Debate | Issue 5 | Default

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EDITOR

Rebecca Zhong debate@aut.ac.nz

DESIGNER

Ramina Rai

ILLUSTRATOR

Yi Jong

NEWS REPORTER

Jack Pirie

CONTRIBUTORS

Nathan Limm, Casta Lawson, Jessy Thurston, James Tapp, Courtney PrattYoung, Emily Wilton, Dayna Patel, Freepik, Andrew Broadley, Maia Hall, William Austin, Seth Nicholls, Melissa Koh

ADVERTISING

Jesse Jones jesse.jones@aut.ac.nz

PRINTER

Nicholson Print Solutions

DISCLAIMER

Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AUTSA, its advertisers, contributors, Nicholson Print Solutions or its subsidiaries.

This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUT STUDENT ASSOCIATION (“AUTSA”).

Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AUTSA.

Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

from the editor

Kia Ora e hoa mā,

It’s the first day of level 3, and as I attempt to write this letter (while also scrolling Instagram) I stumble across a Reductress post titled “QUIZ: Have You Made The Bon Appétit Focaccia Yet Or Do You Live With Someone You Can Fuck.” And like most things I see these days, I feel like this post is a personal attack.

Okay, well that may have been a little bit dramatic, but in all honesty I feel like every decision being made right now fails to take into account how those most vulnerable are affected. FYI I do live with someone I can fuck, but we’re stuck in my family bubble, which also houses my very conservative Chinese parents (you know the ones who own a fish’n’chip and made me work there every weekend of my poor high school life, but while I’m here, go support your local businesses). So yes, the Bon Appétit Focaccia is serving me better than my boyfriend ever could.

My screen time is at an all-time high. I have found myself frequently refreshing media and news outlets. And all I can say is 2020 sucks. Universities are financially exploiting their students, whoever does the PR for Simon Bridges and the man himself needs to be fired ASAP and KFC is open but I have no car. So, I have been complaining to just about anyone who will listen. I’m also very fragile right now, and if I receive one more response of “that’s just the way things are Rebecca,” I can assure you I will crack. It seems like everyone has default opinions about how things should be, because that’s the only way we have ever known. But what is ‘Default’ anyway, and is ‘Default’ enough? Coming out of this pandemic I encourage us all to be more critical towards the information we are fed and to also question our own biases. I think now, more than ever, we need to put pressure on how things operate. Because let’s be honest, things weren’t great prepandemic either. But it took a pandemic for us to really see how weak our belief systems are.

As you can probably guess, the theme for Issue five is ‘Default.’ We wanted to create an issue that provided avenues for alternative thinking while still providing commentary on existing belief systems.

Our sex writer Casta talks about her experience selling nudes and how she has personally benefited from this experience. There seems to be a strong stigma associated with transactional relationships. In this issue, Casta provides a little insight on how these relationships are becoming increasingly more accepted, and how to best navigate this side hustle. But if selling nudes isn’t your cup of tea, James provides a number of other side hustles that may also pique your interest.

We all know fast fashion sucks. And our default thought when buying new clothes sustainably is to thrift. However, how often do we consider the ethics of thrifting and how damaging it can be towards marginalised groups? Andy recalls his days vomiting at childhood birthday parties and espouses some Macklemore conspiracy theories in an effort to get to the bottom of how we can save the planet and still look good.

Maia talks all things productivity. From the guilt we feel when watching other people’s insta stories, to why we always feel a need to justify time well spent. And Emily touches on the complexities of gender, and how our external environment provides the foundation for our identity.

As always, this issue has a lot of other interesting bits and pieces from our very talented team of contributors. If you’re interested in contributing in any capacity just send an email to rzhong@aut.ac.nz.

Ngā Mihi, Rebecca

What's on

Obviously events have kind of grinded to a halt IRL, but many people and organisations are doing their best to find creative solutions and ways to keep the culture ticking and ourselves entertained. Check in with your favourite musicians, theatre companies, and other artists on social media and see if they are hosting online concerts and events. Billboard.com regularly post updates with newly announced livestreams and replays of older events. That being said, here are just a few for you to consider.

Auckland Art Fair 2020

Where: Virtual Location (www.aucklandfestival.co.nz)

When: Now - 17 May

What: With the postponement of Auckland Art Fair 2020, discover more than 30 galleries from New Zealand and Australia displaying work from artists that would have otherwise been seen at the 2020 Auckland Art Fair. This event comes at a particularly vulnerable and important time for many artists as uncertainty continues to prevail. This event is a celebration of the talent and diversity of art making.

How much: Free admission

Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen

Where: Online: www.youtube.com/ShakespearesGlobe (Shakespeare’s Globe YouTube Channel)

When: Now - 28 June

What: Enjoy a new show every fortnight in the comfort of your own home. While we can’t currently visit the site itself, which was originally built by Shakespeare’s playing company, we can still watch six of the Bard’s plays.

How much: Absolutely free!

Shut Up and Dance

Where: Instagram @shutupanddancenz

When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5pm

Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm

Saturdays 10am

What: Shut Up and Dance isn’t about being good at dancing. It’s about having fun, breaking a sweat and keeping yourself active during these strange times.

How much: Free

Is “Progressive” Enough?

AUTSA chooses not to sign NZUSA’s National Student Action Plan on COVID-19 due to growing confidence in a strengthening relationship with AUT

By Jack Pirie

AUTSA has officially declined on becoming a signatory on the ‘National Student Action Plan on COVID-19.’ The New Zealand Union of Students' Association (NZUSA) put forward an action plan to help counter and soften the effects that COVID-19 has placed on students all over New Zealand. The plan outlines what students require from the government and their tertiary provider to continue study during this time of uncertainty. In collaboration with NZUSA, Te Mana Ākonga and Tauira Pasifika, student leaders and representatives from 44 student associations, councils, and organisations have co-developed the ‘National Student Action Plan on COVID-19.’ One of the most ambitious calls from the plan is the implementation of a ‘Universal Student Allowance,’ available to all (part time, full time, undergraduate and postgraduate) domestic tertiary students.

In a release, AUTSA had said that the main reasoning for not signing the deal was based on a lack of representation/ support for disabled, international and postgraduate students. However it appears that AUTSA did have the opportunity to have their say during the drafting process, in which NZUSA sent out offers to help adapt the action plan. When asked about the communication between the two, NZUSA National President Isabella Lenihan-Ikin said “I first had contact with AUTSA on Saturday the 4th of April, two weeks after the initial drafting. I then spoke to AUTSA at the SRC meeting on Monday the 6th of April. I did not hear any response to my discussion at the SRC meeting until the Facebook post weeks later. No reasons were provided or recommendations given moving forward.”

When asked about this, AUTSA President Sisfia admits “that was a miscommunication delay” as she only noticed the invitation in her spam folder a week after it had been sent. Sisifa still believes that these cohorts are underrepresented and says that may “put the responsibility on us [AUTSA] to do the work from our part to try and lobby the government to look further into this.” In their official statement, AUTSA says they are confident in their partnership with AUT, and their ability to address issues raised in the action plan and more.

institutions accountable for decisions that impact us directly. And a relationship built on such a turbulent foundation simply doesn’t guarantee that everyone is represented.

Miscommunication seems to be a recurring issue for AUT and AUTSA. Sisifa explains that there needs to be consistency in messages being sent out across all forums. There shouldn’t be a message from AUT saying one thing and then students receiving information from lecturers contradicting that initial statement. Miscommunication like this only “creates uncertainty and heightens students' anxiety and fears.” Students are unsure who to listen to and where to get the important information from, especially in these already stressful times. Sisifa mentions that she stands in solidarity with many of us, as she finds herself also questioning “who am I listening to?”

AUTSA President, Sisifa Liu

When asked about the development in the relationship between AUT and AUTSA, Sisifa says “You can have confidence in the fact that we do have a relationship with them now… despite the fact we were being undermined and left out of a lot of conversations and big decisions for students.” Sisifa has reiterated that the relationship is evidently more “progressive day by day,” and will continue to grow over time. However she also conveys that there continues to be an abundance of miscommunication within the structures. Our concern here as a student body is whether a relationship is enough. We need to ensure and keep our academic

Although there are claims of the developing relationship between AUT and AUTSA, there clearly is still a fundamental flaw in the communication between the two parties. It leaves us asking ourselves whether a ‘progressive’ relationship is enough to sustain trust between students and their institution. Don’t we need accountability, representation and effective clear communication? In regards to an alternative COVID-19 action plan, AUTSA say that they, alongside AUT, are confident that they can create an expansive plan that will go beyond what was proposed by the NZUSA. Until we see evidence of what this plan will look like, we remain both anxious and sceptical for the well-being of our student body.

Is Club Rugby on the Rocks?

By Nathan Limm (IG: @nathanlimm_media)

According to World Rugby, there are 520 rugby clubs in New Zealand, boasting over 100,000 players. Not one of those players is representing their union.

COVID-19 has seen perhaps the most drastic action by a New Zealand government in our nation’s history. But while lockdown is keeping the coronavirus in check, its impact on sports may be felt long into the future.

Pita Alatini, who played 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, is the director of rugby at Pakuranga United Rugby Club. Pakuranga United is one of the largest clubs in New Zealand, registering around 500 junior players and just under 200 senior players at the beginning of the 2020 season. Alatini says the lockdown equation is simple: no rugby means no club.

“We’re really digging into the unknown at the moment and that’s quite scary...Not having Tuesday or Thursday training as well as Saturday gatherings is huge, especially for us as staff. None of those functions happening means there’s no money for the club.”

Just like small businesses, clubs require money to pay staff and maintain their fields. But while COVID-19 restrictions continue to postpone the 2020 season, clubs are left with a timer on their future.

While the fields remain empty, so do the stands, the bar and the restaurant. Clubs are built on social exchange. The casual beer with friends after a match is integral to the survival of the entire facility. Alatini says the best way for Pakuranga United to maintain a sense of community and interaction with their players is through social media.

“[For coaches], it’s keeping in touch with their players and seeing if they’re all good in that mental and social space. There are definitely platforms where guys can still get togetheralbeit apart - to have a little social aspect and keep in touch.”

This connection is not only important for the club’s current player base; a relationship with schools is also of vital significance. The reality of senior club rugby is that it is everdependent on the influx of leaving schoolboy players. However, with the entire season in doubt, roughly 25,000 high school rugby players will be affected.

Former All Blacks player

Pita Alatini speaks on the future of New Zealand rugby clubs amidst the uncertainty of a global pandemic

The magnitude of 1st XV rugby in New Zealand is not to be underestimated. Modern-day stars such as Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane were all on display in the Land Rover 1st XV competition just a few short years ago.

Missing out on a year’s worth of future All Blacks, Super Rugby and club stars will likely harm the stream of highquality players into New Zealand Rugby’s development system. Even without COVID-19, rugby is a declining sport in New Zealand. According to a School Sport New Zealand Census, rugby union has seen a 12% decline in its player base between 2014 and 2018, with a 6% drop in 2018 alone.

For rugby clubs, the few players who continue with rugby after high school are crucial.

Pakuranga United is in the unique position of having seven east Auckland high schools in-zone for the club. However, if restrictions continue to plague the duration of the season, maintaining relationships with school teams will be a difficult task.

Alatini, who regularly visits schools and works with school rugby coaches, thinks the best way to stay in the minds of

schoolboy players is through cyberspace.

“For us, it’s diving in and finding out how we can remain in contact by doing some stuff online with them, keeping them engaged. Coming out of it [the COVID-19 crisis], you’d be hoping by then they’ll be firing and ready to go.”

Ultimately, the survival of all clubs in New Zealand will be dependent on their capacity to engage with their players and fan bases. Alatini says if they are unable to connect with their people, the club will cease to exist. Nevertheless, he is confident in the ability of Pakuranga United to remain relevant and present in local minds.

“There’s still strong support within the community which will always be there. It’s just a matter of always touching base to keep those guys engaged so they help get these members back.”

Clubs will start to reopen as New Zealand slowly conquers COVID-19, but the true impact of the crisis is yet to be felt. The sporting community has no choice but to hunker down and ride this wave of uncertainty.

Sex with Casta –Money, Honey!

By Casta Lawson ( IG: @castalawson)

Best value for money sex toy?

Satisfyer Pro 2 is kind of the obvious answer here. Around $50 for unlimited orgasms that leave you feeling like your soul’s descended from your body. For someone who’s never experienced that, sign me the fuck up!

Should services like OnlyFans become societal norms?

I think it already has started to become a societal norm due to the amount of people who joke about buying their dream home at 21 from having an account. You literally see chicks promoting it everywhere these days. I really think isolation is to blame for that, as well as Trisha Paytas.

What made you start an OnlyFans and is it worth it?

I started an OnlyFans account because I honestly love my body. I have a mean ass and a great set of tits. I also have a list of boys I cycle through that I send nudes to on the regular, so I thought that I might as well cash in from it. The experience so far has been great for me. You can’t make a withdrawal from your account until you have a minimum of $500 USD, but I was able to achieve that in a few months. One of my subscribers also tipped me because I was nice so that felt great. As a poor student it’s definitely a good

backup source of income to help fund my clothing/gig addiction. Just don’t put your face in the photos if you are seriously considering it so creeps don’t approach you in public.

Have you ever experienced being asked to sell nudes?

I actually have and it was a fucking weird experience. I was looking through my message requests on Instagram last year in November and some bloke had sent me a video of himself dropping a ton of money. I responded asking him why he sent that, and where he got the money from and he replied, “add my snap to see the drip.” Though it was a slightly cringey thing to say, I decided to give him the add anyway.

During the next few days he just sends me videos of him dropping cash and then hits me with “I want to be your Sugar Daddy, I’ll be the best Sugar Daddy you’ve ever had.” Keep in mind this bloke's around the same age as me, which is 21. This really threw me off guard, but I agreed anyways just to see where this would go. The next few weeks consisted of him asking to meet up. He would beg to see me at the most inconvenient times, saying things like “Please baby, just 15 minutes and I’ll give you $1500 cash right now.” It honestly

felt like he was trying to prostitute me more than anything. One night I nearly did meet up with him, but he pulled out when I said my friend would be dropping me off because he thought I was just going to trick him (still confused how he thought that). I got really sick of his shit because he would offer me large sums of cash but then fuck me around, and I am an extremely impatient person and no amount of money is accountable for people who act like that.

A few weeks later I was very hungover at home on a Sunday and he messages me asking to come over. My instant thought is “Fuck no, no fucking way is that ever happening.” So I tell him that I’m literally on the brink of death and no way in hell is that ever happening. I was also worried that if he came over, he would never leave and I don’t think Mum would’ve been too happy with me in that case. This bloke started begging me and was offering me upwards of $2000 for 15 minutes (cute he thinks that he’d last that long). But still he could not convince me. I’m so close to deleting this guy because at this point he is just straight up annoying and I honestly just wanted to virtually smack him. But THEN, he hits me with “What if I give you $1000 for nudes.”

I am the all wise and knowing hoe – I love sex and am here to answer any questions thank you for coming to my ted talk.

I literally scream “Hell yeah” because that is such an easy deal. I send him my bank details and he transfers me $600 first, with the promise of the remaining $400 after I send him the nudes. I start getting ready to send the nudes but he almost instantly messages me saying he doesn’t want them anymore, and that I need to transfer the money back instantly. Confused, I ask him why and he says “My step mum caught the outgoing transaction and just called me to tell me off, I’m in so much trouble now, she said I wasn’t allowed to do this again.” I am genuinely shocked at the fact that he’s done this before and thought it was a smart idea to do again. He starts begging me to transfer the money back as soon as it comes into my account the next day, as his step mum had already supposedly given my bank account number to the police and Wellington Scam Service. I eventually agree because he’s annoying me and I just want to be left alone in my hungover state, but the bloke keeps blowing up my phone

with notifications. I turn my phone off and go to sleep. I’m so over this guy’s bullshit at this point, and if the money came in or not I was blocking him the next day regardless.

Hours later I turn on my phone and check my messages and the man has sent me a literal novel. He changed his story multiple times in regards to where the money came from and was also saying a ton of stuff about how him and his step mum are going to come into my work and bring the police. It was all bullshit, also the reference he put on the transaction was “car help” so even if he did try to get the police involved they wouldn’t do anything because I never sent him anything. He sent me that money on his own free will, and he dug himself a hole with the reference he used. He also never saved our messages in snapchat so there was no proof there either. To keep his sanity in check I told him I’d transfer the money back tomorrow if it did come through, and then ignored him again. The next morning I check my account and yep, a nice $600 has come through. I’m squealing because I’m poor and that’s a decent amount of free cash. I ask a few friends what I should do and my best friend instantly tells me to block him because he’s an idiot and has been annoying this entire time, so naturally I take her advice. I block him on snapchat. Then he messages me on Instagram saying “You think you’re so clever don’t you” so I blocked him there too. And then I bought a ticket to RnV.

Bloke, if you’re reading this, I just wanted to say thanks for giving me a free New Year's. I really had the best time and I couldn’t have done it without your persistence x

What is your opinion on a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship?

In my opinion they’re not for me. I have a very good relationship with my father and I don’t think I could ever be with an older man just due to the fact that I would feel like I’m with my dad the entire time and that would be so weird. Obviously everyone’s preference is different and that’s ok, do what you’re comfortable with as long as you’re being safe. My preference is OnlyFans because I don’t actually have to physically interact with anyone and I still make bank. I did have an older guy approach me at the gym once and ask to meet up and potentially organise an arrangement and holy shit did that trigger my fight or flight. I was ready to scream but instead I said I had to ask my mum and then ran and hid in the bathrooms. But honestly as long as you’re being safe, you’ve set boundaries, and you have at least one person who knows you’re with the guy (in case anything goes wrong), then go for gold.

Dating a Vegan

(PART 1)

By Jack Pirie

First dates are daunting enough. Let alone first dates with a vegan. But what if this particular vegan didn’t mention she was a vegan at all. I know it sounds impossible to think. That I had discovered a vegan who didn’t want to proclaim her veganism at every opportunity, but hear me out.

Classic first date, and believe it or not we did not meet via Bumble or Tinder (crazy old world we live in). We go to a lovely garden bar on a Thursday night, me being the gentlemen I aspire to be, I buy the first round of drinks. She goes for a classy rosé and I partake in a standard pint.

The night goes on and for some reason she is laughing at my jokes, not sure why. I think I’ve passed the first test so I buy the second round, playing a risky

game spending my studylink money on “non-essential” items (HA). Next thing you know she's buying the third round (FYI big brownie points for that, c’mon it's 2020).

The third round of drinks goes down quicker than expected. At this stage we are both a little tipsy and I throw the line “should I cook you some food at mine” (worked a charm). Next thing we know we are in the kitchen and I ask “what would you like.”

Shrugging her shoulders she has a guilty look on her face. I'm wondering if she's caught onto the fact that I’m not funny, nor charming. Thank god she didn’t come to her senses. Instead, she says “ummm well actually I'm a vegan.”

PANIC. Ignorant Jack has never been in this situation before. Suddenly I forget what a vegan is and ask “well what

food can you eat?” She proceeds to list an array of foods I never knew existed and that my dismal Studylink cash cannot afford to buy.

My food options ranged from Maggi 2 minute noodles to frozen chicken patties that last me the week. I'm thinking this is it, well done Jack, you fucked it up. But who comes to the rescue but every student’s saviour. The kingpin of affordable food formerly known as pasta.

You better believe that the Dolmios pasta sauce paired with some el dente penne saved the day for dear old Jack. Plus some left over gin from one of the flatties. One thing was learned that day. Be prepared for anything. Especially vegans, especially in these uncertain times.

Going Stir Crazy?

Shake it Up With These Cheap Cocktail Recipes

Sometimes going to the liquor store and picking up a good old box of Smirnoff Ice just isn’t good enough. I’ve put together a list of alternatives so you can whip up a classy cocktail that won’t break the bank.

By Jessy Thurston | Illustration by Dayna Patel

Piña Colada

If you haven’t stopped gushing over your trip to Hawaii two years ago, a piña colada is probably the drink for you. Costing approximately $3.50 to make, you’ll need:

120ml pineapple juice

60ml white rum - double this if you like strong drinks. Triple it and see where the night takes you.

60ml coconut cream

Chuck it all in a nutribullet with a handful of ice and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and if you’re feeling fancy, garnish it with a slice of pineapple.

Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiquiris are my personal favourite because I like to pretend they’re smoothies, and then play into the fitness influencer fantasy while I'm gradually losing the ability to form words. For this $6.50 cocktail you’ll need:

200g ripe or frozen strawberries

ice cubes

juice of ½ lime

1 tbsp lemon juice

100ml white rum

Blend just the strawberries first to a purée. Add a handful of ice cubes to the blender as well with the lime juice, lemon juice and rum. Pulse again and pour into glass. Decorate with a lime slice if you want to show your creation off on Instagram.

Mojito

Mojitos are a chic and sophisticated cocktail for those of you who aren’t fans of fruity mixes. This one comes in at $4.50 per glass. You’ll need:

The juice of 1 lime

1 tsp sugar

A small handful of mint leaves

60ml white rum

Soda water

Mix the sugar, lime juice, mint and rum in a shaker with a bit of ice. Pour over some more ice in a new glass and top up with soda water to taste. If you eventually get sick of mixing each drink, just do shots of the rum. The night is yours, do what you want.

Cyclone Cocktail

If you have a TikTok addiction I’m sure you’ve seen this one before, but a Cyclone cocktail is a genius creation for those who love frozen drinks. Adding up to a sweet $6 per drink, get yourself:

A Cyclone popsicle

As much vodka as you can stand Optional: cranberry juice.

Use a fork to push the popsicle off its stick and into a blender. Pour in your preferred amount of vodka and blend. If the consistency is too thick, add a splash of cranberry juice to taste. Alternatively, for this cocktail you can also just add one Cyclone to one bottle of a Raspberry Long White and call it a day.

Mimosa

Everyone loves a cheeky bottomless brunch, and with a ten dollar bottle of wine and OJ, you can’t get much cheaper than a mimosa. I love these because I’m not a massive wine drinker, but it goes down easy with the juice. At $1.50 per glass it’s a cheap way to ensure you’re dancing on tables by the end of the night. All you’ll need is:

Sparkling wine

Your preferred flavour of juice

Just pour a 50/50 ratio of wine and juice into a glass and you’re good to go!

Ruby Queen Cocktail

You’ve probably never thought of adding beetroot juice to alcohol, but the Ruby Queen cocktail does it effortlessly. Try new things in your drink, and then why not also try new crazy things you’ve never done before with the heightened confidence that follows. $5 per serving.

100ml whiskey

1 tbsp red beet juice

2 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp liquid honey

Shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker with ice and serve.

All of these recipes make one serving, so just double the ingredients if you’re planning a big night!

Side Hustles for the Desperate and Clueless

By James Tapp

Have you ever thought of the possibility of earning $350 from home? How about becoming the next GaryVee? Maybe you just want to be able to have the freedom of earning money however you want. Well oh boy, do I have the article for you! The idea of running your own business or little side hustle seems daunting, but really as long as you keep records and pay your taxes, chances are you’ll be fine. Now do be warned, running a side hustle is probably not going to pay your rent, hence why it’s on the side. But side hustles are a great way to help supplement your existing lifestyle. So, if you’re looking to upgrade your flat toilet paper from two ply to three, or move from the infamous Homebrand “Cocoa Puffs” to Kellogg's "Coco Pops" instead, why not try out these money makers?

Trade Me Flipping

We’re starting off with something close to my heart, as I am fortunate enough to have a neighbour who does this as a FULL TIME job. Now while I would love to do an in depth two hour interview with them about the ins and outs of Trade Me flipping, we’re not on the best of terms to say the least. Either way, Trade Me is a great place to start, with the ability to keep it local or operate with people all across the country. Now, while it can be as simple as buying an item and selling it at a higher price at a later date, when things start to not sell, your house becomes a dumping ground (p.s. Would advise talking to flat mates before starting on this). So take these two points into consideration: find something that will flip quickly and won't take up much space, e.g, don’t start flipping couches unless you live in a mansion. Secondly, know your product. Find something you know lots about, from what a sex toy in good condition looks like to which playing cards are in high demand, anything can be sold at the right price.

Investing in Stocks

So, you want to be the next Wolf of Wall Street. Unfortunately unless you're Leonardo DiCaprio or an equivalent, you're probably out of luck when it comes to finding a bride like Margot Robbie, nor does any of it come as quickly as a two hour movie. This also requires a brain and a bit of time, so I talked to Logan Fraser, an executive member of the AUT Investment Club and president of the Management Consulting Club. If I gained anything from this, it's that it is the perfect time to start but also could be the worst time. "The rule of thumb here is to only invest what you can afford to lose. The best way to think about how much you need to invest is by doing a quick calculation of all of your weekly expenses, and deciding how much of whatever is left over you could live without" says Logan. For some of us this could mean

putting a little bit less in savings or buying one less bottle of vodka. To add to this, right now we're in a recession, meaning "there's blood on the streets,” making it a perfect time to make those long term investments. Still interested? Well investing is not something you should go into blind, it requires some degree of knowledge and research. So go educate yourself! Logan recommends The intelligent Investor book and an app called “IG Academy”, and if you do it right, you could turn a small amount of money into thousands later down the track.

Fiverr/Freelancing

Now this definitely isn’t the easiest side hustle in the world, but done well and you could see some cash coming your way. The key here is to not only have a skill, but to sell it well. Whether it’s doing voice overs or doing logo designs, it’s all about finding the right price, but also making sure you don’t over or undervalue yourself. A good thing to keep in mind is that freelancing is an invaluable addition to your CV. Not only does it show that you put in the effort to put yourself out there, but it also provides you with the opportunity to diversify your portfolio more than you could ever imagine. While freelancing does tend to be more relevant to those working in the media industry, there’s no reason why you can’t freelance any skill you think is sellable. Take advantage of new opportunities and get creative.

Become a Pornstar

Disclaimer: Taking up this side hustle may come with consequences which are not under Debate Magazine or James Tapp’s responsibility if it means a loss of reputation, job loss, or any other situation. We also acknowledge this is a very real career, which can illegally involve the use of minors, rape or any other situations where bodily harm is caused. Please be careful, and make sure everything is consensual.

Now this one is something that let's be honest, you’ve probably thought of when you’ve been a bit short on moolah, lying in bed going “fuck it, it can’t be that hard can it?”But not everyone can make it like Kim K. Now depending on what your take is, it really is going to influence how you’re going to do this. How many people? Where’s the camera going to be? Are you going to be able to see your face? How kinky are you going to get? Do you need a trim? Where are you going to be? Where are you going to publish it? Are you going to make one and hope for the best or make lots? Toys? Shitty background music? Laptop webcam or phone? So many questions to ask, especially when chances are you’re lying in your single bed at your parent's house. The next thing on your mind is, how much can I realllyyyyyy earn from doing this? There’s a few factors, such as your agency, your experience, and whether you’re a man, woman or any other number of genders. As you’d expect, it can really depend on the type of porn. Same sex pays more, and women get paid more on the whole. So how much can we expect to get paid? Unless you've done this before, you could be seeing $500 for a shoot if you do everything right. Not wanting to star? Well porn is still classed as a film, which means there’s scripts, lighting, camera operators, directors, the whole lot. Now while I’ve covered some points in this, I still recommend doing your own research, there’s a lot going on in this industry, and a lot of it isn’t pretty.

Lots of ideas, so little time, so many problems. I never said any of these ideas are easy to run, and just imagine how this compares to running a multi-international business. Another thing to understand is you don’t have to study business to do business. You don’t have to study at all, and chances are no matter what position you’re in, you’ll be working in such a way that helps but can also change how a business runs. Go out there, stay safe and make some money.

HOW TO RESEARCH JOB OPPORTUNITIES

OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR FIELD

By Courtney Pratt-Young

Pretty keen to get started on the career ladder with your dream job? Researching your first role as a YoPro (young professional) can be a minefield. There’s a lot of information coming at you all at once. I get it. So, I’ve broken down some approaches to researching job opportunities in your field.

1. LinkedIn and Seek

Let’s start with some of the more traditional job seeking methods. LinkedIn and Seek. You’re probably familiar with these already, so I’m not going to dwell on them too much. Basically, you can enter in key search terms and their algorithms will bring up an array of beautiful roles!

It’s wise to browse every so often so you can get a good idea of the types of jobs that are out there, and what you might be interested in. Consider what you might say in a cover letter or what your point of difference is going to be when applying. Essentially, you’re applying the 5 P’s: Practise Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

2. AUT Services

AUT also has its own internal recruitment options. The Employability Lab (www.elab.aut.ac.nz) is not only a useful way to tweak your CV or update your interviewing skills, but their careers page is a helpful link to potential employers. Substantial companies often advertise their graduate or internship roles, as well as smaller companies which could

be looking for part-time interns or consultants. AUT also offers the AUT Internz service (www.jobs.aut.ac.nz). Internz operates as a recruitment agency, placing students in jobs that employers post. The best part is all the jobs on offer are paid, meaning you can make bank in your industry while still studying.

AUT Services is an example of what is known as the ‘traditional’ job market. The likes of these include want ads, employment agencies, and college placement offices. The traditional job market is perhaps the most conventional way of sourcing jobs, which is why you can expect a lot of competition, especially amongst your classmates. However, this isn’t to say that they aren’t a valuable and valid source of employability. Also available to you, whether you realise it or not, is the ‘hidden’ job market. These include the thousands of jobs that are never posted online or advertised, and in order to get access to them you’re going to have to get a little creative with your scoping. Which brings us to our next point...

3. Shhh, this one’s a secret...

Networking, when finessed, can be one of the best ways to research what’s available in the industry. Facebook groups, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who you may meet along your journey can help! In fact, most jobs are filled through networking. When completing your studies, talk to people who are already in your industry. It

may not be wise to elevator pitch to them straight away but asking a few questions, such as what your work life will be like, may help you stick in a future employer’s mind. If you haven’t already done so, join the Facebook group for your year level and degree if one exists. Follow up those connections with an add on LinkedIn perhaps? That way, if you ever need to put the job seeker vibes out there, you’ve got some existing contacts.

4. Industry Specialist

There are also helpful groups which already exist within your career path. Most industries have a ‘governing body’ that aims to create knowledge and build skills in their field. They’re a great resource for learning, but they also offer useful job boards. Some make this page only applicable to view for members, but usually have student prices for joining. For example, psychologists have the New Zealand Psychological Society, and Human Resource majors will find the Human Resource Institute of New Zealand helpful. A simple Google search of your major followed by “industry nz” should help you find your relevant group.

Job seeking can be a tough process, but you greatly increase your chances by doing your research and being informed. Just knowing where to look means you might already be one step ahead of your competition. Be confident and believe in yourself. I know you’ll smash it, and you can add me on LinkedIn while you do!

The Complexities of Gender

By Emily Wilton

Society had a system. It was pretty straightforward, the men made the money while the women made the meals - or at least that's how it once was.

Fast forward over a hundred years through the rise of feminism, women working, studying and voting, all which were once a male dominant normality, and you’ll see how our gender norms throughout Western society have shifted. As time has passed people have evolved. The very idea of gender itself has vastly changed. No longer is it a strict two tick type binary box but rather men, women, gender fluid, nonbinary or transgender.

Gender is complex, more so than the sex you are born whether it’s male, female or intersex. It’s not just a physical thing but also internalised within your identity and sense of self. Not everyone fits within the confines of gender that have been in place for so long.

This ideological presumption fails those who do not fit the supposed ‘one-sizefits-all box’ of either male or female. Western society has and still to this day continues to shame, ignore and wrongly label anyone who says otherwise. Regardless of this, there have been great leaps of progress happening to right the wrongs of past injustices, such as legalising transgenders to change their birth certificate to the correct gender they identify as.

Now for most people, this issue doesn’t affect them as they fit the box and go about their day with no questions asked. However, those that don't fit the premade mould to exist without struggle in Western society, often get abused, bullied, and banned from occupations and activities, most recently by the current president of the United States banning transgender people from the army.

Alice Dreger, historian of science and medicine asked in a Ted talk “Is anatomy destiny?” The advancements made in science directly show that there is so much more to gender then we first thought. Gender isn’t a stagnant two type code. These simple and stable ideas that we had once been so sure of using in society are actually a lot fuzzier than we first thought.

We present ourselves to the world each time we step outside and interact with one another. This web of relationships and socialisation that builds and grows over time influences how people are perceived in society. Location, religious beliefs, family and attitude have all been noted as key points that can set the building blocks for a person's perception of gender which goes on to shape their identity. Essentially,

our external environment is key not only in establishing who we are as individuals, but how well we are supported in trying times.

If you find yourself in an uncomfortable environment you are less likely to say anything that could potentially warp, damage or change said relationships regardless of your own feelings on the matter. Whereas if you find yourself in a comfortable environment, you become more inclined to speak your mind and have a sense of peace knowing the roots of your relationships have fostered positive support for you and your well-being. Environment is a big part of whether or not you present yourself to the world truthfully or if you just show them what they expect to see.

This shift in perception of gender and identity over the decades has been shaped by the reiteration of positive language and the breakdown of misconceptions on the matter. Older generations have rather pushed the topic toward the shadows of society, unspoken and not openly addressed due to the negative culture surrounding anything differing from the idea of a set gendered system. The unique nature of gender mirrors the strengthening of societal change and positive acceptance in the Western world.

With most young adults being naturally welcoming towards the complexities of gender, the road blocks often found in the way stem from people of different generations of opinion. It is through this generational breakdown of derogatory terms and societal constructions where we can continue to work to educate the differing opinions on the matter of gender, starting within our own web of relationships, whether that be a parent, a cousin, a colleague or a friend.

Putting the Brakes on Fast Fashion

It pollutes, it exploits, it looks great with a high waist pant. How do I both look, and feel good, in what I choose to wear?

By Andrew Broadley | Illustration by Yi Jong

With so much time sitting at home over lockdown, browsing the endless shoes and shirts and jackets and shackets, I couldn’t help but be frustrated by the ‘non-essential item’ banner that accompanied the many items I wanted to buy. Here I was, stuck at home, nowhere to go, no one to see, and God help me if I couldn’t buy myself a new pair of straight cut black pants.

Our demand for clothes has gone through the roof wardrobe. In 2014, a study found that we consume 60% more clothes than we did in 2000, yet we only keep the items for around half the time. And because of this, brands such as H&M churn out 12+ releases a year (Zara comes out top with 24 collections a year… seriously 24 drops a year) all in an effort to meet this hunger. And yet despite all of us running around like that one hungry hippo that benefited from the very not flat playing surface and gobbling up all the little white balls of fashiony goodness, 85% of textiles created still end up in landfills every year. Fashion companies seem to make clothes with the same business strategy I had when I excessively ate sausage rolls at every birthday up until the age of 7. It wasn’t a good strategy. I became known as the ‘vomiter’ and I am still haunted by it to this day. And yet despite knowing this, I sat at my laptop during lockdown, nowhere to go, no one to see, and I searched, and I searched for those goddamn straight cut black pants. But as I sat at my laptop and browsed the endless virtual racks, I noticed a trend. The start-ups and boutiques were closed but the big labels and brands were chugging out the orders as usual. You see in the wake of a pandemic, fast fashion stayed fast, and slow fashion came to a screeching halt.

your bubble of equally angry and liberal friends applaud and cheer and hoot and holla and I’m inclined to let you have your moment. Because let’s face it, you’re not far off the truth. Profit margins are what matter in this world, and you can save the animals and eat all the land eradicating tofu and water sucking avocado you want. And you can thrift all the poor people’s clothes (we’ll get to this soon) and upcycle your dad’s varsity jackets all you want. But it’s all kinda fucked anyway.

The other day my property loving girlfriend told me she no longer wants land and houses, rather a single high-rise apartment. Water levels are rising, food shortages are a give in, screw investing we should hunker down and enjoy what we can. And at this moment I thought, no. I’ve had enough. It’s just too damn depressing to give in. Drink your slave labour soymilk and you save those animals (that may have been a bad example?). I guess what I’m getting at is, our actions affect the planet and those around us, and our clothes affect a lot more than just how we look and how our social status is perceived and if that cute girl in the Chrome Hearts will like you back or not. Fast fashion is killing the planet and it’s about time we owned that.

Now I’ve got to give Macklemore some credit here. Because I have a theory. Macklemore was never a revolutionary rapper or auteur (less a theory more a fact) but rather an environmentalist frustrated by the inability to move the youth of today to action. “How?” he pondered, from his humble eco house on the East Village “How can I get these kids to listen?”

And in a stroke of genius the most annoying, piece of shit song was born and all across the world tags were popped and parents' wardrobes raided. For the ugly sweater was born (pending a lawsuit from David Bain) and the answers to fashion’s crimes were solved. Okay, solved may be a stretch, but Macklemore was definitely onto something. Recycling clothes and breathing new life into old pieces creates a cycle of consumption that results in less clothes in landfill and less money in the pockets of the big buys. But, as with all things in life, THERE IS NO ETHICAL CONSU- you get the point.

Our hunger for faded band tees has run amok and now we have even managed to ruin thrift. Because somewhere along the line our idea of buying second hand has become intertwined with the idea of buying second hand as cheaply as possible. Because that cardigan is super cute if $5 and under but anything more and it’s a rip off. Because people don’t want to pay ‘new price’ for something that isn’t new. So, we raid the charity shops. We haul as much as we can, and we dump it into our wardrobes. Half of it goes unworn. The other half gets hiked up and resold on Depop. And yes, in theory there’s plenty to go around. Many charity shops are huge. But let’s be real. Many of the pieces in these shops are well, shit. Huge blazers with dramatic shoulder pads alongside t-shirts torn and stained. Pants that were for some reason tailored to someone that had a 28” waist and a 38” inseam (I hate to think what their tailoring bill would be). The idea that the massive quantity of clothes makes it okay isn’t really a true reflection on the situation. And now charity shops have caught on. Many have hiked up their prices, and many more now include a ‘designer’ rack where these items have been hiked up even further. Those that don’t have the option to shop elsewhere, now can’t even shop at the stores that were set up to help them.

Now I’ve got to give Macklemore some credit here. Because I have a theory. Macklemore was never a revolutionary rapper or auteur (less a theory more a fact) but rather an environmentalist frustrated by the inability to move the youth of today to action.

So, if you want to buy vintage, which I suggest you should, think about who you are buying it from. If you go into a charity shop, sure buy an item.

After all, your money goes to them and helps them continue to run the shop and their other charitable endeavours. But don’t buy for the sake of buying. Don’t grab a bunch of random faded black tees for resale, or more than what you realistically need. Before you buy, think about who you are potentially taking away from.

Auckland, and New Zealand as a whole, has a heap of great vintage stores outside the realm of charity shops, where curated pieces have been sourced for those with an eye on fashion. These shops are locally owned and operated by many of the creative and hardworking individuals in our community; and they need our support. Here you can get super cool, unique pieces - or just another ‘Polo’ polo shirthelp the planet, help a local business, and just look like an all-round cool dude or dudette for doing so.

But thrift isn’t the only way to keep the grass green and the air clean. Whether they are using sustainable materials, employing marginalised workers, donating a percentage of profits to charity, or a whole range of all of the above, ethical brands are popping up everywhere. These labels are usually small start-ups that run on very fine profit margins and need our support to stay open. I know of people who refuse to buy new, who refuse to engage in the capitalist economy of over demand and over consume. And yes, we should refrain from this. But refusing to buy new is not the way to do it. The answer is not to withdraw your funding, it’s to shift it. Support the people who are innovating and creating change. Before you buy a piece, look at their brand story. Supporting these businesses not only helps your local creatives and the planet, but it takes money out of the pockets of the big boys and puts pressure on them to change as well.

And yes, these brands can be expensive, but remember you are not just paying for the item. You are paying to support creative innovation, ethical practices, and to help the good guys pay the bills. These people have already faced ridicule from their family and friends. Had to stand awkwardly at their older sister’s graduation and timidly say “I’m in my second year of fine arts” well aware of the following tight, no lip smile and nod. “Good for you” Auntie Linda replies. But we all know she does not mean it. We all know Linda thinks it is good for no one, especially not you. So, let’s band together. Let’s prove Auntie Linda and her pursed lips of judgement wrong. Buy local. Buy ethical. Maybe buy less in general. I wish this could be my ending because it sounded pretty cool. But I know it’s time to address the elephant in the (changing) room.

Thinking about our consumption in any term outside of finances is a privilege. Many people think with their wallets and nothing else because they have to think with their wallets and nothing else. This is the only way they can keep themselves fed and clothed and maybe even alive. For these people, I hold no judgement, I mean for most people I try to hold no judgement. But for the rest of us, you will find that when you buy less, and you invest, the price tags don’t seem so bad. You don’t need to buy five plain black T shirts. Buy one or two that are going to last longer and make you and the planet smile. And if the price tag still seems bad, well… this isn’t a financial help piece, I don’t know. Think about if you need to buy anything at all. I’m not saying you need to go and throw out all your clothes and use that extra $1000 loan the Government gave us (more debt… seriously… more debt) to reinvent your wardrobe. But moving forward, think about what we are buying, how much we are buying, and where we are buying from. Where possible, let’s try to reduce our impact on the planet, and on those cramped in sweatshops for 12 hours a day.

Let’s prove Auntie Linda and her pursed lips of judgement wrong. Buy local. Buy ethical. Maybe buy less in general. (Nailed it!)

Lockdown Productivity & Gettin’ Stuff Done

By Maia Hall

Kia Ora, this is Maia.

I’m writing to you from week four of isolation.

I haven’t eaten breakfast before midday in two weeks.

I haven’t made my bed in three.

I haven’t opened Blackboard in 4,000 years.

Am I doing lockdown wrong?

My whanau spent the first whole day making a physical penand-paper list of plans to follow a yoga course, learn Te Reo and build a new vegetable garden. But I had never felt so mentally drained.

After two-and-a-bit years of studying journalism, life was all starting to fit together. The pressure of deadlines and competing for internships was ramping up, and I was up for the challenge. But just as I began to really engage with my assignments and plan for the future, the whole world seemed to crumble around me. I spent the last week of March trying to stay positive and productive, but when I headed home to Wellington to spend lockdown with my family, I crashed. I completely abandoned several half-done assignments, figuring that I’d sort all that out later.

But as the whole country started to come to terms with uncertainty and the magnitude of this pandemic, social media never skipped a beat. Houseparty, Instagram, TikTok. We’re all locked in our houses, but expected to stay more active than ever, fighting to avoid FOMO in a world where we are all missing out on so much, more than ever.

Isolation does weird things to us. People are either learning several new languages a day, or on a strict schedule of Netflix and cake-in-a-cup. Me? I generally struggle out of bed at midday and lounge around eating food out of my parents’ fridge in my PJs. But, when the clock strikes 3pm, suddenly the procrastination-induced panic sets in, and I usually manage to actually change out of my pyjamas, cook a three-course meal and squeeze in a 10 kilometre run, before I change back into my sweatpants and return to my well-earned slumber.

Now, I haven’t exactly followed the experts’ tips to make a schedule. And I can’t say I’d recommend my newfound lifestyle to anyone. But no one really knows what lifestyle is going to work for you. Some find comfort in productivity, and others completely reject the idea.

But what is productivity? American economist, Paul Krugman, seems to value getting things done over everything else. He sounds like a riot at parties... “Productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run it is almost everything. A country’s ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker.” He’s clearly from a time before auto-play Netflix.

yourself more employable”. It’s okay to not be breaking PBs on the running track, or getting ahead in that essay. Fuck that essay. Sometimes it’s okay to just exist.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m not super productive at the moment. But it seems our need for productivity might be less about actually getting stuff done, as it is about getting validated for our productivity.

Being in lockdown for me means I’m spending way more time than usual on social media. There’s nothing like a quick scroll through home workouts and banana bread on Instagram to give me FOMO. It's weird, feeling like you’re missing out when really, we’re all at home doing 10% Instagram-worthy stuff, 90% not-that-much. I’m guilty of posting that double speed home workout onto my story, then flopping onto the couch for the rest of the day. But it felt good to post it, I had done something worth sharing. When it looks cool, post it, right?

So ‘productivity’ is the ratio between the volume of input and output - how effectively the effort put in, gets turned into the result that comes out. Or in lockdown; how effectively we can turn an empty four weeks into completed assignments, better fitness levels and a collection of random new skills. To justify our time spent. But I wanted to question why this was my default way of thinking. Everywhere in the news I’ve been seeing “15 tips on how to be productive” or “how to make the most of our lockdown”... but four weeks into isolation, the only thing I’ve “achieved” in a productive sense is the length of my armpit hair.

Who decides on the best ways to spend our time? Have I wasted my time if I don’t come out the other side of lockdown as my very best self; peak fitness, newly bilingual and in the best possible professional position? It’s okay to close the tab on that advice article about “Things to do during lockdown to make

While I am all for posting that banana bread, being stuck at home looks very different for people when they’re stressed. Not everyone has the mental capacity to be mucking around with yoga or picking up new hobbies when they’re struggling to put food on the table or feeling anxious. But we’re all just doing what we’re doing to get through the day. My 25km run does not discredit your Mean Girls marathon, and the fact your daily timetable starts at 6am isn’t a personal attack on me sleeping in (and in, and in…). Huge capitalistic social media platforms sometimes make us feel pressured to be prettier, funnier, more popular. But why are we competing? We criticise the beauty industry for feeding us societal norms, for telling us there’s only one kind of beautiful. So let's also take down other social constructs. Why measure our productivity against others? Why let hypothetical ‘Insta-worthy’ standards judge how we spend our time?

Let people’s banana bread inspire rather than pressure you. Make chocolate cake! Or better yet, eat those chips in bed like a champ. Use technology to enrich your friendships and as entertainment when you’re sick of hanging with your bubble buddies all day. And if you dabble in at-home hairdressing like my siblings and I... trust me, that’s one for the gram. Speaking from experience, your followers will thank you.

Everywhere in the news I’ve been seeing “15 tips on how to be productive” or “how to make the most of our lockdown”... but four weeks into isolation, the only thing I’ve “achieved” in a productive sense is the length of my armpit hair.

I Tried To Discover My ‘Ideal Lifestyle Activities’ During Lockdown

By William Austin

Can I just speak on behalf of everyone and just say how boring lockdown is!

Well, unless you’re reading this and you’re not in lockdown… in that case can we be friends? I need some during this lockdown period (well actually, I need friends both during and after the lockdown period, but don’t worry about that).

I can’t believe how just four weeks of being stuck at home can make me want to go to university after all. But I digress. You see, I’m really bored during this lockdown. And like many university students, I’ve always wondered "What if I didn't have to get a job? What if I could just do the things I wanted to do in life, without worrying about money? What might I do?"

So fortunately for me, Debate offered to pay me encouraged me to look high and low to figure out what activities may exist in this ‘ideal lifestyle’ of mine.

I chose three different hobbies that had potential, tried them out over a period of time, and saw what I could learn from trying to discover an ‘ideal lifestyle’ of mine.

Here is what happened.

Activity #1: Being a Professional Poker Player

In order to find my  ‘ideal lifestyle,’ I’m looking for an activity that is both intellectually stimulating and fun. Hopefully this is it. Normally people view online poker as ‘gambling,’ but I hold more pride in myself. I had previously studied the game for months in 2014 and I’ve amassed decent ‘winnings’ in online poker. Cause I’m ballin’ like that, I am able to play online poker with the ‘big boys’ with my play money chips. After all, I have no less than $115 million play money chips (don’t be jealous). But after spending some extended time learning more about poker, I realised this wasn’t the ‘Ideal lifestyle’ for me.

To be a ‘professional poker player’ today in 2020 compared to 2014 requires a lot more memorising and robot-like play. Unlike in 2014, artificial intelligence is now so good at no-limit Texas hold 'em that it can beat the best human players in a one-on-one match. It is common for current professional poker players to try to learn from AI and computers by using fancy software like PioSolver. This is causing many professional poker players to play poker in a less creative, more standardised fashion. And because I thrive on creativity, I would find this boring.

As a rule of thumb to you, my unofficial ‘mentees,’ if you don't think you'll like doing something, you're probably right. So regrettably, I must rule this activity as one that isn't part of my ‘ideal lifestyle.’ Next.

Activity #2: Learning to Play Backgammon Seriously?

I then thought to myself, “Why not learn a new game I haven’t played before?” So I choose to learn backgammon. And because I don’t know better, I’m learning to play backgammon on a kids virtual pet site.

Backgammon is a strategy game that is part luck, part strategy. Consider it like snakes and ladders, with some actual strategy involved. Sounds like something that might make an ideal lifestyle activity to me.

I started playing and yes, I enjoyed my time learning how to smash (not that smash) backgammon computers on ‘easy’ mode. But what I didn’t anticipate was how boring it was to read more about the more advanced strategies of the game. Sometimes, I couldn’t tell what was worse: reading the lecture notes that like, nobody reads, or reading backgammon strategy. In other words, studying backgammon was actually not an ‘ideal lifestyle’ activity.

Unofficial university mentees, sometimes you won't like certain aspects of an activity. For example, you may enjoy learning psychology at university, but not enjoy waking up for your 8am lectures. It's at such a time I think you need to decide; should I tolerate the pain for the reward at the end?

But I didn't like studying backgammon, so I passed on backgammon. Sorry backgammon, but you're not an ideal lifestyle activity for me.

Activity #3: Learning A Language To Fluency...

I gave learning a new language an attempt, as this was something I was itching to continue on for almost a year. My language of choice was Filipino. I took a year-long break from learning it, and I wanted to jump back into it again.  So to start, I pull out one of my language learning resources and I go to where every intermediate language learner goes to feel good about themselves…The ‘Absolute Beginner’ Section. But after that ego boost, I listen to some more ‘advanced’ material like vlogs and even the news. For some reason, I’m up to the challenge. And after a good amount of time learning again, I realise, I think learning Filipino might be something I’d do full-time in my ‘ideal lifestyle.’

You see unofficial mentees, one of the beauties of language learning is that there usually is no set curriculum (unless you're studying a language in university). And this is great because if you get bored, you just simply change your language learning activities.

The novelty is what made learning Filipino quite interesting for me. And so I recommend, mentees, that if you want to find your "ideal lifestyle" activities, you pick something somewhat flexible.

That is, when one day us university students have the means to achieve our "ideal lifestyle.”

Playing The Part An Intro to TableTop Role Playing Games

By Seth Nicholls

I’m an avid player of TTRPGs, or TableTop Role Playing Games. These are imaginative adventure games played with friends through a collectively imagined world, restrained by the ruleset of whatever game you’re playing. Such games usually have a Game Master (abbreviated as GM) who narrates the adventure and puts your characters in the scenarios they need to overcome, be it a puzzle or a big ol’ brawl. I’m here today to discuss why TTRPGs may be the right hobby for you, why you might choose to give it a pass, and some games that may make a fun entry point into the hobby.

Reasons to Love TTRPGs

The main reason that I love TTRPGs is because of their social element, the fact you’re sat down with a table of friends to have an adventure. You each bring your little element, that little bit of self-expression to the table, to have a good time with good people. You’re participating in a team match against whatever the GM thinks best to throw at you, enjoying the ride along the way. In this particularly isolating time, I’ve found RPGs to be both a release from the uncertainty of today, and a great way to maintain healthy relationships with friends. There is an undeniable sense of comradery that comes with playing TTRPGs. Having a social group invested in the same narrative

that you created collectively is a uniting experience in itself.

Another major upside to TTRPGs is their freedom of expression to play as who you want to be and escape the mundanity of this suck-ass flesh-prison we call a body. I know I need to escape the daily monotony of my trapped 2020 lifestyle. I might spend a good few hours as a warrior, or a wizard, or a hot dragon (judge me all you want.)

Not only are you free to come up with a character, you’re also free to act how you wish. Maybe you run in and slay that dragon for the Lord of this Mountain, or maybe you convince the beast to leave his lair for better lands. Anyway, It is this freedom to act to the limits of your imagination that

players find so alluring about TTRPGs. The ability to inhabit characters through your own creations within an open world set up, means that we are able to access an escape unmatched by any other platform.

All in all, TTRPGs are the best way to kill a dragon with your friends while magic mushrooms are out of season.

The Downfall

I think that TTRPGs are a great medium for creative expression and social fun, but they come with some caveats. The first potential downside I want to discuss is that focus on creative expression. If you aren’t inclined towards coming up with characters you can always use something premade, but you may feel left out among players who are more confident in this creative field. Going into the hobby, you should keep in mind how comfortable you are with this part of the activity.

Another issue is the time investment. RPGs take up a lot of time as a hobby, which can cause problems for a full-time student or anyone else with limited free time. An RPG session may take three to six hours, and that doesn’t even include the time you take outside of the session to learn the rules and set up your character. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Holy fuck, that is indeed a lot of time. More than a reasonable amount of time, to be honest. But if you’ve got that time on your hands (lucky you) and you enjoy this kind of activity, I promise it’s worth it.

Because I see it as a potential turn-off to those who show interest, I should address the stigma associated with the TTRPGs. We all know the image of unhygienic and creepy smegheads dwelling in TTRPG communities and other geek subcultures, treating them like incel safehouses. I want to let you know that these people DO EXIST. I also want you to know they fucking suck. Nobody likes them. They are banned from games and avoided due to their shitty behaviour. They are the reason an important social contract comes with TTRPGs. Remember when I said you are free to act within your imagination? Well… you’re not allowed to rape people, for reasons I really shouldn’t have to make clear. You’re also not allowed to creep on your fellow players, for the same obvious reasons. Players like that are blocked and reported and actively avoided. I recommend checking out ‘r/rpghorrorstories’ on Reddit for tales of terrible players and GMs alike. Use them as a guide to sketchy behaviour!

Recommendations

Well if you’re still interested in joining a game sometime, I’m gonna lay out a couple of fun RPGs that should be fairly easy for a new hobbyist to get into:

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition): Dungeons & Dragons has been a classic since the 80s, and its newest edition is the most friendly to new players! Enjoy an accessable romp through a fantasy land, fucking up monsters with your buddies. If you can get a somewhat experienced player to act as Game Master, running the game and helping you learn the rules, then the rest should be easy-peasy.

Honey Heist:

This is a great one-page RPG you can find online where you play as criminal bears, of various cuddly and less-cuddly kinds, as you attempt to steal various honey and honey-related artefacts. It’s super simple to get into and enjoy, as all the information you need can be printed on one page.

Dread:

Dread is for those horror fans in the audience who enjoy the tension ratcheting up every minute. In Dread, the players test whether they succeed in difficult tasks by pulling blocks from a Jenga tower. If the tower tumbles down, well, you fall into the clutches of whatever monster chases you...

I might spend a good few hours as a warrior, or a wizard, or a hot dragon (judge me all you want).

Hot Singles in Your Area Looking for... Love?

How Tinder changed the online dating game

By Jessy Thurston

Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, and the many others that are available to us through a simple download, are taking over the way we date. It seems like the days of actually approaching someone you fancy face-to-face are gone.

I’ve dabbled in the mishaps of Tinder for a long time now, even before the age limit of 18 was rightfully added. When the age restrictions came about in 2017, I continued lying about my age just to

be a part of the craze. If you dig deeper into the reasons behind why so many of us singletons have jumped onto the swiping bandwagon, and the kind of animals it’s turned us into, it all gets a bit confronting.

Setting up a profile demands you present the best version of yourself - just like a lot of us seem to do on any other social media platform. On Tinder, there’s an added layer of confusion as we

decide which are the nicest pictures of ourselves. Then there is the battle of how you portray yourself as sexy, outgoing, confident, musical etcetera...and how the hell do you do that with a limit of nine photos? Next is the crippling bio. It’s hard to know what you should say to encapsulate what you’re all about in a small amount of words - without turning people away, coming across as boring, or miscommunicating your personality. Of course, the next part is swiping.

I guess judging people on their appearance isn’t too far from traditional dating. People get to choose how to portray themselves to you, so their “personality” when you eventually start talking could be sculpted into something far better than their true selves. Hiding behind a screen means ample time to construct perfect replies and screenshot messages to ask friends what to respond. Though people don’t always try to make themselves seem better or interesting, judging by the amount of dry conversations I’ve had that make me want to throw my phone straight into a wall. Even after enjoying conversation with someone who may or may not be acting, there is the dreaded possibility of ghosting when one party gets bored, which has become so socially acceptable it’s scary.

Let’s take a minute to imagine you match with someone on Tinder, develop a liking to the vibes they cast out, and then eventually agree to meet in person. Unsurprisingly, they are NOTHING like their online persona. I can’t count the amount of times that I’ve sat down to Tinder coffee dates expecting the best, and then spending the first five minutes coming up with reasonable excuses in my head to leave as soon as possible.

Before we even get to the stage of facing an uncomfortable and disappointing first date, there is the selection process we have to go through. Much like interviewing someone to perfectly fit a job description, we have to sift through unwanted sexual advances, cringey pick up lines and so many examples of just sending ‘hey’ as the first message. It doesn’t matter how many Y’s you chuck onto the end of that tedious greeting, it's boring as HELL and you can DO SO MUCH BETTER.

I, personally, am not the biggest fan of pick up lines unless they are intended to be taken as a joke. I did question one young man who said the reason he started with a classy “I would remove every chair on the planet just so you’d have to sit on my face,” was because shocking pick up lines guarantee more replies than starting up a normal conversation. I guess shock factor does intrigue a lot of us, but the sexually driven nature of dating apps and the serious hookup culture within our generation is something we have to acknowledge.

a mask they place on their true longing for a commited relationship. It’s almost like pushing the couch over the red wine stain on the carpet - it’s still there, but you don’t want to deal with it right now. Sex provides temporary company and knowing you can fight your loneliness with a bootycall and get intimacy when you need it, is a massive distraction. Falling in lust with new people from dating apps all the time is also the perfect way to avoid commitment and prevent a broken heart, but it also stops someone from ever finding true human connection.

I think a lot of us are still attracted to dating apps despite all of the hassle, because we get self validation from our matches. It’s nice to know people like you, and to receive compliments in your inbox, but never actually feel pressured to reply to them. It’s a way to boost your confidence and patch up a broken ego without the drama.

It seems that Tinder has changed the way we date in terms of the order we do it in. More often than not, sex is on the table way before a date is proposed. Hookup culture has raided anything good that internet dating had. Sex seems to be at the forefront of dating apps, and way too often we are asked “so what are you on Tinder for?” just to be unmatched when we confess casual sex is not on the cards. I had a conversation about this with a friend and we talked about how people desire love, but turn to sex to fill the need when love is too hard to find. It’s almost like the addiction of lust is a coping mechanism for lack of companionship, and it's been normalised within our generation. For some, casual sex is just

When you add all of it together - the majority seeking to tap and gap, hiding real personalities behind a screen, disappointing first dates, and selfish validation - apps have changed the way we date and it can be hard to find a solid connection. If you’re into hookup culture then all the power to you, go forth and find yourself a FWB. Dating apps are a great place for sexual freedom and it has made it easier for those who are seeking out a hookup. Tinder has also done GREAT things for female sexuality, and opened up a safe place for women to explore casual sex without the stigmatisation there has been around it in the past. However if you’re really looking for love, then I would be careful not to rely too heavily on an app to assist you. It’s great for mindless swiping and a couple of yarns, but it might take a little bit of poking and prodding (no pun intended) before you find your perfect match.

I did question one young man who said the reason he started with a classy “I would remove every chair on the planet just so you’d have to sit on my face,” was because shocking pickup lines guarantee more replies than starting up a normal conversation.

Spruced Up Scrambled Eggs

Life is too short to eat the same style of scrambled eggs. Spruce up your breakfast and load up on nutrients without breaking the bank with this Parsi-inspired recipe! By Melissa

Koh

Ingredients

• 4 eggs

• 1/2 onion, chopped

• 1 tomato, chopped

• 1 green chilli, chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon oil

• 1 tablespoon butter

• Chopped coriander for garnish

Method

.

1. Beat eggs in a bowl and set aside.

2. Heat oil and butter in a pan over medium heat.

3. Once butter melts, add chopped chilli and lightly sauté.

4. Add chopped onion and sauté till softened for about 2 minutes.

5. Add chopped tomato and cook for another 2 minutes.

6. Reduce heat, add beaten eggs and combine with the other ingredients with a spatula, stirring constantly.

7. Keep cooking until the egg turns semi-soft, be careful not to let it overcook and harden.

8. Remove from pan, garnish with chopped coriander, and serve.

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