Concerning Equality

We live in a time where we can determine if Mars has water, but my wife will probably earn less for doing the same job as a man.

Concerning Youth

What were the brands of your youth? 

The ones you supported before the concept of 'brand loyalty' was imbibed, before status was the overwhelming deciding factor? I used to wear gotcha, island style and Brut. 

My choices were largely a factor of circumstance (we used to get discounts on local surf wear brands). I liked Brut because it came in a bottle, and I could recreate that scene from Home Alone. I used to have one of those black Velcro wallets (it had a bright red and white gotcha shark on it). I never had an allowance, but used to get paid for helping my dad in the weekends. So every time I wretched that wallet open to pay for something (mostly KFC Hawaiian rounders, video game cartridges and movie tickets) it was like a part of me was being torn as well. Like an eighties horcrux.

 Now I have a 'grown-up wallet filled with loyalty cards (as opposed to that single see-through plastic area where I used to keep unpeeled stickers WWF trading cards). I miss that wretching noise sometimes. The feeling that I've worked hard for something. The euphoria of changing into my stonewashed hand-me-down denim jacket and white t-shirt and going to London House Arcade in town to get a new game cartridge. I don't feel I work hard for things anymore. I feel like I just work and buy things I want or need (more want really, we don't need Tin roof ice cream, although that's arguable). I've started believing that if i can't afford to buy something, then I convince myself I don't need it.

 I realize as I type all this, that I'm just highlighting various aspects of my privilege. It comes in many forms, the greatest being the privilege of being raised by my parents. And the gotcha wallet in times of rounder cravings. But mostly the being raised by my parents bit. If you've stuck it out to this point, I'd like to know - what were the brands of your youth? Was it similar to mine, with Dettol, Sunlight soap, telefunken and Toyota? Or was it something else?

Mufti Menk loves to subtweet

Is it just me or do all of Mufti Menk's tweets sound like subtweets?

MJ's Top 10 Muslim Proverbs

A proverb is a simple and concrete saying, popularly known and repeated, that expresses a truth based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity, hardly ever confused with a local hip-hop artist. Here are some of my favourite Muslim proverbs, adapted from common ones. None will make it into popular culture.Please add yours to the comments section

• Don't count your chickens before they're certified

• One man's treasure is another man's zakat.

• A chain is only as strong as its weakest narrator.

•  Don't put all your eggs in one biryani dhegg.

• Necessity is the mother of Tayammum.

• If it ain't broke, don't fix it with a bid'ah

• Actions speak louder than duas.

• You can't make an omelette without saying bismillah.

• The early bird catches tahajud

• The grass is always greener in the aakhirah

MJ

Concerning Haters

Maybe the haters aren't hating, and that's just something we say to dismiss constructive criticism? Maybe haters gonna hate because they know you're capable of so much more. Or maybe haters gonna hate, because that's what haters do?

I take my space seriously, doubly so as social media requires a level of professionalising - it's kinda different to other roles - no one who isn't a specialist really questions a chemical engineer (or an accountant for that matter). I sometimes come off as defensive or dismissive when people make suggestions, and it's never my intention. If I consider that it's enthusiasm towards shared success, it makes it easier for me to deal with.

I guess it's about finding the balance between being possessive and being indifferent.