1. “Why does my wife feel the need to tell me every single detail about her friends’ lives? I love my wife, and I’m interested in what she says–unless it’s about her coworker Jill’s decision to get Botox. I haven’t met Jill, and have no opinion on the matter. And I’m sure Jill doesn’t care what I think, either.” – Charles, 39, married five years
Expert Rx: In general, guys want to know the point of a story before they hear it, says Jeremy Nicholson, Ph.D., a relationship psychologist. When you start talking about acquaintances they don’t know, their minds scramble to figure out the “so, what?” factor. If you’re looking for a gossip buddy, you’re better off chatting with your BFFs. But if you’re bringing up Jill’s plastic surgery because you want to gauge what your guy thinks of Botox, then start the conversation with that so he knows where things are headed.