dial A for ALBB.

May 31

(Source: albb)

May 27

I don’t know much about sexism and feminism.

Which I think is a shame. I try as much as I can not to be sexist, but there’s something about the Philippines (probably largely because we have traditional Catholic values) that isn’t conducive to learning more about sexism and feminism. Thus my only understanding of living a less-sexist life is to not consider gender and/or sexuality in most (or all) situations (which might be stupid, but I like to think that everyone has his/her own version of guidelines to being less sexist).

So when people go, “women should be able to do A, men should not be able to do B,” it’s something I don’t understand. It just confuses me because I always thought, if anything, feminism should only be about empowering females, not bringing down males in order to empower females. Although I do understand that the intention (probably) is to tilt the rules in favour of the less-privileged (in this case, women), which would fit John Rawls’ concept of justice as fairness.

Although it was also John Rawls (right?) who stipulated that we treat humanity with a veil of ignorance, and by tilting the rules in favour of somebody, we are making the line between males and females more distinct and we are making it harder for us to try to see things with a veil of ignorance.

I honestly don’t know what I’m saying. I suppose this whole post just means to say, “I know nothing about sexism and feminism. Please talk to me more about it. I would like to know what your ideas are and if my ideas fit with your ideas and the general idea.”

(PS. There is a feminist party in the Philippines, but I’m not a big fan of them. I’m not exactly sure why.)

May 25

Dear ALBB,

You are a moron.

I know this because this is you, from the past, just as you are experiencing the consequences of your past mistakes—

—which isn’t necessarily bad, except it’s not the first time you’ve made these mistakes. Hell, this isn’t even the second time you’ve made these mistakes. So, no, I don’t subscribe to Einstein (or whoever) when he said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

So here:

  1. Stop buying things you really don’t need. Especially clothes. That’s not so hard, is it? It’s a rule everybody knows (and, depending on their confidence in their finances, does or does not follow). I don’t care how cool (you think) you look in a studded leather vest or a pair of combat boots. I mean go ahead, buy things you might not need that you’ll use about twice a year. But please don’t buy things you’ll only use once in a lifetime.
  2. And by the way, the only pair of shoes you’ll ever need are your black low-cut Chuck Taylors. Well, no, but close enough. They’re the only pair of shoes that will love you back, if shoes had feelings. They don’t, but close enough.
  3. Just because you promised yourself you’d do something after a certain amount of time doesn’t mean you should, if you no longer feel like it. Sure it’s an obligation, but it’s an obligation to yourself. I’m pretty sure your self would completely understand, even agree (!), should you change your mind.
  4. Stop using your hormones as a Get Out of Jail Free card.
  5. In fact, stop using anything as a Get Out of Jail Free card. I don’t know where you got the idea that life is a rewards-based thing where if you get to save up a hundred good deeds, you get to claim one thing, regardless of whether or not it has good consequences. I’m pretty sure life never worked that way. (Also, I’m pretty sure Get Out of Jail Free cards never worked that way, either.)

I hope you find it in you to try something new and stop making these damn mistakes.

May 22

May 18

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