Yes, I could. (Not sure if you missed the original joke...)

But I really appreciate your insight here. I've already suggested it to someone else and will try to use this myself.

It works all over the place...

Your buddy is over at your house and they're bitching about their significant other.

"Well, you could try listening to your SO's complaints, weighing them for validity, and consider acting on them."

Your drunk buddy will almost certainly take that better than if you told them they should shut the hell up and listen to the valid criticism levied against them by their spouse.