The Makings of a Man

I want some feedback on this topic from TMOAM-Subscribers.


Should men and women be good friends with their significant other's friends? If a scenario popped up where a guy and his girlfriend's female-friend are somewhere together alone, is that okay? I've found myself in that scenario, and caught mucho heat for it in the past. I felt the entire incident was innocent but my girlfriend at-the-time was not of the same mindset. Personally, if I know someone is in the area, they are good company, and my significant other can't make it, why not hang out with them for a quick drink and conversation? That doesn't make them my ace-boon coon nor a potential jumpoff.


Would you stand for your friend to chill with your guy/gal without you present?

Suspenders and Belts (AHHHH!!!!!!), you cannot wear both at the same time. How many times do I have to teach these dudes that? Maybe my diagram below will help:

Suspenders = Belt = 1

therefore,

Suspenders + Belt = 2 and you only want 1

Okay, well maybe that was too much, but this is a serious epidemic. In proper dress etiquette a man wears suspenders to hold his pants up and to generally look more dashing. The thing is, since the suspenders are holding up your pants you have no need to wear a belt. Not only are you doing double the work, but you look dumb. I know America doesn't teach our young Black men how to dress for success (that's why I'm here), but you got to know the rules.

Now there is one time when both are allowed, and that's with women's lingerie. For further example, please view the photo below (oh boy!!!).

Step your game up fellas! This time, instead of simply your job/career, increase your focus on being an intellectual person. There's nothing wrong with being well-read, knowledgeable, and aware of the world around you. I've heard so much dumb shit come out of the mouths of young men lately that I'm almost saddened by the lack of importance placed on intelligence.



For example, here is a hypothetical CNN headline: Georgia 'under attack' as Russian tanks roll in
 
"Have you heard the news? Russia just invaded Georgia"



"What? that's wild. Thank god, I moved out of Atlanta last year!"


"Ummm...WHAT????"

Step Up! No, not the urban dancing movie to portray a white girl who discovers hip hop and rhythm, it's a call for us men to step our game up if we want to attract quality women.
I recently ran across a message board thread in which a guy was real hurt because despite his efforts, no attractive women would give him the time of day, not even a smile. He said that his office window faced the street and he smiled at every woman to cross his path during the day, yet no smiles came his way in return. My response: Step Your Game Up! First, get a new job, b/c obviously this isn't cutting it. Outward facing window, smile plastered on, my man has got to be a Golden Arches engineer.

From watching plenty of my friends, family, and fraternity brothers make several errors in dining etiquette, I've learned that people just don't know better. I think our communities don't really offer us the opportunities to know these very important societal rules.

So to start, here are some general rules:

1.) Do not start eating till everyone has been served their food or the host begins eating
2.) Do not use more then three sugar packets in the bland tea or lemonade. You don't have twenty packets all over the table.
3.) Acknowledge the people you're sitting with.
4.) Keep your napkin on you lap when it's not being used.
5.) Do not rush while eating, take your time and make conversation.
6.) Unless eating traditional Japanese food, use a spoon at all times for your soup. Do not drink from the bowl!!!

Short and sweet. Wear a condom people!!!! I can't say this enough. Unless you are: A) in a deeply committed relationship, B) abstinent C)with a death wish, you need to wear a condom/make your partner wear a condom.


There are two issues at play in terms of safe sex, pregnancy and STD's. I now have to contend with the idea that one out of four women I would do the horizontal mambo with would probably burn me. That's not right... not right at all. Women don't have it much better, with male STD rates nearly matching the female. I'll use common sense and realize that not everyone is forthcoming with their infections either. So whats that mean? Wrap it up!

The second issue is the arrival of a baby. I've never seen so many of my friends have babies, as I've witnessed this year. Nearly a dozen young women I know have gotten pregnant unintentionally this year, not including those who had abortions. Babies having babies