A recent viral tweet by social media personality Eric Gugua has ignited a fiery debate online, sparking a torrent of opinions on the complex dynamics of modern relationships, particularly regarding authenticity and perceived manipulation.

 

Gugua’s initial assertion – that “Pretending to be teachable and willing to learn, is one trait that women today have learned to weaponize in their hunt for unsuspecting men!” – struck a nerve, leading to hundreds of replies and passionate exchanges.
The Initial Spark: Women’s “Weaponized Teachability”

 

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Eric Gugua’s tweet, punctuated with crying-laughing emojis and a plea for “my brothers” to be saved, suggested that women strategically feign openness to learning to ensnare men. This viewpoint resonated with many, quickly becoming a talking point across the platform.

 

“Pretence as a Way of Existence”: The Female Strategy?
Several responders echoed Gugua’s sentiment, portraying women as masters of disguise in relationships. Favour Fonyonga bluntly stated, “Women have learnt pretending as a way of existence. Men do not like women who do not pretend. Women have figured it out and built their whole personality around pretence. A win is a win.”

 

Similarly, JANE. DOE. concisely added, “When men are looking for fantasy, fantasy they’ll get.”

 

Stan Shemang provided a vivid anecdote of being “played”: “We met in a bus, sat close, I was playing word games, so was her…she pretended she couldn’t trash the level, making me feel myself helping her clear it. Exchanged contacts and fast forward, she said she was playing me the whole time…that the game is a no brainer for her.”

His story served as a relatable example for many who feel they’ve encountered similar scenarios.

 

“Men Don’t Like Real Women”: The Counter-Narrative
However, not all agreed with the narrative of women being solely manipulative. Lilian Kenny Matthew offered a powerful counter-argument, suggesting that men’s preferences often force women into a corner. “Men don’t like women that don’t pretend sir, and are sincere or real to their self or others,” she wrote. “They will say she is hard or tough or not feminine. That’s why you will have a lot of pretenders. If you are not willing to know receive and understand a woman as she is, Pretence Kwatinu.”

This perspective implies that women often resort to pretence as a survival mechanism in a dating landscape that punishes genuine expression.

 

The “Women Are More Manipulative” Argument
Some male voices in the conversation went further, asserting that women are inherently more deceptive.

Manuel Afimia advised, “As a man, learn to observe a woman’s behavior and believe it as against her words. Women lie a lot by word of mouth, but can never lie with their actions. Pay attention!”

SHADRACH (B.F.M.) offered a more sweeping generalization: “Bitter truth is, both men & women are manipulators, but women are more manipulative & more dangerous than men. I’ve come to believe that the common perception of women being more emotional is often a strategic facade a learned tactic passed down from their mom or early influence.”

 

Israel Atumen added a stark viewpoint: “The fact is ‘NO WOMAN IS WILLING TO LEARN’ … We will all deny it, until u marry them. Any character u see in her from the initial stage, is her character for life. Some try to pretend, and men fall for it.”

 

A More Balanced View: Manipulation Knows No Gender
Amidst the strong assertions, some sought a more balanced perspective. Boluwatife commented, “Some women fake humility to attract, some men fake effort to conquer. Both are manipulative. Intent > performance.” This highlights that deceptive tactics can be employed by anyone, regardless of gender.

 

Further, Ikechukwu shifted focus onto male behavior, arguing, “Na man wey get heart them fit catch, yall focus on the ladies too much, most of these men are emotional vampires, they are undead and playing games, na the girls still think say the me. Stupid.” This suggests that men also engage in manipulative behavior, and women too often fall victim to it.

 

The “Church Brother” Conundrum
In a slightly divergent but related comment, QBOQNG OF ABOH MBAISE touched on a specific niche within the dating landscape: “Church Brothers are like the scavengers of the sexual market, picking up what is left of the ladies as long as they declare Christ as their Lord and Saviour. The church? A dumping ground for the good, bad and ugly.” This highlights how societal spaces, even religious ones, can be perceived as arenas for strategic relationship maneuvering.

 

Conclusion: A Web of Frustration and Mistrust
The sprawling conversation sparked by Eric Gugua’s tweet paints a vivid picture of widespread frustration and mistrust in modern relationship dynamics. While some believe women strategically use pretence to gain advantage, others argue that societal expectations often push women towards inauthenticity.

 

The debate also highlights a growing awareness that manipulative behaviors are not exclusive to one gender, but rather a complex issue stemming from various factors, including societal pressures, individual experiences, and the search for love and acceptance. As both men and women navigate the complexities of dating, the call for authenticity and genuine connection remains a central, yet often elusive, desire.