I'm not interested: The follow up

Last year I wrote a post entitled, "Sorry, I'm not interested" where I discuss why we shouldn't resort to lying about our relationship status in order to deter men from getting our numbers. Basically, the point that I was trying to make was that your relationship should not dictate whether or not you give your number out. You should decide that.

You are not spoken for

I also discuss how I tried it out and it totally backfired on me and completely turned me off from the process. I'll admit, I did on occasion use the "I'm taken" line and it obviously made guys back off (except one guy who insisted that "just because there's a goalie, doesn't mean I can't score"--Pfft)

For the most part it worked, but I was getting tired of it. I hated feeling "owned" by someone. I hated the idea of having an "excuse" for not being interested. I was afraid that by saying no, I would be hurting this guy's feeling and so I tried sugarcoating it. However, in the process of it all, I was doing myself a disservice. It deprived me of a voice. Of an opinion. Of a choice.

So what did I do? 

I decided to try it again. 

A really nice dude struck up a conversation with me about cell phones and eventually asked me for my number so that we can go out for coffee sometime. I smiled, thanked him for the offer but told him that I don't give my number out. He persisted, but I held my ground. Eventually, he got the message, wished me a good day and went on his way.

I cannot tell you how empowered I felt. It actually worked and I didn't feel bad about it. I didn't even feel compelled to give him a fake number. If you really think about it, this shows the guy respect too. Imagine giving him a fake number and he goes home only to find out that he's been bamboozled. How would he feel? It takes a lot of courage to ask someone for their number (why do you think I've never done it?!). But, by being honest, you can have a nice, civilized, mature conversation. If he acts like a total jerk about it, then you should be glad that you didn't give him your number because he clearly doesn't deserve it. You did yourself a service by dodging that bullet.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that don't be like me and deprive yourself of a voice. If you're not interested, politely tell him. Prove to yourself that you have confidence in your decision and that you demand respect for your choice. Fake boyfriend or not, you owe yourself that much.

 That is what you should be interested in.

The NO NO List

Every so often I run into a newly broken up individual who is at wits end with the dating game. At this point, they're ready to give up on relationships all together and wonder why none of their relationships ever work out. This is where I introduce to them the no-no list. Now, I'm not saying that I'm a love guru or anything, but I do know a thing or two about relationships [Five years and counting ;) ]

I've never really been in the dating game because my partner and I have been together since my teenage years, but I think that I got it right the first time around because I knew what I wanted in a man... and what I didn't want. This idea of what I don't want in a man is what I call the NO NO list.

The NO NO list is a list of characteristics that I absolutely will not tolerate in my man. If the guy I am dating shows me any one of these traits and it cannot be changed, I won't even hesitate to press that reject button. 

Everyone's NO NO list is different, depending on your values and needs. Here's mine:

1. Arrogance. [Not to be confused with confidence.]Men who think they are such a big deal without any reason is an automatic NO NO. Are you reaping the benefits of your parents' money and pretending like it's yours? Are you putting on the tough guy act pretending like you beat up guys who talk smack? Do you show off EVERY SINGLE ACCOMPLISHMENT? NEXT.
2. Men who don't know the difference between there, their and they're (or commit any other simple grammatical faux pas). So let's say I'm texting a guy I'm interested in and he repeatedly shows me that he doesn't know how to use the three.What a turn off. It shows me that you a) probably don't read a lot b) don't value the education that you have and c) haven't tried to learn the difference. I make exceptions for those who are new to the country and are still learning English. But, if you've been in Canada for the majority of your life and have gone through formal education, I don't see why you don't know the difference.
3. Guys who refer to their girlfriends as their bitches. How rude. This is your girlfriend we're talking about, have a little respect. You're supposed to love and care for her. Is that what you would call your mother? A man who doesn't respect women is not husband material.
4. Guys who can't hold an intelligent conversation/debate with me. I don't care how hot you are, if you can't talk to me about something profound or remotely interesting that doesn't challenge my way of thinking, move on. What's sexy is a man who can stump me and make me say, "you got me." and just shut me up. However, with that said, if you prove your point and act like an ass about it and rub it in my face.. see number 1.
5. A know-it-all. I knew this one guy who had a rebuttal for literally anything I said. I found him to be attractive in the first place because he seemed really intelligent and ambitious and was always adding to my repertoire of knowledge. However, when it came time for me to share my knowledge or opinion, he always found something wrong with it. I'm entitled to my opinion, jerk. How do you have a conversation with someone like that? Glad I dodged that bullet. 
6. Guys who only talk about themselves. I went to coffee with a male friend of mine and in the time we were conversing over our fraps, I wanted to shoot myself. He would spend 15 minutes straight talking about himself (and this is not even an exaggeration), ask about me, completely ignore what I had to say and then continue talking about himself. Why am I even here? You might as well talk to a wall and get the same reaction. Needless to say, that was the last time we went for coffee. 

For all those who are finding that they're having a bit of bad luck in the dating scene and can't seem to find the right kind of person, I encourage you to make your own NO NO list. It helps with the filtering process and saves you a lot of time and heartbreak. Date smarter, people!

The 100th Problem

The 100th Problem

If you know me well, you would know that I love 9GAG and memes. Within a few minutes of scrolling through the website, I am up to date with current events, impending world wars, viral outbreaks, latest trends and celebrity gossip. Hell, I already know what the weather is like outside without looking out the window. Chances are, someone has already made a post about it. With that said, I consider 9GAG and any other similar site as a social thermometer. 9GAG gives me an idea of how society views and perceives issues. I see it as a social study that helps me see where society stands on certain topics that are not otherwise discussed at length. One such topic is male abuse.

Remember when TMZ leaked video footage of Jay-Z being beat down by his sister-in-law, Solange Knowles, after the Met Gala? I don’t know about you, but that footage was jaw-dropping scary. I wasn’t aware of the incident until these started popping up on my 9GAG…

 

Yes, they were funny. I would be lying if I said I didn’t laugh. But seriously though, male abuse is no laughing  matter. Let me be clear here. Abuse is abuse, whether it is done by a man or woman. But, it seems to me that male abuse is one of society’s best kept secrets.

According to a national survey conducted in 2013, roughly 25% of male Canadians suffer from some type of domestic abuse. I, however, suspect that this statistic is much higher. Most male abuse is unreported as men are usually ashamed of admitting that their female partner is abusive. It’s not just phyiscal abuse we’re talking about either. It’s also emotional, psychological, financial and isolation abuse.

I don’t blame men for not admiting to others that their partner abuses them. Just look at all the ridicule that Jay-Z suffered on 9GAG. Remember that society paints a picture of how men and women are expected to behave. Men are supposed to be strong and macho. Women are supposed to be kind and nurturing. So when a dainty woman is fly kicking a big, muscular, macho man, everyone’s cracking jokes and questioning his “manhood” . Flip the scenario the other way around in which the man beats up the woman and suddenly everyones crossing their arms and are thinking that he should have known better.

Other than a few comments on the posting, I barely saw any posts that condemn Solange for her actions. If anything, I encountered justifications for her behaviour.

“Solange suspected Jay-Z of cheating”

“Jay-Z had made a move on Solange”

“Jay-Z had insulted Solange”

They almost exonerate her for her actions! All these comments take away Solange’s responsibilty and role in the abuse and continue to make Jay-Z the bad guy. Why does he have to be ashamed when he allegedly didn’t do anything? What kind of message are we sending to society, especially males, when we ridicule Jay-Z? We’re saying that if your woman, or any woman for that matter, abuses you, it’s probably your fault and you should man up and take it.

Uhhh…..no.

What needs to change is the idea that abuse is abuse, regardless of who is delivering it and in what form. That’s the bottom line. It hurts and we won’t stand by it. It’s up to us to accept that abuse can happen to anyone. Rather than mocking someone for their experiences, be empathetic towards them. Lend them an open, non-judgmental ear.  It might make all the difference in their life. Solve their 100th problem

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“From the Sidelines” is the section of the blog where I post links/ information about the pop culture references or resources I may have used in today’s post.

TMZ Video Footage of the infamous Solange vs. Jay-Z

http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_6lrpg6kh/

Jay-Z's 99 Problems

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwoM5fLITfk

Solange's Losing you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy9W_mrY_Vk

9GAG

 www.9gag.com 

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Pulling Teeth

Artist: Green Day

Album: Dookie (1994)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3R7qASk6dg

Let me know if you find any other songs that are remotely related to male abuse! I'm curious to see what's out there