Ladies: Men aren't really from Mars

The world today is a sad place.

The ignorance of some can forever taint the perception of everyone. The Nazis did it to Germany, the Taliban did it to Afghanistan, and Snooki did it to New Jersey.

It's really mind-blowing how the opinions of some people can become so distorted simply based on of misleading facts and the ability of an orange, drunk prima donna to hit as many clubs and guys in one night as most decent girls likely do in a lifetime.

Many of the stereotypes women associate with men are due to this.

The number of untrue pieces of information out there increases every second that charming, good looking, intelligent gentlemen (such as myself) fails to provide you with the answers.

So allow me to fill you in.

Note that I come from a background of morals where being a gentleman is always the top priority.

In reality, it's pretty difficult to find a guy like me. But I'll do my best to speak on behalf of all, or at least a good majority, of the male population throughout this article.

So you think you've got us all figured out?

From what I've experienced, women think guys are egotistical, testosterone-fueled meatheads who think about only three things:  The last time they had sex, when the next time will come when they'll get to have sex, and what exactly can be done to minimize that gap between the other two as much as possible.

While that may be true for some guys, it's mostly false.

We also think about food, football and beer. So there.

But there are dozens of other misconceptions out there as well.

I see too many girls these days who find it necessary to resemble the second coming of Marilyn Monroe in order to win a guy over.

This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard of.

Most reasonable guys, including myself, would prefer that smart, cute, fun girl down the street over the drop-dead gorgeous, blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshell on the cover of every magazine any day.

It's not even a contest.

 Sure, the super model is fun to look at, but what will you do when you're home by yourself at night following a bad day at work and are in need of a best friend to keep you company? The bombshell will usually be found at the club flirting with every guy who gives her a second look.

I'll pass on that.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be lying if I said looks didn't play a factor. But guys love personality far more, and an easy-going, successful, intelligent girl who's simply comfortable in her own body receives more points in my book every time.

The second biggest discrepancy has to be when girls convince themselves every guy is a jerk after a bad experience with another.

We're not. In fact, the majority of us tend to be anything but that.

The sole reason guys can be jerks in the first place is that women make it seem as though we have to be in order to impress you. You've done it to yourselves.

Every guy will agree with this — unless of course he's a jerk. But hey, that's why they're single. 

Last but not least, the mind games need to be kept to a minimum.

Listen, they suck. And frankly, guys are terrible at them.

We can't read minds.

So if you like us, tell us. If you don't like us, tell us multiple times (it may be hard for some to accept at first).

Many girls think guys have the confidence to make the first move.

Really though, we'd prefer it if you took the first step every now and then.

Confirming to us that you're interested not only makes us happy but allows our minds to focus on far more important things and will go a long way to assure our time spent together is that much more enjoyable.  

If you take anything away from this while reading, it should be:

1. There are plenty of decent guys out there; you've just got to look, and

2. I'm single and my email address can be found immediately following this final sentence.

Brandon Schlager can be reached by email at schlager.record@live.com