Men do have a tendency to want to fix things, and they usually think that if a woman expresses frustration over anything, the correct response is propose a solution. What women are usually looking for is sympathy or empathy. Even when you spell that out for them very clearly, it's hard to change that behavior. Amy has a good point - the best way to avoid criticism is to avoid looking for approval. Besides, you can get all the sympathy, empathy and approval you need right here!