Call me naive, but I forgot the internet was open to anyone.
This became excruciatingly clear when I saw one of my posts get retweeted by someone. Not just anyone either.
By a man.
The next day I realized that one of the people who had left a comment on my post…was also a man. Who then retweeted the post. And put me into a Friday Follow list on Twitter the next day.
I was, to say the least, stunned. Men think I have something interesting to say? There are two men out there who have read at least one of my posts each?
When I told my family and friends I started a blog, almost without exception, I excluded the men. I see now that this is biased and sexist on my part. I just couldn’t imagine they’d care what I had to say.
Now, I hold doors open for men. If they smoke, I light their cigarettes. I do not need to be pampered because I’m a woman and I don’t expect them to act like I’m some helpless waif.
It seems I also don’t expect them to listen to me.
Apparently, part of me lives in the 50′s. Even though no part of me actually was alive during the 50′s.
As I explained to my husband, I realized I thought that all men were sitting around secretly praying for the women in their lives to shut up. I talk. A lot. And my husband listens to every word I say. He listens to words I don’t even realize I’ve said. I’m not joking, there are times my husband will tell me something about myself and I will stare, dumbfounded, trying to figure out when I told him that.
My father has been nothing but nurturing to my sister and I. Even when we got piercings and tattoos. So where did I get this idea?
Perhaps it’s the way I see some men’s eyes glaze over when I begin to divulge my deep, unending love for dresses. Or the way some of David’s friends talk about their wives and girlfriends. Or the fact that it is like jamming a gigantic square peg into a tiny round hole to get almost any male I know to talk on the phone for longer than three minutes.
The thing is: I have male friends whom I know read the blog religiously. Well, at least one. So, why am I still stunned that other men have read my blog? I don’t have an answer.
So, men out there, I ask you: what are you listening to me prattle on about?
Or for that matter, all of you out there: what the hell are you reading this for? Because this is largely just my yammering about weird and annoying things that happen to me. I talk about poop a lot too. Is there just a large market out there for weird poop stories?
I’m not entirely sure why you’re all reading this right now but I’m especially unsure of the males. Right now if I could see you, I’d be eyeing you suspiciously. Which makes me a huge hypocrite. Again, I’m not sure where that comes from.
But I promise, in exchange for my sexism, I will make you a pie. It only seems fair.
If I call you sexist will you bake me a pie as well?
Another 'talker' I also listen and enioy other peoples ramblings, yours included.
I already told you, I have a VAGINA, promise. I think men are curious about what we are talking about perhaps, but not so interested when they are being talked at.
I'm guessing it's b/c you are funny! Or maybe it makes them feel better that their wives don't have as many 'words' as you.
If I pretend I am a man, can I get a pie?
I'll await your answer, though part of me isnt' from the 50's, part of my husband is.
He wants to know, “why would someone find this interesting?”
Yeah, thanks, right?
I enjoy the blogs of the male followers I do have, they are beautiful writers and a lot like my son. They're teachers, and I think that explains how into verbal they are…hence, at our blogs.
Let me know what you find out.
I have a couple male readers…I scare the crap out of them with the “how life really is after kids” talk. Hehe.
i think you've got yourself a pretty fab husband if he listens to what you say…let alone what you don't. oh, and prattle totally needs to be a word.
I am the same way. I guess I need to be a little more accepting, huh?
I only have one male reader…maybe they read because we don't only talk about “mom” stuff?
Hubby actually does read, but he won't “follow” me. And whether he'll admit it or not, sometimes he tells me what pics to take for the gardening posts.
Can I get one of those pies, too?
i'm always taunting the mens on mine… they enjoy the abuse… maybe? dunno, but i think blogging in general is about peeking into someone's head and it's fascinating
I've got some fab men readers! If they don't behave they know they will get into trouble and they don't want that…..
I love it that men read blogs. and have blogs. I have one guy that reads and COMMENTS. I love that. Of course, I live for comments. It lets me know people actually care enough to read.
Women like pies, too! And I'll take an apple cinnamon, ty. =)
I was shocked to find out one of my closest guy friends reads my blog. But then I was flattered.
I have some male readers. Most of them are guys who I know through journalism. One is my brother. A couple I don't know. One who is NOT reading? My husband. Never. He figures why should he read me when he already Knows Everything? To which I reply MWAHAHAHAHAH! I am SO much more mysterious than he realizes! Maybe not, but whatevs.
I read you for the same reason I read blogs in general: I like your voice, you're funny, I relate to what you say, and you can string a few words together in a coherent way.
This happened to me, too, the first time I realized I had a regular male reader/commenter.
Is it not so odd yet strangely complimentary?
I also make a shit ton of words and do not expect most men to keep up with them, for they are plentiful in nature.
And I'm not sure if I want a husband who hears half of what I say or hears everything.
first, let's see if blogger will let me comment. 2nd. this was funny. i've only had a few men write comments on my blog as well.
pie for everyone!
I have like 3 or 4 men followers…2 actually comment (weird, right?) and one is my hubs who comes home and argues with my posts. Dork.
I'm with you, WHAT do they want to read me for?? Seriously?? Are they that interested in farts and boogers?? Wait. They are, aren't they?! Duh. I'm surprised I don't have MORE men followers now.
love a good poop story! so what kind of pie will you be making??
Im a between baby. Born too late for all the June Cleaver stuff and too early for the Gloria Steinem stuff. That me right there in the middle. And yes, I find that I too am a little sexist. Take male nurses. Ive worked the medical field my whole life and have had male nurses who were lovely and caring.. yet in my mind nurses are women. Also female truckers. Again.. in my mind trucker equals man. Its crazy. Damn June and Gloria, they fucked me and neither one of them kissed me.
I have at least one male reader that I know of. He was easy for me to understand though because his son has ADHD like mine and that's what brought him to my blog.
My hubby? He doesn't really read me. Occasionally he pretends to but mostly he doesn't. He doesn't like to read, he's much more in to playing ball. One day he told me he read an entry that I asked him to read but when I said “what do you think of X part?” he goes “huh?” Busted!
Also you are so lucky your husband hangs on your words. Mine really doesn't. It's like talking to a wall unless I mention hockey, or friends. So frustrating.
I have the same reaction every time I get a comment from a man – I try to remember that I write mainly about parenting, and men can be parents too – involved and present parents! Go 21st century
.
Why wouldn't i follow you? You are entertaining and funny. That's not gender specific.
Nor is pie making.
I make an excellent chocolate creme pie based on my grandfather's recipe. We can trade pies.
(And honestly, the women i follow tend to be much funnier and more fun than the men. )
I'm always kind of surprised when men read my blog. Especially men I don't know.
I don't know why. I have at least a dozen or so male readers. That I know of, anyway. I guess blogging just seems like such a woman-oriented activity. I guess I'm sexist, too!
Some of us like Tina Fey too.
There are a few men who follow my blog I know but I confess I find it surprising too.
As for why people read your blog? Because you are entertaining and funny, that makes for a site worth visiting any day.
I just changed from email subscription to follow because for some reason my email updates were not working very well, just to let you know. I would not get a new post message and then days later would get two for the same post. It might just be me but I have not had that happen with the other blogs I read via email.
I don't really have an answer for you about why men read “mommy” blogs (or “poop” blogs). Maybe it's the Idol Syndrome you spoke of. They read it in secret and appreciate when words are written well, but in public, joke with their friends about how their wives won't shut up and how women are so unknowable.
There's always a little truth in stereotype. And heaven forbid that a man stray from the macho mold. At least, in public.
I prefer apple pie. Please wear a red-checked apron. Thank you.
I'm just adding my comment here, mainly for the irony of it. Hi.
Also, it's easy for men to read women's blogs because if we're not interested, we can just click away, instead of trying to disguise the eye-glazing. (I may not be speaking for the whole gender here.)
I think I've done enough damage for one day. Bye!
*waves*
*disappears*
I have a few male readers- not many, and dh is NOT one of them.
Probably knowing that he wouldnt' read is what makes me think other guys wouldn't.
I still want a pie, too.
Men are people too, I guess. At least most of the time. I can kind of understand your bewilderment, since it seems like the majority of us bloggers with kids are women. And, I'm like some of your other commenters whose dear husbands have never ONCE read their blog!
I wanna pie.
Please?
I will tell more men to read your blog (I actually mentioned it when we were out for cocktails yesterday.)
Or I will tell men to stay the heck away.
Which one gets me pie?
You honestly would not believe how massive the market is for weird poop stories. Ha!
Man, I could really use a pie now. Darn X chromosome. Or is it Y? anyway…
Wait, now who's sexist? You're only making a pie for the men! UNFAIR!!
I am tremendously grateful when anyone reads my blog – male or female. I will make you kabobs if you read it.
now can i have a piece of pie too?
I feel the same way. I never expect men to read my blog, although my Dad does but that doesn't count. for me, I think it's because I write like I'm writing to my friends, and most of my friends are females…so I just presume there aren't men in the mix (although there are).
If I confess to you that I am actually a man, do I get a pie? Because I loves me some pie.