Sigmund Brouwer Kids

Sometimes, like now, I find I need to defend the way that many boys (including adult boys) talk and write, especially write.

First, I think it’s about efficiency. Take this story for example: “The dog chased the cat. The cat ran up the tree. The dog barked for a while. The dog went home. The end.”

This story is typical of many that I see written by guys. Most guys I know would be fine with this. It says it all, at least to a guy. No wasted words like adjectives or adverbs. The guy writing it has saved a great deal of time and effort. The guy reading it has saved time and effort too. All the guys are happy about this story.

My wife, Cindy, wouldn’t be content with it. She’d have a lot of questions that guys would never think to ask:

What did the dog look like? What did the cat look like? What kind of tree? Did the barking wake up people in the neighborhood?

To answer those questions, the story would have be double or triple in word length. Adverbs and adjectives. That’s too much work.

But she wouldn’t stop there. Sentence by sentence, she’d want more.

Me: The dog chased the cat.

Cindy: Why did the dog chase the cat? What was wrong with their relationship?

Me: The cat ran up the tree.

Cindy: So that’s how they solved their problems? They couldn’t talk about it? Neither could forgive the other for what was wrong in their relationship?

Me: The dog barked for a while.

Cindy: How did the dog feel? Was it frustrated?

Me: The dog went home.

Cindy: Did the dog have friends? Did the dog share its feelings with its friends?

Me: The end

Cindy: That’s it? What about resolution? Surely the dog and the cat had to face up to their problems.

Me: Sigh.