CEDTalks

"You might see me in the streets, but homie you don't KNOW...ME!" T.I., "You Don't Know Me" The quote applies to many more people and circumstances than the popular Atlanta rapper probably ever imagined. Based on our own experiences, we often make assumptions in life, steadfast in the thought we know exactly how a situation will turn out. Likewise, we take this stance with people. When meeting or interacting with someone, we tend to draw comparisons to people that generated a similar emotion from our earlier years. The actual conversation seems like Deja Vu, which leads us to react a certain way. This also causes us to think we KNOW how a person "is", treat them accordingly, and subconsciously try to predict their thoughts and actions. By most standards experience is the greatest teacher in life, but it is a dangerous game to ever think you really know a person without being around them frequently and also getting their input. Why ...

I see you creeping in the background. You're not slick; fall back. The "you" I'm referring to is the current or future guy who meddles in my relationship. I'm not trying to speak this travesty into existence, or bore you by blabbering on about my love life. The topic is being addressed because the playa hater aka "crab in a bucket", "Buster" Douglas, or PB (doesn't stand for peanut butter) is on the prowl, and their tactics can cause serious detriment to those looking for love. In an early episode of the classic TV sitcom, "Martin", the title character becomes concerned when Gina begins to hang out with a male coworker named  Wallace . His entry into Gina's circle was that he participated in tasks men generally hate, like shoe shopping. Your girl and her best friend: They're just so close... so close...too damn close. While Wallace was not actually pushing up on Gina, there are plenty of men (and women...ladie...

I, Cedric Charles Perry, am a hater. Whew...though it's tough to say, admission is the first step to recovery. It's a gene that has traveled throughout my family tree; my great-grandmother has been recognized as one of the more influential haters during the civil rights movement. My sister Dee actually holds the Pennsylvania state record for most consecutive statements using the word "corny", with 46. It appears that there are numerous types of haters; my type is called "Conditional Hater", where in attempts to create humor, I will break out in uncontrollable hating. Recognizing that this trait runs in my family, I was bound to be a hater and it's better for me to acknowledge this now and help others who share this condition. To better address this addiction, which currently affect approximately 3.6 million people in America (I made that number up), let's identify what hating is. Rapper LL Cool J once stated that hating is "identifying a perso...