The denial reminds me of the guy in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" who, despite losing all four limbs in the encounter, is still agressively thirsting for a fight. "Just a flesh wound", he says. "Come on and fight, you coward!".
The world needs people who listen and comfort, as well as people who can fix problems. If we are good at only one, then we should practice to improve our skills on the other. Those who know "Pride and Predudice" may remember Elizabeth's advice to Darcy at one point, when he indirectly admitted to being shy with strangers and therefore appeared to be proud.
It is also popularly described as those who are left-brain dominant versus right-brain dominant. We should use both halves of our brain to our best ability.
Hmm... this seems to be about the fact that Men like to fix things and Women like to commiserate. When a women is telling you her problems, he's not looking for an answer; she's looking for empathy. The sooner you bite your tongue and figure this out, the happier your life becomes. ;-) (...it really isn't about the nail at all)
Firstly, the video is excellent. Secondly, it expresses a male viewpoint that all problems are nails. In fact most human issues do not have nice solutions and just talking through clarifies many aspects for the speaker. You will all have had times when just describing a technical problem to a colleague has given you the solution without his input. Verbalising involves ordering and considering the relative weights of the factors involved. In a technical problem those weights and factors are language in common, but not where emotions are concerned. Never offer solutions for friends' marriage problems -- just listen, be sympathetic, be there, and hug.
I have learned over 36 years of marriage, one important thing, and very little else.
That during a time of crisis I shall never again use the phrase "oh dear, don't be silly!"
Just keep nodding like a bobble head, only as though you mean it.
Keep eye contact at all times.
Smile if, but only if, appropriate (you will know when it isn't).
Hug, comfort and reassure and offer to wash up.
It is about the nail!
We just think it isn't.