I’VE WRITTEN UNDER THE Talking Culture platform, using many multiple experiences that any reader could apply to themselves, through certain engagements, careful not to say what is immediately possible, but what can open doors, legal doors, to be specific, with caution. Recently, I had a chat with a few anxious young folks on numerous topics that can lead to ‘legal income earning’. I was careful, but careful is not a viable term in the matrix of acceptable acceptances that envelop things today. So, I narrowed the conversation to putting together a skit on domestic violence. More than one of those present had witnessed or knew of persons who had assumed domestic disturbances from the eager criticisms of so-called good friends, or of others who made references, for example, influenced by friends who make insightful suggestions of their own bravado and how they rose above challenges and through them.

Situations that influenced their very self-esteem, that inferred to act this way or that way and rise above the insult of the ego. I’m not a psychiatrist. But as a youth, I was taught to be objective with the suggestions of others; some are provocative, implying severe actions that another might deem justified, that require an in-tune perceived right response, if that truly exists, and could change your life forever, and not for the good. As men, we expect to be in charge, but that is an entire argument that rests on our evolution. There will be discussions and agreements that might help, but there will always be the realms of gender roles and rules to debate in relation to the question of right and wrong, because there is always that, I replied. People are, in some cases, influenced by the suggestions of a perceived good friend or relative, based on a scenario of what worked for them in a similar situation.

I changed the topic of the conversation when I suggested that what we discussed was not what we should follow without consulting the inner man, and returned to the income realm. I was their age once, and I faced the challenges of earning a living for myself. But I was born with talents that were common to older kinfolk. Though I didn’t receive the initial training, I didn’t hesitate when the then state brought in experts. Beyond tutoring, there was an essential creed to be included. On this, I concluded our chat: to read, explore through relevant literature, whatever area you wish to explore, because the wand of copyright ownership, like the curse of plagiarism, can make the best of efforts disappear. In whatever area of expression, your originality must prevail, in an atmosphere that will embrace, with reason and patience, the other contentions we had discussed.