His Take: Confronting A Man About His Faults

I'm a man with many faults. Probably more so than the average guy. (Although by definition the average guy has many faults, if you ask the average woman.) So it's no wonder that I've been confronted several times over the years about my numerous shortcomings. However, I learned a lot from these conversations.

Based on my experience, there are right ways and wrong ways to confront a man about his flaws. For example, one ex-girlfriend of mine took a somewhat harsh approach and gave me a profanity-laced tirade about how I never take the trash out. Personally, I think she crossed the line when she put a trash bag over my head and tried to throw me out of the house. I understood her point, but she could've been a bit more subtle.

However, it's possible to be too subtle. Another ex-girlfriend of mine told me that I wasn't spontaneous enough. All she said to me was, "You never do anything on the spur of the moment." I thought she meant changing "Meatloaf Monday" to Friday. A few days later, she sent me a postcard from Hawaii. That's when I realized she meant we never went away anywhere together. If she had been more specific, I might be drinking mixed drinks with a pretty island girl right now, which reminds me of some other vices of mine...

The point is, when you're faced with a situation where you have to confront your man about his failings, be gentle and be specific. The male ego is very fragile and the comprehending part of the male brain is very small. (Not that size matters, right? And, even if it does, it's not really a "fault," is it?) Don't be afraid to spell out exactly what you think your fella's problem is. Write it on the bottom of the toilet seat if you have to. He's sure to see it there, since there's a 99% chance he never puts it down. At the same time, be compassionate. Most men want to please their mate, so if you confront him in an informal and easy-going manner (try being nude when you do it), he'll be much more willing to accept your position and change his faulty ways.

Let's look at a situation and figure out the best way to handle it. Pretend that your man's fault is that he isn't affectionate enough. This is a common male problem when it comes to our relationships. In our eyes, if we give you some "lovin'" a few times a week, we've done our part to ensure that you have all the affection you need. In reality, this probably isn't true. If you want to confront your man about this lack, which of the following would be the best way to do it?

A) Tell your man that you feel unappreciated and if he doesn't start showing you some attention, you're leaving him for his best friend, Jason, who makes a lot more money and is way better looking and... well, you get the picture.

B) Cry randomly and say things like, "You don't love me" and "Am I fat?"

C) Start by telling your man that you love him and that you love it when he tells you he loves you and shows you affection because it makes you feel special and lucky to be with him.

If we've learned anything today then we know the answer is C. And, if you were really paying attention, then you know that being nude when bringing this up him makes it even better. As you can see, confronting a man about his faults really isn't difficult. Just tell him exactly what it is that bothers you and be nice about it. If that doesn't work, get naked. That'll get his attention. 

This article was originally published at . Reprinted with permission from the author.