March 12, 2007

  • Women Playing Stupid

    Here is the link:  Link

    Do the majority of women play stupid in order to make men feel more masculine and strong?

                                                           

Comments (169)

  • They might, I don’t!

  • Actually my boyfriend and I are really into games that showcase our word power. We love Boggle and Scrabble!

  • you know it. hey, guys like to feel stronger. lol :o )

  • oops, i don’t play DUMB.. just the weakling. lol 2ND!!!

  • sometimes.. >.>

  • I don’t play stupid. Though I do have a rather assinine sense of humour.

    I think ladies are being told that if they act stupid/easy men will like them. The truth is, only a certain type of man likes that woman–the type most women don’t want.

    Men are being told to like women for their bodies, or that they should not really care for the smart ones because they are just annoying.

    Anyway… society is just generally dumb; IT DOESN’T HAVE TO PRETEND!

    Cheers,
    m

  • I hope not.

  • I bet a lot do.

    I don’t. If guys don’t like me, it’s their problem.

  • Usually I act smarter when I’m dating an intelligent person,
    and I act less serious when I’m dating someone who is… well, less serious.

    Or, you know, whatever.

  • yes, haha! seriously, i’m not even saying it to undermine any men, but there are a whole lot of women out in this world that i observe who act stupid on purpose to make men feel stronger (physically & intellectually).

  • Well, I don’t.

  • I am sure more traditional women do. I, on the other hand, see no point in undermining individuals and making myself look like an ass to score a guy who is obviously an idiot.

  • i’m guessing enough do.

    i don’t. if i ever did that, i would have gone insane. i like showcasing my intelligence… not to the point where it’s obnoxious, more to show that i’m informed. it’s better that way, and i can carry on a conversation with them.

  • “Like, what do you mean, Dan?” she says as she twirls her hair, smacks her gum, and gives you a doe-eyed look.

    haha. I think, in high school, they definitely still do. I see it all of the time out of my students. It might go back to that whole princess thing—letting the man feel like the prince, the knight in shining armor, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

  • I think the dumb ones do not realizing that they are likely to only attract the immature, insecure guys.

  • Majority no. Some, yes.

  • r u kidding? i LOVE outwitting my fiance ;D

  • Nah, I love showing who’s boss….

  • jk, we’re equals…

  • I dunno about the majority, but yeah, some do.

    That said, I definitely don’t!

  • I hope not…

  • I know some that do.

    But I don’t and that perhaps is why I haven’t had a boyfriend since the 7th grade. lol

  • oh my god yes.

    i constantly battle scaring men off with my intelligence vs just acting like the “girl” most men want to come across. maybe thats why i have trouble with men, most of the time i refuse to compromise who i am for a date, or a relationship.

  • Some do, but I’m not sure about the majority.

  • I really don’t think so. However, I think maybe some women doubt themselves more when they are around men.

  • I don’t… and I hope a majority of women don’t either.
    I don’t think that the girls that are pretending to be stupid {that I’m thinking of} are really pretending.

  • I don’t know…………do we?

  • Sometimes they do, and it’s really annoying. Act yourself, and if the guy is a dumb ass, why are you trying to impress him in the first place?

    On another note… that article you linked was awful. I understand that it was translated, but still… It’s got almost no substance to it and the syntax is.. well, interesting.

  • No, I don’t think so, I think many women these days try to undermine their men to make them look weaker.  You know who you are!!! 

    If I have to play stupid to make my man look stronger than I obviously have picked the wrong man for me.

  • Probably not majority, but I’ve seen it. Frequently.

  • Stupid? Me?

  • Anyway… society is just generally dumb; IT DOESN’T HAVE TO PRETEND!

    Posted 3/12/2007 4:01 PM by riri_maggie

    Amen to that!

    Seriously though, I certainly do not, but other people do, I’m sure. Pretending to be someone you’re not always gets you into trouble, sooner or later.

  • lol honestly, yes..

  • I hope not!

    Men who have to feel intellectually superior aren’t worth pleasing. I’m going to be my smart self not matter what.

  • psh no.

    i play smart to make them feel more dumb.

  • wow.. reading that site more.. It’s just ones step above a tabloid… check this out:
    Swollen Earth may reach Sun’s temperatures and turn into gigantic H-bomb
    http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/26-02-2007/87745-earth-sun-0

    Mysterious creatures living deep under Earth’s surface came from space
    http://english.pravda.ru/science/mysteries/27-02-2007/87801-underground-0

    Yeah.. that plus it was once the official communist party paper, and now it “Pro-Russia” in it’s newsreporting.

    You sure know how to pick em, eh?

  • I don’t, but I assume that’s a main objective.

  • YES

  • I intimidate the heck out of most men without even opening my mouth…which is hilarious considering I am only 5′ tall. I am rather reserved, very conservative and somewhat quiet and while I have had men drawn to me, I make them nervous later on because I am “so smart”. I have watched the same thing go on at the high school level…sadly I am far far away from that, but it still happens.

  • maybe. but i dont

  • don’t know if its the majority but many do.  too many?  yes.  but this does tie to the princess thing that was asked earlier.  in general people in the us feel far to superior, a bit of humility would be appreciated once in a while.  and no, stupidity is not equal to humility, more equal to debasing.  appearing stupid allows men to feel intelligent, women to feel protected and the ideal of a chavaunistic culture is continued in a new form. 

  • I might do so without realizing it.

  • No, I think if women dumb themselves down it’s to not intimidate men. Men won’t want to hook up with a girl if she’s intelligent and successful at life, meanwhile if they’re dumb, men can feel superior to them and not intimidated.

    Tsk, tsk women we live in a different world!

  • sometimes

  • majority….no

    but some do and im sure it works …..Id rather not spend time with the guys who need that kind of ego stroking

  • I’ve done it before. I have held back telling a man he was wrong about something when I knew what was right. This was so that he wouldn’t feel lesser a man… I don’t know, i guess it was stupid but I really care about another ones feelings. Maybe I care too much.

  • What do you think Dan??

    Candy

  • I’m not gonna dumb myself down just cuz some guy is stupid.

  • lol. no… unless it’s jessica simpson who claims to be “acting” but i mean, come one she’s not really acting

  • Everyone does that. Not necessarily stupidity, but vulnerability. That is the #1 tactic…besides booze.

  • guys ARE stronger

  • How disgusting.

  • I act like ‘one of the guys’ and manipulate them more than if I acted stupid.
    They think I’m oh so cute and tiny so they buy me anything I want.
    I rarely carry cash when I’m ‘out with the guys’.

  • Hey, males.  I don’t give a shit if you like me or not, and I am way smarter than most of you.

    hahahahaha

    Anna

  • Maybe not grown women.
    But just go to my school and just see how girls act. Its pretty disgusting.

  • Wait, are you trying to say women aren’t stupid?

  • In what country?

  • some do

    some don’t

    I don’t

    that’s dumb

  • Hell no!  I certainly don’t. What is interesting is that I am an engineer….when I meet fellow male engineers they are immediately confrontational because they fear I may be smarter than they are.  They are used to being the smartest guy in the room.  Coming up on an equally smart woman is more than many of them can take. 

  • Most of the time when they’re flirting, it sure seems like that.

  • I don’t, and neither did the majority at my high school. So based on that, yes many do, but I don’t know about the majority.

  • HI MY NAME IS LINDSEY AND I SEEN YOUR SITE SO I THOUGHT I’D SAY HI AND LEAVE YOU A COMMENT!! ANYWAYS, I JUSS WANTED TO INVITE YOU 2 COME CHECK OUT MY SITE! IT’S A CHRISTIAN SITE AND I POST DEVOTIONS ON THERE AS WELL AS PRAYER REQUESTS! IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYER REQUESTS PLZ LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN PRAY ABOUT IT AND ALSO POST ON MY SITE SO OTHERS CAN PRAY AS WELL!! WELL, I G2G BUT COME CHECK OUT MY SITE AND LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WANT! THANKS, LINDSEY

  • I don’t know,do we?

    LOL

  • I don’t play stupid, I AM stupid.

  • I don’t…but my sisters do.

    *sigh*

  • Never in my life have I pretended to be stupid. Unfortunately, this has cost me a few relationships, as I recently found out. One ex-boyfriend, in particular (who is now dating a woman who is the classic “dumb blonde,” or so she claims), recently told me that I was too “intimidating” for him. Wow.

  • I personally don’t, and if I am, I make it painfully obvious and do it just to tease people, not just guys. I’m not stupid, there is no reason for people to think of me as such 14 grand a year for college has to be good for something, right?

  • i have a friend that does that….it’s definitely my biggest pet peeve ever

  • What use would a woman have for a man who cherishes stupidity.

  • Maybe, lol. I can tell you that I don’t, though. And omg, you got a new layout. It’s nice. I like it :D

                                                                                                                                  -KrIsTiN-

  • Not the majority, but some. Can’t imagine why.

  • From time to time, if I want to go that flirting route.

  • not the majority…just the whores.

  • i know that some do. i think that its the wrong way to go about it. but im sure some do.

  • you’re really not updating as much, btw.

  • I act like ‘one of the guys’ and manipulate them more than if I acted stupid.
    They think I’m oh so cute and tiny so they buy me anything I want.
    I rarely carry cash when I’m ‘out with the guys’.

    Posted 3/12/2007 4:52 PM by saucysweetie
     
    actually this makes you a weak minded slut who can’t fend for herself. i think its about time to grow up. even when guys offer to buy me shit, which unfortunately they always do –_–, i tell them i’m grown and that i have my OWN money and that i’m NOT a golddigging hoe :]

  • if she’s smart and she wants the boy, she’ll act anyway she can.  to get a smart boy she might act smart, to get a dumb boy, she’ll let him be the smart one as not to intimiate her, to get a jock she’ll act weak, to get a nerd she’ll pretend to be interested in what he is….
    it’s all about using what you can to get what you want.

    personally, i like being me… if they like me, it’s their problem.

  • When i play stupid girls don’t feel more masculine, so no.

  • probably not majority….but a large portion I am sure atleast to some degree.  They want the man to feel needed and important.

  • I dont know

    So, that video up there. I know you dont agree with his veiws, so I dont know why you have it up there. I like what he said. If we are going to keep abortion legal and pro-choice, then there has to be a choice for everyone. We can’t neglect because of money. Props.

    Derek

  • Well, the majority of women are stupid.

  • I hope not.  I never thought stupid was cute.

  • I dont like this question. Its very degrading of women. And you put musculan and strong together. This is a very anti-feminist post. Boo for Dan, I take my eprops back!

  • i suppose women really just get caught up in trying to prove themselves and they end up highlighting their weaknesses and hiding their strengths..

  • I’ve been reading some of your entries. I really like your site.
    And to answer you question..Yes I think that some women play stupid to make a gy feel stronger. Some women like to play the stupid/cute card. Does that make sense? It’s pretty annoying.

    Sarai

  • I would think that a real man would not want to be with a stupid woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Daniel

  • I’m sure women act in their own stereotypes for romantic purposes. I dated a girl once who was very smart (engineering major) and organized and a study freak, and when we’d get together she’d act like a girl who wouldn’t be able to do anything without a guy around.

  • Some certainly do. That’s not the kind I’m attracted to though.
    If a man wants/needs you to play stupid to be secure, fuck him. You can do better.

  • i hope not… i don’t.

  • I enjoy making guys feel inferior…..but maybe that’s why I’m always alone. =D

  • Wow  the grammar in that story was HORRIBLE. So before anyone wants to call someone stupid or playing dumb they need to use spell check and take a few grammar lessons. 

     Now I am well aware it was an article translated from some other language but even so if its being presented as a news worthy article lets make use of an editor so we dont look like  a bafoon.

    I think people in general are stupid and lazy and hence act the way they are. To answer your specific question I wouldnt say all women act that way but I’m sure most at some point in their life have acted aloof but not necessarily to make a man feel more masculine or strong.

  • First off, my wife and daughters never “play” stupid — they fight for every inch of dignity they can. But I think some women might do this, not to make men feel masculine or strong, but to help them feel “smart.” Because, in my opinion, a man needs to feel like he knows what he’s doing much more than needing to feel strong.

  • umm.. like , what?

  • i sometimes do.
    hah

  • i hope not.

  • i do because sometimes it’s funny,
    but it’s also because most of the time..
    i’m really mean to my male friends and sometimes,
    i own them.
    :D
    i don’t want them to feel bad about themselves all the time! =[

  • I don’t know, but if they do, then I’d say that we’re even. I pretend I’m a nice guy when I meet women….so we’re even.

  • YES! I do, my friends do, most women I know do. Unfortunate, but true.

  • I sure don’t. But I like to let them be the strong one, opening doors, pumping gas, etc. I can still converse on a “high” intellectual plane with a guy who gets the door for me. I don’t have to play stupid. I hope that made sense because I am so tired right now that my intellectualism is sorely lacking.

  • How does it make a man feel masculine and strong when his significant other plays stupid?  I think it would be more likely to make him feel smart.  Anyway, I have no way of determining if the majority of women do this. 

  • um some do. this girl I know does. she’s REALLY smart but she plays ditsy/dumb I guess to look cute

  • definitely  not the majority. But waaay too many.

  • I think it’s silly when women do that. I personally don’t. Most guys I talk to like when a woman can fire a answer right back in a debate. Intellect is hot, come on ;]

  • I can’t speak for other women, but I certainly don’t. I will say that the men I am friends with prefer a woman with a brain, who can think and speak for herself. They are not amused by a bimbo.

    justsayin….

  • …I don’t.

  • Probably the majority. Proud to say I don’t, though.

  • I don’t usually now, but I have done so in the past. 

    I used to do it around my father & brother.  It was just sort of “expected” that I wouldn’t follow the conversation when all they could talk about was motors & hunting sports.  Then there was the guy working with my husband a few years ago:  He was an intelligent idiot, meaning he had some common sense but he didn’t apply it.  In an effort to bring him “up to speed”, I played dumb.  Funny, it actually made him feel smarter, so when the working relationship fell apart so did his self-esteem.  Not much changed for our efforts at the time, he is still an idiot today.

  • dude… you weren’t first. you can’t be in that blogring!

  • I rarely play stupid, but when I do, it’s not to make him feel powerful, it’s to get what I want (and I later inform my boyfriend that I was just playing and HE’S pretty stupid if he believed me). …We have a lovely relationship.

  • sometimes

  • heck no! i don’t, my bf actually likes that i’m not just some dumb blonde

  • yeah a lot do that
    i don’t because i could care less what anyone thinks

  • I’m sure its not a majority, but I’m pretty sure it is some women’s strategy.

    That way they get the big strong man to take care of them.

    Damsel in distress is the one with the prince/knight coming to the rescue.

  • I dont nthink so, most men I feel think women are dumb. We are not.

  • I think many women do, but like others have already said, they’re trying to hang on to a dumb dude.  I dumped a girl because I had to explain my favorite book to her.  I don’t know if she was trying to make me feel smart (not necessary) or not, but if someone needs to have the meaning of a Kurt Vonnegut book given to them, they aren’t worth my time…

  • what about men acting like penis heads?

  • Some woman might play dumb, but i am not one of them. I will never degrate myself to make a man feel more masculine. A real man could handle it

  • I can’t stand stupid people so pretending to be one isn’t a way to impress me

  • Ok so Im like 3posts late but Id like to say.

    My selfesteem was never hurt by princesses or Barbie.

    Barbie or Cinderella will play with you no matter what.  They never laugh at you. They never tell you your fat or ugly or that your clothes arent nice enough.

    You know what is bad for little girls self esteem…other little girls.

    Nearly all of my insecurities are based on something said or done to me by other little girls.

    That is all

  • yes.

  • I don’t.  However, I do have some rather embarassing blonde moments.

  • From some of the relationships I have seen, I sure hope that the women are “playing stupid”

  • Well, thats kinda lame.

  • I hope not

  • If they do they are doing a pretty good job at acting, cause all the girls at my highschool “play” stupid with the jocks all the time. its kind of annoying really.

    I do notice though that girls that are ALSO involved in sports and other physical training dont do that BS, they actually try to act smarter then (which they probably are in reality lol).

    after reading the replies it seems that the majority of girls dont do this anyway, but my opinion, as a guy, is that if you do act stupid around men you should stop. as riri_maggie said, the only guys your gonna attract that way are the ones that will probably take advantage of you.

  • That article was horrible and terribly written.

  • I don’t know about the majority, but some do, I’m sure.

  • uhmm..i just be myself…

  • i don’t, but maybe i should, since i can’t keep a guy as it is.

    …or, maybe i’ll just date someone who matches or actually surpasses my intelligence.

    yes, i like that idea much better.

  • Because most men are stupid. So maybe they try to make them feel better by being like them. Oooo, burn.

  • I’m myself. Intelligent. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • I usually don’t. But I’m still single…so, I can’t say my strategies have worked well.

  • Dear Lord I hope not. 

  • yes

  • No, they do it so men feel like they have to do everything for them and protect them.  And they basically get what they want.

  • I sure don’t.

  • I would say in the past, it was used more.  I try to be realistic in things.  I may KNOW how to change a tire, but let’s face it, I physically cannot change a tire.  I KNOW how to plant a garden, but physically, I cannot till the soil – unless it is done by hand with a shovel.  There are things in life that we might be able to do, but simply are done better, and more efficiently, by males.  If some women find an area that a man can do easier and faster, then by all means, let them.  I know I have trouble letting the men park my car.  I can park my own car – thank you very much.  But, I am more than willing to let my tax team (who happen to be male) figure out my taxes.  I guess it is a matter of how you want to come across.  I prefer to come across as someone who has a few brain cells still working, but who recognizes her limits.

  • so THAT’S why i’m still single…

  • Only when we’re smart enough to know it’d pay off…

  • I do not know how acting stupid can symbolise Masculinity and strength.  However, I also do not know why Females tend to act dumb around males.  Perhaps females, who are attracted to a certain male, act dumb, seeking both the attention and help of the male, when it is really not needed.  Females will be females, I guess…

    Daryl Tong

     ~”~

  • I hope not. I really hope not.

  • No, absolutely not. Where’s the fun in that?

    I will admit though, that I’m probably more of a spaz around guys..because I’m sort of spazzy anyway, but I just get more nervous around guys, which makes it worse. This involves things like miss-speaking, dropping things, tripping, ect. Pretending to be stupid? No.

  • I would never stoop that low… men aren’t worth me being an idiot… PERIOD.

  • No. It’s a minority.

    Unfortunately it’s that minority that seems to end up popular and famous. Hmmm, message to our young women, anyone?

  • I’ll play dumb when it comes to fixing things at work to get one of the men to fix it for me… and because the men are the ones in charge of buying the cheap appliances AND for replacing them should they tire of fixing them…

    but I won’t play dumb to win a man’s heart.

  • Do they really?  I certainly don’t.  My first response, for me anyway, was “H**l no!!!”  I’ve probably scared a lot of guys off with my intelligence, but I’m NOT ever going to play the “dumb blonde.”  Sorry.

  • no, they really are stupid.

  • If a woman feels the need to ‘play’ stupid, there’s a good chance she really IS stupid.

  • it depend on what situation when it all comes down to! I seriously think there more women these day cannot succeed in relationship. Due to the fact they simply don’t know how to balance it. It’s not good to always try to outsmart the guys but then it’s not good to always witty them as well! Thats why in many generations (if anyone notices) their relationship last more longer than these days about 80% of marriage failures. Truthfully I am as well one of them who likes to outsmart mens. I love to challenge them. Because I am woman. I cannot loose. I battle them endlessly but what I ended up with logically is NOTHING! If anyone think they can find tons out there that would like the person they are ..well you are wrong! Basically you want a MAN without a BALL?..then what is a definition to a REAL men then? Womens have a lot of their own good traits too. Why disregard theirs to make themselves look tougher than mens? It does not do any good but harms! It is not the mens job to accept who you are when you’re not accepting who they are….

  • some do all the time. I only do in the auto parts store so they will change the parts out. An no, the dont do it for everyone- in fact last time my husband who knows less about cars than me was given a battery and a toolbox!

  • i guess it depends on the person theyre with. i don’t think you need to necessarily play stupid, just more feminine. they probably act really different b/w a coworker than with their husband based on this.

  • The men I work with love it. Or maybe thats because I’m one of only four women right now on the culinary team at my resturaunt. We’re a rare breed.

  • Oh, when I said “The men I work with love it” I was refering to my wit and sense of humor. Sorry.

  • I think intellegent or strong women have a hard time balancing their feminine and masculine aspects.  However, I also think a lot of men are in the same boat, only in reverse.  Women also tend to demand a certain amount of strength and masculinty from men.  After all, don’t we laugh at boys who played with Barbie dolls when they were younger?

    That, however, is just a generalization. I personally think people should be themselves and not play “games” in order to attract a mate. Wouldn’t you rather have someone who loves you for who you are rather than someone who only knows a part of you? My boyfriend is always telling me how much he loves the fact that I’m not just a ditzy girly-girly.

  • Wait…they’re playing stupid?

    jk

  • I wouldn’t say a majority

  • yes i think we do cause men dont like to feel stupid it makes them feel more manely

  • What? Huh?

  • It’s why I had trouble with guys. I was to much and my tongue was very sharp. But they again, few of them knew how to think. But I’m happy that I found a guy who would hate me if I was a ditz. So to answer your question, no, not all guys need it now-a-days.

  • If they do….I am too stupid to detect it!

  • sometimes…it helps…just make them it was their idea!

  • Unfortunately, I think yes sometimes. The “Can you help me with this?” ploy is used overabudantly.

  • I think many women do that when they first meet a new guy…then once they’ve roped them into their lair…watch out!

  • I hope to God that it’s just and act

  • no women just are normally stupid.

  • Yes – and it works every time!

  • I think they play off each other, if a girl gets the impreesion a guy is smart, she’ll play smart just to impress him and vice versa; when they’re probaaly both just as dumb as one and other…..

  • I’ve done it before to get what I want/be amused at the reactions of guys.  I’d say a lot of women do this sometimes, but not the vast majority all the time.

  • I play stupid when I want a guy to do something for me that I don’t want to do, or don’t want to look stupid not knowing how to do. :]

    Never done it to make them feel more masculine, though.

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