The NYT Is Spying On Me, Plus The Thing A Man Doesn't Want To Be Called

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An article from this week about how younger people hate email. I wrote about it weeks ago! Get with the program, NYT. You are so 2000.

Link to the article. 

My goal to not email didn't go so well. I think I lasted about 6 hours. Oh well.

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I was reminded this week of a conversation T. and I had when I was in China. I told him that something good had happened (I can't remember now what it was) because he was such a decent guy. His response?

T.: "Ugggghh, decent? That's a bad word to a guy. It's like me saying, "You have a great personality."
Me: "I DO have a great personality!"
T.: "Ok, yes you do, but still no guy wants to be called decent! It means they're not exciting or sexy or something."
Me: "Okay. I won't say it again."
T.: "Well, I probably am decent. I just have to live with it. Damn it!"

Before this I had no idea 'decent' was such a loaded word. So now instead of decent, I say 'exciting and sexy.' Men! Is this a common attitude toward the word 'decent'? I always thought of it as a compliment.

Comments

Busy Bee Suz said…
I think decent is awesome. Right???
The NYT owes you some credit darn it.
Have a wonderful Christmas...I hope you have a great time.
Stay warm.
xoxox
Suz
Friday, December 24, 2010
mjfoster77 said…
You called him "decent?!" Why didn't you just slap him in the face?!? I guess context is everything, but basically your saying "you're nice, but boring." i.e. an 'adequate' human being...
Friday, December 24, 2010
Ileana said…
That's the same reaction I get when I call a guy sweet. Apparently, they're either a sexy badass or a sweet dud. I don't get it.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
yrautca said…
Ya. In my experience words like decent, nice, cute, sweet, etc definitely are pushing 'just friends' territory for both girls and guys. I dont think women call a guy whose bones she wants to jump, decent.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tracey Axnick said…
Men are really almost as insecure (as a group) as we women... it took me years to realize that, but it's true.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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