We’re only a few days into the New Year and I’ve already learnt a new word. Well, actually it was late on New Year’s Eve, so strictly speaking I learned it last year – but let’s not quibble, shall we? It was within the last week, anyway.
The term is “rawdogging”. I thought my friends were pulling my leg at first, because I have a vague feeling that the term has been used to describe some unsavoury sexual practice, but I’m too scared to google it in case I get murdered and someone has to go through my browser history. In any event, the term is used here to describe a behaviour on long haul flights. Essentially It involves eschewing all forms of entertainment and nourishment for the duration of the flight. My informant was unsure whether you’re allowed to drink water, but looking at the flight map is definitely permitted, oddly enough. I’ve done no research on this at all (see my note above) but it does sound depressingly like something the manosphere would embrace. Yes, there’s even a whiff of Stoicism about it, although on the toxic masculinity end of the spectrum, it’s true. At least they’re not hurting anyone else.
What brought this practice to mind today was going for my run without either company or headphones. I was alone with my thoughts, and, reader: I did not like it. With no distractions I was aware of every discomfort, as well as the distant noise of my stupid dogs going off at every single passersby in my absence. Even though rendering the process unpleasant would increase its value as a stoic exercise, I need everything in place to make it joyful if I have any hope of continuing with it as a habit once normal life resumes. Fixing my EarPods is now a top priority.