Many articles still refer to the "property ladder" .Under present market conditions would it not be more accurate to refer to it as the Property Snake ?

Peter Wallwork, Eccleston , UK

When you read and listen to womens comments about men you would assume they were all beautiful,intelligent, and funny but the reality is quite the opposite.
In the UK at least i should say they are fat,moody , self centered and often self righteous.
Give me a Scandinavian or Latino woman any day.

Andy Murray, reading, uk

-"Ariel Leve is a New York based writer... she writes a humorous weekly column"

Humorous? Really??? :-/

Ben Marginal, Willenhall,

It really is simple: just do as you're told, love.

Nicholas Storey, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Andy hit the nail on the head. Us men are simple.

And to be honest, all we should do is be ourselves. Take it or leave it.

Edward, London,

Men have been reduced to sperm donor and walking ATM machines if we fall out of line they suddenly want equality, but equal to what? something many woman have already downgraded to valueless unless it is of their benifit! Get bloke get pregnent get rid of bloke get flat and purse bloke for money!!!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

It is articles with this divisive spin that contribute to young men and women not understanding each other.

Prescribing rules to the most natural of events is frustratingly dehumanizing. These people are profiting from and perpetuating your misery people!

Mat, Berlin, Germany

What cracks me up is the plee for equality woman cry out for when they have gone beyond that, the law gives them equality at work any injustices should be pursed! In Family Law the pendulum has gone all the way over so there is in fact NO place for a man, even honest, hardworking non violent ones!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

What cracks me up is the cry for equality woman seek, in work any injustices should be rigorously challenged but in Family Law the pendulum has swung all the way over so thereis no place for a man, not even the honest hardworking non violent kind from cradle to the grave what is it woman want in men

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

This article is very funny, it reminds me of a stand-up routine done by Bernard Manning about 20 years ago. How I laughed at his intelligent insightful perception of womankind. Finally, here is a woman's take on the same subject, yielding another comedy gem, worthy of the Manning mantle.

Ginger Fredrickson, Malvern, United Kingdom

Silly woman -Operatng instructions for men are dead simple

1. Put food and beer in one end

2. ensure other end has access to sexual stimulation on a regular basis

3. Ensure that all information that passes between you is absolutely clear with no hidden subtext and no implied meaning whatsoever.

Andy r, sheffield,

"Wouldn’t it be great if men came with operating instructions".

...and women too.

Francis Rodan, Northfield, Illinois, USA

Seeing Jonathan's comment complimenting Arial on her name brings to attention the headline name for the column: CASSANDRA. Is this a reference to the character from Greek legend who always correctly predicted the future but suffered the curse that no one believed her? Basically how I feel at work!

James, London, UK

The problem with relationships is that men and women do not understand each other. As a man, I have always struggled to keep up with what my lady friend wants.
We do not need long articles about these problems. And we should not accept the conspiracies women and their friends cook up!!

Dr Vaughan B Petersen, Cape Town, South Africa

This article shows how difficult it is to be a man these days. God be with the days when these things were simple!

Colin Smyth, Dublin, Ireland

If men came with instructions, women would not read them. They would ask a man.

Rob, Liverpool,

Annie, Hampshire, - It's not a joke! It really is that simple.
All that's needed now if for the feminist brigade to understand and accept that fact.

Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England

Arial,
I understand your frustration. First off, I love your name because it reminds me of "The Tempest" in which I played Caliban. Secondly, if you fast and believe "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...", you'll find yourself connecting with a man on a higher spiritual level. God Bless

Jonathan, San Antonio, U.S.A.

even if his friends and your friends read you the manual, you will be too busy drooling over all those shiny buttons you can press (and you will) to listen.

be emotionally available, but not too emotionally available? be sensitive, but not so sensitive? not impossible to please then?

jem, london, uk

Thank goodness I'm a man who prefers men.

maurice, Glastonbury, England

People, who can manage thier emotions can handle the world. I guess that emotional motivation is the strongest. Men are also emotional beings, the major difference is in aspects. I guess that all realtionships are not risk free, the current trend for safety is incredibly funny stuff.

Pam , St.Petersburg,

Can anyone tell me how to disable the shuffle funtion on my girlfriend's moods? Thanks

Gatz, Chelmsford , UK

mad, mad, utterly neurotic...where is my beer?

olly , london,

"9. Ask me about me once in a while. Even if it's just once or twice a month. "
Really there is no point in doing this as it is guaranteed that they will talk your ear off day in day out about them, regardless of being asked.

Matt, Sussex, UK

The age of 'manuals' has definately spoiled us, all instructions (in human relationship) take life out of them. Though a line 'every weapon has an instruction enclosed' stands up to life, since emotions are very powerful things, so certain instructions would be great.

Pam , St.Petersburg,

Ariel, you ask "Wouldn’t it be great if men came with operating instructions". Yet that rhetorical question is prefaced by a series of examples of women's irrationality! You don't like compliments! You find it a turn-on if you think your man is about to desert you! And you blame the men...

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

Have a look in her bathroom cabinet and see how many different items are stored there. If more than 10 she is not the woman for you. Believe me.

albert hall, hove, england

Don't need instructions. Instructor ever present. "the wife".
However,
1. Men should not be AC/DC.
2. Try not to get wires crossed.
3. Malfunction - it's his volt (sorry, fault).
4. Finally, if you get a poor reception maybe you failed
to fully erect antenna?

Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

As a male, dating is about taking great care in navigating a minefield of anxious, female ruminations such as your friend's. Things turn ugly without warning - we don't need manuals, just adequate safety gear to weather the inevitable estrogen storms.

Az, Ribes, Spain

Over thinking relationships will inevitably lead to their downfall. If your stood there wishing it could all be a bit easier, your in a room with the wrong person. Enjoy the company, get your fill of nefarious activities and it if all turns a bit dross, give em the boot.

Dan, Brisbane, Oz

If fewer women suffered from Cinderella delusions, they'd be a lot happy in their relationships. Equally, men should avoid suffering from their own Prince Charming delusions.

Claire, Edinburgh,

having instructions would be great as I only seem to like complicated and mysterious men.....my failure lies in my choice, by nature they are infuriating!......

Madleine, Nottingham,

I guess it must be pretty offensive for men to read such an article about themselves....... But women are used to being seen as objects....now men know how it feels...not nice is it? think twice b4 you say its a "compliment" in future, when a woman feels like a hunk meat due to how they treat her.

Madleine, Nottingham,

The basic mistake women make is to assume that men are simple. Beer, football, sex. Actually we are as deep as the ocean, but we like you to think that you understand us.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

You jest surely? Pot kettle black springs to mind here.

Tim, Worcester, UK

I love the way that everyone who's commented so far have totally missed the concept of the writer and her article.

It actually makes the article even funnier and more ironic!

Owen, Tunbridge Wells, England

sure that would be great but women don't understand or take instructions so would be no better off. they will be where they think they ought to be in work and relationships whereas we know where they sit in our rankings and estimations!

ed glynn, tewkesbury, United Kingdom

I am not an electrical appliance, so I certainly don't come with any sort of instruction manual or warranty.

David, Cheshire,

Maybe you should try dating a toaster.

Timothy, Adelaide,

I can't stand women who play games. Cannot stand it. It is a serious turn-off and makes me think she must be totally messed up such that she cannot accept that someone likes her and wants to tell her so.

Ross, London, UK

Do you come with an on/off switch?

John Polenski, Seattle,

Women think too much about the man in their life. For "think" also read plot, plan, scheme, calculate, burn out their brain in pointless conjecture. More contingency plans than the late Bobby Fischer. If only they came with an ON/OFF switch, instead of operating on, "Don't just sit there, worry".

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Ever wondered why so many men just don't bother any more? Life is too short for the hassle and most of us get enough of it at work.

Paul, Coventry,

"8. If you're going take a break from the relationship, tell me face to face rather than disappearing with no explanation."

I agree. Be a man. Consequences stem from both action and inaction.

Kel, UK,

Perhaps your friend has forgotten that the pleasure of life, is the fun of finding out what makes the other person tick. While she is deciding the rules of the relationship her life is slipping away. Here is a list from a man. 1. Try not to over complicate your life. The end. Simple!

Tedward, Gosport, England

Men do have a nice simple approach and 'opertaing manual', it is just that women are all the same - they don't bother paying attention to it, over even reading it!

John, London,

Your friend and her new boyfriend will likely split. If a male's natural signals of attraction don't hit the sweet spot, the relationship will always be unnatural. She likes playing games, he likes it straight. Great! But not together.....

Your operating manual: attracted to wrong men - help!

Rhys Jaggar, Leeds, UK

What about women? Instruction manuals for them wouldn't even help. They would have to read something like:

"Logic circuits never installed. Appliance is likey to display numerous functions at random and innaproppriate intervals. Fault is common to al models and is irreparable. "

C.M.Patton, Jakarta, Indonesia

The traditional old joke of the male operating system is: 'Show up naked, bring beer'. Of course that's silly... not all men like beer.

Annie, Hampshire,

Your article says more about you as a person, that you judge a gender as an operating machine.

Mark, Los Angeles, USA