I said, they heard

[on_the_hill]

Yesterday my wife called me at work to tell me a warning light turned on in the car while she was driving to work.

It went something like this: I: which light?
She: battery light
I: that’s bad
She: manual says get to a service station
I: will you make it to work?
She: I’ll try

…and so on. This morning, the women in the office were of the firm opinion–nay, conviction that I said, ‘whattya want me to do about it?’

I very distinctly remember not saying those words. After lively debate, and my best defensive maneuvers, they finally relented that I maybe didn’t use those exact words, but my attitude spoke on my behalf. I did not concede that point, but the debate ended nonetheless.

So there you have it: a classic example of women hearing words a man did not speak.



by the way, she made it to work, I left my office early, and we got her car safely to the mechanic.

 

[EasterJoy]

I wouldn’t make this a gender issue. If it becomes a gender issue, you’ll be playing one on–how many? Three? Four? Eight? Those are not sporting odds. Besides, this isn’t a gender issue, or it shouldn’t be.

I would ask my co-workers that if they feel free to eavesdrop on my phone calls, might I ask that they at least pretend that they have more respect for privacy than that? If I make any comments on the call I just finished, the polite people will at least pretend they need to be updated on what was said!

In future, feel free to opt out of kibitzing about conversations that the debaters should not have been listening in on in the first place. (And to think that so many women take pride that our gender has so darned much emotional intelligence! )

 

[thequietsinger]

Yesterday my wife called me at work to tell me a warning light turned on in the car while she was driving to work.

It went something like this: I: which light?
She: battery light
I: that’s bad
She: manual says get to a service station
I: will you make it to work?
She: I’ll try

…and so on. This morning, the women in the office were of the firm opinion–nay, conviction that I said, ‘whattya want me to do about it?’

I very distinctly remember not saying those words. After lively debate, and my best defensive maneuvers, they finally relented that I maybe didn’t use those exact words, but my attitude spoke on my behalf. I did not concede that point, but the debate ended nonetheless.

So there you have it: a classic example of women hearing words a man did not speak.



by the way, she made it to work, I left my office early, and we got her car safely to the mechanic.

At least us women listen

 

[maryjk]

I wouldn’t make this a gender issue. If it becomes a gender issue, you’ll be playing one on–how many? Three? Four? Eight? Those are not sporting odds. Besides, this isn’t a gender issue, or it shouldn’t be.

Certainly not a gender issue.

The real problem is the nosy people listening in on your conversation.

 

[EasterJoy]

Certainly not a gender issue.

The real problem is the nosy people listening in on your conversation.

That and the non-mechanical people who think that mechanical people can diagnose and fix mechanical problems via mental telepathy!

 

[choose_to_love]

Hmm, reminds me of a something that happened to us. I forget what we were, ahem, discussing, but I remember asking my bride, “Did you say ‘you idiot’ at the end of that sentence? Because that’s what I’m hearing you say!” and we had a good laugh about the silent (implied?) ‘you idiot’ at the end of the sentence.

Some time thereafter, we were visiting with another couple at the couple’s parents’ house. One of our friends’ kids got hurt and needed a band-aid, whereupon the wife of the couple, asked her husband to get one. H: Where are they? W: In the car. H tried to find the band-aids and came back in, and said “I can’t find them.” W: I said they’re in the car . . . and my bride and I distinctly heard the (in reality silent) “you idiot” appended to the end of the sentence.

 

[maryjk]

That and the non-mechanical people who think that mechanical people can diagnose and fix mechanical problems via mental telepathy!

And what is wrong with that.

I know my husband is pretty good at it.

Or at least he sounds like he is good at it.

 

[EasterJoy]

And what is wrong with that.

I know my husband is pretty good at it.

Or at least he sounds like he is good at it.

“…Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!…”

 

[on_the_hill]

Certainly not a gender issue.

The real problem is the nosy people listening in on your conversation.

Well, if it were a more confidential matter, I would’ve made it more private.

We’re a very small (but mighty) mostly forgotten (but important) operation in a much larger organization. There are twelve of us tucked away in an organization of several thousand. We’re like one big happy dysfunctional family. So that they overheard, or were jagging me about it isn’t such a bad thing.

Plus, I’m the boss, so if they’re happy, I’m happy.

I told my wife about it and she sided with them. We had had a more serious discussion about what kind of car I should buy next. I want a sedan. She wants an SUV. (it was the SUV that was having problems, but my car is about to die any day now). I hate driving “trucks.” She hates driving cars. I want a car that is quick, nimble, and accommodating for my commute. She wants an SUV that makes her feel confident and safe.
I want a comfortable commute. She wants me to drive like I’m in my 40s and not my 80s.

Anyway, after that discussion, which ended at loggerheads, she said with reference to the aforementioned phone conversation, “Maybe that’s why I’m mad at you about what car you want to buy. It’s because you left me hanging at work all day!”