Why are men such babies?

[Quoll]

I think this is a really great point, Ed. My hubby has a high pain tolerance and never really complains about things. Yet he's a big weenie when he gets sick, and even admits he likes the attention and to be babied! Frankly, I think being sick just gives men an excuse to let down their macho, strong-n-silent facade and is the only acceptable time for them to whine, ask and like to be taken care of in certain ways. My husband will go to work when sick, keeping up that facade, but as soon as he gets home, he becomes absolutely pitiful, sighing, taking naps, refusing to take medicine on his own (so of course I get it with the beverage of his choice and stay while he takes it), etc. He loves being cared for (and I love mothering him when he's sick or hurt), and most of the time a little TLC is all he needs to get better.

Of course, like TBK said, it's a two-way street, and my hubby is absolutely wonderful about taking care of me (and he's had to a lot more than I have him).

Well that saved me some typing anyway.
I love being pampered.

 

[TBKahuna123]

I think this is a really great point, Ed. My hubby has a high pain tolerance and never really complains about things. Yet he's a big weenie when he gets sick, and even admits he likes the attention and to be babied! Frankly, I think being sick just gives men an excuse to let down their macho, strong-n-silent facade and is the only acceptable time for them to whine, ask and like to be taken care of in certain ways. My husband will go to work when sick, keeping up that facade, but as soon as he gets home, he becomes absolutely pitiful, sighing, taking naps, refusing to take medicine on his own (so of course I get it with the beverage of his choice and stay while he takes it), etc. He loves being cared for (and I love mothering him when he's sick or hurt), and most of the time a little TLC is all he needs to get better.

Of course, like TBK said, it's a two-way street, and my hubby is absolutely wonderful about taking care of me (and he's had to a lot more than I have him).

You know, that may be it. I too have a very high threshold for REAL pain, but when it comes to DISCOMFORT, that's where I get whiney. Is that wierd? I mean if I get injured playing hockey, I blow it off like it's nothing, but get a sinus infection and I'm down for the count? Maybe it is just an excuse.

I sure like that reason better than I'm just a wuse.

 

[SweetErika]

You know, that may be it. I too have a very high threshold for REAL pain, but when it comes to DISCOMFORT, that's where I get whiney. Is that wierd? I mean if I get injured playing hockey, I blow it off like it's nothing, but get a sinus infection and I'm down for the count? Maybe it is just an excuse.

I sure like that reason better than I'm just a wuse.

What did/does happen when you have a sinus infection or something and HAVE to suck it up or have no one to turn to for sympathy and care? If you're with your buddies, or were a bachelor, would you still whine? Probably not, right?

I think everyone needs TLC, but how many opportunities do men truly get to ask for it and be babies in a socially acceptable way? It's not a matter of being a wuss IMO, it's just about fulfilling a need.

 

[eudaemonia]

I think I have something of a female machismo thing going on in my psyche.

For example, on Thanksgiving day I was chopping an onion -- I actually know how to do this properly, having been trained as a sous chef -- but was yakking away with a friend and paying absolutely no attention to the matter at, erm, hand. *Whack* went off almost my entire middle fingernail, way into the bed. Blood all over Hell and Gone. I just stood there in total silence going, "Fuck. Fuckity fuck-fuck-fuck" in my head. Nice rush of nausea waves over me, and I just refused to react outwardly. My friend and her boyfriend go pure white. I just turn to my mom and say, "Could you get me a Band-Aid please?"

Totally stupid. I should have displayed some serious hystrionics, but wanted to be the "Tough Girl." I've done this several times with serious, serious injuries, too -- ruptured achilles, dislocated shoulder, fractured elbow, beaned by a golf ball/baseball, etc. etc. etc.

Now, when the guy in my life is having some sniffles or something, I will gladly baby him, although I might give him a dose of static along with the spoonful of sugar. *I* however, will suppress a whimper until I turn blue in the face. Is my inner sadist working overtime?

 

[m.j.h]

So I'm secure enough in my own flaws to admit it, I'm a big baby when I'm sick. I'm sick again and I'm absolutely miserable, whiney and just a pain in the ass. I'm always like this, every guy I know is. My wife was really sick last week, and she was a little bitchy, but she basically just sucked it up and dealt with it. Tonight I realized I was being whiney and just a brat. I felt really ashamed of myself and apologized profusely. She just grinned.

An hour later I caught myself doing it again. I apologized, she laughed. I mean I love it that she's so understanding, but why is it? Why are we such babies when we are sick? I mean I'm a fucking hockey player! I get frozen rubber pucks shot at my head for fun! Yet I whine whenever I have a sniffle?

Ahhhh I've always said we need to be able to laugh at ourselves. Well, I'm not laughing, but I am rolling my eyes.

cause it's the only time we get to be all emotional and shit so we make the most of it.

 

[m.j.h]

I think everyone needs TLC, but how many opportunities do men truly get to ask for it and be babies in a socially acceptable way? It's not a matter of being a wuss IMO, it's just about fulfilling a need.

Yeah what they said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[The Jeffinator]

I actually don't whine when I'm sick. I'm too lazy to whine when I'm sick, lol. I like to just be left alone. I don't want people to get me things or take care of me, because then I feel helpless. Even with a 102 degree fever and puking my guts out, I'll get up and get something myself over asking for help. I'm the same way with work -- unless I am physically incapapble of doing my job, I refuse to call in sick -- I much enjoy perfect attendance records.

 

[SweetErika]

I'm the same way with work -- unless I am physically incapapble of doing my job, I refuse to call in sick -- I much enjoy perfect attendance records.

Guilty of presenteeism, huh?
I had to call in sick yesterday because I have a cold I know to be highly contagious and my student has a newborn sister. I could have done the job physically, but not ethically considering I'm so sick because the mother of the student who gave it to me refused to cancel. CONTAGIOUS PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME, DAMNIT!!!
[/rant]

 

[TBKahuna123]

Guilty of presenteeism, huh?
I had to call in sick yesterday because I have a cold I know to be highly contagious and my student has a newborn sister. I could have done the job physically, but not ethically considering I'm so sick because the mother of the student who gave it to me refused to cancel. CONTAGIOUS PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME, DAMNIT!!!
[/rant]

See that's how I feel too. Of course I'm contagious and at work today, but that's out of necessity. I'm locked in my office away from human interaction. The only thing missing is the biohazard sign on my door.

I believe you mentioned having to suck it up sometimes? Today's one of those days. Oh well, duty calls.

 

[kiwichyck]

I have a personal theory on this...

I've noticed that men seem to cope well with sudden intense pain, like dropping a brick on your foot, but niggly annoying discomfort they turn into babies. Women on the other hand, we deal with those longer term types of pain better, but if it's something involving serious sudden intense pain, we don't cope so well.

Broad generalizations I know. Even having said that, I think I cope pretty well with accidents and injuries, but thats mainly because I don't want my kids freaking out if I accidentally chop off my finger with the onions.
If I'm sick or dealing with period pain or something like that, I just suck it up. Nobody likes a whiner. Guess I should suck it up less often. I know DH would like to baby me once in a while.

We have this joke when he's sick. He makes an effort to look REALLY pathetic, and then says in a weak voice "can you make me chicken soup please?"

 

[eudaemonia]

Women on the other hand, we deal with those longer term types of pain better, but if it's something involving serious sudden intense pain, we don't cope so well.

Nope, that thesis doesn't hold for me. I'm Tough Grrrrl!

 

[Eilan]

Guilty of presenteeism, huh?
I had to call in sick yesterday because I have a cold I know to be highly contagious and my student has a newborn sister. I could have done the job physically, but not ethically considering I'm so sick because the mother of the student who gave it to me refused to cancel. CONTAGIOUS PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME, DAMNIT!!!
[/rant]

I totally agree.

However, my mom and her coworkers go to work sick all the time because even though they have sick days, their boss won't allow them to miss any days at all without it negatively affecting their annual evaluation (and the evaluation results, of course, affect pay raises). They can miss work if they're sick, but they have to make up the hours sometime during the pay period. Kinda defeats the purpose of having sick days, doesn't it?

Every so often an employee says something to the administrators and things change for a few months, but then they go back to the way they were.

I keep telling my mom that she should look into working at home (she's a medical transcriptionist).

[/hijack]