Dear... Strangers, Specifically Men
My son is at school. He is under the legal age of consent as are his friends. Today he confronted a boy who was, for want of a better expression, talking smack about a young girl. He was crude. I have taught my son to protect and respect women when people do they and I’m proud of him. I hope he grows to be a real man and by that, I mean one who is respectful as the bare minimum. So, for those of you who don’t already know the basics, here they are.
1. Stop trying to get girls to sleep with you. Maybe get to know them beyond their body parts.
2. If you are wondering what she wants. Consent should be top of your list.
3. Do not speak about her in a way you wouldn’t want to be spoken about.
4. Given that boys turn into men, assume that the way you think about women now, will follow you to adulthood so maybe remember that she’s a person.
5. When you do eventually sleep with someone, turn off all your devices. She doesn’t want to be deliberately or inadvertently recorded.
6. If you are more experienced, don’t be a jerk. If you are not more experienced, don’t be a jerk.
7. If you sleep together, it’s private. Be respectful even when you are not together.
8. If you need to brag about your exploits, it usually means you either have had none or you were rejected.
9. If you are planning to humiliate her, think twice because there is always someone bigger and badder than you. One day you will find yourself in a position where things catch up with you.
10. If you can’t do the above, just leave her alone.