100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Jane Stephens: cool-boy craze sweeping TikTok boasts of masculine self-discipline

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Survey seeks a name for new city centre suburb

Residents of a booming estate are being asked to come up with a name for a new suburb that will include its emerging city More

Bargain shop name to vanish as part of national rebrand

A discount store chain with multiple locations on the Sunshine Coast is set to be renamed after it was acquired by an international retailer More

Photo of the day: stormy sunrise

'Greals' captured this stormy sunrise at Coes Creek. If you have a photo of the day offering, email photo@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. Photos must be horizontal/landscape and may More

More details revealed as police hunt duo after alleged car theft

New information has been released by police about two persons of interest as they continue investigations into an alleged armed robbery and assault yesterday. Investigations More

‘Suicide Hill’: safety probe launched at junction

Sunshine Coast Council is investigating further safety fixes at a notorious intersection that one resident says is like “Russian roulette” to cross. Local Kerry McLean More

MP urged to reject tourist park after agency response

A state planning agency has raised significant concerns about a proposed tourist park near the Pumicestone Passage, sparking an outcry from a coalition of More

‘Raw dogging’ a flight is the latest way to show your inner strength: sit in your seat and do not watch movies, listen to music or play on your phone.

No interaction or stimulation.

Just you, your thoughts, the in-flight safety card and the moving map.

It is a cool-boy thing, and the toughest ones even eschew water and food for the duration, as if it is some monastic, religious, purifying act.

This feat of masculinity is all over TikTok: the result presumably of one teensy interaction with their phones.

If it is not on socials, it didn’t happen – or in this case, if no one saw them doing nothing, they did nothing. Or something.

Doing nothing is the new black, and raw dogging is where it is at.

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.

Originally used as a reference to unprotected sex, raw dogging is being done willy-nilly.

“Just raw dogging the gym with no fuel but pain & heartaches #fitnessmotivation #worthit” recently posted one hungry and lovelorn iron pumper.

But why raw dog?

Why go without?

Because our cultural roots are religious, and abstinence was seen historically as a sign of devotion, piety and self-discipline.

Raw dog and you are top dog – and nowadays you must tell the world that you have suffered in going without, so they can tell you how amazing that is.

Just pure weights. Picture: Shutterstock

Raw dogging is underway in another form this month, with thousands giving their livers a socially acceptable break during Dry July.

There are also social media murmurs about No-Spend September because, you know, cozzie livs.

And No-Nut November will involve no sex for a whole month, with the intention of being stronger and more focused.

Again, a guy thing.

Temporary abstinence challenges have been academically and scientifically studied.

Most of them are 30 days in duration, because humans like to feel they are tough enough to change a habit, but aren’t terrific at sticking to tasks that are too big, audacious or long term.

The science and analysis have repeatedly found that 30 days is never enough to bring about a permanent change, just as raw dogging a flight is not enough to truly calm the mind or act as a proper digital detox.

Wellness, balance, health and happiness can never be achieved with a gimmick or a TikTok clip.

But for those posting their feats of abstinence, perhaps it is best to let them do their thing – and let sleeping dogs lie.

Dr Jane Stephens is a UniSC journalism lecturer, media commentator and writer.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share