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Conference quark::mennotes-v1

Title:Topics Pertaining to Men
Notice:Archived V1 - Current file is QUARK::MENNOTES
Moderator:QUARK::LIONEL
Created:Fri Nov 07 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 26 1993
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:867
Total number of notes:32923

784.0. "WHAT MAKES HIM TICK?" by YOSMTE::WILKES_EL () Fri Apr 10 1992 20:18

    I could use some help.
    
    I'm new to notes and this may not be appropriate.  However, there are
    so many of you out there with so much knowledge, I thought I'd try and
    tap in and see if I can get a perspective on this issue.
    
    Can any of you tell me why a man would approach a woman in a friendly
    manner one week and without any other contact with her be rude and
    distant the next?  This has been going on for some time and I'm curious
    why someone would do this?
    
    Ellen
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784.1MILKWY::ZARLENGAthat was a lucky shot, grammaw!Fri Apr 10 1992 21:514
    There could be a bazillion reasons.
    
    Can you be more specific about any events that happened between
    "friendly" and "rude?"
784.2whose grammaw?YOSMTE::WILKES_ELFri Apr 10 1992 22:5320
    Yes, of course.  I guess I wasn't too clear.
    
    There was a start of a relationship.  Never got anywhere - not even a
    real date.  However, that was months ago and I thought we could just be
    friends.  
    
    My concern is that he seems to have the ability to catch me off guard. 
    We are in an RSI (church) setting and the group is small.  I really
    don't want to do anything to call attention to this situation.  And
    sometimes he will just walk up and greet me with a big hug and act as
    if we're best of friends and we'll have a very friendly conversation
    and everything seems normal.  The next week he'll go out of his way to
    avoid me and if for some reason it is necessary for him to speak to me
    it's very abrupt and rude.
    
    My approach to this situation up to now is to be friendly with him
    when he's in a friendly mood and ignore his behavior when he's
    unfriendly.  This does'nt seem to be working.  
    
    el
784.3-1IMTDEV::BERRYDwight BerryMon Apr 13 1992 09:483
    
    Sounds like too much starch in the shorts.
    
784.4tricky situationTOOK::M_ELLISONMon Apr 13 1992 12:1717
re: .2

Sounds like he's having a bit of difficulty articulating what's on his
mind.  Possibly he believes he is sending you obvious and blatant signals
(hugs, friendly mode), and then expressing dissatisfaction (sp?) with
your response (so he acts out, he's hurt).

Your options are varied.  Next time he's rude, you could confront him
and ask what's the thorn stuck in his paw, or, next time he's friendly,
you could ask him why he's in such a good mood.  Then work the conversation
to touch on the other behavior.  If he denies the differences that you
perceive, then his issues are probably larger than you want to deal with.

Whats common in both encounters is his drawing of your attention...just
different flavors of attention is all.

Mark
784.5some men scare easilyCVG::THOMPSONDCU Board of Directors CandidateMon Apr 13 1992 13:408
    RE: .0 Anything I'd say would only be a guess. But my best guess is 
    that he's nervous and that he's either reading uncomfortable signs 
    from you or that he just isn't reading you right. Your only chance to
    get things cleared up is to talk to him. Since he's been unable to
    open up it's probably up to you to get things started. Or forget about
    him.

    		Alfred
784.6Phd, Ardnox UCSC32::HADDOCKI'm afraid I'm paranoidMon Apr 13 1992 15:3718
    re el
    
    You're making a *big* assumption here.  You think his behaviour is
    due to your relationship.  Probably isn't.  I tended to to the same
    thing with people and didn't really know I was doint it.  People
    around me thought I was mad at *them* when the reak  problem
    was that I was preocupied with other things that were going on in
    my life and tended to "shut out" people around me--the ol' "men don't
    let their troublesshow thing" strongly reinforced by a few women
    who tended to cut and run the first sign that a man had *any* problem.
    
    I do a lot better with that now that I realize I do it.  If you really 
    are concerned about this relationship, (outherwise you wouldn't have
    entered this note) you should *talk* to him about this and invite him 
    to share what is *really* going on.
    
    fred()
    
784.7YOSMTE::WILKES_ELMon Apr 13 1992 16:332
    Thank you all for your help.  These perspectives have helped.
    el
784.8Just askPHAROS::FANTOZZITue Apr 14 1992 14:306
    
    Just come out and ask him. Best way to get to the bottom without
    guessing what is going on.
    
    Mary