What is the recent obsession with ‘raw dogging’?
The colloquial phrase is popping up everywhere, despite its unfortunate origins. What does it mean and why can’t I have a wee on a plane? People keep telling me I’m ‘raw dogging’ the city because I refuse to carry a rucksack to work. Of the endless colloquial terms that seem to...
Current in Offbeat
my stupid ‘incurable’ disorder(s)
one truly sh*t medical marvel. So, my name has once again popped up on the Wildcard rotation and to be honest I don’t have a tonne of topics I’d like to explore. However, yesterday evening the night sky was full of static again and my ears were ringing till my offspring...
Scientists are attempting to prove that we’re living in a simulation
Humans have questioned the authenticity of our existence for centuries, but former NASA scientist Thomas Campbell is aiming to ratify once and for all whether we’re living in a simulation. René Descartes in the 1600s came up with the immemorial Latin phrase ‘cogito, ergo sum’ – translated to ‘I think,...
What happens to our online data after death?
Our digital footprints will long outlive us, inadvertently leaving our loved ones to tackle a privacy conundrum. Should we care? Fear of death is an existential crisis most people contend with at several stages of life. When getting our affairs in order, however, little thought is given as to what...
Why are European Gen Zers taking Nazi-themed party drugs?
As an increasing number of European youngsters lurch towards far-right political views, are the themes of their party drugs following. Or, is this just another obscure trend? When one mentions ecstasy, what immediately springs to mind: perhaps love, euphoria, or overwhelming feelings of empathy. What isn’t typically conjured is thoughts...
Are Gen Z picking up the phone less?
In an age where typed out texts and DMs dominate our means of communication, is answering a phone call a real fear for young people? The haunting bells of an incoming call ignite the room. You reach for your device only to find an unknown number. In a blazing frenzy,...
The generation of young people hooked on a pen
What was once used to rid us of a more sinister evil is now a casually prevalent vapour snack for the masses. A new wave of pen lovers has entered the room. I’m not referring to a Biro, unfortunately. I’m talking about the torrent of vape pens gripped to adolescents' pursed lips. Recently, the vaping company Blu released a brief history of vaping devices, revealing a pattern in the evolution...
Opinion – we need to prevent ‘third places’ from disappearing
The mounting cost of living, social media prevalence, and post-pandemic isolation mentality is driving socialisation outside of school, work, or home underground. With loneliness now a global public health concern, physical community locations where quality connections can flourish have never been more important – or needed. Before the pandemic, you’d rarely find me by myself. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy my own company, rather that in the years between...
What is the ‘Dead Internet Theory’ and is it real?
With the ceaseless growth of AI since 2022, conspiracies surrounding the so-called ‘Dead Internet Theory’ have grown stronger. First thing’s first, though, what the hell is it and does it have any credibility? Is this an online rabbit hole worth getting lost in? Is it pure storm in a teacup? Did a human even write this article? So many questions. If you spend any significant amount of time on Twitter (X)...
New study says there are microplastics in your balls
A growing number of studies are finding microplastics inside the testicles of humans and dogs. Scientists anticipate this has repercussions for fertility and reproduction. Plastics are now permanently ingrained in modern life. They’re used in almost every industry, and now, tiny invisible plastic particles are making a home inside our bodies. Microplastics have been found in the human bloodstream, brain, and lungs. They’ve even been found in...
