around” he means “listening with intensity, empathy and focus.” Yeah, I’m quite sure that that’s what he means…