PMS in men is all about RESPECT

For American women, PMS (Post Menstrual Syndrome) is that torturer armed with wild mood swings, hot flashes, sleepless nights, restless days. Men are into the PMS thing too, but I'm talking about the physiological kind. While women dread their PMS, they think we guys love ours. In fact, women often think PMS is all that most guys ever care about.

PMS in the male sense is Power, Money and Sex.

Men go after power, money and sex en route to a greater goal, something they can't really live without. Respect. The typical man is hyper-sensitive to issues of respect. I feel most offended when I am disrespected.

"If if I'm an authority figure, if I display physical or political power, people will respect me. If I have lots of money, I will be respected. If I win that sexy chick, if I'm a sex machine, ladies (and other guys) will respect me."

Respect. That's what a man really wants. He was built to run on that. Respect is the fuel that drives a man. The ingredient that fulfills him. The asset on which he thrives. A man will do just about anything to get respect. Most guys sitting in jail right now are there for something they did in pursuit of respect. Drugs using or dealing. Theft. Fights. Rape. Murder. All in the name of "I want respect."

Whatever a woman or anyone gives a man is never enough unless it comes wrapped in respect, accompanied by respect. And a male will do just about anything if and when he does not get his dose of respect.

Respect is to guys what affection is to girls. Example: I show up at my daughter's drama performance. She's not all that impressed; I didn't bring her flowers or take pictures with her afterward. I show up at my son's basketball game; he's cool with that; I respect him enough to come watch him play. I didn't hug him after the game. No problem.

Women commit the cardinal sin when they boss their sons, boyfriends or husbands around, telling them what to do. Worse when they nag the male. Then women raise to the bottom when they portray men as unintelligent, dumb. A typical guy like me read that as disrespectful. Man, I ain't getting no respect around here!.

Ladies are not the only ones who keep men's respect tanks low on fuel. Guys do a worse job at taking respect from themselves. The respect killers that men traffic in include the following:

• Being grumpy. Women despise grumpy guys, grumpy old men, or grumpy young men.
  
  
• Being argumentative, especially quarreling with a female.
  
  
• Laziness. Being physically lazy or mental lazy squanders your respect currency.
  
  
• Carelessness. Being irresponsible. Failure to provide, protect, give a sense of security.
  
  
• Being quick to quit, throw in the towel.
  
  
• Getting angry easily. An angry man invites disrespect unless his anger defends and protects.
  
  
• Becoming violent; violence creates fear, resentment, which inexperienced guys mistake as respect. Just because people are afraid of you doesn't mean they respect you.
  
  

It will take a follow-up article to outline the respect earners that I have observed in other guys and have experienced in my own life. I am even more convinced now than ever before that without the fuel of respect the engine of manhood soon comes to a screeching halt. Without respect manhood withers on the vine. Both male and female need to know that.