Read this article in ELLE Singapore earlier, and thought I'd share with the guys. Funny read. And rather true to say the least. Maybe I'll post Her Say tomorrow. Written by Kenneth Tan
I love to shop. I have no qualms about heading to a mall and spending a few hours trying on stuff before making a few purchases. New clothes to wear, sparkling new gadgets to play with; what's there not to like about shopping? So when you hear men say they hate shopping, what we're really saying is: We hate shopping with women. The difference between the way men and women shop is the very same difference between murder and manslaughter - it's all about intent. When we shop we do so with a view to purchasing something. It's not true that we don't window-shop; but we browse a specific range of items. Women, however, will look at everything... And most of the time, end up buying nothing.
Fact is, 80 per cent of consumers are women. But what they buy can seem so random. I once accompanied a friend to buy a "cocktail dress for a wedding", only for her to head home three hours later - with beachwear. It's akin to Columbus setting out to discover Asia but finding America instead.
Men follow a process of elimination when shopping. If I discount something from my search - say, black-coloured items - I will not browse racks with such items. A women on the other hand, may have declared "no black" but will thumb through racks of said items and try them.
Woman: "I love this dress! But my New Year's resolution is not to buy any more black stuff."
Man: "Then don't buy it."
Woman: "But its so nice. And they only have this in black."
Man: "Buy it then."
Woman: "But you know I have so many black clothes already..."
This will carry on for at least five minutes, or until we excuse ourselves to huddle with the other men at the seats by the shoe section. Our presence wouldn't have mattered. Women don't actually need men to persuade them one way or another; whatever we say doesn't matter. Their decision-making process is an internal monologue in which they resolve a dilemma that shouldn't have arisen in the first place. Eventually, they'll buy the item. Or not - in which case, they'll repeat the process in another store. This also explains the dozens of shoes and clothes they buy, and never wear.
It's frustrating to men because it just isn't logical. Shopping should be a linear process. We filter and focus, and if any research needs to be done, it's not done at the store wasting time with clueless staff - but in the comfort of our homes on the Internet. Preferably with a beer in hand. When we have something that matches what we want, then it's a matter of trying it out, if possible. If we shop by ourselves or with other men, we're in and out with the purchase in 10 minutes flat.
To their credit, none of the women I've dated have ever insisted that I pick up their shopping tab. Either they're ELLE readers or I'm incredibly dense. And if it's true that time is money, I should own a bungalow at Sentosa Cove by now. Yet, men can't live without women - and that's why, despite all the whining, the pleading and then the crying, we still go shopping with you. After all, women are beautiful, sensitive, lovable, generous souls.