Those 6 Magic Words

I can't say them. Men and women across the country can't say them. And it's true, we do everything possible to avoid saying that simple phrase: i'm just not that into you.

This was a book that I'd been dying to read for a while. I was hoping it would give me newfound insight to my dating life (and the movie was coming out).

Well, overall, "He's Just Not That Into You" was definitely NOT a book for me. There were two pages (out of the 165 page book!) that applied to my past experience with guys, but the rest...well needless to say I should just give this book to all those guys I wasn't that into. Disappearing, too busy, just got out of a relationship, not ready for something serious, I've used them all!

Now while I didn't gain too much from this book (except those 2 pages, which I had figured out already), there were a couple things that stuck out that I did not agree with:

1. The first chapter is about guys who aren't into you if they aren't asking you out. Now while that statement is true, what they say next is very backwards of them. The authors advise women that men enjoy asking women out, they crave that chase. They discourage women, saying he'll ask you out if he likes you, so let him do the work, even including a poll with guys that said it would have taken out all the fun.

Now, being a woman who has seen the struggles and fights we've had (voting, abortion, job equality - oops not solved yet), I'm rather upset by this statement. Don't get me wrong, I love being chased, it is something that has been instilled into every girl, and it is quite fun. But also being a mature, strong-minded female, I still like to toy with the idea that I could ask him out if I wanted to. I don't like being told I can't do that. In fact, I took a poll myself of guys and asked them whether this idea was true, that girls are wasting time if they ask guys out. Well, surprise surprise, all eight of them said they would love it/have no problem with it. Now, I still am determined to find guys who think only guys should ask out girls....so this idea is to be continued. Until then, I will do my victory dance and ask the next guy I meet out, just to spite the authors.

2. The next thing that bugged me what a rather biased quote from author Greg:
"Because face it, you're a woman, and women can't separate sex and emotions." Well Greg, you are full of it. That idea is as sexist as saying men can't be nurses and women can be presidents. Speaking on behalf of my sex, I will say I know which women you are referring to. They CAN'T separate sex and emotions, but they are also the women who have sex for love, save it until marriage, or have a few long-term relationships in their lifetimes. Now, many more of my friends (and myself) know the power of balance. AND, there are MEN who can't separate sex and emotions! Okay, Greg won't read this, but I hope you, the reader of this, does understand this theory.

Now I'm writing this after I went to see the movie. I appreciated what the directors did, in basing the stories from both men and women angles. However, I also counted 4 men, so I'm not sure how effective that was. In terms of a movie, it was predictable, cliched, and too much Jennifer Aniston/not enough Jennifer Connelly for my liking. But, I would definitely say skip the book and see the movie. You'll get the same idea out of the movie, sans the sexist criticism, biased writing, and you'll see Ben Affleck in a Wisconsin Badger t-shirt!