I Have A Bone to Pick...

With everything that has been going on with Rihanna and Chris Brown--Rihanna wanting less restriction on Chris Brown--it got me thinking about the standards young ladies are setting for the young men today. You have to set your standards higher. You don't want dudes yelling out "Ay shawty" then simply stop responding to it...if you don't respond, we have to change our approach (this does not include me b/c I don't do it lol). You want a man that has something going for himself, stop dating those who are just "going through tough times"...there's nothing wrong with wanting only a man that's in college, has a job, or is actually working towards his plan...it will only make those who aren't doing anything want to do something. Do you realize that if you stop giving men excuses we will have no choice but to make ourselves better. You set the bar. If you allow a man to disrespect you then that's all you're gonna get. If you allow a man to sit in your house and do nothing, then that's all you're gonna get. A man hits you and you take him back because he apologizes...no sir lol...move on knowing that you deserve to never have that happen you. You deserve better. You have to realize what you want and settle for nothing less. As a young man, I have certain things that I absolutely cannot tolerate in a female. I will not deal with ignorance, lack of self-respect, lack of respect for others, or someone nonintellectual and/or egotistical--amongst other things--simply because they have a "pretty" face. I'm a picky guy, and ladies, you have to be the same way.

**Now I am in no way putting it all on the ladies. To the guys, especially the young men of my age group and those coming up, we have to step it up. We have to want something in life. College isn't for everybody, but we all have to have a plan because the "street life," as I call it, is not a good look. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and stop trying to blame other people for our own setbacks. We have to show the young ladies the respect they deserve. Being born with a certain attribute doesn't make you a man...it makes you a male. It's time to step it up.

- Jerz