I read once that if you ask a man his greatest fear regarding women, he'll say being ridiculed. If you ask a woman her greatest fear regarding men, she'll say being beaten or killed.

I also agree with your next point, which is good guys have to be extra careful when they approach women because it's far to easy for women to misinterpret things men do "with innocent intent."

Women are so used to men approaching them for nothing more than sex, we often blurt out our marital status just to make sure that's not what they're expecting. For us, getting that out of the way frees us up to be friendly without being accused of leading a guy on. But it can be awkward, no doubt about it.

Good article.