Arlo: We used to have conversation!
Janis: No, we didn't!
Janis: I'd talk and you'd sit there!
Arlo: That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it!
Arlo: It was white noise!
Most of married’s “conversations” are white noise. Kind’a like they (we) are affirming our existence. Our voices are heard, if no place other than home.
We have a male friend who speaks as if he was only issued a certain number of words at birth, and is afraid he’ll use them up. Most answers are one word, and he frequently (almost always!) assumes his wife knows he wants a certain thing, and then gets hurt or upset when she can’t read his mind.
If all you “husbands” who think your comments and attitudes are all right, then, when your wives give just what you like, the silent treatment, why does that bother you? If I treat my hubby the same way, with no answer or monosyllabic answers, he gets defensive and accuses me of being angry. In all actuality, I get tired of all the “favors” he asks of me, when I get nothing in return. Isn’t it supposed to be give and take? Isn’t it supposed to be a partnership? What, really, does a woman get out of marriage? And don’t give me security and income. I already got that covered. Companionship? HA! Please, enlighten me, enlighten all of us poor women, so we don’t make the same mistake twice, or save some poor woman before she signs that license the first time.
And guess what, guys — this is why there are divorces and women who are happy not to be dating. And this results in a LOT of clueless, unhappy single men late in life who can’t believe that women like the company of those who they can talk to and expect a decent conversation in return (usually other women), and that out-of-work and/or stingy old retired guys whose claim to fame is bad sex and sitting on the couch every evening and all weekend are not all that attractive…
A wife gets tired of doing a monologue after a while. We say something and get no response, say something else and no response. Soon we look for a source of conversation that is two way, BOTH people talk.
John…. you and Linda both seem to be in very bad places with your marriages. I feel bad for both of you. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Other than when I have the noise aversive headaches (see above), I much prefer to talk with my wife than with anyone else in the whole world. I am able to be 100% fully myself with her, and she with me. With most other folks, I am always only some subset of who I fully am. My wife makes me whole.
“I’ve told the little woman many times”-Thereby suggesting the little woman filtered it out since you’ve had to tell over and over.-My beloved, on the other hand, sometimes goes to the far end of the house and begins to inform me of important matters, assuming I can hear. If I respond at all, she yells, “WHAT?”, to which I answer, “exactly”..‘Taint that I don’t wanna listen, just not getting through.
Well, it wouldn’t be so bad if you hadn’t faked interested and interesting conversation BEFORE we signed the papers! That is fraud! And apparently par for the course.
Jobecur almost 10 years ago
Oooh, you’re in deep doodoo now, Arlo!
TaliesinWI almost 10 years ago
Run.
joedon2007 almost 10 years ago
I guess we can assume that Janis got her insurance o pay for a new phone
ajr58 almost 10 years ago
Was that the 2nd wife, or the third? :>
bhmcintosh almost 10 years ago
(facepalm) Oh Arlo, Arlo, Arlo… you were doing fine ’til that last panel there.
mourdac Premium Member almost 10 years ago
trouble in Paradise
lutherg1 almost 10 years ago
Most of married’s “conversations” are white noise. Kind’a like they (we) are affirming our existence. Our voices are heard, if no place other than home.
Dani Rice almost 10 years ago
We have a male friend who speaks as if he was only issued a certain number of words at birth, and is afraid he’ll use them up. Most answers are one word, and he frequently (almost always!) assumes his wife knows he wants a certain thing, and then gets hurt or upset when she can’t read his mind.
ARLOS DAD almost 10 years ago
Run-Run_run
Retired Dude almost 10 years ago
It’s not so much that we don’t hear what they’re saying, it’s just that we don’t care.
Steve Miller almost 10 years ago
Arlo has stepped in it now.
Ermine Notyours almost 10 years ago
For men, women talking is like geese honking in flight. The noise tells you they are there, but the actual content isn’t important.
Dreamcat almost 10 years ago
If all you “husbands” who think your comments and attitudes are all right, then, when your wives give just what you like, the silent treatment, why does that bother you? If I treat my hubby the same way, with no answer or monosyllabic answers, he gets defensive and accuses me of being angry. In all actuality, I get tired of all the “favors” he asks of me, when I get nothing in return. Isn’t it supposed to be give and take? Isn’t it supposed to be a partnership? What, really, does a woman get out of marriage? And don’t give me security and income. I already got that covered. Companionship? HA! Please, enlighten me, enlighten all of us poor women, so we don’t make the same mistake twice, or save some poor woman before she signs that license the first time.
Rob Smith Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Ha ha, good stunned expression in the fourth panel.
bsqnbay almost 10 years ago
Just because we men don’t say it…doesn’t mean we think it or feel it.
topbunk almost 10 years ago
incomming!
morningglory73 Premium Member almost 10 years ago
I am a woman that says very little it was the husband that made all that white noise.
slsharris almost 10 years ago
And guess what, guys — this is why there are divorces and women who are happy not to be dating. And this results in a LOT of clueless, unhappy single men late in life who can’t believe that women like the company of those who they can talk to and expect a decent conversation in return (usually other women), and that out-of-work and/or stingy old retired guys whose claim to fame is bad sex and sitting on the couch every evening and all weekend are not all that attractive…
You gotta give attention to receive it back…
locake almost 10 years ago
A wife gets tired of doing a monologue after a while. We say something and get no response, say something else and no response. Soon we look for a source of conversation that is two way, BOTH people talk.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 10 years ago
John…. you and Linda both seem to be in very bad places with your marriages. I feel bad for both of you. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Other than when I have the noise aversive headaches (see above), I much prefer to talk with my wife than with anyone else in the whole world. I am able to be 100% fully myself with her, and she with me. With most other folks, I am always only some subset of who I fully am. My wife makes me whole.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 10 years ago
“I’ve told the little woman many times”-Thereby suggesting the little woman filtered it out since you’ve had to tell over and over.-My beloved, on the other hand, sometimes goes to the far end of the house and begins to inform me of important matters, assuming I can hear. If I respond at all, she yells, “WHAT?”, to which I answer, “exactly”..‘Taint that I don’t wanna listen, just not getting through.
K M almost 10 years ago
Stop digging, Arlo, just stop digging…
JP Steve Premium Member almost 10 years ago
“I’m a man, but I can change, if I have to…I guess”
Doctor_McCoy almost 10 years ago
How many of you above have spouses who read these comments?
LuvThemPluggers almost 10 years ago
Well, it wouldn’t be so bad if you hadn’t faked interested and interesting conversation BEFORE we signed the papers! That is fraud! And apparently par for the course.