LAST weekend, I overheard a conversation between a good female friend and a socially conservative male acquaintance.

He attacked the idea that a man could be taught how to be better with women. He admitted that there were men who were especially gifted at attracting women.

But he contended that guys who are good with girls tend to simply manipulate and take advantage of them.

My female friend, however, said something very interesting.

She replied that his claim was insulting to her and the women of Singapore.

She said he talked as if Singaporean women were easily deceived or tricked, and that he assumed that they were also stupid enough to be duped by some smooth talker.

I must concur with her.

After interacting with hundreds of charming Singaporean women, I must say that they are some of the most clever, cosmopolitan, and emotionally intelligent women in the world.

There is no way that some random playboy would be able to 'manipulate' or 'take advantage of' them unless they allowed him to.

Sure, some players lie just to get girls in bed.

But I know for a fact that the girls in this city are sophisticated enough to know the score and handle themselves. They know what they are getting themselves into, even though sometimes they don't want to admit it.

They've seen how bad the world can be, either in TV, movies, or other pop media from the East and the West. They've frequented the rough and wild world of the nightlife scene since they turned 18, something they wouldn't be able to do in America.

Don't use kid gloves to deal with adults. Indeed, those who treat girls as grown-ups are that much more attractive to women.

Women have a mind of their own. On the whole, they are much more socially intelligent than men.

Give the girls more credit.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Jan 11, 2009.