Over the last year, since the B-society was incepted, we've had a lot of different responses from people about our mission and organization. The media representatives especially have seen to take a liking to us, even though they sometimes only can use us as an amusing afternoon story. But there are also those people we meet in our daily lives; friends, family, colleagues, clients, etc., who, when hearing about our fight for B, usually have their own idea and interpretation of what we are and do.

One of the most common questions we are asked is: "Does this mean you hate A-people and want to put things upside down?" (in most cases, asked by a slightly nervous A-person).

To this, we want to once and for all answer: No! People, you are missing the point. Of course, we do not like to live in an A-biased society, when we are natural B's, but this does not mean we do not respect that A-people have special day rhythms too.

The keyword here, is FLEXIBILITY. For all. This means, if you are an A-person, you have as much right as the next one to be able to go to work at 6 in the morning, and leave at 2pm; if this is where you work the most effectively. Why should you have to arrive at 8 or 9am, when you've been awake for almost three hours, and you know you'll have difficulty concentrating during the last hours of work, and that you finish the day with only a few hours of free time, before you fall asleep at 10?

Instead, the point is that as an A-person, you have the slight advantage of being considered an "early riser", which is somehow - way too easily - translated into you being "early" on many other accounts, such as intelligence, activeness, service-mindedness, etc. All qualities that our bosses and potential mating partners love, and therefore giving you a positive chance of negotiating work hours, or scoring extra points as the true, hardworking "provider", who can also cook breakfast in the morning.

We B's on the other hand, are seen as "late risers"; somehow interpreted as a lesser breed, and not "ahead of the game". It's the old competitive psychology setting in: if you're first (or quicker out of bed), you are probably the one who wins the work/life race.

It is exactly this disrepancy we are trying to rectify. We are not stupid or lazy. We are just wired to a different day rhythm, that's all. It's the rabbit and the turtle tale all over again: A-people might be equipped with a hormonal makeup that enables them to get more easily out of bed in the morning, but this does not necessarily mean that they are better or smarter. We B's are like the turtle: we may be slow, but sure enough, we are able win the long runs.

So A-people, remember: we LOVE you and welcome you heartily to our organization if flexibility in life and work is one of your pet causes too. Join us to fight an old, industrialized and one-sided way of thinking.

On the other hand, if you're an A-person, who thinks we're loonies trying to get some extra sleep, well....obviously you are still entrapped in the same industrialized thinking pattern, we are quickly proving is a thing of the past. So to you: get with the program.

The morale of the story? B-members, remember to embrace the A-people. They can't help if they aren't enlightened as we are; or if they do get the point, have them sign up as members and we can all help to make this a more flexible world for the lot of us.

sophie, editor