the Humanist view

“UBOS may be thinks like a “native thinker”, I tilted a post in which I extoll my achievements as a distinguished practitioner, scholar and researcher who is not a mere native informer.

You know, a native informer of the kind who just gives others raw data, just like that, for others to analyze and then re-export back to Africa.

I shared my post (about 700 words) on social media for the purpose of generating cutting age debate from my fellow Africans, especially. And also from other scholars, practitioners and researchers.

Indeed, the discourse it elicited was enriching – one of my European colleagues, for example, in a one-word WhatsApp message, “Niceeeee”, expressed affirmation of my post.

Then Facebook notified me of a comment from a male member a group pages, a think tank. Am excited to read, because this is a page in which am active and through which my practitioner-scholar-researcher self has been nourished immensely.

In anticipation for intellectual nourishment, I click and read the comment:

 Are you a sister or wife of (name of a total loser male relative)?

Mmmmmmm … eeeeeh …. wowe … mmmm! – am lost for words.

Banage, this guy obviously did not read my “niceeeee” post. Konye!!!

If he had read it, he would have clearly known that I was asserting my right to be respected as a top notch practitioner, scholar and researcher who is significantly published.

He would have known that if someone wants to know who I am and what my views are, they need only Google me or use whatever search engine with the key words as my name and the stuff is there for you.

The answer to this man’s irrelevant question (in the context of my post that is), for example, is immediately found on my face book page.

In a TED Talk available online (video and transcript). including on my blog under the title going back to my roots, answers the irrelevant question and more. In it, I explain the origin of my name.

After reading my post, if at all, in his mind the only imagery of me that it elicited in him is as a sister or wife – WHAAAT????

Please, do not misunderstand me. I do love the men in my life, but really.

How in this case is it relevant to identify me by the men in my life?

Moreover, in a comment to a post in a social media forum that has the words “think tank” in its name.

And please, do not patronize me with that “she is over reacting because it is that time of the month” crap.

For one, it is not that time of the month. And that belief is a whole load of BS. It really does not affect brain functioning, per se. I have done some of my best work during that time of the month!