Comments on: Context Is Everything

By: SurprisedMom

SurprisedMom — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:13:43 +0000

You did everything right. If my husband came flying home to be with me, even after I sent him a message saying everything was ok, he’d be treated like a king for quite some time. What you did is romantic, even if you didn’t correctly interpret her message. And on men understanding women and “reading” them correctly, I just don’t think it’s going to happen, at least not electronically.

(MD) Romantic? Wow… did I rack up some points there somewhere? Hmmm, maybe I’ve earned a batch of her chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm, mmm!

By: OhCaptain

OhCaptain — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:54:31 +0000

Women can be so hard to read. Our misunderstanding of things like this comes from the times they burned us with the “fine” and “I don’t want a present” years ago. Good call though, I always try to error on the side of being there for my wife too.

(MD) I learned almost from the outset that “I don’t want a present” means “You’d better not disappoint me, pal, or you’re toast.” Always better to err on the side of caution. Or at least have a great back up plan.

By: Otter

Otter — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:32:02 +0000

I have been in trouble about working too much lately. I would have done the same thing you did. If we could ever come up with a way to convey emotion in all our electronic written communication we could be rich. I have had way too many emails go bad for that reason.

(MD) I guess that’s why they made smilies in the first place, but it’s too easy to mistake their appearance as irony, which can really get you screwed up bad.

By: seashore

seashore — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:55:33 +0000

How wonderful that you were both willing and able to change gears just to be safe!

(MD) I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right – we were both looking out for each other.

By: michaelsownmom

michaelsownmom — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:21:56 +0000

I should have used different words. In my mind all was well (except kids fighting driving me crazy but WeaselMomma gave me great advice – duct tape, Benadryl and wine for me).

(Husband) It’s all good. I should have figured it out before I dashed out of the office. Did I mention I was going in to work this weekend? Ha! I kid.

By: WeaselMomma

WeaselMomma — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:39:12 +0000

I would have made the same interpretation mistake you did. Mainly because I have sent similar messages in crazed frenzies. Usually with a few minutes time I am able to catch my breath and can message back “Stay at work, I’ll be okay. Just needed to vent and catch my breath”.

(MD) And you all are perfectly entitled to your crazed frenzies; I wouldn’t deny that. But it sure got my mind racing.