Category: Millennial Lifestyle

Damn it, DC, you’re doing it again. Hot (or lukewarm) off the critical failures of Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad, Warner Brothers recently announced the DC Extended Universe’s (DCEU) next ensemble film: Gotham City Sirens. Based off the comic book series of the same name, GCS will feature Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn along with Poison Ivy and Catwoman. Because when DC releases a bad movie like Suicide Squad, they have to find the only good thing about the film and milk the hell out of it. Damn it, DC. God.... Damn it. My own reservations about the quality of the movie aside (David Ayer again? Really??), the announcement of GCS reeks heavily of studio desperation and, more importantly, a misguided form of feminism.

Struggling to keep up

Film is a reactionary medium. It responds to existing social issues, whilst seldom raising issues of its own, with the exception of avant-garde cinema. One of the issues that Hollywood has grappled with reacting to for many years is, of course, feminism. From Erin Brokovich to Nikita, the head honchos at Tinseltown have had a… should I say… varied history with the discussion of feminism. GCS, unfortunately, seems like it’s about to fall squarely on the not-so-favourable side of the feminist equation. Am I being unfair by judging a movie that’s not even out yet? Probably. But based on what we do know about the film, and Hollywood’s tendency towards handling female characters in a less than measured manner, I’d say my concerns are more than warranted.

Girl Power?

GCS tells the story of Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman – the three most prominent female characters in Batman’s Rogues’ Gallery – teaming up to take the world of crime by storm and carve out for themselves a big piece of the male-dominated pie that is Gotham’s criminal underworld. Sounds interesting, right? Well, Suicide Squad sounded interesting too, and look how that turned out. While many will draw the parallel between GCS’s premise and the real-world struggles of women trying to break the glass ceiling in the workplace and earn respect in male-dominated fields, one can’t help but ask, should we really be portraying these women as criminals? Sure, you could view it as a loose representation, but expecting audiences to look beneath the surface of a campy, colourful blockbuster and consider it on a deeper level might be a tall order. Will we see a trio of hardworking girls legitimately working hard to succeed in the workplace, or will we see three psychotic criminals cracking heads with baseball bats, because, you know, that’s what they are? Hollywood has often had a problem portraying female characters in a nuanced manner. Want to show that she’s a badass? Make her a femme fatale. Want to show that she’s independent? Make her either androgynous or overtly sexual. Want to make a film about female empowerment? Let’s have not one, but three female leads! It’s certainly not difficult to see how a film centred on the crazy girl with short shorts in Suicide Squad and the two most sexualized characters in DC’s roster would devolve into more of the same hyper-sexualized schtick. Where female characters aren’t uncharacteristically fixated on romance (Peeta?? Where’s Peeta??), they’re annoying misandrists hitting us over the head with their overt anti-establishment “I don’t need no man” rhetoric. We get it, you’re independent and you think all men are pigs. We heard you the first one hundred times. Furthermore, as popular as Harley Quinn is, she is probably the last character anyone should consider as a symbol for feminism. Many of those who find her relationship with the Joker “cute” are forgetting the fact that she is basically his slave, and that he tortured her to the point of insanity, turning her into a walking case study for Stockholm Syndrome. The whole Harley-Joker relationship is actually really messed up, and definitely not a positive model of how to deal with an abusive relationship.

Doing it right

For all the problems Hollywood has had with female characters, they occasionally get it just right, and I’d be remiss to not give them credit. One example of an amazingly portrayed female character in recent memory is Charlize Theron’s Furiosa from the excellent Mad Max: Fury Road, who shows us all exactly how to do the strong female protagonist right. Furiosa is a woman who doesn’t have to say anything about how badass she is, because her actions speak for themselves. She doesn’t tell anyone what a great shot she is, she just grabs a rifle and shoots out a headlight from half a kilometre away. She doesn’t whine about injustice, she fights for what’s right and gets sh*t done. She doesn’t try to overshadow Tom Hardy’s Max, she rides alongside him as an equal and ends up stealing the show anyway. Furiosa exudes a quiet confidence that is humble and understated, but so much more impactful as a result.

Benefit of doubt?

Is Hollywood going about gender discourse completely wrong? While a large number of female movie characters fall under the sexist caricatures that studio executives think will pander to the feminist crowd, a select few actually walk the line perfectly to give us true role models that inspire and command respect for the feminist movement. Will Gotham City Sirens give us the rare nuance and respect female characters in Hollywood so desperately need, or will it give us more of the same vapid uninspired nonsense as its predecessor? I have my doubts, but only time will tell. <a href=" Image Credit
Shortly after entering the working world, I began to notice something rather surprising; a large number of Singaporean adults – larger, really than I expected – actually believe in astrology. I considered: Why? Why do these people, otherwise completely rational and intelligent human beings, subscribe to something so ludicrous? Could they be seeing something I’m not? Before you continue reading, know that you have the right to believe whatever you want. Read on with an open mind, or not at all. You’ve been warned.

LACK OF EVIDENCE, LAPSE OF LOGIC

Try to explain logically how astrology works; you can’t. It is a mass cultural delusion that manifests in a belief that the positions of celestial bodies in the galaxy from the frame of reference of Earth at the time of one’s birth somehow impact the events of one’s life and development of one’s character. It is, in the truest definition of the word, nonsense. Could the stars be emitting some sort of radiation detectable from Earth that affects the activity of neurons in our brains? Well, no. Aside from our sun, we don't receive any significant amount of radiation from the stars or planets that could affect our biochemistry. Even if we did, the radiation would just give us skin cancer, not make us “curious and energetic” or “possess a great sense of humour”. Could there be some hidden explanation for astrology that science has yet to quantify and uncover? Sure. Could there be tiny leprechaun-mermaids living at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? Possibly. But just because we can’t disprove it definitively, doesn’t mean we should believe it. As it stands right now, like leprechaun-Ariel, astrology has no place whatsoever in the realm of logic. Chances are, however, that logic doesn’t usually factor into a belief in astrology. Most horoscope-believers would gladly submit that their beliefs make no rational sense, and that they believe in astrology only because of what they’ve experienced personally. “I know it makes no sense, and I can’t explain it, but I’ve experienced it first-hand; I’ve seen it work with my own eyes.” Fret not. I’ll address that too.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BIAS AND BELIEF MANIPULATION

With so many believers, surely astrology must work, right? Well, it does, in a manner of speaking. Unsurprisingly, astrology works in very much the same way as psychic readings, tarot cards, séances, and other such rackets. It works on a very simple psychological phenomenon known as confirmation bias. In essence, confirmation bias is the natural tendency people have to focus on evidence that confirms their beliefs, and ignore all evidence to the contrary. It affects everyone, you and me included. Horoscope writers rely on this innate cognitive bias to provide readings that people will more likely confirm than refute. They use vague, broad statements with very slim chances of being wrong, and allow the reader to draw connections on his/her own. For example, your horoscope for this month might say something like, “You should be open to new experiences.” A week later, your friend invites you to try out flow-riding at Sentosa’s Wavehouse for the first time in your life, and you think, “Oh my god, my horoscope was right!” But really, is it that unbelievable for you to be having at least one new experience in an entire month? Last month, you tried out that restaurant for the first time. Next month, you might have your first ever colonoscopy. Had that particular horoscope been shown to you on any other month, it would probably have been accurate too! In scientific research, confirmation bias is a huge problem too. Researchers often accord greater attention and credence to results that confirm their hypotheses, while trying to ignore contradictory evidence. Thankfully, this bias is addressed in the scientific method through a practice known as the “blinded experiment”. What this does, put very simply, is prevent the people collecting data from knowing the purpose of said data, and the people creating the hypotheses from handling the data collection and analysis, thereby rendering confirmation bias impossible.

YOU CONTROL YOUR LIFE, NOT THE STARS

For many, a belief in astrology is harmless fun, and maybe they’re right. Unfortunately, advocating the false idea that some uncontrollable celestial force influences your life leads to a dissociation of cause and effect, and a destructive “not my fault” attitude that permeates the present cultural landscape and erodes the rigour of rational inquiry. “Sure, I’m insecure, but my horoscope says I’m supposed to be. Why should I change who I am?” If you only use your horoscope as motivation to get out and do fun, meaningful things, then awesome, more power to you. But if you use horoscope readings to excuse certain character traits and judge people you don’t even know, you should go ahead and book that one-way trip to Mars. I hear you can see the stars very clearly from there. <a href=" Image Credit
Confession time: when Pottermore came out, I was one of those uber-keen teens that signed up for their subscription emails and who scrambled to take the Sorting Quiz the second it was released. Now, for the even bigger confession: I was sorted into Hufflepuff. Following that shattering realisation, I took it upon myself to create another account for a do over, landing myself in Ravenclaw. But that’s beside the point. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin - it’s no secret those are the houses people aspire to. No one wants to be in Hufflepuff, the house that “took the lot”, as the Sorting Hat sang. No one wants to be in the house made up of leftovers. We may as well be muggles. So what led to decades of Hufflepuff disdain?

1. Animal preference

The Hufflepuff mascot is a badger. And when pitted against a lion, a snake, and a raven, it comes off as pretty obscure. To add insult to injury, it doesn’t exactly look like the badass of the bunch either (this video  begs to differ). J.K. Rowling herself wondered whether Hogwarts house perceptions would have shifted if she’d gone with a bear instead of a badger. If anything, it’d probably lead to a flood of Hufflepuff-related Winnie the Pooh memes.

2. House Traits

Let’s talk about how Hufflepuff was portrayed in the books. None of it was explicitly damaging, but the Sorting Hat’s infamous line “I’ll take the lot” seemed to cast Hufflepuffs as the ones who lack a special trait. Gryffindors are brave. Ravenclaws are clever. Slytherins are ambitious. And Hufflepuffs? Not quite enough to fit into any of those categories but hey, we’re loyal and hard-working! All of these characteristics are admirable in their own right, but we tend to latch on to the hidden meaning society has them tagged with. Bravery doesn’t just mean you’re fearless, it also means you’re prone to heroics and fits of self-sacrifice. Intelligence is a trait that will always be highly valued. Ambition is drive, and no one can begrudge you that. But what about being hardworking?

3. Good is boring

Well, instead of being acknowledged for a strong work ethic and determination, “hard-working” is sometimes equated with the rather conciliatory “well, you tried”. And let’s be real, no one wants to read a book about an A for effort protagonist. In fact, what made Harry such an interesting character was that he was inherently flawed. The flipside of bravery is being foolhardy, headstrong and inclined to grandeur. Ambition gives way to egocentricity and intelligence to a cold detachment. Each of these Hogwarts house traits come with baggage every bit as unattractive as Hufflepuff’s wallflower tendencies - maybe even more so, given how they play into the “brooding male hero” archetype so often seen on the silver screen.

4. Yellow is not a flattering colour

It just isn't. People can rock a red and gold scarf or a green and silver combo on any given day, and blue is a wardrobe staple. Yellow… not so much. Oh, Hufflepuff. The butt of every joke, the source of comic relief in every sketch, and the well of shame for every hardcore Potter fan due to the inevitable Twilight crossover references. But here’s my suggestion to all the Hogwarts house haters out there - it’s time to acknowledge that no one is a cookie cutter replica of the traits the Sorting Hat espouses. Let’s agree to be done with Hufflepuff hate! I wish we could all just get along. I wish I could bake a cake out of unicorns and smiles… oh wait, wrong movie. Luckily, the tide is turning for this long-maligned Hogwarts house. J.K. Rowling declared 2015 the dawn of the Age of Hufflepuff, and this year she blessed us with not one, but two new Harry Potter releases. One is a play (unfortunately, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is available to us only in written form) and the other, a brand new Potterverse film. And Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stars - you guessed it! - A Hufflepuff, in the form of dreamboat Eddie Redmayne. Things are looking up! You only have to watch Redmayne’s PSA to prove it. #HufflepuffPride Top Image Credit
Disney has done it again. Continuing its winning streak of beloved animated feature films, Walt Disney Animation Studios hits yet another home run with Moana, an uplifting and heartfelt tale destined to adorn the awards-spangled annals of Disney’s decorated filmography. While the film wouldn’t be a Disney story without recycling some old tropes, Moana does offer some new ideas that might surprise you on a second viewing. So, without further dawdling, let’s take a deeper dive back into the sparkling aquamarine waters of Disney’s Moana.

Feminism and the Disney Heroine

Let’s be honest, Disney isn’t exactly known for its strong female characters, with their classic roster full of “princesses” defined almost entirely by their good looks, impossibly slim waists, and relationships to Prince Charming. Fortunately, Disney has been getting better at portraying female characters, with women that are strong, capable badasses in their own right (Mulan, Pocahontas), and a woman who don’t need no man (Elsa). Here’s the thing, though – they’ve never been both. Mulan and Pocahontas are both defined in part by their romantic relationships to male lovers, while Elsa, though powerful, is kind of a whiny cry-baby when you really think about it. That makes Moana the first female Walt Disney Animation Studios character who, on top of having no romantic inclinations, is also a bona-fide badass. You could say Merida also qualifies, but she’s from a Disney-Pixar production, not WDAS, and I’m a stickler for details. “How about Officer Judy Hopps from Zootopia?” Well… She’s a rabbit. But okay, fair enough. In Moana, Disney drives the feminist message farther home than in any of their prior films. Moana’s gender-blind tribe has no qualms whatsoever about a woman becoming their chief, and has both men and women contributing equally to roles like farming and exploring. Maui, on the other hand, represents the stereotypical male chauvinist, with his incredulity towards a woman like Moana being “chosen” by her tribe, and by The Ocean. He relentlessly mocks and doubts Moana’s abilities as a mortal woman, and even goes as far as to trap her in a cave and throw her into the ocean… repeatedly. It is only when Moana survives the Realm of Monsters and saves Maui’s life, that he changes his tune and becomes convinced of her worth. In the Moana-Maui dynamic of the film, the writers espouse a form of gender equality achieved through mutual respect – men and women are different, but both are equally important. Maui’s strength and raw power are essential in their quest, but so are Moana’s skills, intuition, and gentle touch. Equality between men and women, the film argues, is embracing the value of every individual, different as they may be from each other.

Religion

Aside from the story’s obvious roots in Polynesian culture and religion, Moana is rife with modern religious symbolism and references, some more subtle than others. These include references to reincarnation, aversion to eating pork, and splitting the sea à la Moses, to name a few. Not convinced? You might be when you realise that The Ocean in Moana is an analogue of the most prominent figure in Abrahamic religion – God. At the film’s opening, the narrator (Moana’s grandmother) reveals that, “in the beginning, there was only ocean”. Sound familiar? She also reveals that Tafiti, the “mother island”, emerged from The Ocean and created all life, much like the relationship between God and Darwinian evolution that some theistic evolutionists subscribe to. Unlike the sleeping Tafiti, The Ocean is an omniscient, omnipresent entity that shapes the course of the world and guides the heroes’ actions throughout the film. As helpful as The Ocean is in the story, an ever-present undercurrent in Moana is the question of why The Ocean doesn’t help more, evocative of the Problem of Evil argument against God in real-world philosophy. Put simply, if God (The Ocean) is so powerful and benevolent, why doesn’t He (It) eliminate evil (the darkness) altogether? At one point in the narrative, our heroes get surrounded by “pirates”, and Moana cries out to The Ocean for help, to which Maui responds, “The ocean doesn’t help you. You help yourself.” A weird sentiment for someone who has seen The Ocean as a living, moving entity with his own eyes, but one that brings to mind the classic “God only helps those who help themselves” argument. Help the heroes while they’re being attacked by savage pirates? Nope. Splash some water on the lava monster trying to kill our heroes? Nope. Stupid chicken falls into the water for the umpteenth time? Better save it. In one scene, The Ocean straight up sends a massive storm at Moana, marooning her on a desolate island much to Moana’s chagrin, until she realises that Maui is on that same island. The Ocean sure does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t It? And I haven’t even mentioned the similarities between Maui and other religious figures like Jesus and Prometheus, as well as Moana’s prophetic “chosen by The Ocean” story arc. This is probably a bold claim, but Moana just might be Disney’s most religiously-charged film to date, for better or worse.

In conclusion...

Throughout the length of its runtime, Moana delights, entertains, and moves viewers with Disney’s signature magic and flair, all while delivering a narrative rich in subtext and ripe for discussion. Moana is a film that proves, like the ocean it’s set upon, to be far deeper than it seems. Top Image Credit
When Starbucks starts rolling out their signature red cups, it’s official - the most wonderful time of the year has arrived. You know, the one where the capitalist giants of the world employ mythical figures to convince us to buy overpriced and probably unnecessary swag. And before you start calling me a grinch, I don’t mean Christmas. I’m talking about the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (if my title wasn't a dead giveaway). Every year, the VS Executive Producer Ed Razek handpicks his angels and bestows the highest honour of strutting their barely-there stuff for the lingerie event of the season. It’s pomp and pageantry to the nth degree- think feathery showpieces, light-up “wings” and the million dollar Fantasy Bra. Needless to say you won’t find anything worn by the VS Angels at their Mandarin Gallery flagship store. Sure, the show is a bit of harmless fun. They’ve got a good concert going with Lady Gaga and The Weeknd slated to perform, plus it’ll be held in Paris for their 20th anniversary splurge (you guys, this show has been going for TWENTY YEARS?!). But for all the outrageous costumes, cheery model personas and celebrity performances, there is still one unifying factor - their out of this world bods. Maybe you are one of those people that can sit through the parade of bedazzled decolletage without wanting to dive headfirst into a pint of ice cream (I’m not). Or maybe you use this annual dose of legs for days as fuel for next year’s fitness goals. #NewYearNewMe, amiright? But before you sit down to plan your 2017 workout schedule, here are two things you have to know:

1. They work INSANELY hard to get those bodies

Insane in a please-do-not-put-your-body-through-this kind of way. Aside from putting in gruelling hours at the gym and subscribing to a clean eating routine that makes grabbing dinner with friends a real ordeal (spoiler: goodbye carbs, goodbye red wine), VS models do take things to the extreme. Example - Adriana Lima revealed she’d been on a liquid diet for over a week pre-show to shed weight.

2. Sometimes, it’s just in your DNA

And that’s a hard fact to swallow. Reality is a key element missing from the VSFS. From the ridiculously toned bodies on our television screens to the bikini clad images flooding our social media, it’s so easy to forget that these sort of figures are not the norm. By all means, use VS models as workout motivation but don’t make their bodies your absolute goal. And especially don’t try to emulate any of these bikini-body trends.

The Ab-Crack

Models like Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski have been flaunting their ab cracks on Instagram like they got it from their mama… which, let’s be honest, they did. That shallow, defined ditch running down the center of their stomach is called the linea alba. And while you can train your abs and make them more pronounced, you can’t change their structure. That’s to say, it’s more than just working your core and having low body fat - you literally can’t split your abs if you weren’t born that way.

Thigh brows

Last year, the Kardashians truly being the gift that keeps on giving, gave us the “thigh brow”. It refers to the crease just under your hip bones that appears when you’re bent over or kneeling - apparently it indicates you’ve got booty. I say you should be doing your squats anyway, thigh brows or not.

Bikini Bridge

Another worrying trend that popped up in 2014 was the “bikini bridge”, where the space created between your bikini bottom, protruding hip bones and concave stomach when lying down was suddenly oh-so desirable. You could probably achieve this by buying bathers several sizes too big… but don’t.

Thigh Gap

All hail the thigh gap, the mother of all bikini trends. This myth has been debunked many times, but to do it once more won’t hurt. Once again, it comes down to bone structure. Getting that sliver of space between your inner thighs can be attributed to lean muscles, but it also has to do with the width of your hips and how your femoral heads are set. And there ain't nothing you can do about that. Having said all this, definitely do still watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show if you were planning to. It’s the perfect occasion to settle in with some ice cream, listen to Lady Gaga's latest album and cheer on the models - after all, each step they take is one step closer to being able to eat solid food again. <a href=" Image Credit
Superheroes are modern day mythology. They transcend age, language, and culture, and while primarily designed for entertainment, our favourite superhero stories hold many lessons to be learned. Here are a few of them.

1. The Hulk

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There is a monster inside all of us, but it doesn’t always have to be evil Marvel’s take on the classic story of Jekyll and Hyde brought us Doctor Bruce Banner, a mild-mannered scientist who transforms into an unstoppable beast of rage and destruction. However, beneath the surface of the big green simpleton lies a surprisingly deep exploration of the human condition. The Hulk represents duality, and the inner struggle within all of us. We all have a Hulk that we wish to hide from the world, but Bruce Banner shows us that instead of letting it destroy us from the inside, our inner rage can be channelled into an indomitable force for good.

2. Wonder Woman

<a href=" Women are immeasurably strong, but female empowerment shouldn't be about hating men Wonder Woman comes from a hidden civilization composed entirely of super-powered Amazonian women who have isolated themselves from the world of Men. On top of being just as powerful as her sisters, what truly sets Wonder Woman apart from her misandric Amazon counterparts is her willingness to accept and work together with the men of the outside world, making her both an emissary for peace, and one of the Justice League's greatest warriors. In addition, Wonder Woman’s crusade for love and acceptance against the prejudice and hatred of her foremothers represents a certain responsibility – a duty on every young person to fight for the future they wish to see, against those determined to live and die in an unchanged world.

3. Spiderman

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="405"] <a href=" With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility Okay, this one was a little too easy. Borrowed from numerous leaders across history, Spiderman’s signature motivation presents a conceptual morality that applies to all of us. Are we responsible for the actions we do not take? Should inaction bear the same weight as action? Spidey says yes. In a world filled with injustice and strife, it is always easy and decidedly tempting to retreat from it all and mind our own business. But where we can make a difference, it is our moral duty to do so. Don’t be a bystander to the suffering of others; failure to intervene makes you a willing participant.

4. The X-Men

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Don’t be afraid to be different, even if the world hates you for it Ever since their conception in 1963, the X-Men have served as Marvel’s allegory for victims of prejudice and the disenfranchised in general; a mirror of sorts to the social ills that plague the marginalized and discriminated. Not only do Xavier’s mutants teach us to be kind and tolerant towards others, they also teach us to celebrate our uniqueness, and never let society hold us down. The opinions others have of you are none of your business. Let the haters hate, as long as you know you’re walking a righteous path.

5. Batman

Batman - If you kill a killer, the number of killers in the world remains the same.
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Defeat your enemies at all costs, but never sink to their level Driven by an all-consuming thirst for justice following the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne put himself through hell to hone his mind and body into the weapon that is Batman. As the Caped Crusader, Bruce stops at nothing in his vendetta against the criminal world; nothing, that is, except killing. To maintain his morality and prevent himself from becoming one of the killers he hunts, Batman keeps his gauntlets free of dead men’s blood, and his conscience clear. While we may not be billionaire-ninja-vigilante-crime-fighters, we can apply the same morality that Batman lives on to our own lives. We do this by staying true to our moral code, and never letting the wrongdoing of others be used as an excuse to do the same. <a href=" Image Credit
Over the past 50 years or so, the landscape of love has changed. The way we love,  the places we look for it, and even the meaning of love has changed quite a bit. Now, love has truly become a game, and its rules are ever changing. Don't reply too quickly, it will look desperate! If you're not going to see him again, just make him pay for the meal. Ignore his texts, he'll get the idea. Dating in this day and age involves so many dos and do nots that sometimes, we can't help but wish things were simpler, like in the past. Here are 6 ways love is different now than it was in the past:    

1. Love Interest VS Love Tinderest

The nature of the chase back then was very different. Boy had to physically meet girl before a spark could be ignited. This happened in discos, coffee shops or through mutual connections. To get to know someone, you had to sit down and have a conversation. There was no shortcut. There weren't many things to do or places to go in the past but that was okay--the company of each other was enough. The modern love story, however, is quite different. We live in a Tinderella world where guy swipes right on girl, guy says "dtf?", girl says "sure", guy and girl tango and then never see each other ever again. Okay, maybe not all 21st century love stories go this way, but it's a growing number. Now, with all the dating apps we have on our phones, before we even meet someone in real life, we already know the who's who of their family, what they're interested in and what they had to eat 48 weeks ago. Stalking Research is the new normal when it comes to getting to know someone.

2. Attached VS It's (Very) Complicated

In the past, a guy had his eyes on one girl and he pursued her to the end. Stories of wooing, like, persistent, "she's the only one for me"-type wooing were extremely common  in our grandparents' generation. Men committed and love was a promise to be honored. Nowadays, people are a lot more fickle. The dating pool these days is not so much a pool as it is an ocean thanks to apps like Tinder, and there are just so many fishes in that sea. We're not just single or attached; we could also be in an open relationship, exclusive sex buddies, non-exclusive bed pals... and a whole variety of other things.

3. Private VS Public Displays Of Affection... Online

Before our generation of over-sharing couples who feel the need to share their couple selfies, relationship milestones and everything in between (including their dirty laundry) online, love was a private matter. It wasn't a secret, but it wasn't something you needed to announce to the world through a Facebook status change or bi-monthly couple selfies. The photos you took together were slotted into albums for the enjoyment of you and your closest friends and family. Back then, no one had to know the details. In our current era, if you're in love, it must be public. If it isn't, that's cause for concern because "why are you hiding our relationship?"

4. Let's Make Love VS Let's Netflix and Chill

In the past, sex before marriage was a big no-no--and that applied to both men and women. Men had to wait till the wedding night to de-flower his maiden. People were a lot more conservative about sex back then. Now, both boys and girls talk about sex over brunch like it's nothing. One-night stands are nothing to raise eyebrows about and girls are becoming more sexually empowered--they'll tell you exactly what they want in bed.

5. Breaking Up VS Ghosting

Before, there was a certain code of conduct that was honored when it came to breaking up. If someone wanted to break things off, they turned up and they said "this isn't working." They didn't just disappear. Now, ghosting is a thing. People exit our lives as quickly and as easily as they enter it, with no explanation whatsoever. Also, your break up never ends quietly. When your couple selfies stop showing up, tongues start wagging, and good luck trying to get over your ex. With multiple albums of pictures of both of you online and Facebook's unwelcome reminders of "What happened 3 years ago today", your ex is kept well in sight and, unfortunately, well in mind.  

6. Love = Faithfulness VS Love = Passion

In the past, love was about faithfulness, the conviction to fix things and the resolve to stick together in spite of the odds. Love was about the other person--taking care of them, always considering them and being strong for them. Now, love has become more about passion; passion that can come with pain; passion that sometimes comes at the expense of security and our sanity. We chase highs and we become restless when things start to become familiar. In today's world, we're afraid of becoming bored, and sometimes, that's how true love slips right through our fingers.

What Happened?

Samsung may be in some pretty serious trouble right now for their next-generation explosives, but let’s not let the other smartphone giant off the hook – Apple. Oh, Apple, what happened to you? Remember when you were relevant? Me neither. I kid. I do remember. I remember owning an old iPod Nano, and getting an iPhone once I got out of slavery… Um, I mean the Army. Apple products used to mean something to people, something special. Not anymore. What happened? To identify what went wrong, let’s first look at what went right in the first place. The iMac was what gave Apple its start, but what really turned the company into an industry giant and put Apple products on the map - and on the top of people’s wishlists – was the iPod. Apple’s iPod was not the first MP3 player on the market, but at its time, it was by far the best. It blew away the competition with its enormous storage capacity, compact form factor, solid build quality, and ease of use. Shortly after, the iTouch revolutionized touchscreen devices, and the iPhone added a phone on top of all that, and the rest is history. Sadly, Apple’s reign is about to come to a crushing end, and here’s why.

Build Quality

In Apple’s heyday, one thing that set their products apart from their competitors was their build quality. The solid, polished, metal alloy casings of Apple products then were far superior to the cheap plastic casings of competitors. Then the competition caught up. Today, every phone feels like an iPhone, with phone manufacturers from Samsung to Oppo ditching cheap plastic for high-quality metal alloys and polymers. The “Apple = Quality” connection had been severed, and Apple has since lost that edge.

iTunes and Flexibility

“The thing I love about Apple products is their reliance on iTunes” is a sentence you will never hear anyone utter. iTunes is a despicable abomination that has driven many consumers away from Apple products, and into their competitors’ flexible arms. Yet for some reason, Apple insists on keeping iTunes just the way it is. What iTunes does is essentially restrict the transfer of data between your phone and computer. Where Android phones allow users to transfer files freely as they would with any other USB device, iOS devices require that one’s phone and computer libraries be “synced”. What if you want to grab some files from your friend’s computer and transfer them to your phone without screwing up your whole library? Nope, can’t do that. What if you want to add one song from your computer to your phone? Better update that stupid iTunes and sync your whole damned library. And there is no way in hell I’m forking out money every month for that Spotify rip-off Apple music.

Greedy, and out of Touch

Apple is a corporation, and corporations run on greed. We get that. But Apple doesn’t even bother trying to hide their greed. Incidentally, their objective seems to have shifted from giving consumers what they want and gaining new supporters, to gouging as much money from their existing supporters as possible. Let’s just look at their latest offerings. The new MacBook Pro 2016 features a space-wasting touchscreen panel that everyone is just going to use for annoying emojis, and new USB-C ports that are completely incompatible with almost all existing USB devices unless you purchase expensive peripheral adaptors. Apple recently announced a slight price drop to the USB-C adaptors, but seeing as how they are basically an absolute necessity and an infuriating hassle, I wouldn’t get the new MacBook even if the adaptors were FREE. Look, I understand what you might think they’re trying to do. As industry leaders, they’re taking it upon themselves to innovate and move technology forward by forcing the market to adopt newer, better technologies like USB-C. Unfortunately, they’re going about it all wrong. Early adoption of new technologies has to be gradual, to give the industry time to transition away from old technology. By forcing new tech down their consumers’ throats, many of whom still own perfectly functional USB devices, Apple is pushing its fans away, and alienating possible new ones. A smarter approach would be simply to provide options. Perhaps have one USB-C port, and leave the other USB ports alone. Maybe have a premium version of the MacBook with all USB-C ports, for willing early adopters, while everyone else can choose to buy a MacBook with traditional USB ports. Flexibility. The same consumer-gouging approach can also be seen in the iPhone 7. Want to plug in your earphones to a headphone jack? Oops, we left that out. How about you give us more money for an adaptor? Or perhaps a pair of flimsy wireless earpods that you’re probably going to lose in a week? Want to use your earphones while your phone is charging? Sorry buddy, not possible. Give us money, we’re innovators. Apple needs to learn that their consumer base does not consist entirely of 15-year-olds who care only about fancy-coloured cases, selfie cameras and emojis. They need to respect their customers, get in touch with what people want, or see their empire crumble faster than a Galaxy Note 7 factory.
In the liberal world we live in today, the already fine line between a platonic friendship and a romantic one can sometimes get even more blurry and indistinct. We all have our doubts at times, about whether friends’ intentions towards each other are truly as innocent as they seem, or if each person's constant seeking of the other’s company indicates something else altogether. Fret not, for there are crystal clear ways to determine if the friendship you have is simply platonic, or if it points to something way more than that.

1. Prolonged eye contact doesn't bother either of you

When you're in a purely platonic friendship, you can hold each other’s gaze for a long time without feeling shy or flustered. Remember the feeling you get when your crush looks you in the eye? Making eye contact with your platonic friend will feel absolutely nothing like that and this should be your biggest cue that what the both of you share is nothing romantic. Perhaps you might accidentally catch each other's eye while doing something mundane, like taking out the rubbish. However, neither of you will quickly look away and the two of you could even jump straight into a staring contest and no sparks will fly.

2. Their safety is not your utmost priority

It's not really your concern whether they get home safely or not, period. If they do, then good for them. If they don't, then well, someone else will be there to pick them up or drive them home. That person is not you and you can safely say that you do not want to be that person. If you receive an SOS call or text from someone in the middle of the night and you jump up in excitement and leave the house at the drop of a hat, that person is someone you want to date. If you receive that same SOS call and you switch your phone to silent mode, that person is probably just a regular friend. You would, however, ring that friend up the next day to check if everything is alright. That's the kind of concern you would show a platonic friend.

3. You don't notice what they wear

You can see each other dressed in sexy, smashing outfits and not bat an eyelid. In fact, you might hardly even notice. Chances are, even if your friend parades around in their birthday suit, your attention will not be diverted from that exciting drama you're binge-watching. If the thought of seeing your friend in the nude or some sexy underwear doesn't turn you on even a bit, it's friendzone time.

4. Distance doesn't matter

Both of you can sit within a centimetre from each other, and not end up making out or having the urge to eat each other’s faces. If your heart doesn't skip a beat when you get up close and personal with your friend, it's one of the biggest telltale signs that there'll be no romance in the air anytime soon for the both of you. Of course, if the both of you are separated by real distance measuring oceans and seas, the ache you feel will not be one of lusty companionship, but from the fact that your life has become more boring without them around.

5. They do not occupy your waking and sleeping thoughts

You're not on each other’s minds first thing in the morning or last thing at night. You do not wake up thinking about what they will wear today or how they will smell. You also do not go to sleep at night fantasizing about your possible future together or the children you will eventually have. Or the house you will share. Or the delicious meals you will whip up together. Instead, you think about them when your partner stands you up. Or when you're in need of an eating buddy. And it probably stops there.

6. You do not have any expectations of them

In your vocabulary bank with friends, the word “expectations” doesn't exist. You do not need to spend a lot of time with each other, although when you do spend time together, it can be a ball of a time. You do not become emotionally needy or overly reliant on them. In other words, you can do with or without them. Not seeing or communicating with each other for one month should not spell the end of the world for either of you.

7.  Jealousy is never in the equation

You don't get mad jealous when you see your friend with a member of the opposite gender. They could be having the time of their lives flirting in front of you, or being touchy-feely with each other. Better still, they could be so engrossed in each other’s company that you completely fade into oblivion. Yet, you don't feel the same constricting sensation in your heart you get when you see your crush dating someone else. You do not feel that stab of jealousy you get when you see the object of your affections so much as look in the direction of someone other than you. When your friend dates someone else or stares lustily at another, you frankly just don’t care.

8. Skinship does not interest you

You don't feel any urges to be physically close to your friend. You do not time your walk down to the second so you end up sitting beside your friend when a group of you go to the movies together. You do not stand as close to your friend as possible, so that your arms will touch. You do not map out your route so that every time you sit down, you are sitting beside your friend. In fact, you actually value your space around them and feeling their touch on your skin or your touch on theirs doesn't interest you one bit. In fact, the thought of it might even put you off breakfast, or lunch, or dinner, or all three meals.

9. Good mornings and goodnights are not on your agenda

You do not say good morning and goodnight to your friend every day without fail. Neither do you want to. Those words are saved for someone you actually want to be intimate with. They connote such a sense of intimacy that even on the rare occasions you do say it to your friend, you wince and cringe. You and your friend talk about other things, more important things, like if the waffles at your favourite store have been sold out.

10. You don’t put them on a pedestal

You look at your friend and you see, well, a human being. You don’t see a goddess, a prince charming or anything to that effect. To you, your friend is just a friend, plain as day. Nothing more, nothing less.