Women, Meet Men

Men tend to be less complicated than women, no secret there. Uncomplicated is not synonymous with stupid. Sometimes when you think you've out-smarted us, you haven't, it just wasn't worth starting a fight over.
"He doesn't listen to a word I say." We're not deaf. We hear it all, but it isn't always a question and we have no idea what kind of response you expect since we can't read minds. If we say the wrong thing, we're in trouble. If we say nothing, we're in trouble. We're getting it either way, so why open our mouths and give ammunition for next time. You taught us that.
You can tease us, taunt us, temp us, insult us, pick at us, try to change us, take our money, take our innocence, test our patience, crush our hopes, try to break our spirit - and when danger threatens you, whatever it is, whenever it is, we'll still be right out there on the sharp end, selflessly putting ourselves between you and it, because it's who we are. It's what we do. Every time. And the only thanks we've EVER wanted is that you try not to have us do it needlessly. We'd like to count for something before we go.