Here are some questions: What would you want others to do for you if you were crying or upset?
If I were crying? Not be there. Even if I never got it from my own family, the socialization for men not to cry in front of others is pretty strong. It might seem like a socially unenlightened perspective, but honestly, the embarrassment of having someone see me cry would probably be more acute than whatever comfort they would offer. I think that men are often at a loss dealing with crying people for this reason.
If I were upset, but not crying, then situation could go two ways. They could ask if I want to talk about what’s bothering me, and I say yes, and explain what I’m upset about. Realistically, I’ve already thought about ways to solve the issue, so I’ll be bothered if they try to contribute ways to solve the problem before I relate my thoughts on the matter. After having shared my distress, I’ll tend to feel somewhat better.
The other way it could go is that they ask if I want to talk about it, and I say no. I won’t do this out of a desire to seem tough or bottle things up, but because I honestly don’t trust or feel comfortable enough with the person to want to relate my concerns to them. In this case, I’ll feel worse than if they hadn’t asked at all, because by asking them to leave, I’ve been forced to signal my lack of solidarity with them. In this case, the best thing the person can do is leave without asking me anything, so I can deal with the issue myself without having to tell them that their presence will only make matters worse.
This contributes to my distress in dealing with crying people, because I know that if I were in their place, the same actions could make my mood better or worse depending on something the other person couldn’t be expected to know about.
This contributes to my distress in dealing with crying people, because I know that if I were in their place, the same actions could make my mood better or worse depending on something the other person couldn’t be expected to know about.
Yes! I definitely know that feeling. There are some times where people offering hugs is exactly what I need and there are times where hugs are exactly the opposite of what I need. This is kind of why I kind of think asking people stuff and requesting stuff are really the best policies, even if they don’t feel socially sensitive-looking enough sometimes and can be subverted by manipulative people.
I think that men are often at a loss dealing with crying people for this reason.
I think I understand? It’s like this unthinkable thing you can’t imagine happening to you so you don’t know what to do when it’s happening to someone else. But thinking about unthinkable things is useful and good for your brain! (One day, you might be around some onions or something.) I still think that specific “distress” reaction not useful, and maybe can be helped by working out a specific procedure and sticking to it like a robot even when you feel weird.
I’ve been in these absurd situations where a guy gets so upset that I’m crying, that I have to comfort him even though he did the thing that made me cry in the first place. I’ve also had people assume not crying about something means it’s not important. I think it would be nice to demystify crying as an imperfect physical process that doesn’t always correlate with importance, clarity, sensitivity, etc.
If I were crying? Not be there. Even if I never got it from my own family, the socialization for men not to cry in front of others is pretty strong. It might seem like a socially unenlightened perspective, but honestly, the embarrassment of having someone see me cry would probably be more acute than whatever comfort they would offer. I think that men are often at a loss dealing with crying people for this reason.
If I were upset, but not crying, then situation could go two ways. They could ask if I want to talk about what’s bothering me, and I say yes, and explain what I’m upset about. Realistically, I’ve already thought about ways to solve the issue, so I’ll be bothered if they try to contribute ways to solve the problem before I relate my thoughts on the matter. After having shared my distress, I’ll tend to feel somewhat better.
The other way it could go is that they ask if I want to talk about it, and I say no. I won’t do this out of a desire to seem tough or bottle things up, but because I honestly don’t trust or feel comfortable enough with the person to want to relate my concerns to them. In this case, I’ll feel worse than if they hadn’t asked at all, because by asking them to leave, I’ve been forced to signal my lack of solidarity with them. In this case, the best thing the person can do is leave without asking me anything, so I can deal with the issue myself without having to tell them that their presence will only make matters worse.
This contributes to my distress in dealing with crying people, because I know that if I were in their place, the same actions could make my mood better or worse depending on something the other person couldn’t be expected to know about.
Yes! I definitely know that feeling. There are some times where people offering hugs is exactly what I need and there are times where hugs are exactly the opposite of what I need. This is kind of why I kind of think asking people stuff and requesting stuff are really the best policies, even if they don’t feel socially sensitive-looking enough sometimes and can be subverted by manipulative people.
I think I understand? It’s like this unthinkable thing you can’t imagine happening to you so you don’t know what to do when it’s happening to someone else. But thinking about unthinkable things is useful and good for your brain! (One day, you might be around some onions or something.) I still think that specific “distress” reaction not useful, and maybe can be helped by working out a specific procedure and sticking to it like a robot even when you feel weird.
I’ve been in these absurd situations where a guy gets so upset that I’m crying, that I have to comfort him even though he did the thing that made me cry in the first place. I’ve also had people assume not crying about something means it’s not important. I think it would be nice to demystify crying as an imperfect physical process that doesn’t always correlate with importance, clarity, sensitivity, etc.