Clunky title, pardon me. But why are so many men and women willing to mislead those they care about, in favor of 'solidarity' with their gender?

I'm very lucky to have a mother who warned me since I was young that girls in the real world are not like the ones in fairytales. Like any mother she of course looked forward to me finding love, getting married, being good to my woman etc. but she never sugar-coated what the road to it would be like.

She warned me that women can and will perform, settle and lie to get what they want from me. That coming "as I am" wouldn't work past middle school. That I shouldn't put 100% into girlfriends when I'm young, and properly vet for a wife only once I've made myself into a man with leverage in the world.

My father had equivalent advice for my sister about the nature of men. Me and my siblings were young and ended up having to learn the hard way regardless, but it was at least a relief to know we were warned, and it wasn't like a rug was pulled from under us.

There is so much anecdotal experience and advice from both genders that goes to waste because it doesn't fit their narrative they want to paint about men vs women. You should be treating people who come to you for advice like you're their older brother or sister, not like they're on the opposite side of enemy lines.