improving communication with young men

IMPROVING
COMMUNICATION WITH
YOUNG MEN
Wayne V. Pawlowski,
MSW, LICSW, AASECT
IOWA FAMILY PLANNING UPDATE
September 17, 2013
Approach This From
Two Directions
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If we want guys to come to our health
centers/clinics, we first have to ask
ourselves, what we can do to make
ourselves more welcoming of them…and
thereby make them feel more welcomed !!
Then, once we have them…or have access
to them…we can explore how we can
communicate more effectively with them.
BE AWARE:
I Am Going To Be
Speaking In Generalities!
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So, when I say “WE,” I do NOT mean every
one of us individually…
Nor do I mean family planning programs in
Iowa specifically…
I do mean “OUR FIELD” in general…
So, don’t take my comments “personally”
(individually)…but,
DO take them as a view of reproductive
health-family planning…our work world;
And, MAYBE you and/or your particular
program.
And remember,
It is the generalities…
the perceptions of our field
that inform/influence how guys
view/see us.
And ultimately how they will respond
to our outreach/messages.
And ultimately whether they will come
to our health centers/clinics or not.
Fools Rush In
Where Wise Men Fear To Go!!!
Five Incredible
Sources Of
Information/Insight
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MARS Program, Benton County, OR
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Male Advocates for Responsible Sexuality
Brian Dekker and Andy Chuinard
And,
William Pollock: Author of Real Boys and Real
Boys Voices
And, ABC’s 20-20: The Secret Life of Boys
(video),
And,
Michael Gurian: Author of the Wonder of Boys
And,
Michael Thompson: Author of the book and video
Raising Cain
Typically The Question,
“How Can We Be More Welcoming of Young Men?”
Means:
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What do we need to know about them…
So we can get them into our clinics/health
centers…
So we can provide them the services we have to
offer…
So we can meet our numbers…
So we can increase our revenue…
So we can get them to stop behaving badly.
None of those things have
much to do with what
guys want and need…
and none of them are
reasons why a guy might
want to make an
appointment.
So, The Questions Behind
“How can we be more welcoming of men?”
Really Should Be:
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Where are we?
Why do we want guys to come to us in the first
place?
Why would guys want to come to us for services?
What services might guys want that we could
provide so they might want to come to us?
Besides services, what else do WE need to do to
make ourselves attractive to guys?
How do we need to change to make guys feel
welcomed, respected and that we are there for
THEM, not for someone else (their partners)?
I Suggest To You
That Despite Our Talk…
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We really don’t like guys very much.
We see them as “foreigners” with whom we cannot
communicate.
We really only want to “serve” them as a way of protecting
their partners.
We really only want to serve them because we have to ($).
We really aren’t all that interested in THEM and THEIR
needs and issues.
We see them as an imposition that makes our work more
difficult.
They push us to look at and think about issues we don’t
really want to address and/or feel very unprepared to
address.
They make us re-evaluate things we are comfortable with
and that we really don’t have the time and energy needed
to change.
Lets start with what I mean
when I say:
“We don’t like guys very much.”
Or,
To put it another way,
lets look at how we REALLY
feel about guys.
What are our real attitudes about
men?
But, they are good for
something…
Another Place Where We Get
A Glimpse
At Our Larger
Cultural Attitudes
About Males
Is In The Jokes We Tell About
Men And About Maleness
Jokes Aside, When I Listen To Our
Field, What I Hear Is That
We Believe Men Are:
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Uninterested in family planning,
Unconcerned about the things they
“should” be concerned about,
Uninvolved,
Irresponsible,
Unwilling and uninterested in
communicating about relationships,
UNTRUSTWORTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If we are going to have any
success with male patients,
we HAVE To deal with these
attitudes and beliefs.
We are going to have to reframe our
thinking and begin to see guys in
new/different ways.
We Need To Recognize
That Young Men:
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Are interested, concerned and curious.
Want to know about STIs and contraception.
Want to be partners in STI and PG prevention.
Do not want to infect their partners.
Want to be good/better partners.
Want to communicate caring and honest
concerns.
Do not want to be insensitive.
Want to be good lovers.
Are “involved”…even if not in the way(s) we think
they should be!
And,
ARE TRUSTWORTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BUT…
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They simply may not know how!!!!!!!!!
They are likely nervous about what they
do not know.
They fear that if they try to do/be all of
these things that they will be judged…and
not kindly.
They are not likely to admit to these
things.
The Following Two Cartoons
Sum It All Up:
ZITS
CATHY
How we can help guys open up
and
how we can communicate
more effectively with them
will be the focus of the
second part of this session…
…if there is time.
In Addition To Jokes and Cartoons,
Our Negative Attitudes/Beliefs
About Males Show Up In:
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Our expectations of them (what we
expect is what we see/get),
Posters that we hang in our clinics,
and,
Ad images/messages that target both
women and men.
When I was here last time,
we looked at:
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Advertising Images and Messages
Family Planning and STI/HIV Prevention
Posters and the Unintended Messages they
Convey
The Boy Code
The Be a Man Box
And the film, The Secrete Life of Boys,
which gave us some tips on how to help
boys open up and communicate.
I am not going to repeat most of
what was covered last time…
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Rather we will build from there.
If you were not here last time that’s
OK.
What we are doing this AM stands on
it’s own.
Moving On…
What do I mean when I say:
We only want to “serve” guys so we
can protect their partners.
In family planning settings, women
have traditionally been our primary
clients and our primary concern.
Therefore, it is not unusual for
male concerns to be responded to
through our concerns for women
rather than directly to the concerns
of the men themselves.
This shows up most clearly
during our interactions
about:
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EC
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Unintended pregnancy/abortion
What do I mean when I say:
We really aren’t all that interested in
THEM and THEIR needs issues.
According To The MARS
Program
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The most common question male
college freshmen asked the MARS
staff was…
How many guys are having sex?
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What’s behind that question?
Am I normal?
Am I like other guys?
Am I a “real man?”
According To Michael Gurian
The Top 5 Concerns Of
Adolescent Males Are:
1.
2.
3.
Am I normal?
Am I attractive?
Homophobia
1.
2.
4.
5.
Fear being gay
Fear appearing to be gay
Sexual Prowess
Penis size
How Many Of These Concerns
Are We Prepared To Address…
Or, Do We WANT To Address?
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If these are the top concerns of young men, why
are they not asking us about them?
What are we communicating that suggests we are
not approachable about these concerns?
The young men who talked with MARS staff,
asked about sexual prowess and being normal
when they asked how many guys are having sex.
Why did they ask the MARS staff and why don’t
we hear these questions being asked of family
planning staff (and generally we don’t)?
So let’s look at some of these
questions/issues/concerns
and see how
we tend to respond
as a field.
Let’s start with Gurian’s
5th male concern…
penis size.
Regarding Penis Size:
Do You Know The Average Size
Of An Erect Male Penis?
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If you don’t, you don’t know what most
men want to know!!!
And if they come to a family planning clinic
they will THINK that you DO know!!!
The average erect male penis is about the
same size (length) as…
…a Starbucks Grande Coffee!!!!!
(…but not as thick)
And that size is
5.877 inches.
The average “range”
seems to be between
5.1 and 6.2 inches
And Penis Size Relates To
Condom Use And
Condom Use Education
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These two things CLEARLY fall under
family planning’s umbrella.
The Two Most Common Complains We
Hear From Men About Condoms Are:
Too tight/too small/I’m too big.
Loss of feeling/don’t feel as much/like
showering with a raincoat.
There are others
but these are the most common.
So How Do We In FP Tend To
Respond To These Complaints?
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We blow up condoms like balloons.
We pull them over our arms.
And we say, “No one is THAT big!!!” or
“So, is size really a problem?!?!?!”
We assume an “ego problem.”
With loss of feeling, we respond with some
version of “Well, if she is smart, you won’t
be feeling anything if you don’t wear one!”
By Assuming “I’m Too Big” Is
An Ego Problem We Completely
Miss The Point For Most Guys
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And, thereby we give them the message
that we really are not interested in them
or in their problems.
The best response/reply to “They don’t fit”
is:
“Tell me when you have a problem.”
In the absence of an ego
problem, what we are most
likely to hear
are some versions of:
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Can’t get the ring of the condom over
the head of the penis.
The pressure of the ring at the base
inhibits ejaculation.
If Either Of These Are A Guy’s
Concern…
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Our quick, flip, “ego problem”
response is a quick way to shut guys
down.
And to make them believe (rightly?)
that we really are not interested in
knowing what is going on with them.
With Loss Of Feeling…
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It IS like showering with a raincoat!
YES, you don’t feel as much!
But, that doesn’t mean guys
can’t or won’t use them.
It doesn’t help to tell them they have to use
them.
We have to explore the extent of the problem
with them and then help them problem solve.
It is one conversation if he looses sensation and
takes a long time to cum.
It is another conversation if he looses so much
sensation that he can’t ejaculate at all.
To Improve Condom Education
and Condom Use, We Need to:
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Be honest, direct, clear, knowledgeable,
and HELPFUL.
Know about and recommend thinner
condoms.
Know how to help a guy “size” his penis
for condoms.
How to “Size” a Penis
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Check how big around it is at its largest point.
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Less than 5 inches, go with “snug” condoms.
Snugs are 1.75 inches wide.
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Width is measured FLAT, not the circumference.
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Around 5 inches, go with “regular” condoms.
Regulars are 2 inches wide.
Sizing…continued
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Bigger than 5 inches, go with large or
“magnum” condoms.
Large/magnums are more than
2 inches wide.
If more “headroom” is needed
look for condoms that have
extra headroom.
What’s the simplest way for
a guy to size his own penis
for condoms?
Use the tube from
a standard role of toilet paper!!
(which is 5 ½ inches around…circumference)
Important Facts About
Condom Strength
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The length of a condom does not matter.
Condoms are very strong when you stretch
them length-wise.
Their weakness is when you stretch the
width.
That is why, condoms should be chosen by
width.
Appropriate width will increase comfort
and safety.
And, Of Course, Thickness:
Thinner and Stronger Means…
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More pleasure.
Better protection.
The condom that is most consistently
ranked Number 1 by users is (no
surprise), 50% thinner than the
average condom.
And that condom is
CROWN SKINLESS SKIN
And remember…
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Condoms come in a WIDE variety of
colors, textures, sizes and flavors.
And, if you are shopping for them
yourself for the first time, the
selection can be (IS!!) overwhelming!
LATEST INFO ON
“NEW” CONDOM MATERIALS
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There are two new condom materials that
have recently been introduced.
Both are more expensive than latex and
polyurethane.
But by report, they are “worth the
difference.”
Microsheer:
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New “medical” polyurethane.
Thinner and stronger than latex.
Transmits body heat more
effectively.
Nonallergenic.
No taste or smell,
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Which makes it great for oral sex.
Tactylon:
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Thinner than latex.
Nonallergenic.
Stretches more easily and
comfortably than latex.
Also Remember, Appropriate
Humor Can Go A Long Way In
Helping To Talk With Guys About
Difficult Subjects
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As we saw last time, condom
manufacturers are GREAT at using humor
in their advertising.
We are not going to revisit the ads we
looked at last time but we will watch one
brief condom commercial to remind us of
the effectiveness of humor.
Let me say, I have NO investments in any
condom manufacturers!!!!!!! So, I am NOT
pushing any brand of condom!!!!!!
I am just sharing a creative and fun ad!!!!!!
Durex Television Ad
Another Issue That Is
Frequently On The Minds Of
Men Is Masturbation
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Masturbation is an almost universal
practice among American men.
But many men wonder if they masturbate
“too much.”
Some fear if they enjoy masturbating too
much it means they are gay.
So, with this level of activity, this concern
and this mis-information, do family
planning staff ask men, single and/or
married, about their masturbation habits?
If not, why not?
Masturbation
(continued)
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Research suggests that the more men
ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50
the less likely they are to develop prostate
cancer.
So, there are good, research-based
reasons for not just asking about
masturbation but for encouraging it too.
Yet, how many of us are prepared to talk
with guys about how often they
masturbate, their concerns about
masturbation, and the possible health
benefits of frequent masturbation?
This discussion about
masturbation brings us back to
the point that
male issues and concerns:
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Make our work more difficult.
Push us to look at, think about and
talk about issues we don’t really
want to address and/or feel very
unprepared to address.
Are experienced as an imposition.
The last point is that male
patients make us reevaluate
things we are comfortable
with and don’t have the time
and/or energy to change.
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Our hours,
Our appointment schedules,
Our posters (already mentioned),
Our materials/brochures/info sheets/fact
sheets/after-care information,
Our whole clinic/agency environment.
So, one way to start is to assess
your current environment for
“male friendliness.”
And remember, “male friendliness”
does not mean simply
having Sports Illustrated
in your waiting rooms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Male-Friendliness
Assessment Tool
(a brief and easy tool to use/place to start)
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Assessment and Action Plan
Assess Seven Aspects
Organizational Support
Position and Reputation in the Community
Agency Policies and Procedures
Staffing/Human Resources
Services
Physical Environment
Communication and Interaction
Action Planning: Short and Long Term Actions to
Take
You have a copy of the
Male-Friendliness Assessment Tool
as one of your handouts.
Once you have done an
assessment, as part of your
action plan you should look at
the services you provide.
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Because in the end, that is what guys
will be coming for.
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And that brings us to the question:
What do we mean by
“comprehensive male services?”
Guidelines for Male Sexual and
Reproductive Health Services
(Region II: 2009)
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Screening
Health Promotion/Education and
Counseling
Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment
Guidelines at a Glance
These Guidelines Are Downloadable On-Line At:
http://www.cicatelli.org/titlex/downloadable/guid
elilnesformalesexualreproductivehealthservices.pdf
A couple of last points/
things to think about:
To Be Long-Term Successful at
Providing Male Services
You Have Too Look Inside FIRST
Some staff may need to be told and/or
periodically reminded that
“Being Welcoming Of Men”
Does Not Mean
Being Less Welcoming Of Women!!!
In An On-Going Way
Staff Attitudes
and How Attitudes
Influence/Impact
Communication and
Interactions with Clients
HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED!!!
If you want guys to feel welcomed
in your clinics/health centers…
you can’t ignore negative
attitudes/feelings on the part of
new staff or existing staff.
These attitudes HAVE to be
addressed...
and not just by supervisors,
but by colleagues/peers as well.
Lastly, Remember:
As yet, no one has solved the question:
“How do we get more guys into
our health centers?”
There are and have been lots of interesting
outreach efforts…but so far, no effort has
uncovered the “magic bullet.”
So, you are not alone in this struggle.
BUT, SO FAR, ANECDOTALLY,
THE BEST RECRUITMENT
METHOD FOR GETTING GUYS
INTO OUR CENTERS
APPEARS TO BE:
CURRENT CLIENTS…
TYPICALLY FEMALES WHO REFER
THEIR PARTNERS!!!!!
If CURRENT CLIENTS…
seem to be the best starting
access point…
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How can we use this access point?
What can we do if:
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He is in the waiting room while she
has her appointment?
He/she asks to have him accompany
her during her appointment?
He is not present but you KNOW she
has a regular partner?
You don’t know if she has a regular
partner?
She has/had a one-time partner?
Other situations???
How about general outreach
to males?
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What have you done/tried?
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What else might you do/try?
In Terms of
General Outreach….
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What can we learn from men’s magazines?
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How do they “target” their market…which
is not all that different from our “market?”
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What do they do/use to get men’s
attention?
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Let’s start by looking at Men’s Health…one
of the best selling men’s magazines in the
US.
Now Let’s Look at Three Other
Popular Men’s Magazines….
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GQ, Esquire and Details.
Their cover presentations and the
things they focus on are slightly
different…but not totally different.
Based on what we “know” about
men, what themes do you see in use
on these covers?
GQ February 2013
GQ April, 2013
Esquire September, 2013
Esquire May, 2013
Details August, 2013
Details September, 2013
So, if we use:
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Sex/Sexy women…
Abs…
Muscles…
Style…
The way to do something/what you need
to know…
Recognizable, successful, sexy…but not
too gay…”manly” men…
…Then we have men’s attention.
So, we have looked at ourselves,
explored what we can do to make
ourselves more welcoming, and
identified some ways to reach out
to male partners/males in general.
So now let’s look at how we can
communicate more effectively with
males once we have access to them.
Let’s begin by bridging from
something we looked at last
time and that was
mentioned earlier:
posters frequently found
in family planning clinics.
What’s Wrong With This
Message/Poster?
A GOOD MAN
takes care of
himself and those
he loves
Are You a Good Man?
WE CAN HELP
YOU START
SO THERE IT IS!
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This is our part of the equation…the
unintended negative messages that
contribute to our difficulties
communicating with young men.
But, equations have at least two parts. so
now let’s look at what guys bring to the
equation that contributes to the
communication difficulties.
And then we will explore ways to get
around these roadblocks.
The Stereotypes About What It
Means To “Be A Man…”
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Get in the way of men reaching out
for/asking for help.
Get in the way of men being able to
express their feelings and/or their needs.
Get in the way of communication between
m-w, between m-m, and between men and
health care providers…and not just family
planning/reproductive health providers.
So what can we do to
communicate more
effectively with young men?
From the video
THE SECRET LIFE OF BOYS
we identified the following tips:
Tips For Helping Boys/Young Men
Identify and Communication About
Feelings…From The Secret Life….
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Create/provide a safe space/private space.
Protect their “shame.”
It can feel “shameful” just having feelings men
are “not supposed” to have…especially fear
and/or anxiety.
It can feel “shameful” not knowing what’s going
on.
It can feel “shameful” knowing you behaved in a
way that got you or your partner(s) in trouble.
And, in some more traditional cultures, simply.
reaching out for help is experienced as not
“manly” and therefore shameful.
TIPS
(continued)
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Provide “action” / Do something / Let THEM do
something: Use models and samples and let them
handle them.
Help with expressions of feelings.
Share your own feelings (appropriately).
Allow time and space (“Time-Silence Syndrome”).
WAIT!!! Don’t go after them…don’t push.
Read their signals of openness.
Wait for the moment and grab it when it is there.
Let them lead.
SHUT UP and let them talk.
Going Beyond Those Original Tips,
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
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If you offer “counseling”…DON’T!!!
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Instead, offer “1:1 Appointments.”
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
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Seriously talking with a stranger about
sexual health and sexual experiences can
be VERY intimidating…especially for guys.
This creates anxiety, fear and discomfort.
Anxiety, fear and discomfort can bring out
the worst in people and not surprisingly, it
can bring out the worst in many guys.
Male “bravado”/some version of
insensitivity is often a cover for fear
and/or discomfort.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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To the extend possible, be as culturally
competent as you can be.
The more conservative his cultural
background, the more traditional his
gender role expectations are likely to
be…both for himself and for his partner(s).
This applies both to sexual interactions
with the other gender (MSW) and with the
same gender (MSM).
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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Remember that not all men are
heterosexual.
Remember that sexual identity does
not necessarily tell you anything
about a guy’s sexual behaviors.
If you reach out to/overtly serve gay
men, be prepared to serve gay men.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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To the extent possible, be aware of the
male norms and lingo/slang of the guys
you work with.
But, having said that…
BE YOURSELF!
Don’t try to use their language or be like
them; it will only come off as fake!
Use your OWN language but be sure they
understand you…again, be yourself.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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Don’t ask, “Did you understand/get
that?”
Say, “Lots of guys find that
complicated so, can you summarize it
back for me so I can be sure I gave
you all the important information?”
Don’t jump in talking about health or
sex-related concerns; warm up by
discussing casual topics first.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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Communicate that you are genuinely
concerned about THEM and THEIR
issues and concerns.
Be clear you are there for THEM, not
for someone else (their partners).
Communicate that you are there to
help, support, and inform; not to
criticize/lecture/judge.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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Be sure you provide a private space
for all conversations.
Read their body language and
respond accordingly.
Simultaneously, be aware of your
own non-verbal communication
including your body language.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)
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Ask what they think about something
before asking how they feel about it.
Start “feeling” conversations by
talking about physical feelings before
emotions.
Suggest “many” and/or “most” guys
“feel that way”/“would feel that
way.”
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)




Don’t interrupt; if they are talking,
let them go.
Your silence between their
statements is often golden.
Avoid direct eye-contact to start and
avoid continuous eye-contact.
Face-to-face discussion can be
intimidating and is often experienced
as confrontation in male culture.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)



Sit down before they do…standing
over them can feel intimidating.
Let guys move chairs/seats around
any way that is comfortable for
them… invite them to do that.
Wait for the invitation/hint and grab
it when it is there.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)


Boys/men are supposed to “know.” Part
of “being a man” is knowing what to do
and how to do it.
Not knowing what is going on can be very
disconcerting to guys and can result in
their slipping into some version of
“bravado.”
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind When
Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)


So, don’t put them into a place that
suggests they “don’t know.”
Having said the above, it is still safer
for them to say “I don’t know,” than
it is to actually be wrong/answer
incorrectly.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)




If you ask “yes-no questions”, you
will likely get “yes” / “no” answers.
So, emphasize asking open-ended
questions.
Avoid “why” questions.
To guys, “why” often gets
interpreted/experienced as “why are
you an idiot?”
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)


Sometimes the “why” may not be
“pretty” and it may be hard to
admit/acknowledge.
And, for most of the work we do in
family planning, we really rarely need
to know the “why” behind a behavior.
Other Suggestions To Keep In Mind
When Providing Services to Guys:
(continued)


For younger men in particular, what
the male peer group thinks/feels
(or what the guy BELIEVES
the peer group thinks/feels)
is far more important than what you
think/feel or what girls think/feel.
Use appropriate humor
(remember those condom ads).
Some Tips Specifically
For FP/RH Settings



Men coming to a family planning
clinic are coming into unknown
territory…help them get and stay as
comfortable as possible.
Explain the clinic process and
everything that is going to happen.
This can help to relieve the stress
and anxiety of “not knowing.”
Tips Specifically
For FP/RH Settings
(continued)

When guys are sharing
personal/sexual/embarrassing
information it can feel
DIS-empowering to do so…
meaning…it can feel like they are
handing power over to the receiver.
Tips Specifically
For FP/RH Settings
(continued)

Power and control are big issues in
male culture so handing power over
is a HUGE deal…it is not experienced
as simply communicating
information.
Tips Specifically
For FP/RH Settings
(continued)



Don’t start by asking if he “has any
questions.”
Begin with something like: “Most men
have questions about XYZ so if it’s OK, I
would like to go over that/explain that to
you;” or,
“Can I share with you some things that
have worked for guys I have worked with
in the past?”
Tips Specifically
For FP/RH Settings
(continued)

Or, more directly, “Most men have
questions about this so to be sure I
am doing my job I am going to
explain it all to you even though I
know I am likely to go over things
you already know.”
Tips Specifically
For FP/RH Settings
(continued)



If they ask a question, don’t OVER
answer;
With males less is often more;
But of course you have to give all of
the information needed.
When A Male Comes To A Family
Planning Clinic With A Female
Partner….

Most FP clinics will screen for the
female’s comfort and ask something
like: “Are you comfortable with him
being here with you today?”
When A Male Comes To A Family
Planning Clinic With A Female
Partner….


What is/are the unstated message(s)
to the men…and to the women…in
that question?
Don’t leave the unstated message(s)
floating in the air.
When A Male Comes To A Family
Planning Clinic With A Female
Partner….
(continued)

Acknowledge the negative message;
explain why you asked the question;
and, acknowledge that what he is
doing is right and good (He is
THERE!)…but since it is HER
appointment, you are obligated to
make sure she is as comfortable as
possible.
When A Male Comes To A Family
Planning Clinic With A Female
Partner….
(continued)

And, it would be a good idea to
acknowledge the negative
message(s) to the female patient
also even if her male partner is not
present when the question is asked.
WHEW!!!!!!!
OTHER
TIPS/SUGGESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?