Introduction

Kim, 20, English Literature Major.


I've never had to set up a blog specially for a class before, and I'm quite looking forward to immortalizing (is such a word appropriate? I do believe that once thoughts or words are made public on the web, it is immortalized in some way or another) my learning journey on this platform.

I really enjoy traveling, reading, sappy music for rainy days and the smell of coffee. It'll be best if all of them happen together (imagine, a cafe in.. Croatia with a good book and playlist).. I'm looking forward for 2012 where I'll spend slightly longer than half a year on exchange to Oslo.

Chandler explaining the difference between men and women to Monica (Friends)

Quite a funny take on what flirting means to men and women, and the unintended consequences that follow :)

"Some things are different for men and for women!" 

Well said Chandler, well said. Most of us cannot deny how true that statement is - in fact, Tannen suggests that miscommunication occur precisely because of our inherent differences and our unrealistic belief that the other gender sees things the same way as we do. For instance, men are used to be the problem-solver; seen to be the one concerned with status, power and tends to be more aggressive in their speech. Women, on the other hand, prefers subtle language and are more in-tuned to the emotions of the other party they are communicating with. Many would dismiss the above as generalizations (which Tannen admits to), but there is no denying the truth behind them and the fact that they do, still hold, more often than not. In fact, if we take movies and tv shows to be a reflection of societal values and expectations - the widely popular Friends shows that men and women for all over are equally vexed and concerned about the humorous (and sometimes not-so-humorous) instances where women and men miscommunicate due to differing sets of belief/value systems.

What I find intriguing is that... perhaps it really is ingrained in us? If not, why would men all around the world - according to Chandler, (despite different geographical and cultural backgrounds) know what other men are after? It might be a comedy and just-for-laughs, but if we do find it funny, it is because we identify the scenario presented and agree to some extent... Hmmm.