Technology can certainly be a blessing and has done so many great things for us. We are able to solve difficult equations within seconds. Missing persons can be found more easily than ever. Family who live a long ways away are in front of us in the click of a button or it can help us talk to friends we haven’t conversed with in years. Technology really can be positive.

But as we all know, it has its downfalls. From people being able to steal our credit card information, to cyber bullying, to viruses that can knock out entire networks of computers, it does have its faults. But one of the most important negatives that women and girls of this day and age have to deal with due to the advancement of technology is the receiving of unsolicited pictures of genitalia.

I cannot tell you the number of times that I have opened my phone to see a picture that I did not want or need, and I know so many other women (and men) who have felt the same way.

So to the guys who send them,

If I did not ask for one, do not send it.

It’s as simple as that. If I don’t ask for one, there obviously is a reason. Don’t send one anyway.

If I don’t ask for it, I’m not interested.

If I wanted one I would ask. Isn’t it pretty simple?

If I say no, that means no.

If you ask and I say no, I mean no. I’m not playing hard to get. I’m not playing mind games. End of story.

I do not like randomly opening my Snapchat or texts to find pictures of your genitalia.

It is unnerving to open a Snapchat, or a text, to find a picture of your junk. What made you think that I would want one at 3 p.m. while I’m at work, or right when I wake up in the morning? Please stop.

Just because you send one, does not mean I will send one back.

The philosophy of “I scratched your back, now you scratch mine” does not work here. You sent one without my knowledge or consent. I don’t owe you anything.

I will not say thank you for something I did not ask for.

If you send me a picture of your ding dong that I did not ask for, I am not going to say thank you. That would mean that I would need to be polite to you, when you were not polite to or respectful of me. I didn’t ask, so I won’t thank you.

Just because you sent it, doesn’t mean I need to tell you what I think about it.

Sending one does not mean I’m going to give you feedback. I will not comment on it, plain and simple.

If you send me one, I will probably get mad/upset with you.

Don’t be surprised if I’m mad or upset. I will probably do the unladylike thing and swear at you.

Also, don’t be surprised if I quit talking to you.

You have disrespected me and made me feel uncomfortable, so I will shut you out. You probably won’t hear from me for a while, or maybe ever again. I could end up blocking you on my social media, so be ready for that possibility.

You make things so much more awkward when you do.

When you send me such private pictures, you make everything awkward. This is especially true if we have to be around each other. I don’t have the time for that kind of drama or to be uncomfortable, and it can lead to complications in other places.

If you want to keep me interested: Be polite, be respectful, and be more into me for who I am, rather than for my body or sex.

If you want me to be, or keep me, interested in you, it could be really easy. If you want us to grow, and possibly get to the point where we could share that kind of intimacy, being polite, respectful and being into me for me can go a long way. A lot of women really value those qualities.

So to the guys who send unwanted exposing pictures, knock it off. We more likely than not, don’t want to see, and we don’t like when we do. Be respectful and aware of how we feel and maybe you’ll make progress with a girl.