The Purisimian
OPINION
September - November 2010
“Hi! It’s your phone speaking. You have a new message.” This used to be my message alert tone, now my Mama uses this one. There’s actually nothing unusual about this alert, only that it reminds me so much of those people who are fond of having textmates. I have no plans of making my article long, so I’ll get to this straight. I was never a fan of having textmates. Getting to know a stranger through text isn’t really my nature. I would prefer knowing someone personally and I prefer to text only my friends already listed on my phonebook. They’re
the only ones I consider textmates. Actually, it’s fine to have one, two, three, or even hundreds of them as long as you always bear in mind your limitations. What I’m trying to say is that in dealing with others we do not know, we have to be aware that people create a different image when using gadgets than when they communicate in person. It’s difficult to observe how true a person’s intentions and behaviors are through text. You can’t put all your trust on textmates because one minute they’re your friends,
the next they court you and start saying “I Love You!” but through it all you can ever tell whether these people are real or not, good or bad. (This one goes for girls.) No matter how fun and exciting getting to know a stranger is, with just a text away there’s always a possibility that they could lure you, saying this and that, asking you to meet them somewhere, telling you to bring something, etc. In the end, I guess you are not blind to stories
of horror— unsuspecting girls ending up getting raped, others getting mugged and
hope you know what I mean here. You just have to acknowledge and be aware that whatever situation we are in, there are always limitations. Those should keep us alert on what’s going to happen next, either good or bad, so we can protect ourselves and our loved ones. I don’t have the right to control you through this article, but I definitely have the right to voice out some advice here not just for my fellow girls out there but also for everyone who encounters various strangers in life. Know them first. Post Script, Send to Many. :p
Writing this particular column was quite difficult because it involves everyone including our costudents and beloved teachers. I know a lot of people will be able to relate to this matter. As students, there are instances when we get compared to someone like, for example, our seniors or sometimes even those who are younger than us. In our classes, most of the time we are compared to others who are perceived to be better than us. What hurts more is when the comparison is made at a general level. “Sus, layo-layo gid kamo sa iban, ngaman hindi kamo maging pareho nila?” When we hear this statement
we would usually say, “Ma’am/Sir, every person is different”. Of course, we students have to understand that our teachers want us to strive hard in our studies. We are the ones, after all, who will benefit from our education. Our teachers don’t want us to waste time and money not learning what we’re supposed to. However, although sometimes we deserve those words, harsh comparison can also be insulting and hurtful. Every person is unique, including his strengths and weaknesses, so why compare? Using comparison to encourage better behavior may not be very effective. It affects
d i ng ly. They are here to By Joan Marie F. Macellones teach us how to battle life’s challenges students in different and keep a positive ways. Of course, there mindset. are some who will be encouraged to strive THE REAL DEAL harder and compete To our teachers, but sad to say, there we understand your will also be others who concerns and we will be discouraged acknowledge that at and will eventually feel some point, yes, we inferior and therefore, do have mistakes. But act inferior. not everyone thinks Our teachers are the way other students considered our second do. We do not have parents. They are the same level and kind not here just to teach of abilities as well. We and equip us with might misinterpret knowledge for our the way we are guided future professions. As and eventually react second parents, they are negatively to the also here to help us learn situation. If you want how it is to become us to improve in class, better people and, if please do not humiliate possible, live accor- and compare us. Tell
us specifically what it is that we need to improve and if possible, do it in a nice way. To my fellow Purisimians, we are college students and we are expected to be more mature and capable of doing things for ourselves. If our teachers see that we are eager to learn despite hardships, it will be easier for them to help us improve. They will not have to use insults and comparisons to remind us of the value of education. Let’s face the fact that since we want independence in the future, we have to be able to show that we are ready for it by being responsible students. Let’s not wait for those insulting words to make us realize that what we are doing is wrong.
Blue Pen
By Jinky C. Frejoles
Just a Text Away
killed. I’m not trying to ban you people (most especially girls out there) from texting or having textmates. I know it’s personal. Please do take this as an advice, though. It wouldn’t hurt anyway. We can escape boredom through many ways or by just receiving a text message saying “Hi! Can you be my textmate?” and just a text away there goes a happy ending or a gruesome situation. I don’t want to conclude anything. I
Pseudo Code
“Compare and Contrast”