It's very interesting. For this case though, I BELIEVE that generalizing can be permitted, somewhat. See, when people talk of men, in general, the conceptual understanding is of your average guy, average build, somewhat emotionally resistant and distant, and relying mainly on logic and straight-forward thinking to make life choices. When people talk of women, in general, the conceptual understanding is of your average lady, average build, emotionally intouch, and mainly relying on intuition to make life choices. These generalizations aren't always true, but they're true enough to be used as a foundation for discussions like this.

"Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it goes to pieces." This can be interpreted in different ways, but based on what I said previously and what I think, this is how I would interpret it:

1. Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. - Men most likely view friendship as comradeship. Two friends that are male are more likely to act like allies or comrades. They can be friendly with each other, and, whenever they need to, they can be straight-foreward and just even completely against each other, but they'll still be friends. It's more along the lines of an issue of trust and cordially/mentally being on the same page as each other. "I trust you, you trust me. It's all good". If one guy isn't feeling up to it, the other(s) work more to help him up with a helping hand.

2. Women treat it like glass and it goes to pieces. - Women most likely view friendship as being more of a support group. When women are friends (generally speaking) they are friends in packs. At least, that's what I've seen. It seems that for women, frienship is more along the lines of an issue of affection and trust. From what I've seen, friends that are girls act more like pillars for each other. When someone in the group isn't feeling up to it, the others work to support that person (emotionally). They emotionally lean on each other. Emotional times are (more or less) delicate (don't know any other way to say it). Women don't want to lose their support group, so they work toward keeping those emotional links together and those pillars standing. Then when someone isn't able to provide some kind of support, it's looked upon a certain way. Again, this is based off what I've seen. I don't really know why women treat friendship like glass, but I know they seem to. And what I've said is just based off what I've observed between different "support groups".

So, based on that, the idea of friendship differs between men and women and it will be treated differently by both sides. I wouldn't advocate any other way for either sex to handle friendship, because the way they handle it so far seems to work well enough for them. So, I do somewhat agree with friendship going to pieces because of the way women handle it. I intepret "going to pieces" as "shattering beyond repair". The women can be civil with each other, but more often than no, they won't be friendly. Usually though, it takes a while for frienship between women to go to pieces, but it doesn't take a lot.

To finish, what I've just said is all based off my own observation and experiences and what I know to generally be true. It's subject to change, but I doubt it'll change much, if at all.

My gosh!!!
If you can't summarize, please don't bore us all.

Ruby_Pearl:

My gosh!!!
If you can't summarize, please don't bore us all.

Caliente:

[size=13pt]I stumbled on this quote and really kind of agree with it. The generalization implied here is that all men and women behave this way, a common fallacy that is widespread on nairaland. Is it really saying that friendship usually goes to pieces because of the way women go about it?

Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it goes to pieces.

What do you think? Is it true or not?[/size]

i think its very true

it depends on the man and woman, people are different.

and which Nigeria babe dey treat frienship like glass. No be those babe when no dey send, abi them don change

very stupid post.

Caliente:


Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it goes to pieces.

GUILTY!

A wonderful friendship i was working so hard to preserve just went to pieces and i hav been left wonering where it all went wrong

I guess i was just trying too hard

Soooo true,
men are more carefree dan women

Ruby_Pearl:

My gosh!!!
If you can't summarize, please don't bore us all.

Sorry.

i also believe that you lose something when you hold onto it too tight cos only fear will make you do that. i guess people who play it like a football are secure with what they have and don't think they can lose it.

Men stab each other in the face in the moring and have cold beers at night while women stab each other in the back at night and become eternal enemies?

I keep my fellow female friends at arms lenght, probably because I can't deal with the drama besides, i've always played with boys from childhood. I prefer keeping men as friends to women. Every private information you give to a fellow woman will be not necessarily be treated as classified because she MUST leak it to someone that knows you, that's for sure.

DeepZone:

I keep my fellow female friends at arms lenght, probably because I can't deal with the drama besides, i've always played with boys from childhood. I prefer keeping men as friends to women. Every private information you give to a fellow woman will be not necessarily be treated as classified because she MUST leak it to someone that knows you, that's for sure.

Village tom boy.

I guess I'm different.

I see some truth in this.

topup:

Girls are pickier with their friends, and that's why we find friendship something to be handled with the uttermost care, we've found almost our female soulmates and we will do most things to try and keep them in our lives.

What's anybody's take my ideas?

Nicely said but to be honest here my friendships are just on the surface, hardly have depths.

Thank you, topup.

topup:

I personally believe that Women treat friendship with the uttermost care, we need friendship, whilst at times I feel that a man all he needs is companionship. I believe these two things are different. I have witnessed it even.

Companionship fits well. I like that one better than the one's I've chosen. I wouldn't say the ones I've chosen don't fit. Its just that I'd use those ones for (allies, comrades(hip)) for two guys that have been friends for a while; extended frienships. I still like companionship better, though.

topup:

At first Girl 1 and 2 are staying true to themselves, Girl 1 reads magazine whilst Girl 2 paints nailpolish. Over time they will both start mimicking each other. Girl 2 will probably start talking about boys and getting a boyfriend and Girl 1 will start thinking nail polish to be a very trendy necessity indeed. It's as if for girls to be friends we have to have everything in common with each other, love the same food, shop the same places, be into guys at the same time etc, Girls are pickier with their friends, and that's why we find friendship something to be handled with the uttermost care, we've found almost our female soulmates and we will do most things to try and keep them in our lives.

What's anybody's take my ideas?[/color]

I wanted to say those exact same words. Aside from that, I agree with what you've said. That seems to be the general truth so far about the behavior of men and women towards the idea of friendship. Of course, there will be exceptions, but for the most part, this seems to be a general truth.