{¥ Stop blaming 2016 for celebrity deaths ¥ Hillary Clinton is not the devil { Diverging from the commute And more! How to talk to women wearing headphones (don't > A guide to not harassing people Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer ecently, an article titled “How to Talk toa Woman Wearing Headphones” hit the internet, posted on a website that claims to teach men the secrets on how to get women to have sex with them. The article details getting a woman’s attention after instructing her to take off her headphones, and proceeding to hit on her. Naturally, the article caused a lot of controversy and discussions on entitlement and harassment. Insecure and/or socially awkward men visit these sorts of “pick up artist” websites. They easily fall prey to articles that promise to teach them how they can become more confident and attractive, and therefore get attention from women. What exactly is so harmful about this behaviour? It is reinforcing the idea of male entitlement, especially when giving unwanted attention. You are not entitled to the attention of anyone. Headphones are universally recognized as the sign of being uncaring of surroundings, and wishing to be solitary. One does not wear headphones out in public because they are waiting for a stranger to come up and start talking to them. What's even worse is encouraging men to hit on strangers. No one wants strangers to come up and start hitting on them. It is intimidation, it is harassment, and it is wrong. In the cases of men harassing women, there is a huge power dynamic at play in a society where men are encouraged to prey on women. Many women can tell you their own experiences of being intimidated and afraid due to a man giving them unwanted attention. The article was criticized heavily and was (hopefully) not shared or read by very many who thought it was good advice. But it is part of a much larger issue, of an existing culture teaching men that they are entitled to attention from women, regardless of consent. It illustrates a power dynamic that men can tell women what to do, and enforce control over their actions. Encouraging a violation of consent leads to even more horrible and unpleasant ideas and cultures. At its worst, it perpetuates violence against women and rape. The most attractive men— not to mention ones who will be looked at as a decent human being—don'’t ever harass strangers. They make friends (or romantic interests) through being respectful, and without aggression or intimidation. The “Golden Rule” rings true: Treat others as if you would want to be treated. If you're behaving in such a way that someone doing the same to you would bother you, maybe don’t act that way. 7 ie yy 5° s a IZ LS re 5 .o > w a o E as = Fifteen-dollar minimum wage is not the answer > Why economics are complicated and suck Cazzy Lewchuk Interim Opinions Editor he minimum wage in BC will soon be $10.85 an hour, one of the lowest in Canada. But it’s much better than the United States—wages vary depending on the state, but some have it as low as $7.25 an hour. Recently, an idea has begun to take form that is supported by the majority of Canadians and Americans: a federal $15 minimum wage, so that people can work full-time and not live in poverty. Until recently, I supported this idea myself, as Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in North America, and $15 an hour is a lot more money than | earn. The low minimum wage is not only to blame for citizens living in poverty. School costs are at an all-time high, particularly with the rise in demand for post- secondary education. In many countries, university is free— citizens get an education without going into debt, and the resulting degree helps provide for a better-paying job. The minimum wage is not the equivalent of $15 CAD in most countries, yet many face a smaller rate of poverty than North America. Increasing funding to public x y ° £ th x & < $ & > w Dd o £ education in Canada and the US (or indeed, subsidizing it 100 per cent) would not only provide for more citizens, but lead to an increase in industry and economy with the improved skill of the workforce. A $15 minimum wage would also result in reduction of hours and a rise in unemployment. With a wage like that, each worker has to provide $15 worth of revenue to the company, and, particularly with small businesses, that just isn’t happening. Mass automation would result, being the much cheaper option. Why pay a fast-food cashier to take your order when you can install a machine that does it for cheaper? A sudden rise in wages would also lead to a massive increase in prices. This has already started to take place in cities like Seattle that have adapted the $15 wage. After six months to a year, the $15 begins to feel like $10 because everything costs $5 more than before. Breaking the poverty cycle and providing a better quality of life for our citizens involves social and systemic change. It’s not just education that has costs at an all-time high. We all know the Vancouver housing market is outrageous, whether buying or renting. Essentials like food and gas cost more than ever. Even health-care costs in Canada can leave a person in serious debt, despite our socialized health care system. (This is, of course, a much bigger issue south of the border, where medical bills can leave a person hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.) Some areas of the world explore a “basic income” system, in which citizens are paid a subsidy to cover basic living expenses, leaving them free to pursue a better-paying career without the burden of serious debt. Ontario is experimenting with this system starting this fall—perhaps Canada will adopt it sooner than we think. A higher minimum wage (temporarily) removes the cause, not the symptoms. If we want a better future for our citizens—and we do—social programs are the answer, not jacking up wages and prices.