‘Raw dogging’ a flight is the latest way to show your inner strength: sit in your seat and do not watch movies, listen to music or play on your phone.
No interaction or stimulation.
Just you, your thoughts, the in-flight safety card and the moving map.
It is a cool-boy thing, and the toughest ones even eschew water and food for the duration, as if it is some monastic, religious, purifying act.
This feat of masculinity is all over TikTok: the result presumably of one teensy interaction with their phones.
If it is not on socials, it didn’t happen – or in this case, if no one saw them doing nothing, they did nothing. Or something.
Doing nothing is the new black, and raw dogging is where it is at.
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Originally used as a reference to unprotected sex, raw dogging is being done willy-nilly.
“Just raw dogging the gym with no fuel but pain & heartaches #fitnessmotivation #worthit” recently posted one hungry and lovelorn iron pumper.
But why raw dog?
Why go without?
Because our cultural roots are religious, and abstinence was seen historically as a sign of devotion, piety and self-discipline.
Raw dog and you are top dog – and nowadays you must tell the world that you have suffered in going without, so they can tell you how amazing that is.
Raw dogging is underway in another form this month, with thousands giving their livers a socially acceptable break during Dry July.
There are also social media murmurs about No-Spend September because, you know, cozzie livs.
And No-Nut November will involve no sex for a whole month, with the intention of being stronger and more focused.
Again, a guy thing.
Temporary abstinence challenges have been academically and scientifically studied.
Most of them are 30 days in duration, because humans like to feel they are tough enough to change a habit, but aren’t terrific at sticking to tasks that are too big, audacious or long term.
The science and analysis have repeatedly found that 30 days is never enough to bring about a permanent change, just as raw dogging a flight is not enough to truly calm the mind or act as a proper digital detox.
Wellness, balance, health and happiness can never be achieved with a gimmick or a TikTok clip.
But for those posting their feats of abstinence, perhaps it is best to let them do their thing – and let sleeping dogs lie.
Dr Jane Stephens is a UniSC journalism lecturer, media commentator and writer.
