I feel compelled to comfort them. Its immediate and urgent.

I put the kettle on and make a nice cup of tea.

Depends on the context. If appropriate and wanted: consolation and possibly assistance. If she doesn't want my attention I try to mind my own business. There's been a few times a woman has done something horrible, started crying when she got called out on her behavior expecting consoling and I walked away because that was appropriate and even necessary. In fact I should've done that last one a few more times than I did.

Depends, genuine emotional and empathetic sorrow I will comfort, crying because she is hurt because she did not get her own way and is trying to elicit sympathy and her own way after all, will be ignored.

All to often it is the very man that you may be looking for emotional support can very well be the cause and some men are impervious but to their own emotional handicap such as sociopaths and psychopaths who are impervious to therapy let alone a simple hug for your sadness and tears

That's the time to really put words to a good use

I typically ask what’s wrong? Is there something I can do to help you?

share it

I'm hard-wired as male, so of course I try to help her. Men who don't yield to their women partners doom the relationship.

"John Gottman, a well known marriage researcher, and his colleagues followed 130 newlywed couples for six years to find what marriages succeeded and why. Turns out, happy, stable marriages had one thing in common: The husband was willing to accept his wife's influence.

In contrast, when husbands responded to their wives' complaints by stonewalling or belittling them, the marriage was almost sure to fail: More than four-fifths of those relationships — 81 percent — fell apart."

Gottman, John M., and Nan Silver. (1999). “Principle 4: Let Your Partner Influence You,” in The Seven Principles for Making Marriages Work (Chapter Six,

If she’s a friend of mine, I ask her what’s wrong and try to comfort her.

1. Recognise that tears validate everything she says
2. Accept blame if possible
3. If you are not to blame, offer to beat up the offender
4. Try to turn the situation into an opportunity for sex

With sympathy and empathy.....if I think it's legit.

A big hug and some thoughtful words are the best. Understanding the problem is the key. Having raised all girls allows me to spot drama a mile away. ?

Really it depends. I feel a great deal of empathy for anyone who is hurting/sad/frustrated,but..... My Ex suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder and would cry at the drop of a hat, often over the most benign events. Other times she would use it to manipulate me, if she didn't get the response she wanted she would cry more hysterically or rage that I wasn't responding.

Ask’er what’s wrong. If I’m the one who hurt her, apologize and try to make amends. Otherwise just listen. She’s smart enough to figure out a course of action.

Communication is key along with compassion and affection.

Inquire as to why she’s crying and if she wants to discuss it.

This question is too general to answer. I have way too many clarifying questions of my own. Something physical is easy. First stop what is hurting her, apply appropriate first aid. Emotional pain is another thing. All I can do is similar to above. Appropriate first aid depends on the person and relationship...and the history.

I'm the father of 2 adult girls so my first reflex is to hold, console and listen.
However, as a manager, I received an incredible lesson from a woman 12-15 years ago. She came into my office and we were talking and she suddenly broke into to tears, I was in my late 20s and quite confused (she was at least 10 years older). She explained to me that not everyone reacts the same way and that her default reaction was to cry whether the information she received was bad or good. It was simply her way of exteriorising he feelings and that I shouldn't feel bad for it.
I never got a chance to really thank her (I went on leave for burn-out not long afterwards) but I wish I did. She gave me a perspective that has served me ever since that moment. That woman helped make me who I am (not as much as my ex-wife but that is another story).
TLR It depends, look at the circumstances and be empathetic.

I no longer know female tears are real? However I would like to think that should a lady friend be truthfully tearful I could be of assistance to her on an emotional level.

I may think about the reason why she's crying, but I'm not likely to do much more. I don't assume that I am helping a good person because I may have some urge to help them, that is foolish.

very good question!
If she is young my brain immediately give signals to fall in love with her and comfort her.
If she is old enough then my heart starts beating for my mother.

Sometimes she cries because she been drinking like I witnessed last weekend and now she can't recall what it was as she told me today.