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The problem with shaming people for Auschwitz selfies

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-wight-1514086">Craig Wight</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phiona-stanley-1514087">Phiona Stanley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> Selfies have become the modern day equivalent of postcards, a way to share our travel experiences with family and friends on social media. It’s one thing to strike a goofy pose and snap a photo for Instagram on a beach or town square, but what if you are visiting a Holocaust memorial site? Taking fun, playful, even silly selfies at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9566811/">dark tourism</a> sites such as <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/45182/1/chernobyl-grenfell-tower-unpacking-the-rise-of-the-dark-tourism-tragedy-selfie">Chernobyl</a> Japan’s <a href="https://www.selondoner.co.uk/life/12122023-dark-tourism-in-london">“suicide forests”</a> or concentration camps has become a regular occurrence. It is widely regarded as controversial and distasteful. In 2017, Israeli-German artist Shahak Shapira launched a project aimed at shaming visitors taking selfies at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Germany. The project was <a href="https://yolocaust.de/">called Yolocaust</a> – a portmanteau of internet slang Yolo (you only live once) and Holocaust. It juxtaposed historical photos of Nazi murder victims with visitors’ photos of themselves, juggling and jumping, posing and playing at the Berlin memorial. Ever since, online vigilantes have been empowered to shame Holocaust-site selfie takers on social media. Many have used “yolocaust” in comments as shorthand for censure, judgement, and moral panic. We <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02508281.2022.2153994">analysed hundreds</a> of these posts, captions and comments to see how the selfie-takers are perceived and punished by others online. We examined posts with location tags at the Auschwitz Memorial Museum in Poland and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin. Based on our analysis, we think it may be better that young people engage with Holocaust sites in their own way, rather than not engaging at all. We also suggest that some commenters may be just as guilty as the selfie-takers, using their comments to show themselves in a positive light. Paradoxically, this is precisely what they are shaming the selfie-takers for doing: centering themselves, using the Holocaust as a prop. Vigilantism and public shaming has been around for centuries – think angry villagers with pitchforks raised. Vigilantes take it upon themselves to prevent, investigate and punish perceived wrongdoings, usually without legal authority. Online vigilantes (often called “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azv118">digilantes</a>”) punish others for perceived transgressions online. They act when they feel that someone has committed a crime or social wrongdoing on the internet as a form of <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/">cancel culture</a>. There is, of course, a fine line between constructively questioning someone’s choices and publicly shaming them. <h2>Who gets shamed?</h2> We found that it wasn’t just any photo (we also looked at non-selfie tourist photos) that attracted online shaming. Some people were more likely to receive negative comments than others, depending on age, gender, cultural identity, photo pose, facial expression and the captions accompanying the photos. Younger, more conventionally attractive people – especially women, and especially people posting in English or German – attracted many negative comments. In contrast, older and less conventionally “sexy” selfie-takers, men, and those posting in, for example, Italian or Russian tended to be ignored. Some of these patterns appear related to how young women are often sexualised and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2018.1447345">demeaned online</a>, especially when it comes to the selfies of women holding their bodies in “model-like” poses. To some commenters, it appears more acceptable to shame those who society already deems unserious and flippant. Location was also important. While the Berlin Memorial saw plenty of tourist behaviour deemed “disrespectful” by commenters, it was rare to encounter selfie-taking at Auschwitz. This may because Auschwitz is a paid visitor attraction offering structured tours. In contrast, the Berlin memorial is an art installation, always open and part of the streetscape. Its purpose and meaning may not be immediately apparent. This leaves room for the possibility that some Holocaust-site selfie-taking is an innocent, accidental part of tourism in Berlin. Another predictor of negative comments was the captions on the photos we examined. If the caption was flippant or suggested a lack of serious engagement with Holocaust history and memory, the photo attracted more critical comments. Those who made some attempt to justify or even intellectualise their selfie-taking were often excused censure. In one example, a young woman is pictured jumping between the concrete slabs of the Berlin memorial. But her picture is accompanied by a careful caption that explicitly questions whether her behaviour is ethical. She writes, “One part of you comes out, simply wanting to explore the structure for what it is physically. Another part of you says that you cannot take part in anything that brings you joy here”. As the caption appears to neutralise the fun selfie, her post escapes critical comments. <h2>Think before you shame</h2> Although the Auschwitz Memorial Museum <a href="https://twitter.com/AuschwitzMuseum/status/1108337507660451841?lang=en">tells visitors not to take selfies</a>, and while playful selfie-taking seems disrespectful, we don’t think it should be banned, as some online commenters have called for. We argue that it is more important to keep alive – however clumsily and imperfectly – the memory of the more than six million Jews and <a href="https://holocausteducation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/1.-Non-JewishVictimsOfNaziPersecutionMurder-Digital.pdf">millions of others</a> who were killed by the Nazis. Perhaps this is best done through people living their ordinary, complex, messy and often joyous lives, precisely as the Nazis’ victims could not. We also think it is important to question the motives of digilantes themselves. Some seem to be using their comments to display their own moral superiority, rather than trying to educate or influence the behaviour of the selfie-takers. Before you join the ranks of the digilantes and comment on something you think is disrespectful, think about why you’re doing it – these images, their captions and the comments show that there is often more nuance to “ethical” behaviour than can be captured in a photo.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224304/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-wight-1514086">Craig Wight</a>, Associated Professor in Tourism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phiona-stanley-1514087">Phiona Stanley</a>, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communications (Tourism and Languages), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-problem-with-shaming-people-for-auschwitz-selfies-224304">original article</a>.

International Travel

"Not my problem": Blondie singer speaks out on Anzac Day concert

Debbie Harry has spoken out on the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/anzac-day-is-not-for-sale-veterans-slam-anzac-day-rock-festival" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outrage</a> over the rock festival she's performing at on Anzac Day in Sydney. Debbie, who is the lead singer of rock band Blondie, was set to headline Pandemonium 2024, alongside Alice Cooper, Placebo and Deep Purple. The concert at Sydney's Domain has reportedly been cancelled following uproar by veteran groups, but event organiser Andrew McManus has told Today that he is in final talks to move the concert to Cathy Freeman Park. There is still anger over the concert being held on Anzac Day, but Debbie has said that the drama doesn't really concern her. "You know, it's not my problem, really," she told Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo. "It's my problem to do the show, but it's not really my problem to figure out where to put the show." Debbie also revealed that she is still in love with performing, with a five-decade career that shows no sign of stopping. "I love it, I love it, I think it's fantastic, the audiences are superb" she said. "They're having so much fun and they're free, you're outside, you're not forced to be seated and can walk around and it's a great atmosphere." Images: Today Show

Legal

"You are the problem": Landlord slammed over rent increase just before Christmas

An Australian landlord has been slammed online for deciding to raise the rent on one of her struggling tenants before Christmas. The landlord from WA took to social media to try to defend her decision to slap her tenant, who is a single mother, with a $100 rental increase at the start of the festive season. The woman, who owns four rental properties, explained that the increase comes from the growing market value in the suburb the tenant lives. "I decided to increase the rent by $100 a week for my tenant, who is a single mum with two kids, on the basis a reasonable rental increase would have been an extra $140 a week," she began in the video shared to her X account. "I recognise that she probably couldn't afford that. So I came to the conclusion that $100 would be a very good deal considering the suburb and it would be one of the cheaper rentals on the market." The tenant said that she is unable to afford the steep increase, especially in the weeks before Christmas, and would have to decide between affording her rent and feeding her young children. "So now I'm in a position. Do I subsidise the tenant's rent and cop it out of my own pocket... or do I tell this tenant she can't afford this particular suburb and she should look for somewhere more reasonable," the landlord said. "It's a really tough decision and one that I am not taking on lightly and just further evidence that this housing crisis is really impacting people financially." In the end, she decided to increase the tenant's rent. "I increased the tenant's rent by $100 per week after I did further research. The rent is still $30-$40 per under market value. Now I'm learning you can't mix emotions with business," she said. The landlord has been rinsed online, with many people calling out her callous actions in the festive season, dubbing her as "greedy" and contributing to nation's housing problem. "Jesus, I cannot imagine increasing a rent by $100 a week- that would ruin anyone, let alone a single mum. What are you thinking of? Have some ethics," one person said. "You and the real estate industry are the problem! Hiking the rent based on your real estate greed. If you recognise the social issues why do you add to the problem?" another person added. A third person chimed, "Is this satire? Surely you aren't this much of an awful human being." "I fully understand it's your property - however to increase rent just before Christmas is a little heartless and $100 a week increase is tall during a cost of living crisis," a fourth person said. Others jumped to defend the landlord, claiming owning rental property is a business and not a charity. One person commented, "Take the emotion out of it! It's an investment property not a charity! As harsh as that sounds it's the cost of being successful. But, perhaps leave it until after Christmas though as a goodwill gesture." Image credits: X / Instagram

Money & Banking

Is it normal to forget words while speaking? And when can it spell a problem?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greig-de-zubicaray-1468234">Greig de Zubicaray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> We’ve all experienced that moment mid-sentence when we just can’t find the word we want to use, even though we’re certain we know it. Why does this universal problem among speakers happen? And when can word-finding difficulties indicate something serious? Everyone will experience an occasional word-finding difficulty, but if they happen very often with a broad range of words, names and numbers, this could be a sign of a neurological disorder. <h2>The steps involved in speaking</h2> Producing spoken words involves several <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190672027.013.19">stages of processing</a>. These include: <ol> <li> identifying the intended meaning </li> <li> selecting the right word from the “mental lexicon” (a mental dictionary of the speaker’s vocabulary) </li> <li> retrieving its sound pattern (called its “form”) </li> <li> executing the movements of the speech organs for articulating it. </li> </ol> Word-finding difficulties can potentially arise at each of these stages of processing. When a healthy speaker can’t retrieve a word from their lexicon despite the feeling of knowing it, this is called a “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon by language scientists. Often, the frustrated speaker will try to give a bit of information about their intended word’s meaning, “you know, that thing you hit a nail with”, or its spelling, “it starts with an H!”. Tip-of-the-tongue states are relatively common and are a type of speech error that occurs primarily during retrieval of the sound pattern of a word (step three above). <h2>What can affect word finding?</h2> Word-finding difficulties occur at all ages but they do happen more often as we get older. In older adults, they can cause frustration and anxiety about the possibility of developing dementia. But they’re not always a cause for concern. One way researchers investigate word-finding difficulties is to ask people to keep a diary to record how often and in what context they occur. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01190/full">Diary studies</a> have shown that some word types, such as names of people and places, concrete nouns (things, such as “dog” or “building”) and abstract nouns (concepts, such as “beauty” or “truth”), are more likely to result in tip-of-the-tongue states compared with verbs and adjectives. Less frequently used words are also more likely to result in tip-of-the-tongue states. It’s thought this is because they have weaker connections between their meanings and their sound patterns than more frequently used words. Laboratory studies have also shown tip-of-the-tongue states are more likely to occur under <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13825585.2019.1641177">socially stressful</a> conditions when speakers are told they are being evaluated, regardless of their age. Many people report having experienced tip-of-the-tongue problems during job interviews. <h2>When could it spell more serious issues?</h2> More frequent failures with a broader range of words, names and numbers are likely to indicate more serious issues. When this happens, language scientists use the terms “anomia” or “<a href="https://www.aphasia.com/aphasia-library/aphasia-types/anomic-aphasia/">anomic aphasia</a>” to describe the condition, which can be associated with brain damage due to stroke, tumours, head injury or dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, the actor Bruce Willis’s family <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/16/health/frontotemporal-dementia-definition-symptoms-wellness/index.html">revealed</a> he has been diagnosed with a degenerative disorder known as primary progressive aphasia, for which one of the earliest symptoms is word-finding difficulties rather than memory loss. Primary progressive aphasia is typically associated with frontotemporal or Alzheimer’s dementias, although it can be associated with other <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3637977/">pathologies</a>. Anomic aphasia can arise due to problems occurring at different stages of speech production. An assessment by a clinical neuropsychologist or speech pathologist can help clarify which processing stage is affected and how serious the problem might be. For example, if a person is unable to name a picture of a common object such as a hammer, a clinical neuropsychologist or speech pathologist will ask them to describe what the object is used for (the individual might then say “it’s something you hit things with” or “it’s a tool”). If they can’t, they will be asked to gesture or mime how it’s used. They might also be provided with a cue or prompt, such as the first letter (h) or syllable (ham). Most people with anomic aphasia benefit greatly from being prompted, indicating they are mostly experiencing problems with later stages of retrieving word forms and motor aspects of speech. But if they’re unable to describe or mime the object’s use, and cueing does not help, this is likely to indicate an actual loss of word knowledge or meaning. This is typically a sign of a more serious issue such as primary progressive aphasia. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroimaging">Imaging studies</a> in healthy adults and people with anomic aphasia have shown different areas of the brain are responsible for their word-finding difficulties. In <a href="https://direct.mit.edu/jocn/article-abstract/35/1/111/113588/Neural-Correlates-of-Naturally-Occurring-Speech">healthy adults</a>, occasional failures to name a picture of a common object are linked with changes in activity in brain regions that control motor aspects of speech, suggesting a spontaneous problem with articulation rather than a loss of word knowledge. In anomia due to primary progressive aphasia, brain regions that process word meanings show a loss of nerve cells and connections or <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0148707">atrophy</a>. Although anomic aphasia is common after strokes to the left hemisphere of the brain, the associated word-finding difficulties do not appear to be distinguishable by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945215003299">specific areas</a>. There are <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02687030244000563">treatments</a> available for anomic aphasia. These will often involve speech pathologists training the individual on naming tasks using different kinds of cues or prompts to help retrieve words. The cues can be various meaningful features of objects and ideas, or sound features of words, or a combination of both. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002199241730014X">Smart tablet</a> and phone apps also show promise when used to complement therapy with home-based practice. The type of cue used for treatment is determined by the nature of the person’s impairment. Successful treatment is associated with changes in activity in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093934X14000054">brain regions</a> known to support speech production. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for primary progressive aphasia, although <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246">some studies</a> have suggested speech therapy can produce temporary benefits. If you’re concerned about your word-finding difficulties or those of a loved one, you can consult your GP for a referral to a clinical neuropsychologist or a speech pathologist. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212852/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greig-de-zubicaray-1468234">Greig de Zubicaray</a>, Professor of Neuropsychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-it-normal-to-forget-words-while-speaking-and-when-can-it-spell-a-problem-212852">original article</a>.

Mind

Solutions to common cruising problems

Have you ever encountered any of these problems while you were out at sea? Here’s how to solve the most common problems encountered on a cruise. 1. You haven’t received your luggage Most cruise lines ask passengers to be patient for the first few hours of the cruise after sailing. If you haven’t received your luggage after a few hours then you need to talk to someone at the purser’s desk. If your luggage was lost in transit then the cruise line will begin to trace their location and try to have them delivered to the ship at the next cruise port. If your luggage was loaded by a porter then it is possible that it is missing because there is a contraband item (like candles or alcohol) in your bag or it has been delivered to the wrong cabin. It’s helpful to carry on a bag with an outfit for your first day on the cruise along with toiletry essentials and medication. 2. Something in your cabin doesn’t work The first step is to check with a cabin steward that there is a legitimate problem with the object and that it doesn’t just require a change of batteries. If the object still doesn’t work then call the front desk and notify them of the issue. If the problem can’t be fixed they may offer you a cabin upgrade or a gift like onboard credit. If they don’t offer you anything, be sure to ask! 3. You are unhappy with your dinner arrangements If you are unhappy with your assigned dining time then you can request a switch in time slots or swap assigned dining for flexible dining. All dining requests cannot be accommodated, however, due to the high demand, but the staff will do their best to cater to your preferences. If you are not getting along with your tablemates then be upfront with the dinning staff when you request a new table. Often, the other party will also request for other arrangements. 4. Your ship had an itinerary change All cruise contracts note that ports calls are not guaranteed and may be bypassed or changed. Usually, passengers will be refunded the port tax in the form of onboard credit, however, it is only a small amount of money. If you book excursions through the cruise line then you will be refunded your money but if you booked an excursion through a different company, you will need to contact them to find out about cancellation policies and refunds. It is always best to do your research in advance when booking a tour so if you do miss a port you won’t be short changed. 5. Your ship’s medical facility won’t accept your insurance Cruise ships do not accept regular health insurance but keep your receipts as some insurance companies will reimburse you for medical expenses you incurred while travelling. A safe bet is purchasing a travel insurance policy that will cover any healthcare expenses. 6. Your onboard account is inaccurate Incorrect account information can be fixed if you go to the purser’s office or call and explain the discrepancy. It’s best to keep an eye on your account throughout the cruise so you are not hit with any surprises at the end. It is helpful to save your receipts from onboard purchases if you need to contest anything. Images: Shutterstock

Cruising

No Pokies, no problems: The bowling club that never looked back

Petersham Bowling Club was heading towards poverty, when the board’s decision to remove all of their pokies in 2007 changed their business for the better. Club president George Catsi said that the shift from pokies, a staple of many NSW bowling clubs, to live entertainment and other events has generated them more profit than the slots ever did, with a 700 per cent increase in turnover. “I came at it from a position of, this is a valuable space that’s here, the club owns the land. They could have developed it,” he told news.com.au. “So I suppose we came in on a platform of engagement, and we were feeling that the club wasn’t engaging with its community.” Over the last calendar week alone, the club has hosted trivia, life drawing, poetry, two music gigs, Pinot and Picasso, a community radio show, and Sunday bowls. “You’ve got to create a place that people go. This place is such a great vibe, and it’s got such interesting things going. People will fight for that,” Catsi said. “This is what clubs should be – they should be hubs. My problem with a lot of other clubs is that they forgot that.” Catsi said that they took over the bowling club because it was struggling, and recognised that the pokies weren’t “saving them” or a “guaranteed lifeline”, as they still needed to get people through to the club. He also said that clubs relying on the slot machines for income are “doomed” because they are not open to welcoming and accommodating to the wider communities. “Is it lazy income now? Yes, it is. Absolutely. Because it’s just embedded as part of your income stream, and you don’t want to let go of it,” Catsi said. “It’s also governments … they’re also addicted to the gambling money.” Pokies are going to be one of the major issues for the upcoming NSW election on March 25. Both parties have vowed to make considerable changes, but neither are going to remove the slots completely. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Problem Aussie females silently suffering

Incontinence is an uncomfortable, embarrassing and debilitating disorder. I should know. I’ve had difficulty with bladder control since my back gave out in April 2021. I’m not alone. One in four Australians and one in three women suffer from incontinence. More than half are under the age of 50, largely due to childbirth. The majority, like me suffer in silence with this uncomfortable, embarrassing and debilitating disorder. It got so bad I was having to wear pads from the minute I got up or else risk embarrassing leakage. It became an issue every day and significantly impacted my quality of life and confidence. There were times I literally couldn’t stand up from my chair without leaking down my leg. I would suffer in silence. Continence is just as important as sexual arousal, sexual response and ease of orgasm, but when it’s not holding, it’s not happening. I spoke at a recent function publicly about my incontinence and I was surprised to see the level of interest and engagement with the topic. Many guests told me after the event they suffer incontinence but have never told anyone or sought any form of medical care. Technology has come a long way in this field. Women’s Wellness platform EmpowerRF from InMode uses internal radiofrequency platforms VTone, FormaV and Morpheus8V which more women are now using. <ul> <li><a href="https://www.inmode.com.au/pages/vtone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VTone</a> – a gentle intravaginal electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and neuromuscular re-education treatment. Women with weak pelvic floor muscles are using this. </li> <li><a href="https://www.inmode.com.au/pages/formav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FormaV</a> – deep tissue heating. Women with dryness and muscle tone issues are using this. Treats incontinence and in particular the feeling of urgency. It also aims to improve vaginal dryness and burning/stinging associated with menopause and associated painful intercourse. It can enhances\ sexual response.</li> <li><a href="https://www.inmode.com.au/pages/morpheus8v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morpheus8 V</a> is micro-needling with radiofrequency (in the vagina). Women wanting to improve vaginal laxity and urinary incontinence are turning to this. </li> </ul> While incontinence impacts our lifestyle it also impacts the environment. A recent study from Southern Cross University and the University of Queensland has found that by 2030 waste from absorbent hygiene products (AHP) generated by adults [used for incontinence] will outnumber that produced by infants by between four and 10 times. After food waste, sanitary, incontinence products and disposable nappies ending up in landfill are becoming one of the most significant waste issues, comprising between 5-15 per cent of waste in household bins. It can take up to 800 years for the products to break down. This has to change - and I suspect it will the more we talk openly about it. For more information visit <a href="https://www.inmode.com.au/pages/empower-rf-womens-wellness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EmpowerRF</a>. Written by Dr Judy Craig , Natural Looks Cosmetic Medicine in Subiaco WA Image: Shutterstock

Body

Gaming 'loot boxes' linked to problem gambling

Gamers who purchase 'loot boxes' - digital treasure chests filled with random items that you buy in games using real-world currency - are more likely to have a problem with gambling, according to new research. A study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2022.2141717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Addiction Research & Theory</a> has found that 57 percent of adults surveyed who had bought loot boxes had gambled in the same year, compared to 37 percent of a control group who hadn't bought the virtual items. While previous studies have found a link between loot box purchasing, gambling and problem gambling, this study explored whether this link was due to psychological risk factors for gambling, such as childhood neglect, emotional distress, and the tendency to act rashly when upset. After analysing the purchase history and questionnaires of 1,189 Canadian university students, along with 499 adults recruited from the community, they found that a similar proportion of the students and adults had bought loot boxes, with an average spend between $90.63 and $240.94 respectively. Among the students, 28 percent of loot box-purchasers also gambled, in comparison to 19 percent of those who hadn't bought any loot boxes. Students who reported buying more loot boxes and other 'riskier' habits were also more likely to have a gambling habit. While this wasn't seen in the adult group, the authors argue this may be due to the small sample size. "Findings indicate that loot box purchasing represents an important marker of risk for gambling and problem gambling among people who play video games," Sophie Coelho, a PhD student at Toronto’s York University, said. "The persistent associations we observed between loot box purchasing and gambling may provide preliminary support for the role of loot boxes as a 'gateway' to gambling and eventually problem gambling. "Loot boxes may prime people to gamble and increase susceptibility to problem gambling." As for the role of gambling risk factors, the authors found that adverse childhood experiences, like abuse and neglect, were "most consistently associated with an increased likelihood of past-year gambling and greater problem gambling". They concluded that those with troubled upbringings have a "heightened vulnerability" to develop a gambling problem. “This may be compounded by engaging with gambling-like features embedded in video games, such as loot boxes," they added. Loot boxes, also called loot or prize crates, have become the subject of controversy recently, with concerns that their use of random chance to give players randomised weapons, armour, and items they can use to customise their character could be a form of gambling. In some games, loot boxes became a way to “pay to win”, with items that can affect gameplay and offer a competitive advantage, driving players to pay for more loot boxes to get items that allow them to compete with other players. Some countries have begun to introduce laws to regulate loot boxes, with Belgium and the Netherlands banning loot boxes altogether. In Australia, a law to restrict the use of loot boxes in games aimed at children has been proposed which could see games with loot boxes given a rating of R18+ or RC (“Refused Classification”, so they can't be sold in Australia) and carry warning labels. Image: Sameboat, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Money & Banking

There’s a serious ethical problem with some sunscreen testing methods – and you’re probably not aware of it

As summer approaches, we need to start remembering to slip on sun-protective clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade where possible, and slide on sunglasses. When it comes to sunscreen, we all know we need to wear it to protect against the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause skin cancer. But what about the sun protection factor, known as the SPF rating, we see on our sunscreen bottles? It indicates the level of protection – but is it always what it says it is, and how is it actually tested? <h2>Risking human health for SPF testing</h2> While there have been some cases of <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/sunscreen-testing-ama-laboratories-condition-listing">sunscreens not matching up to their SPF claims</a>, this is the exception and not the norm. In Australia, we can be comfortable knowing these products are tightly regulated to ensure they are safe and meet their claimed SPF rating, according to current SPF testing methods. However, problems arise when it comes to how sunscreens are tested for their SPF rating. Most people would not be aware that the SPF value on their sunscreen bottles is determined by testing on humans. Ultimately, this means we are risking people’s health to test how effective our sunscreens are – and we urgently need to change this. <h2>How is sunscreen SPF tested?</h2> Once a sunscreen formulation has been developed by a manufacturer it needs to go through testing to ensure it only contains approved ingredients, and ultimately, that it does what it says it does. All sunscreen products available in Australia are <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/about-sunscreens">tested according to the Australian Standard to determine the SPF</a>. This is great and provides assurance of safety and quality for the consumer – but the problem is with how this testing is done. Currently, testing sunscreens on humans is the approved international standard to rate the UV protection level of a sunscreen. This testing involves volunteers wearing strictly defined amounts of sunscreen and being exposed to artificial solar <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/what-is-radiation/non-ionising-radiation/ultraviolet-radiation">UV radiation</a>. Performance is measured by determining the time it takes for erythema or redness to occur. <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/policy-and-advocacy/prevention-policy/national-cancer-prevention-policy/skin-cancer-statistics-and-issues/sunburn">This is, basically, sunburn</a>; based on this, an SPF rating is assigned. <h2>Why is human testing of SPF a problem?</h2> If sunscreens only contain approved ingredients we know are safe, is it really a problem they are tested on humans? Sadly, yes. Human testing involves exposing people to harmful UV radiation, which we know can cause skin and eye damage, <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-sources/sun-exposure">as well as being the leading cause of skin cancer</a>. This alone is <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PHRP3212205.pdf">unethical and unjustifiable</a>. There are also other issues associated with testing sunscreen on humans. For example, the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/phpp.12095">use of erythema to determine sunscreen effectiveness is highly subjective</a>, and may differ from one person to another, even for those with the same <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/sites/default/files/legacy/pubs/RadiationProtection/FitzpatrickSkinType.pdf">skin type</a>. This makes the reliability of such testing methods questionable. Further, testing is only done on a small number of people (a minimum of <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-regulatory-guidelines-for-sunscreens.pdf">ten people is required in Australia</a>). This is great for exposing as few people as possible to harmful UV radiation to determine a product’s SPF rating – but not so great when it comes to inclusiveness. Testing such a small number of people is not representative. It does not include all skin types and leads to real <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ics.12333">challenges in achieving reproducible results</a> across different laboratories testing the same product. The testing itself is also very expensive. This adds to the already high cost of buying sunscreens, and potentially limits manufacturers from developing new and better products. These, along with many other issues, highlight the urgency for non-human (in vitro) testing methods of a sunscreen’s effectiveness to be developed. <h2>Human-free SPF testing technology is in development</h2> While efforts have been made to develop non-human testing methods, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993622002072">there remain several challenges</a>. <a href="https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/292777">These include</a> the materials used to simulate human skin (also known as substrates), difficulties in applying the sunscreen to these substrates, reproducibility of results, and ensuring that results are the same as what we see with human testing. However, scientists at <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/">RMIT University</a>, with support from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (<a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/">ARPANSA</a>) and the <a href="https://www.cancervic.org.au/">Cancer Council Victoria</a>, are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993622002072">working on a solution to this problem</a>. So far, they have developed a prototype sensor that <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06273-3">changes colour when exposed to UV radiation</a>. This <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06273-3/figures/5">sensor</a> could be customised for human-free sunscreen testing, for example. Reliable in vitro testing methods will mean in the future, sunscreen manufacturers would be able to quickly make and test new and better sunscreens, without being limited by the time and cost constraints involved with human testing. So the next time you buy a bottle of sunscreen, look to purchase the highest-rated sunscreen of SPF 50+ – and know that work is underway on getting that rating classified in a more ethical way. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-a-serious-ethical-problem-with-some-sunscreen-testing-methods-and-youre-probably-not-aware-of-it-195359" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

Warning signs of age-related eye problems not to ignore

The major causes of blindness and vision loss in Australia are age-related degenerative eye diseases, such as cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. To slow down, treat or avoid poor eye health as you age, there are actions you can take. For instance, regular eye exams are the very best way to avoid vision problems. Similarly being aware of certain warning signs also can help you take appropriate steps to maintain your eyesight, particularly if vision symptoms occur suddenly. In many cases, swift action is essential to avoid or minimise permanent vision loss. While many eye problems can occur at any age, they often are more common in older individuals. Unfortunately, ageing also increases your risk for certain types of sight-threatening eye conditions that can lead to blindness. The following signs and symptoms can indicate a medical emergency. In most cases, you should see your eye doctor immediately if you experience: Sudden blurry vision in one eye If you are over 60, your chance of developing a macular hole in the part of the retina where fine focusing occurs increases. Because macular holes can worsen and cause permanent loss of vision, it's important to visit your eye care practitioner for a diagnosis and prompt treatment (if necessary). A flood of spots and floaters in your field of vision Usually, spots and floaters are due to a benign, age-related condition called vitreous detachment. This occurs when the eye's gel-like interior liquefies and separates from the retina, where vision processing occurs.  But a sudden onset of spots and floaters also can be caused by a serious, sight-threatening tear or detachment of the retina. If you suddenly see a shower of spots and floaters, visit your optometrist immediately. Sudden eye pain, redness, nausea and vomiting These symptoms can signal a sudden (acute) attack of narrow-angle glaucoma, which can permanently damage the eye's optic nerve. Immediate treatment is required to prevent permanent vision loss. A gradual (or sudden) narrowing of your field of vision, leaving you with the ability to see only directly in front of you This could mean you have developed glaucoma that damages your optic nerve, with accompanying vision loss at the "edges" of your field of view. Without intervention, vision loss will continue and permanent blindness may result. A gradual loss of central vision, including distortions such as seeing wavy instead of straight lines These symptoms may be caused by macular degeneration (MD), a leading cause of blindness among older Australians. Today, there are several new medical treatments can effectively halt vision loss due to macular degeneration. Some treatments may even help you regain some vision lost to AMD, if therapy is initiated soon enough. Cloudy and blurred eyesight, "halos" around lights at night, loss of bright color vision These vision changes may be due to cataracts. Cataracts tend to worsen gradually over time and are not a medical emergency. Nevertheless, as your eye's natural lens continues to cloud with aging, you eventually will go blind unless you have cataract surgery that replaces your cloudy lens with a man-made intraocular lens. If you wait too long for cataract surgery, you increase your chance of complications such as glaucoma. Also, if cataract surgery is postponed too long, the cloudy lens can harden and become more difficult to remove. Scratchy or irritated sensation, eye surface pain, tearing These signs and symptoms are most commonly due to dry eye syndrome. Dry eye usually is more of a nuisance than a sight-threatening condition. But symptoms can be severe, particularly as you grow older and your body produces fewer tears or your tear chemistry changes. Consult your eye care practitioner for advice about remedies, which may include over-the-counter or prescription eye drops. Image: Getty

Caring

"I’m the problem, it’s me": Why do musicians revisit their pain and doubt in their art?

Taylor Swift’s latest album Midnights launched with the single <a href="https://youtu.be/b1kbLwvqugk">Anti-Hero</a>. Anti-heroes in fiction are dark, complex characters who may question their moral compass but are ultimately trying to be led by their good intentions. Perhaps most humans feel like we are all anti-heroes lacking the right amount of courage, idealism, and morality – wanting to be heroic but struggling through familiar dark places. In Anti-Hero, Taylor shares emotional rawness and sings “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me … everybody agrees.” “I don’t think I’ve delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before,” Swift said about the song in a video <a href="https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-midnights-anti-hero-meaning/">on Instagram</a>. “I struggle a lot with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized and, not to sound too dark, I struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person.” Taylor’s album reveals her struggle with her own insecurities and maybe common universal human emotions that everyone struggles to face. In Labyrinth, for example, she sings about heartbreak, and more specifically, the fear of falling in love again: "It only feels this raw right now Lost in the labyrinth of my mind Break up, break free, break through, break down." Much of the new album, and Swift’s discography in general, often revisits past heartbreaks, disappointments, and insecurities. Swift has talked about how Midnights is an album devoted to the kinds of soul-searching thoughts we have in the middle of the night. “This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams,” Swift wrote. “The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching — hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve… we’ll meet ourselves.” <h2>Music and pain</h2> Music has the potential to change our experience of intrusive thoughts and how we deal with pain. At an extreme level, when we revisit past traumatic experiences, we are often in danger of triggering a <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/the-four-fear-responses-fight-flight-freeze-and-fawn-5205083">feared response</a>, that manifests as either fight/flight/freeeze or fawn, that can often re-traumatise individuals. When we identify with a song that expresses similar struggles to what we are experiencing we feel understood and not judged. Clinical psychologist <a href="https://janinafisher.com/pdfs/trauma.pdf">Dr Janina Fisher</a> has proposed that distancing ourselves from pain helps humans survive, yet an ongoing “self-alientation” of parts of ourselves that carries fear or shame lead to a disowning of self – the bad parts that Taylor relates to as being the things she hates about herself which causes a further suppression of feelings that can create further psychological distress. Expression is central to releasing emotion and connecting to music may be the key that allows the disowned parts of self to be re-integrated by expressing them in a new way. Music provides a creative outlet to re-script a new story of survival of the fear of the past with a renewed ability to see to the good things again in life. Musicians often imbue grief and trauma in their lyrics and melodies as autobiographical reflections into their art as a way of working through complex emotions and feelings - and by doing so, enlighten the listener to work through their own pain. <h2>Music and connection</h2> Music seems to be a way for music lovers to connect with artists stories of tragedy, which allows their own traumatic or painful memories to become more comfortably <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-1280-0_2">integrated</a> and accepted. Durham University studied 2,436 people within the United Kingdom and Finland to explore the reasons why we listen to sad music. Research suggested that music is a way that people regulate their mood, pleasure and pain. Professor Tuomas Eerola, Professor of Music Cognition in the Department of Music said “<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160614155914.htm">previous research</a> in music psychology and film studies has emphasised the puzzling pleasure that people experience when engaging with tragic art.” The depth of loathing that Taylor taps into in Anti-Hero also affirms our own experience. It’s self confirming. Engaging with trauma in art allows us to rewrite the outcome from being victims of our circumstances to victors. We are either consumers or creators. <h2>Mental health and music</h2> As the <a href="https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/major-themes/health-and-well-being">World Health Organisation</a> states “there is no health without mental health”. A musician’s writing about trauma is a way of increasing mental health - of searching for understanding of themselves through self-reflection, it changes old thinking patterns and provides a new perspective and ways of thinking about themselves and others that can often <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/">heal emotional wounds</a>. Like telling your story through a <a href="https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/narrative-exposure-therapy">trauma narrative</a>, music can help reduce its emotional impact. Music is a universal language that gives you the chance to be a protagonist in your life story, to see yourself as living through it heroically. Psychologists understand that the quickest way to understanding someone is through their wounds, and musicians too understand this power of music to comfort, console, encourage and exhort themselves and other broken hearts. Humans need to feel safe and in connection with others for survival, and music is the language that activates <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.191355898">pleasure centres in the brain</a> and communicates <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003-99991-007">powerful emotions</a>. If trauma causes distress to the brain and body and <a href="https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/narrative-exposure-therapy">music enhances</a> psychological wellbeing, improves mood, emotions, reduces pain, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, music has the potential to alleviate chronic disease and pain. Music is a vehicle that gathers strength from distress, and helps you grow brave by reflections and maybe the anti-hero’s and insecurities recreated through music may be the treasures found in darkness that we may not have seen in the light. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/im-the-problem-its-me-why-do-musicians-revisit-their-pain-and-doubt-in-their-art-193528" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Music

Cold homes increase the risk of severe mental health problems – new study

Concerns about <a href="https://theconversation.com/energy-crisis-the-uk-is-still-heading-for-widespread-fuel-poverty-despite-the-governments-price-cap-190290" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fuel poverty</a> and people not being able to heat their homes adequately are not new in the UK, but these worries have been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/26/warm-banks-open-wolverhampton-cost-of-living-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heightened</a> by significant increases in energy costs and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-cost-of-living-crisis-has-been-many-years-in-the-making-but-politicians-on-both-sides-ignore-this-189483" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost-of-living crisis</a>. And as winter approaches, things are about to get a lot worse. Despite a relatively mild climate, the UK has higher levels of excess winter deaths – deaths associated with cold weather – than <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673614621140" target="_blank" rel="noopener">many colder countries</a>. This greater exposure to cold, despite milder weather, is related to poor housing quality, the high cost of heating homes and poverty. We know quite a lot about how living in a home that you can’t keep warm enough affects your physical health. Colder temperatures <a href="https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/the-health-impacts-of-cold-homes-and-fuel-poverty/the-health-impacts-of-cold-homes-and-fuel-poverty.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suppress the immune system</a>, for example. But we know relatively little about the effects on mental health. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115461" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our new research</a> shows that living in a cold home is a significant mental health risk. Living in a cold home can affect your mental health in several ways. For many, heating costs are a source of stress and financial strain. Not being able to keep your home and family comfortably warm reduces feelings of control and autonomy over your environment. People who are unable to heat their home often adopt coping mechanisms that <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00558.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">limit socialising</a> – for example, not inviting friends over and going to bed early to keep warm. And many people are just worn down by the drudgery of a whole winter of being uncomfortably cold. Using <a href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from a large representative sample of adults in the UK, we followed people over many years and tracked the effect of being unable to keep your home warm on mental health. When people’s homes became cold, their risk of severe mental distress significantly increased. For people who previously had no mental health problems, the odds of severe mental distress doubled when they had a cold home, while for those who had some (but not severe) mental health symptoms, the risk tripled (see chart below). We found these effects even after taking into account many other factors associated with mental health, including income. Odds of reporting severe mental distress following transition into cold housing compared to those who remained in warm homes <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=483&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=483&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=483&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=607&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=607&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492381/original/file-20221028-61968-sxkqgr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=607&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>author provided</figcaption></figure> Sadly, the risk of living in a cold home differs greatly across the UK population. Lone parents and people who are unemployed or long-term sick are much more likely to live in cold homes. There is also significant inequality across ethnic groups – more than 12% of black people live in cold homes compared with under 6% of white British people, for example. Those who rent rather than own their home are also far more likely to live in cold homes, for social renters this is despite the, on average, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1088447/EHS_Housing_quality_and_condition_report_2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher quality and</a><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091144/Energy_Report_2020_revised.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">efficiency</a> of social rented homes. Putting on another jumper won’t be enough to get many in the UK through the coming winter. And mental health distress is just one consequence. Cold homes cause issues with significant personal and societal costs – from individual health effects to the increased pressure on the NHS, as well as broader economic loss due to missed work. Rishi Sunak’s new government needs to help people live in adequately warm homes this winter. But how? The older age of housing in the UK is <a href="http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/the-health-impacts-of-cold-homes-and-fuel-poverty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavily implicated</a> in the UK’s high levels of cold. Support for energy efficiency improvements is therefore a possible means of reducing cold homes. This will also mean tackling the so-called “split incentive” in the private rented sector, which houses a significant proportion of households. The split incentive refers to the challenge of the benefits of improvements not being experienced by the property owners but by tenants, reducing the incentive for owners to invest. This results in poorer quality and more expensive homes for renters. Heat or eat? Most can’t afford either The high proportion of cold homes in the social housing sector – despite having the best average energy efficiency due to insulation and building types (flats) – shows that energy efficiency improvements alone will not eliminate cold. <a href="https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/the-living-standards-outlook-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Incomes in the UK are falling</a>. Benefit levels are <a href="https://theconversation.com/raising-benefits-in-line-with-earnings-will-make-the-poor-worse-off-heres-why-192880" target="_blank" rel="noopener">painfully low</a> and worsened by policies including the benefit cap, two-child limit and sanctions. Years of cuts and <a href="https://www.jrf.org.uk/file/59072/download?token=acsEgZp7&filetype=briefing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">below inflation rises</a> mean that the term “heat or eat”, used to describe difficult spending decisions for low-income households, is now out of date, as <a href="https://www.jrf.org.uk/file/59191/download?token=PCFIM8W9&filetype=briefing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">many can afford neither</a>. The combination of low household incomes with surging energy costs has created devastating pressure on household budgets. While the energy cap has limited energy cost increases below the worst estimates, energy bills have still <a href="https://theconversation.com/energy-crisis-the-uk-is-still-heading-for-widespread-fuel-poverty-despite-the-governments-price-cap-190290" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than doubled in the past year</a>. And prepayment meters mean that those the with the least end up paying the most. There are, therefore, many areas for potential government intervention, and clear evidence that failing to intervene will cause harm to health.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193125/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by Amy Clair. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/cold-homes-increase-the-risk-of-severe-mental-health-problems-new-study-193125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Real Estate

Emergency response via wifi proposed to solve a wicked problem

Concern that tourists and travellers are not receiving local, up to date emergency information has sparked the idea that won the inaugural Natural Hazards Research Australia Disaster Challenge Final in Brisbane. Dr Kamarah Pooley and Mark Owens are behind the winning concept, which addresses what Natural Hazards Research (NHRA) describes as “a wicked problem” in the pantheon of problems caused by climate change. Pooley and Owens proposed using Wi-Fi captive portals to reach tourists and tourism workers with disaster preparation and prevention information. According to Pooley, an early-career researcher from Fire and Rescue New South Wales, the idea focuses on positive and practical information that people can use while on holiday to stay safe from floods, bushfires, cyclones and other natural hazards. The concept outlines a short video with tips about how to access emergency information and what to do if disaster strikes – customised to the local area – which would play before tourists access Wi-Fi services at accommodation or eateries. “Accessing free Wi-Fi is essential for holiday makers and our approach is another way to reach people who are hard to reach through current communication channels,” said Owens, an early-career researcher from the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. “Wi-Fi portals are a way that holiday makers can receive the vital information they need to make informed decisions during a natural hazard.” As NHRA CEO Andrew Gissing explained, “emergency management is full of wicked problems and new thinking is our way forward. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expecting a different result.” Pooley told Cosmos “Existing sources of disaster information build resilience in communities through targeted programs, resources and messages that are designed for defined, static populations. “While existing efforts are effective at reducing the risk and consequences of disasters for permanent residents and workers, there is little evidence to suggest that these approaches are applicable to transient communities. “Tourists have unstructured routines, making them difficult to access in a systematic way. Travellers are inherently difficult to reach. This is especially concerning when travellers are from overseas and are not aware of any of the usual sources of information, such as which radio stations to listen to, social media accounts to follow, or mobile applications to download.” <h2>So why would tourists access the emergency response content?</h2> “While our idea does not require tourists and tourism workers to access a Wi-Fi network, it taps into the large-scale adoption of wireless services and the everyday behaviours of an increasing tech savvy population to reach people who are on the move. “Australia has embraced wireless services and Wi-Fi is now considered an integral part of public infrastructure. Free Wi-Fi is increasingly rolling out, particularly in places frequented by tourists and tourism workers, such as accommodation, information centres, cafes, restaurants, parks, airports, and on airlines and buses. “Captive portals are web pages that users must view and interact with before accessing a Wi-Fi network. Any tourist or tourism worker who attempts to access a Wi-Fi network will have to watch a disaster preparedness video tailored to that time and place. After they have viewed the video, they will be provided with access to the Wi-Fi network. “Travellers are heavy consumers of wireless services. By tapping into Wi-Fi, we can deliver systematic disaster preparedness information to a large proportion and wide variety of travellers.” Emergency agencies and local media and the ABC have spent fifteen years trying to ensure they can deliver emergency information to local communities. Pooley says travellers require different messaging to permanent residents. “Many tourists are new to the local area and are unaware of the temporal and place-based factors influencing risk. They do not have accurate perceptions of risk and how disasters may interact with that season or place. They generally do not know what to do when a disaster occurs in that context. As a result, travellers need tailored information. “For example, while most locals know the local area, travellers often do not. We recommend that travellers download an offline map of the local area so that, in the event of a disaster and loss of telecommunication services, they have access to a map that will help them leave an area that is unsafe. “While most locals will know to listen to their local ABC radio, scroll through local emergency services social media pages, and download certain mobile applications such as the NSW RFS’ Fires Near Me app, travellers will not, especially if they are from overseas. “Our messaging will show travellers what apps to download and which channels to follow. During the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, tens of thousands of travellers rushed to petrol stations and supermarkets, emptying local towns of fuel and food. “Our messaging encourages travellers to keep their fuel tank full, carry extra food and water, and leave early to avoid placing additional pressure on local communities and critical infrastructure. These are just a few examples of the additional information tourists and tourism workers need to adequately prepare for disasters. Natural Hazards Research Australia will now work with Poole and Owens to develop their concept, which is explained in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdsmSPhQ9iM&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short video</a>. Second place in the Disaster Challenge went to Griffith University postgraduate students Jane Toner, Sheridan Keegan, Ahmed Qasim, Lynn Lue-Kopman, Yunjin Wang and Manori Dissanayaka, alongside Cristina Hernandez-Santin from RMIT University. Their pitch was a disaster-activated information hub that harnessed the value of creative place-making and art to bring communities together and provide emergency information to tourists, titled Beacons of Hope. Third place was awarded to Jyoti Khatri K C and Mohammed Alqahtani, Queensland University of Technology PhD students, who drew on their personal experience of the 2022 Queensland floods to propose ways to harness community connections with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to increase emergency preparedness amongst migrant communities, whose knowledge of potential natural hazards in Australia may be low. The next Disaster Challenge will take place in 2023 This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/emergency-response-solved-via-wifi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ian Mannix. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Is your dizziness caused by ear problems?

There are many causes to dizziness such as low blood pressure or dehydration, but did you know ear problems are also one of them? This occurs because the balance organ is actually located in part of the inner ear, although our sense of balance actually comes from the coordination of the balance organ, the visual system and the muscles in the body. If you’ve experienced a spinning sensation coupled with decreased hearing or ringing in the ears, your dizziness might be caused by an ear disorder. You should see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The most common ear-related causes of dizziness include: <ul> <li>Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo – This is a common inner-ear disorder among older people, where crystals normally located in the inner ear become dislodged. As your head moves, the crystals move causing dizziness.</li> <li>Labyrinthitis – An ear disorder that involves inflammation of the middle ear. It generally occurs after a viral infection.</li> <li>Meniere's disease – This is an inner ear disorder that causes severe hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness.</li> <li>Acoustic neuroma – It is a non-cancerous tumour of the ear that causes ringing in the ears, hearing loss and balance problems.</li> </ul> Image: Getty

Caring

Procrastinating is linked to health and career problems – but there are things you can do to stop

Do you ever beat yourself up for procrastinating? You might be composing that message to a friend who you have to let down, or writing a big report for school or work, and doing your best to avoid it but deep down knowing you should just get on with it. Unfortunately, telling yourself off won’t stop you procrastinating again. In fact, it’s one of the worst things you can do. This matters because, as my research shows, procrastination isn’t just a time-sapper but is actually linked to real problems. Procrastination is not a result of laziness or poor time management. Scientific studies suggest procrastination is due to <a href="https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/spc3.12011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor mood management</a>. This makes sense if we consider that people are more likely to put off starting or completing tasks that they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886999000914" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feel aversion towards</a>. If just thinking about the task makes you anxious or threatens your sense of self-worth, you will be more likely to put it off. Research has found that <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psyp.13782" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regions of the brain</a> linked to threat detection and emotion regulation are different in people who chronically procrastinate compared to those who don’t procrastinate frequently. When we avoid the unpleasant task, we also avoid the negative emotions associated with it. This is <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.609874/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rewarding</a> and conditions us to use procrastination to repair our mood. If we engage in more enjoyable tasks instead, we get another mood boost. Tasks that are emotionally loaded or difficult, such as studying for an exam, or preparing for public speaking are prime candidates for procrastination. People with <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-02075-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low self-esteem</a> are more likely to procrastinate as are those with <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/per.2098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high levels of perfectionism</a> who worry their work will be judged harshly by others. If you don’t finish that report or complete those home repairs, then what you did can’t be evaluated. But <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4899-0227-6_7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guilt and shame</a> often linger when people try to distract themselves with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563215004343" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more pleasant activities</a>. In the long run, procrastination isn’t an effective way of managing emotions. The mood repair you experience is temporary. Afterwards, people tend to engage in <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-10572-023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-critical ruminations</a> that not only increase their negative mood, but also reinforce their tendency to procrastinate. <h2>How is procrastination harmful?</h2> So why is this such a problem? When most people think of the costs of procrastination, they think of the toll on productivity. For example, studies have shown that academic procrastination <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry/article/academic-procrastination-in-university-students-associated-factors-and-impact-on-academic-performance/D230B8D2D670DC7C2884294A274A08B5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">negatively impacts student performance</a>. But academic procrastination may affect other areas of students’ lives. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/03075079.2013.854765" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In one study</a> of over 3,000 German students over a six month period, those who reported procrastinating on their academic work were also more likely to engage in academic misconduct, such as cheating and plagiarism. But the behaviour procrastination was most closely linked with was using fraudulent excuses to get deadline extensions. Other research shows employees on average spend almost a <a href="https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/how-much-time-are-your-employees-spending-procrastinating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quarter of their workday procrastinating</a>, and again this is linked with worse outcomes. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijsa.12048" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In one US survey of over 22,000 employees</a>, participants who said they regularly procrastinated had lower annual incomes and less job stability. For every one-point increase on a measure of chronic procrastination, salary decreased by US$15,000 (£12,450). Procrastination also correlates with serious <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/books/procrastination-health-and-well-being/sirois/978-0-12-802862-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health and wellbeing</a> problems. A tendency to procrastinate is linked to poor mental health, including higher <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10942-017-0271-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">levels of depression and anxiety</a>. Across numerous studies, I’ve found people who regularly procrastinate report a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886902003264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greater number of health issues</a>, such as headaches, flu and colds, and digestive issues. They also experience <a href="https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/91791/1/Procrastination%20and%20self%20compassion%20rev2%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher levels of stress</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311908.2015.1074776#:%7E:text=Research%20to%20date%2C%20testing%20the%20procrastination%E2%80%93health%20model%20%28Sirois%2C,health%20problems%20and%20behaviors%20that%20included%20sleep-related%20outcomes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor sleep quality</a>. They were less likely to practice <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886906004454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">healthy behaviours</a>, such as eating a healthy diet and regularly exercising, and use <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1002/per.1985?journalCode=erpa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">destructive coping strategies</a> to manage their stress. In one study of over 700 people, I found people prone to procrastination had a 63% greater risk of <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10865-015-9629-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor heart health</a> after accounting for other personality traits and demographics. <h2>How to stop procrastinating</h2> Learning not to procrastinate isn’t going to solve all your problems. But finding <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.780675/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">better ways to regulate your emotions</a> could be a route to improving your mental health and wellbeing. An important first step is to manage your environment and how you view the task. There are a number of <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/procrastination/fuschia-m-sirois/9781433838064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evidence-based strategies</a> that can help you quarantine <a href="https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjso.12243" target="_blank" rel="noopener">distractions</a>, and set up your tasks so they <a href="https://theconversation.com/working-from-home-here-are-five-ways-to-reduce-procrastination-and-be-productive-133636" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provoke less anxiety and feel more meaningful</a>. For example, remind yourself why the task is important and valuable to you can increase your positive feelings towards it. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886910000474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forgiving yourself</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15298868.2013.763404?journalCode=psai20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showing yourself compassion</a> when you procrastinate can help break the procrastination cycle. Admit you feel bad without judging yourself. Remind yourself that you’re not the first person to procrastinate, nor will you be last. Doing this can take the edge off the negative feelings we have about ourselves when we procrastinate. This can make it easier to get <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167212445599?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">back on track</a>. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/procrastinating-is-linked-to-health-and-career-problems-but-there-are-things-you-can-do-to-stop-188322" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Body

A new treatment could help tackle this common, embarrassing problem

Our bathroom habits aren’t usually the kind of topic we like to discuss, but its taboo nature could be stopping us from reaching out for help with an incredibly common problem: incontinence. With <a href="https://www.continence.org.au/about-us/our-work/key-statistics-incontinence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in four Australians</a> affected by incontinence - including an estimated 1.17 million over the age of 65 as of 2010 - it’s a topic that, though embarrassing, is important to talk about and seek treatment for. For women alone, leading GP obstetrician Dr Elizabeth Golez says 70 percent of women with urinary leakage don’t seek advice, with embarrassment and perceptions of its taboo nature acting as roadblocks. “Those who have sought help have only had limited options, such as invasive surgery and painful laser but this is changing,” Dr Golez says. EmpowerRF, a new kind of treatment which uses radiofrequency technology, is promising to improve the lives of Australian women who suffer from a range of pelvic health disorders, including bladder dysfunction, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic aesthetic indications. “EmpowerRF platform, popular in America, Israel and the UK, is designed to provide three complementary energies: submucosal fractional radiofrequency (Fractional RF micro-needling), intravaginal electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and bipolar radiofrequency to re-educate and rehabilitate weak pelvic floor muscles for the treatment of stress, urge, and mixed urinary incontinence (SUI) in women,” Dr Golez explains. “The Empower RF platform is equipped with applicators Morpheus 8V, Vtone, and FormaV to treat bladder control, strengthen pelvic floor muscles and return collagen liquidity back into vaginal walls with additional modalities in Morpheus Body, Tone and Aviva.” Using separate attachments, the Empower RF platform can also be used to tighten skin on the face and body and has been the secret weapon for many celebrities’ youthful looks. “There are so many women suffering in silence but they no longer need to, EmpowerRF restores patient self-confidence and quality of life without surgery or prolonged downtime,” Dennis Cronje, the Managing Director of InMode Australia which provides the EmpowerRF Technology, says. “Radio frequency (RF) treatments use electrical energy to generate heat and trigger skin tightening and the heat can be controlled ensuring no risk of burning.” Image: Getty Images

Body

What is mindfulness? Nobody really knows, and that’s a problem

You’ve probably heard of mindfulness. These days, it’s everywhere, like many ideas and practices drawn from Buddhist texts that have become part of mainstream Western culture. But a review published today in the journal <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691617709589">Perspectives on Psychological Science</a> shows the hype is ahead of the evidence. Some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23796855">reviews of studies</a> on mindfulness suggest it may help with psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress. But it’s not clear what type of mindfulness or meditation we need and for what specific problem. The study, involving a large group of researchers, clinicians and meditators, found a clear-cut definition of mindfulness doesn’t exist. This has potentially serious implications. If vastly different treatments and practices are considered the same, then research evidence for one may be wrongly taken as support for another. At the same time, if we move the goalposts too far or in the wrong direction, we might lose the potential benefits of mindfulness altogether. <h2>So, what is mindfulness?</h2> Mindfulness receives a bewildering assortment of definitions. Psychologists <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12671-012-0122-5">measure the concept</a> in differing combinations of acceptance, attentiveness, awareness, body focus, curiosity, nonjudgmental attitude, focus on the present, and others. It’s equally ill-defined as a set of practices. A brief exercise in self-reflection prompted by a smart-phone app on your daily commute may be considered the same as a months-long meditation retreat. Mindfulness can both refer to what Buddhist monks do and what your yoga instructor does for five minutes at the start and end of a class. To be clear, mindfulness and meditation are not the same thing. There are types of meditation that are mindful, but not all mindfulness involves meditation and not all meditation is mindfulness-based. Mindfulness mainly refers to the idea of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness">focusing on the present moment</a>, but it’s not quite that simple. It also refers to several forms of meditation practices that aim to develop skills of awareness of the world around you and of your behavioral patterns and habits. In truth, <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcbh20/12/1">many disagree</a> about its actual purpose and what is and isn’t mindfulness. <h2>What’s it for?</h2> Mindfulness has been applied to just about any problem you can think up - from relationship issues, problems with alcohol or drugs, to enhancing leadership skills. It’s <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-05/athletes-use-meditation-and-mindfulness-to-give-them-edge/8326004">being used by sportsmen</a> to find “clarity” on and off the field and <a href="https://mindfulnessinschools.org/">mindfulness programs</a> are being offered at school. You can find it in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/search-inside-yourself-googles-life-changing-mindfulness-course-2014-8?r=US&IR=T">workplaces</a>, <a href="https://amavic.com.au/doctor-wellbeing/mindfulness-in-medicine">medical clinics</a>, and <a href="https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/02/22/mindfulness-shows-mixed-results-for-older-adults-well-being/116765.html">old age homes</a>. More than a few popular books have been written <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Buddhism-True-Philosophy-Enlightenment/dp/1439195455">touting the benefits</a> of mindfulness and meditation. For example, in a supposedly critical review <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Altered-Traits-Science-Reveals-Meditation/dp/0399184384/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0399184384&pd_rd_r=W1WPPXCTWYZ2DB9XRRPY&pd_rd_w=Q6zJs&pd_rd_wg=1QvNB&psc=1&refRID=W1WPPXCTWYZ2DB9XRRPY">Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes your Mind, Brain and Body</a>, Daniel Goleman argues one of the four benefits of mindfulness is improved working memory. Yet, a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27580462">recent review</a> of about 18 studies exploring the effect of mindfulness-based therapies on attention and memory calls into question these ideas. Another common claim is that mindfulness reduces stress, for which there is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24395196">limited evidence</a>. Other promises, such as improved mood and attention, better eating habits, improved sleep, and better weight control are not <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24395196">fully supported by the science</a> either. And while benefits have limited evidence, mindfulness and meditation can sometimes be <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0176239">harmful</a> and can lead to psychosis, mania, loss of personal identity, anxiety, panic, and re-experiencing traumatic memories. Experts have suggested mindfulness is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-011-0079-9">not for everyone</a>, especially those suffering from several serious mental health problems such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. <h2>Research on mindfulness</h2> Another problem with mindfulness literature is that it often suffers from poor research methodology. Ways of measuring mindfulness are highly variable, assessing quite different phenomena while using the same label. This <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.20580/abstract">lack of equivalence</a>among measures and individuals makes it challenging to generalise from one study to another. Mindfulness researchers rely too much on questionnaires, which require people to introspect and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22122674">report on mental states</a> that may be slippery and fleeting. These reports are notoriously vulnerable to biases. For example, people who aspire to mindfulness may report being mindful because they see it as desirable, not because they have actually achieved it. Only a <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-45553-002">tiny minority of attempts</a> to examine whether these treatments work compare them against another treatment that is known to work – which is the primary means by which clinical science can show added value of new treatments. And a minority of these studies are conducted in regular clinical practices rather than in specialist research contexts. A recent <a href="https://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018">review of studies</a>, commissioned by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, found many studies were too poorly conducted to include in the review and that mindfulness treatments were moderately effective, at best, for anxiety, depression, and pain. There was no evidence of efficacy for attention problems, positive mood, substance abuse, eating habits, sleep or weight control. <h2>What should be done?</h2> Mindfulness is definitely a useful concept and a <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735813000731">promising set of practices</a>. It may help <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25818837">prevent</a> psychological problems and could be useful as an addition to existing treatments. It <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735815000197">may also be helpful</a> for general mental functioning and well-being. But the promise will not be realised if problems are not addressed. The mindfulness community must agree to key features that are essential to mindfulness and researchers should be clear how their measures and practices include these. Media reports should be equally specific about what states of mind and practices mindfulness includes, rather than using it as a broad term. Mindfulness might be assessed, not through self-reporting, but in part using more objective <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2566754/">neurobiological</a> and behavioural measures, such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4208398/">breath counting</a>. This is where random tones could be used to “ask” participants if they are focused on the breath (press left button) or if their mind had wandered (press right button). Researchers studying the efficacy of mindfulness treatments should compare them to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_practice">credible alternative treatments</a>, whenever possible. Development of new mindfulness approaches should be avoided until we know more about the ones we already have. Scientists and clinicians should use rigorous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randomized_controlled_trial">randomised control trials</a> and work with researchers from outside the mindfulness tradition. And lastly, mindfulness researchers and practitioners should acknowledge the reality of occasional negative effects. Just as medications must declare potential side effects, so should mindfulness treatments. Researchers should systematically assess potential side effects when studying mindfulness treatments. Practitioners should be alert to them and not recommend mindfulness treatments as a first approach if safer ones with stronger evidence of efficacy are available. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-mindfulness-nobody-really-knows-and-thats-a-problem-83295" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

No screen on your flight? No problem

Surely we’re all familiar with the crushing disappointment of realising your plane seat has no TV screen when it comes to those dreaded long-haul flights. Some travellers use their phone as an awkward substitution for the glorious big screen, however it can be a pain to keep it propped up. One savvy tech expert knows this feeling all too well and has shared her TikTok hack for transforming the back of your seat into your very own entertainment hub. Katarina Mogus, who posts as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@katamogz?lang=en">@katamogz</a>, shared her own "iPhone travel hack" for when you don't have an included TV screen on the back of the seat. In the video, Mogus takes the case off her iPhone and pulls out the sick bag from the seat pocket, She then proceeds to tuck the bottom of the sick bag between her phone and case, ensuring it is thoroughly wedged in. After the bag is securely fitted inside the phone case, Mogus pulls down the tray table and folds half of the sick bag and secures it behind the tray. Finally, she uses the sliding bolt to keep the sick bag in place. The result is a hands-free, hanging screen - so you can sit back, relax and watch your favourite television shows or movies without having it hold it up yourself. If the plane doesn't have Wi-Fi, you can pre-download shows or films on any streaming service so you can still enjoy it without using data. Image: TikTok

Travel Tips

Readers respond: What is an adult problem that nobody prepared you for?

We asked our readers what the biggest surprise of adulthood was, and their answers were hilariously honest. From cooking everyday and having kids, to various aches and pains, here are all the adult problems that no one warned our readers about, before it was too late! Jill Short - Needing to cook a meal every single night!! Gail Fredericks - When you've got little kids, you can't go to the toilet on your own. Diane Porter - Having to do your work and everyone else’s too, washing, shopping, cleaning, everything- unless you want to live in a pigsty and have nothing to eat. Norma Fowler - Loss of mobility, the amount of paper work to get anything, the huge cost of nursing home care. Julia Metcalfe - Being tired. All. The. Time. Tolla Edda Anderson - Having to be more flexible as you age. That is having to adapt faster to a faster pace of life. Camellia Musumeci-Cali - How lonely it gets when your children leave home. Annette Bradshaw - When getting older, my head would write cheque’s that my body can’t cash. Lynda Gibbons - The aches and pains of old age. Wendy McKnight - Your body growing old while your mind is stuck on 35. Pam Garmony - Trying to figure out how to program ovens and microwaves when you stay away from home. Ron Wright - The fact that the hill at the end of our street gets steeper every year. Terri Vanderwerf - Thinking of things to eat for the rest of your life! Fran Matthews - Not been able to move quickly, after 2 hips 2 knee replacements in old age! Jim Mitchell - That the "golden years" actually don't have gold. Image credits: Getty Images

Mind

“We still have a problem”: One in five people in aged care treated with antipsychotics

One in five aged care residents are being given antipsychotic medication - used to treat the symptoms of psychosis - that has been linked to chemical restraint by the aged care royal commission, according to new data. The data was mandatorily collected for the Department of Health from over 2400 aged care homes, revealing the industry’s heavy reliance on using antipsychotics on patients. Residents are also more likely to be given the drugs if they live in rural areas. Over half of those receiving the drugs don’t have a psychosis diagnosis, which is of particular concern as the royal commission found that “many of these medications were being used as chemical restraint”. “I have to say it was higher than I was expecting,” pharmacy researcher Dr Juanita Breen, who appeared as an expert witness at the royal commission, told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-31/chemical-restraint-antipsychotic-drugs-widespread-in-aged-care/100950924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. Dr Breen said this data suggested that much of the use of these drugs was inappropriate. “It means that these medications are being used for other reasons,” she said. “It would suggest that a large proportion would be used as chemical restraint … that we still have a problem.” An earlier study from 2019 made similar findings after tracking 5825 people in residential aged care facilities over the age of 65 for three years, between 2014 and 2017. The study also found that residents were being given the medication for significantly longer periods of time than was recommended, per the <a href="https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/antipsychotics-overused-in-residential-aged-care-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RACGP</a>. Despite recommendations not to extend use of the medication beyond 84 days, the study found that the mean use for men and women sat at 212 days and 216 days (or around 30 weeks) respectively. Other experts who testified at the royal commission also indicated that a decrease in medically-trained staff at aged care facilities, combined with an increase in patients with complex needs, had contributed to the overreliance on antipsychotics. Former aged care nurse Amanda Gorton, who left the industry in 2020, told the ABC that staff shortages had regularly left her feeling overwhelmed. The same year, the home she worked at failed an audit from the aged care watchdog, the Quality and Safety Commission, over its use of antipsychotics. Ms Gorton said she saw workers use the drugs to restrain residents because they didn’t have the capacity to care for them. “I went home often in tears because I thought it can’t stay like this,” she said. “It has to get better, it has to improve, we can’t be treating elderly people like this.” According to an analysis of hundreds of aged care audits from the commission, Human Rights Watch said they found that the inappropriate use of antipsychotics was taking place all over the country. “We found homes where more than 75 percent of residents were given these drugs and there was not adequate documentation of why they needed them or relevant diagnosis,” researcher Sophie McNeil said. “We found homes where residents were so drugged up that they experienced a significant increase in falls, which resulted in injuries.” Ms McNeill also said there was a clear link between workforce issues and using chemical restraint, after finding that staff also used antipsychotics to deal with residents asking for help or who were in pain. “There’s not enough staff to look after people. So instead, vulnerable, older Australians are given these drugs when they don’t need them,” she said. The data and analyses come after the Senate passed an aged care bill on its last sitting day aimed at addressing several recommendations from the royal commission. It included an amendment to ensure every facility has a registered nurse rostered 24 hours a day. “Putting people on drugs, restraining people, is the easy option for an aged care facility that doesn’t have the necessary staff to deal with these sorts of matters,” Senator Rex Patrick, who put forward the new amendment, said. Having gone through the Senate without a formal division (where senators vote by sitting on the left or right of the chamber), the bill will be sent back to the House of Representatives for a vote. However, Senator Patrick believes the government won’t want the amendment to be successful and will “park the bill and it will never be seen again”. “The government didn’t want the optics of voting against nurses 24/7 in aged care, so they simply let it go through on the voices knowing that, tactically, they can avoid dealing with it in the house today,” he said. Image: Getty Images

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