Wanted: clear communication

I've had it.\nI have finally had the last straw. I'm done with it all. I am done trying to figure out women. \nThis is not to say I'm done with women, just done trying to figure them out. Women are harder to figure out than this year's basketball team.\n I hardly feel my situation is unique. While I admit I have my problems with the opposite sex (that's right ladies, I'm available. And I'm cuter than my mug shot, too), I have come across few men who have had greater success than I. For whatever reason, women and men don't communicate well.\nLet me rephrase that. Women don't communicate with men well. Men are easy to figure out. Our needs are few; Sports. Food. Beer. Sex. So when I hear a woman talk about how she doesn't know what a man wants, I come to one of two conclusions: \nOne, the man just got out of a relationship, thus having all of his basic needs thrown off by the ex-girlfriend. \nTwo, the girl in question is dumb.\nThe stories of men being confused are numerous. I've had friends who talk about their exes claiming to still be crazy about them, but who don't want to get back together. My dad confesses sometimes he doesn't know what my mom is getting at when she talks to him. My parents have been happily married for 25 years. If 25 years of marriage doesn't clue a guy in to the psyche of the female mind, how can a guy my age hope to compete?\nI have a proposition to make. In fact, if this works at all, it will be heralded from sea to shining sea, and I might even win a Nobel Peace Prize. \nWomen of the world, specifically this University, I want you to turn over a new leaf. Don't dance around an issue if it comes up; just come out and tell a guy what you're thinking.\nLook at the up side of this equation. If the guy knows what is going on in your head, you won't have to worry about him being timid or unsure of what to do in fear of aggravating you. If there is a guy who you don't like, think about all the annoying phone calls you could avoid before he finally gets it through his head that you're not interested. With some guys, that can take a while.\nGuys, we have to do something, too. It would be unfair to place all the blame on the women. We should all try to do more listening. It's a lot of work and can detract from watching the Hoosiers play Purdue (and if a girl wants to have a serious conversation during an IU-Purdue basketball game, that might be grounds for dumping anyway), but it will help in the long run. Heck, if the girl wants to tell you what is going on in her head, you might as well listen. Think of all the time we will save trying to think about what to do with a girl. We can then use this time to watch more sports or play more PlayStation 2.\nThere, I've thrown out my idea. If it works, this campus will be a better place, and we can only hope to see numerous couples walking happily hand in hand on their way through the Arboretum. If it doesn't work, what do we lose? A little more space taken up on the opinion page? Oh well. \nAnyway, I figure we columnists need to take advantage of our positions every once in a while to enact some change. Don't worry, though I won't make this a habit.