You Don't Know Me, Because I Don't Know You

[Toxic-Avenger]

Hi y'all. Question for you, or maybe just your thoughts on this.  The Bible, apparently, teaches that we've been around about 10,000 years. Science teaches that we've been around for millions of years.  Even after 10,000 years, or longer, how is it we still don't seem to really know each other as men and women / boys and girls?

Do you think that the way women have been treated in the past has alot, or something to do with it?

Shouldn't we have figured it out by now?  A lack of communication between the sexes, was it always this bad?
How is it we still have trouble figuring each other out, when all everyone wants is just to be treated nicely?  What about the media, how might this affect our communication?

Or even the internet, and I'm not bagging on it.  Ironically we can in some ways communicate instantly with each other, quickly, many time zones apart.  Yet, our people skills are dropping.  We don't even have to leave the house now. we can log in from home, do our jobs, shop, buy a car or house, all without ever seeing a human face.

I see sometimes how it's a big imposition if I say Hi to someone and heaven forbid they return the greeting.   What I mean is, there was always confusion between men and women, but now it seems to be worse, and some of it is hostile.

What say you?

[LisaRocksYourWorld, yo]

Civilization is pretty much going downhill, in my opinion.  Years ago life was easier, in communicating at least.  In Neanderthal times, the joining of a male and a female was only for reproduction.  When the world became civilized, your partner was pre-determined.  Even up to the early/mid twentieth century, there wasn't a lot of emphasis placed on looks when men and women got together.  When they did get together, the marraige was based only on personality, and lasted, truly "Till death do us part".

Life has just changed, and will continue to do so.  If George Washington were alive today, chances are he would trade in his powdered wig for jeans and gold chains, and walk down the street shouting "Wuzzap!"

Back then, we were all just people.  Sure, our women are successful today in the working world, but now we're separating ourselves at a young age.  We see these 11-year-olds with their boyfriends and makeup.  They turn into 13 year olds going on 25 year olds wondering if that cute guy is into them and obsessing over it.  Tell me, can you have a real relationship when you're only a preteen?  We're separating ourselves so much so early, we forget to realize that behind our genitals, we're all people with similar feelings.  We're trying to grow up way too fast.  I do think the media has some effect.  So many programs show bed-hopping teens with great bodies that puts a negative image in the minds of our youth.  This never went on with our grandparents, who savored the time they had as children.

[Ragebøx]

I find this all rather interesting.  Yes, society has change a great deal, and - in my honest opinion - for the worst in less than a century of time.

• "Even after 10,000 years, or longer, how is it we still don't seem to really know each other as men and women / boys and girls?"
  I believe that communication has been greatly diminished as we so-to-say "advanced" as a humanity.  And even though we are now able to communicate in more than grunts and body motions (i.e. Neanderthals), I believe that we as a whole have not fully learned to importance of true communication between people.  And, indeed, the world has not changed so much as we think.  Many may beg to differ, stating facts of our more-advanced relationships between people of these times when compared to those of the cavemen.  However, we have not truly advanced in the bonding and mental aspects of society.  We have gotten no closer to learning about how men supposedly think and the difference between the sexes.  And on this note, is there really much of a difference between us?
  
  
• "Do you think that the way women have been treated in the past has alot, or something to do with it?"
  It is possible.  In the past, in general, women were thought to be and treated as inferior to men.  Woman were held down in society, being told how they should act and how men should be the "masters" of them.  They were raised to believe that they had a place, and that their place was below that of males'.  However, as years passed and society changed a bit, woman were allowed to act freely and do what they wish, essentially and supposedly becoming equal to men in the way that the world views them.  However, because of the past treatment of females, I believe that men's behavior and views of today may still be affected by what the past has taught them and influenced on society.
  
  
• "Shouldn't we have figured it out by now?  A lack of communication between the sexes, was it always this bad?"
  Indeed, if we had wanted to, I am sure we would have tried to fix this communication gap long ago.  Alas, there is and I fear always will be a lack of communication between men and woman.
  
  
• "What about the media, how might this affect our communication?"
  The media may have helped a bit when getting to understand eachother.  For example, people may have gained insight into the inner thoughts of others simply by watching a television program (i.e. intelligent talkshow) and exploring the Internet (i.e. email, instant messaging, message boards, online journals).  However, these obviously have not help enough, and may have even weakened our understanding, making others vulnerable to labels and steretypes.  And, yes, people skills may have been dimmed a bit.
  
  
• "What say you?"
  What do I say?  I say that it is a shame that after all these years, nothing has come from our attemps (or lack thereof) of trying to understand eachother.  And though I believe that the future may hold a darker fate for our communication between eachother as human being, I dearly hope that we will soon at least try as a whole to make an attempt at understanding ourselves.

[Mystic_gurl22]

well, i prefer not to shop online. i like to go out; you never know who you might meet! but what you have said is alot to think about...