The problem with that mars/venus scenario that you've laid out is that it doesn't mention the opposite situation: when someone asks for action and the response is "oh i wish you didn't need that." That scenario you've described makes it seem as though men are just clueless (which many might be). The scenario that inspired this conversation was one where what was asked for was not sympathy but action, and the response that well sympathy is all you can ask for is a bit inadequate, and seems at best dishonest.