Although I’m an avid user of social media, there are a few things I’m NOT gonna do, such as ever using the word bae, upload nude pics to a cloud server, or post a #WomanCrushWednesday photo. Now, I truly don’t have much of a problem with the latter, but as a dude in a happy relationship it would be utterly pointless and boring for my followers to constantly see me post my lady week-in and week-out. But when Wednesday comes along and the #WCW posts start flooding all my social media accounts, I find it absolutely hilarious. Dudes would rather promote women they’ve never met and have little chance of ever being with, instead of showing any appreciation to the woman in their lives, who actually is out here supporting them in more ways than one.
It makes me laugh my ass off to see how some men will post these #WCW pictures of supermodels, hood chicks with big butts, video girls, import car models, R&B singers, Nicki Minaj, and Hollywood actresses, talking ’bout “Look at bae!” with that corny-ass heart-for-eyes smileys. These same guys, though, would be damned if they ever posted a photo of the mother of their children who keeps them clothed, fed, and educated. There ain’t no way in HELL he will post the image of the woman who supports him when he’s down, emails job opportunities to him, and provides him with a place to stay when he needs it. There are men out here who will post a #WCW video of a some tattooed up, red lace-front-wearing, big booty-having, semi-professional twerker, while eating dinner cooked by the very real woman in his life, sitting on the couch she bought, in the apartment in which she pays most of the rent.
If there’s one consistent theme that I’ve mentioned many times in past articles, it’s my belief that our culture of entitlement is what makes dating so damn hard now. As someone who frequently talks with women in the U.S. and Canada during my events, I can’t tell you how many women I’ve heard complain about everything from men NOT spending enough money on her on first dates, all the way to women emphatically stating that their desire to marry a man is predicated on the size of the engagement ring he buys her. But I’ve always found that women’s entitlement rests more in their ideology than reality, because while women like to talk a good game, many will make concessions if they find the right man.
[Image: Shutterstock]
But when it comes to us men, we are on a whole other level of BULLSHIT. Not only do we talk a lot of entitled crap, but we also live it to the best of our ignorant-ass abilities. Far too many of us treat women as being expendable, play with women’s emotions for our own personal gain, and deceive women just to get what we want. Then, with a straight face, we will walk through society proclaiming how few “good women” are left, how hard it is to find the “wifey type,” and call Sanaa Lathan “bae,” while overlooking the very real and very loyal woman holding us down.
At the end of the day, the whole #WCW posts SHOULD be irrelevant – but unfortunately, we live in a society in which we are becoming increasingly more disconnected from reality everyday. This social media culture of being able to follow, mention, and direct message any and everybody on the internet, famous or not, has given a lot of dudes a false sense of opportunity. (“Let me write this thirsty ass message underneath Rihanna‘s picture because — you never know!”) There’s nothing wrong with honoring a random woman’s beauty, or keeping your real relationship off the internet, but before you go wishing that there were more women with Bria Myles bodies in your town, take a look at the real woman supporting you.
LAB
Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.
[Image: Shutterstock]