Justin Lookadoo.

On February 9th, Justin Lookadoo gave an hour long speech at Grand Blanc High School. The main focus of his speech was aimed at the girls at our school, telling them to be smart about boys and avoid bad relationships. These are good points, however, his way of going about explaining them and his jokes were completely sexist and out of line. He said such things as, "Women are bad drivers," and "All guys only think about sex." He continued his slander for his entire speaking hour, masquerading his sexism in jokes and life lessons. Some of the stuff he said was true, but only for a select few. Everything he said he applied to an entire gender. Guys are this. Girls are that. He neglected the fact that everyone is different, and gender roles are a thing of the past. Even on his website, he has dating rules. My personal favorite is number 6 for the girls, "Be mysterious. Dateable girls know how to shut up. They don’t monopolize the conversation. They don’t tell everyone everything about themselves. They save some for later. They listen more than they gab." Apparently, shutting up is a good quality in a girl. I told my girlfriend this rule, and asked her to be quiet so I could talk, and I got the death stare. I wonder why...

His web site is covered in religious propaganda about gender roles that are as archaic as humanity. How comforting is it that in a society where religion and relationships are growing farther apart for good reasons that public speakers are preaching the unification of them? In his book Dateable, he says that a girl should only date a Christian boy, and that if a boy talks to a girl for more than an hour on the phone, he's the one (because communication is the only judge of how good a relationship is).

I was personally offended at his entire speech because I have spent my life trying to fight the socially accepted idea that men are pigs. I have treated every girl I have met with respect. I have a healthy relationship with my girlfriend where we are equals and don't hold to the normal gender roles. He said high school relationships were not worthwhile, because only 5% of them end up in a lasting marriage, and that you shouldn't put anything into their high school relationship because you'll get hurt if you do; therefore don't put yourself emotionally in a relationship, don't spend time with a person, etc. He failed to see the point of gaining an experience by being in a relationship in high school, to see how relationships work, working past problems with your significant other, and learning how to treat your significant other.

Justin Lookadoo wasted an hour of 2,500 kids' time trying to explain that men are sex-hungry pigs, and women are stupid and naive. His speech did not belong in this day and age. He was ignorant and childish.