Indonesia’s Gili Islands look like heaven. But are they now a lost paradise? Allegations of catcalling, animal cruelty, pollution, damage to the reef and thievery now have some people questioning the impact of tourism on this once chilled-out trio of islands, with one Tripadvisor user calling it “the Magaluf of Australia.”

An Indonesian woman and former flight attendant recently shared a video on TikTok about being catcalled on the holiday island Gili Trawangan. The video has now been set to private, but it reportedly got 9 million views in just four days. It has been reported by Radar Lombok that in the video it was said: “[This] catcalling thing is not playing anymore. It also makes me emotional if I remember until now.”

“This is so fucking annoying. I’m really angry. I won’t be going back to Gili Trawangan again, to be honest.”

“Honestly, I’ve travelled everywhere, of course because I used to be a cabin crew, I’ve travelled to various islands, like Love Island in Gorontalo, Papua, Manado, Bali, even every month to Bali, because I love it’s with Bali. Every time I go to Bali I don’t have to be boring about the cat calling thing, because in Bali the people are that kind.”

The woman also allegedly said (translated from Indonesian): “I never got catcalling in Bali. What kind of clothes do you want me to wear? But when I go to Gili yesterday, that’s so fucking disgusting. The catcalling is really amazing, it’s unbelievable.”

“Just arrived at the port, dragging the suitcase already has a lot of cat calling. Where are you going, sis, beautiful, beautiful; Do you want to snorkel for free or not, I’ll give you free snorkelling; Ms. Asking for your WhatsApp number; Ms. come here first, let me accompany you; do you want to accompany me? And they are so fucking annoying. But they don’t catcall Caucasians, they want Caucasians to use bicycles while wearing bikinis, they don’t care.”

“So if you ask, don’t blame the island, yes, the island is indeed good, but the people should change if they want tourism to progress.”

Later on she posted a follow-up video, which was captioned: “Hopefully the clarification I made can be accepted, I hope Gili Trawangan will be better and take action against these people, because honestly the island is very beautiful. Thank you.” In the comments section of this video she wrote: “The Minister and the local government have intervened. Thank you very much Mr. Minister @Sandiaga Uno [the minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia] may you always be healthy and blessed by Allah SWT.”

“For those who want to take advantage of my problems, remember that karma exists.”

Her video also sparked lots of comments from other travellers, with comments like: “Is it true that the local authorities have investigated thoroughly? Want to go there [sic] so I’m afraid where is a solo traveler” flowing in.

According to news outlet Coconuts (who appear to have sourced this piece of information from tribunlombok.com), “a resident who represents the North Lombok community, filed a complaint… with the West Nusa Tenggara Police over [the video].”

According to Coconuts, the complainant said the video suggested that North Lombok people are perverted and therefore damaged the island’s image as a tourist destination.

“What’s worse is that she claimed that the [harassment] was conducted by many people there,” the complainant reportedly said.

RELATED: The ‘Ugly Truth’ About Staying In An Instagram-Famous Treehouse

Coconuts reported in September that the woman was “now facing defamation charges.”

This isn’t the first time the Gili Islands have got some bad press. As we reported earlier this year, one tourist complained of a boat ride from hell while trying to leave. On Tripadvisor, too, there are a slew of complaints about (alleged) animal abuse, litter, poor protection of the reef and partying.

One Tripadvisor user wrote: “While Gili T itself is quite pretty with beautiful beaches, I could not get [sic] passed the extreme animal cruelty. The only means of transport in all of the Gili Islands is bike or horse, and the horses are actually a single small pony carrying loads of often 3+ people and luggage, whipped and beaten, underfed etc… We only stayed for three days and while I’d love to come back, I simply won’t until the island considers a more sustainable form of transport (solar powered Tuk Tuks have been proposed).”

Another Tripadvisor user wrote: “Litter is everywhere all over the island! Whether it be on the beach, in the sea or into the centre, you can’t help but get annoyed at something that should be dealt with! It seems tourism became too much for this small island.”

Another wrote: “What I seen was animals being abused while working in the baking hot sun without any water, food or shade! I felt physically sick every time I seen one! What I would say is yes Gili T is great if you want a party, even to see turtles and grab a sunset pic on the famous swings. However apart from that Gili T left me sad, knowing that the environment, local people and animals are the ones suffering!”

Yet another said the island had been “totally ruined by tourists” and that “I was shocked to see what became from Trawagan after I visit it before, 6 years ago, by that time it was a magical place, now sadly it became a hell with drunk kids [and] screaming…families.”

Another Tripadvisor user spoke of the Gili Islands’ “dark side,” writing: “This is a nice island. A pretty chilled, unique but affordable location. Lots of fun to be had. However it has a dark side. There are no motorised vehicles on the island. Sounds cool. The major form of transport is bikes and horse drawn carts. Romantic? NO. The way these little ponies are treated is criminal and appalling.”

Others claimed things like “locals – they don’t like you” and shared stories where they claimed they were robbed. Further Tripadvisor users bemoaned the dead coral, with some claiming that they had seen people being allowed to walk on it.

Whether you believe tourists are the real problem, or whether you think Indonesian tourism authorities need to take a closer look at how the Gili Islands are managed, it seems many people can agree the situation on the Gili Islands needs to be improved – for the sake of the environment, the people and the economy.

• ‘I Don’t Know How We Didn’t Die’: Tourist’s Nightmare Gili Islands Boat Trip
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The post The ‘Dark’ Side Of The Gili Islands Instagram Doesn’t Want You To See appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s that time of year again! With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, all 32 teams competing this year in Qatar have released their home and away kits (except one, which you’ll find out below). It’s at this point where every football fan feels the need to give their two pence about which country’s jerseys hit the back of the net, and which get a red card. Well here at DMARGE, things are no different, as we take you through the best and worst on show next month.

An iconic soccer jersey can permanently etch a team in the memory of fans across the world. Diego Maradona in ’86 donning the famous Argentinian blue and white stripes, or Adidas’ masterpiece for Germany’s 1990 World-Cup winning squad spring to mind. On the other hand, a bad kit can leave you immortalised for all the wrong reasons (we’re looking at you Jorge Campos!)

We have placed all the jerseys into categories, ranging from ‘top of the table’ to the ‘red cards’. The shirts have been assessed on how aesthetically pleasing they are, with some countries scoring high for their originality and others for a fresh take on a retro design.

All home kits are featured on the left and all away kits on the right. For the countries who have third kits, their designs will be placed in the middle.

Time to kick off.

Top of the Table

Mexico

Arguably the best kits of the entire tournament, Mexico have excelled with their designs this year. 

Returning to their traditional green – after previously wearing black and pink – the home kit features intricate geometric markings inspired by Quetzalcoatl, a god in Mexican culture. Finished off with the iconic three red stripes on the sleeves and impressive new badge, this kit is classy.

If Mexico scored with their home jersey, they’ve bagged a brace with their away kit. Paying tribute to Mexican ancient civilisations, Adidas have included a beautiful Aztec-influenced design on top of their white shirt. The subtle change in badge colour is also a nice touch. 

Viva México!

Germany

The Germans, like their ability to take penalties, are so consistent every World Cup cycle with their choice of kits; and this year is no different.

The home kit features a new black vertical stripe down the middle – a bold choice – but one that contrasts well the gold centred DFB badge and Adidas logo. The colours of the German flag on the collar also add a new dimension.

Where Adidas have really killed it is with the away strip. The sharp dark red and black geometric design makes the gold badge stand out even more, which has been moved from the centre to the left of the chest.

If Germany end up victorious in Qatar, this will go down as an iconic look.

France

Similar to previous years, the French kits are pretty minimalist, but in both cases slight variations were added to keep these shirts traditional, yet sleek. 

The navy blue and gold design of the home jersey will always be a winner, but this year they have added a faint oak leaf and olive branch pattern, giving it more energy. You can make your own mind up about the buttoned collar though.

The away strip features historic French iconography printed on the fabric, such as the Arc de Triomphe and a cockerel. If done badly this could have looked like doodles on a canvas, but France have kept it muted and classy as always. 

C’est magnifique!

Japan

Another standout, the Japanese art of origami is the inspiration for their World Cup jerseys this year.

The home strip features an electric blue and white glitched design which accentuates the impressive Japanese Football Association logo.

The away strip too uses an origami-influenced pattern on the sleeves and shoulders, the red and blue used to create an almost 3D looking effect.

Japan may have just scored the winner here.

Spain

Adidas have kept it simple with the classic dark red design for Spain’s home jersey. In what is a very stereotypically Spanish-looking kit, the red is accompanied by a regal navy and gold trim on a squared V-neck collar.

Whilst the home kit is timeless, it is the away jersey that everyone has their eyes on. The sky blue, wavy design is distinctive and provides a pleasing contrast with the front and centre Spanish logo. The signature Adidas three stripes on the shoulder complete this kit.

This feels as if it has the potential to become a sought after  “vintage” jersey in 20 years’ time. It’s a “si senor” from us!

Safe Pair of Hands

Qatar

Given the all the controversies surrounding this World Cup, wearing the host nation’s jersey won’t make you the most popular person in your football team. But you cannot deny Qatar have done a stellar job with the design of their kits.

Subdued, yet effective, the serrated trim on the home jersey is meant to represent the country’s flag, while the sandy hue and pattern of the away kit reflects the nation’s coastline and history of pearl-diving.

The large maroon logos and Nike ticks compliment the design and colour scheme nicely. A controversial choice, but for their first World Cup, Qatar score high on the kit-front.

Brazil

Yellow top, blue shorts and white socks. There’s not much that can go wrong with this signature Brazil colour arrangement, but Nike have added a few extras to keep things fresh.

A faint jaguar spot pattern quietly sits beneath the iconic yellow and green, and unbuttoning the collar will reveal a surprise Brazilian flag. The blue button acts as the globe seen in the national banner.

The spotted pattern is more apparent on the sleeves of the away top – the gradient from green to blue is a welcome addition.

The five-time World Cup winners are looking as recognizable as ever in 2022.

Argentina

Argentina will be sporting their classic blue and white stripes when they run out in Qatar, and given it is likely to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, it seems fitting. The home kit is exactly what you imagine when you think of Argentinian football – with black trim on the sleeves and collar to boot.

On the other end of the scale, their away kit is fairly unconventional, but still very stylish. 

The dark blue and lavender colour scheme and silver badge is very aesthetically pleasing, meant to represent the fight for gender quality.

However, the piece de resistance – the Bunsen burner-like blue flame design coming up from the bottom of the jersey. Here’s hoping Messi and co. can light up Qatar like their jersey suggests.

Portugal

Portugal have taken a simplistic, understated approach for this World Cup, but it’s one that suits them.

The home jersey is half-and-half design – where the green and red of the nation’s flag are separated diagonally. The design has caught some heat – but the loud colour scheme works with the gold Nike “swoosh”, meant to celebrate 25 years as Portugal’s kit supplier.

However, there are no qualms about Portugal’s away offering. The off-white jersey features a gorgeous, minimalist green and red stripe across the chest, again emulating the country’s flag. The black trim and Nike logo compliment the strip nicely.

A superb combo for what is surely Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup outing.

Poland

“Low-key” is definitely Poland’s approach for 2022 – but it is a look that they pull off. A fresh, new white home kit features a tonal striped graphic on the shoulders. It is designed to look like the nest and feathers of Poland’s national animal, the white eagle.

Nike have kept up the clean look for their change strip – a retro looking block red kit with white trim on the collar and sleeves. This strip feels like it’s straight from the 1980’s; Poland’s best finish at a World Cup was third in 1982, so maybe the designers are trying to tempt fate.

Other jerseys on this list have faltered for being too unimaginative, but in Poland’s case, simplicity is best!

Wales

Much like Brazil and France, Wales have nailed their classic look, but added a slight twist.

The ever-striking red of the home kit has been given an upgrade, with understated zigzags and green trim around the collar.

Similarly, the away kit adds a bit of zest to the white jersey with an interesting green and red pattern on the collar, which is mirrored on the sides and back of the jersey. In both designs, the timeless crested dragon can be seen roaring on the left side of the chest. 

For their first outing in the World Cup since 1958, Wales will certainly be returning in style.

Ecuador 

Marathon Sports have been making Ecuador kits since all the way back in 1966, but this year might just be the best of them all.

Clean-cut and a neater design than previous years, the home kit features the subtle tonal zigzags and the vibrant colours of the Ecuadorian flag, which nicely emphasise that gorgeous new logo.

The away strip is the real winner though. The geometric pattern and silver badge accompany each other nicely, all brought together by the nation’s flagon the sleeve. 

Good job Ecuador. You’ve earned a place in our “safe pairs of hands” category.

Fifty-fifties

England

England are the poster boys for our fifty-fifty category; they got their kits half right this year. There won’t be many fans coming home with England’s first offering. Although it features the classic white design and three lions, the awkward blue gradient on the jersey’s shoulders looks like the players have suited up in shoulder pads.

It’s a different story with the away kit. Nike have taken the classic 1990 England away shirt, copied the homework, but changed it slightly to fool the teacher. They have kept the fold-collar and striking red of the original jersey but added a slight blue tinge on the badge and collar. A welcome addition.

Will this be what the England squad are wearing when football finally comes home?

Australia

Celebrating 100 years of their history, the Socceroos will be running out wearing the traditional gold in Qatar.

Nike have said that the home jersey, made up of different shades of gold with green trim, is meant to represent the “rugged sandy landscape of the outback and the rich wetlands and forests.” They have succeeded, creating an eye-catching  jersey us Aussie fans should be proud of.

Nature is also the inspiration for the away colours – the dark blue and mint green colour scheme meant to represent the country’s coastline and marine life. While the colours work well, the design is odd; the trapezoid-like pattern on the collar is not dissimilar to a child’s bib. 

Annoyingly close to getting three points here.

Croatia

Nike have tried to put a new twist on Croatia’s signature red and white checkers – the main body of the jersey is broken up to include more uneven areas of white and the badge is centred. While it does feel a little more “Minecraft blocky” than previous years, it really isn’t awful.

The away colours are where Croatia shine through. A motion-blurred light blue checked pattern features on the left shoulder; an audacious idea but one that incorporates nicely on top of the dark blue base.

A decent effort all round from Nike.

Morocco

Morocco’s red and green home top is an adaptation of their 1998 entry. However, it looks a little cleaner, the green stripe does not continue on to the sleeve and the top has changed from a polo to a V-neck. A proven design and colour scheme – this one is acceptable.

Puma have been causing quite the stir with their away kits this year – their shield-like templates for each of their designs have proven controversial.

However, Morocco’s away strip is probably the least questionable of the lot. It features an Arabic-style circular pattern where the number will sit, and a vertical grey stripe down the middle. The red and green trim on the sleeves and collar bring this all together.

Don’t hate it, don’t love it.

Iran

Iran’s kits have a fairly interesting design. The green and red wavy graphic across the chest feels a little 2006 – not necessarily a bad thing – but the subtle quadrant pattern above it brings a more modern spin. 

Adding an etching of a Persian leopard near the bottom of the kit is unorthodox, but at least it sets it apart from other designs.

Where Iran falls short is the similarity between both kits. Simply changing the colour from white to red doesn’t cut it anymore. This stops Iran from being placed higher up.

Ghana

Much the previous entries in this category, only one of Ghana’s designs this year hit the back of the net.

The “Black Stars” live up to their nickname with their home offering – a white jersey featuring a big black star in the centre and national flag colours on the sleeve cuffs. It’s a pretty design, but one that would have benefitted using the same colours for the collar.

Unfortunately, Ghana’s away jersey was designed using Puma’s controversial shield patterning. The bright red top features a central golden square where the number will sit, below a sweet, jagged interpretation of the country’s flag.

The bright colours do save this jersey from being placed further down, despite Puma’s best attempts to make the front look like a cat-flap.

South Korea

Both of South Korea’s kits are proving to be subjective amongst football fans.

A brash home jersey, South Korea have offered up a bright red design with a black collar and tonal tiger stripes integrated into the shoulders.

To live up to their “Red Devils” moniker, the triangles at the side of the jersey merge together with the side panel of the shorts to create the impression of a tail.

You either love or you hate the Jackson Pollock-style away jersey. Streaks of red, blue and yellow represent Taegeuk – the symbol on the Korean flag meaning balance of the universe.

Regardless of what you think of the design, South Korea won’t go unnoticed when they run out in Qatar.

Tunisia

Whilst Tunisia’s colour scheme is straightforward, the pattern on the front of the jersey is complex. 

The decoration is based on the ‘Ksor Esseff’ cuirass, a piece of armour discovered in Tunisia, dating back to the 3^rd century. It features on the front of both the home and away kit, breathing life into what is an otherwise plain design.

However, Tunisia runs into the same problem as Iran, where all Kappa have done for the away kit is change the colour. It may have worked in previous World Cups, but this year countries have upped the ante.

Uruguay

The home jersey is classic Uruguay, it’s amazing.  The signature sky blue jersey is accompanied by white trim on the collar and sleeves and the golden Puma badge really completes the design.

The four golden stars atop the badge shine bright for La Celeste here.

It is a different story with the away kit; it is another jersey which has received the Puma shield treatment.

The blue and white stripes on the sleeves and neck are a nice touch, as are the vertical lines running down the front. However, they are completely overshadowed by the large shield-like design, which turns this from a football strip to a baseball jersey.

A lot of wasted potential with this creation.

Howlers

Denmark

At first glance, the Denmark kits look very basic and uninteresting. The logos, Hummel sponsor and design are the same base colour as the home and away shirt. The only saving grace, it seems, is the tonal stripe pattern, a call back to Denmark’s European Championship winning side in 1992.

However, this is entirely intentional. Hummel designed the shirts in protest of Qatar being made World Cup host, given the country’s human rights record.

After hearing this, it feels wrong to give these jerseys the red card – they are still a “howler” though!

Saudi Arabia

There’s not actually too much wrong with the Saudi Arabian home kit. The white jersey, green trim combination is a tried-and-tested look, and the palm leaf tonal pattern underneath brings the shirt to life. 

However, the design is the same as on their kits in 2020. C’mon Saudi Arabia! You’ve got four years to design a new jersey. Also, the green from the logo is a slightly different shade from that of the trim and Nike badge, making this top mildly infuriating.

It gets worse with the away jersey. A bold forest green camouflage design will always be a risk – but this comes off looking more army uniform than football kit.

Nike tried for Apocalypse Now but ended up looking like Tropic Thunder.

Netherlands

It feels like the designers at Nike couldn’t decide on the patented “Oranje” or gold for the Netherlands’ home kit, so they’ve thought, “screw it, we’ll meet in the middle.” What’s left is a horrible shade of reflective amber, more akin to a cycle top or tradie’s hi-vis jacket. The stripe design also leaves the shirts looking permanently creased. 

This one’s a howler.

If the home kit was trying too hard, the away kit isn’t trying at all. A boring blue, black and red colour design makes this kit look more like a training top – and instantly forgettable.

Let’s hope the Netherlands let their football do the talking.

Belgium

Belgium will certainly stand out when they take the field in Qatar, but for all the wrong reasons.

The home kit is absolutely comical. A red and black jersey with flames on each of the sleeves – this top looks like it belongs on Guy Fieri, not Kevin de Bruyne. Belgium fans asked for well done, but instead Adidas have served them up something completely overcooked.

The away jersey feels a little confused. The white base colour for the jersey is fine, but the multicoloured logo and trim is messy and disjointed. The word ‘LOVE’ is printed on the back of the back of the top, but there’s not much of it to give here.

Serbia

Serbia’s home top is fairly generic, but a pretty clean design. The Serbians will be donning all red, with gold trim on the sleeves and the collar. 

Also, Qatar marks the first time that the nation’s new logo will be used – the cross pattern repeatedly faintly on the front and sleeves.

The away kit features another Puma cookie-cutter frontal frame template, this time a metallic gold jaggy design with the federation badge at the top and a dark blue number featuring in the middle. 

Let’s be honest, it’s not a great look.

Senegal

Senegal’s design is actually very similar to Ghana’s – except not as good.

The home kit was designed as an homage to the 2002 Senegal team that reached the quarter finals of that year’s tournament. How moving; except the kit looks absolutely nothing like the classic from 2002. 

The green, yellow and red trim on the collar, as well as the sleeves works well – and is an element which Ghana missed out on. However, your eyes are instead drawn to the giant chevron which will sit right across the players’ chest.

And any guesses as to why the away kit is disappointing? Points to whoever guessed it was designed by Puma. Another shield-like design hampers this jersey.

Red Cards

USA

Supposedly the USA’s home kit “draws inspiration from the Unites States’ diversity and storied legacy across a variety of sports, leagues and associations.” Clearly, the designers were not inspired enough. 

Yes, the large logo looks similar to an NBA singlet and the mid-sleeve stripes are slightly reminiscent of an American football or ice hockey jersey, but it’s boring and a little characterless. It is not inaccurate to say Nike played it a little too safe here.

To add insult to injury, the away kit has caused even more of a stir amongst USA’s ever-patriotic fans. Whilst at least trying something different, the blue tie-die makes these kits look like training tops with a call of duty camo. 

A big red card shown for the USA.

Switzerland

Switzerland receive the unfortunate award for “Worst Puma Kit of 2022” – which is saying something given the previous entries on this list.

The home kit is fairly standard – an all-red affair featuring a pinstripe design that fades as it moves down from the shoulders. Slightly “Where’s Wally?”, but it works fine. The puma badge, Swiss FA emblem and square Swiss flag are placed just below. 

The away top is where things get truly dreadful. The middle of the jersey features another number frame, which genuinely looks like a calendar or massive QR code. What were Puma thinking?

This one is going down in the history books.

Costa Rica

For all of Puma’s shortcomings in their designs, you have to give them credit for trying something new. In the case of Costa Rica, they have done completely the opposite – both kits lack all imagination.

Los Ticos settled on a basic red jersey for their home outing, while the sleeves are coloured blue. The design is repeated and changed to white for the away kit.

If FIFA 23 were to autogenerate a home and away jersey, they make well look like this.

Canada

In what might be some of the most generic kits ever made, Canada may take home the honours as this year’s worst dressed of the World Cup.

The only worthy point of note is the red striped pattern on the shoulders of the home kit, but this by no means the most aesthetically pleasing design. The away top is literally a plain white shirt with a Nike “swoosh” and Canada badge.

To make matters worse, the kits are the exact same ones worn during their qualifying campaign. For their first World Cup since 1986, Canadian fans will be very disappointed with this effort.

Cameroon

After a dispute with previous supplier Le Coq Sportif, Cameroon’s 2022 World Cup jerseys will be supplied by One All Sports.

The reason they place at the bottom? They’ve still not released them yet. As a result, there still aren’t any official images of the jerseys. Teaser images have been released of the training kit, but we want to see the official kit!

The post World Cup Kits 2022: Our Favourite (And Not So Favourite) Jerseys On Show In Qatar appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Last Wednesday, DMARGE launched key insights from its second Men’s Matters study, which – in partnership with Hoop Research – investigated how the cost of living crisis is impacting Australian men. Here are the results.

With 75% of Australian men worried about the cost of living, 57% worried about their financial future and 40% worried they will never own their own home, the last couple of years have rocked many Aussie blokes’ “she’ll be right” attitude to life, DMARGE’s Men’s Matters study has found.

These insights came alongside the finding that – though our online habits are making us lonely – men are increasingly willing to strike up conversations with strangers, whether that be in the surf or while watching the NRL at the pub.

These insights were unveiled at DMARGE House during a cost of living panel discussion between DMARGE founder Luc Wiesman, Man Anchor founder Stevan Gamble, Man Coach Mike Campbell and writer/strategist Noelle Faulkner.

Key insights from DMARGE’s latest Men’s Matters study:

• 75% of Australian men are worried about the cost of living
• 57% of Australian men are worried about their financial future (with 30-40 year olds being the most affected, and Sydneysiders being the worst) 
• 40% of Australian men are worried they will never own their own home
• Only a fraction of Australian men are topping up their superannuation 
• Gambling, drugs and luxury goods will be the first vices Australian men give up when “shit hits the fan”

During the panel discussion, the panel talked about the fact that men reported feeling like they were under more financial stress now than they were before the pandemic. The panel also discussed the fact that the Men’s Matters study found shares and crypto the largest areas of investment for Australian men (with superannuation often being neglected). DMARGE’s Men’s Matter’s research also found that gambling, drugs, luxury goods, eating out and booze will be the first vices to go (in that order) when shit gets real.

What does this mean for men? Well, there is a huge need for education – specifically around sensible, long-term investment advice. There is also a great need for community forums – beyond Reddit and Facebook – with a more mature outlook on wealth and health building.

As DMARGE founder Luc Wiesman explained, there has been a surprising shift away from the classic Aussie “she’ll be right” mentality. Mr Wiesman said: “We expected 50% of men to say ‘nah, it’s all sweet’ but actually 3/4 of men admitted they were worried about their financial future.” 

“General financial wellbeing awareness is still lacking amongst men.”

Luc Wiesman

Stevan Gamble also spoke about the common worries and fears he hears from Australian men while he works as a volunteer crisis support worker at Lifeline. 

“For me… areas people are concerned about is the future for their kids and where they need to find that money to bolster their children’s future,” Mr Gamble told the panel.

Another important insight from the the cost of living panel discussion was that Australian men need more healthy escapes – and are more willing to seek them out than ever before.

As Man Coach Mike Campbell explained, men have a tendency to live beyond their means, regardless of their salary, because we have internalised so many messages about what it means to be a man, so we “chase the things that might make us feel like we are a success.”

“We have an internalised attachment to money and wealth… we tend to lose ourselves in there. We can go to things that are distractions like drugs and alcohol, rather than facing the thing in front of you.”

Mike Campbell

The takeaway here (especially taking into account Australian mens’ common vices of drugs, alcohol and gambling), is that we need more healthy outlets. Fortunately, as was revealed by the extensive list of guest speakers at DMARGE House (which included everyone from grooming tycoons to home fitness app entrepreneurs), the men’s wellness space is poised to boom, and is currently intersecting with many other industries – from grooming to travel.

RELATED: Australians Will Do Anything To Improve Their Mental Health, Except Quit Drinking

Case in point: Chris and Cam Grant, founders of off-grid cabin company Unyoked.

Speaking at DMARGE House, Cam said: “The use case was that we were there stressed on a Wednesday night, and we wanted to be out in nature within the next 24-48 hours.”

“The average Australian is working 5 out of 7 days a week living in an urban or suburban environment spending 6.6 hours a day on their screen. People are burning out, getting anxious, getting depressed; getting lonely.”

Chris added: “On the flip side you go and spend a couple of days in nature and your heart rate lowers, your blood pressure lowers, your cortisol levels lower and your hearing and your eyesight has been proven to get better.” 

“The feeling of awe you get by looking at a big tree or mountain has been proven to help make you feel more connected to other people – can you imagine how important that is in today’s world?”

Chris Grant

“You go spend two days in nature and your creative problem solving can increase by 50%. These effects they have been shown they can last for up to a month. It’s a fascinating tool and we want to educate people around it and make it accessible.”

This is just a small taste of the insights delivered at DMARGE House, a reader event that gave Australians the chance to come and listen to some of the brightest minds DMARGE has worked with over the last decade.

Hosted by Matthew Johnson, over 180 people descended on Ovolo Hotel in Sydney for DMARGE House, to listen to 15 leading entrepreneurs and captains of industry. These thought-leaders included The Bachelor’s Sam Wood, surfboard designer Hayden Cox and the aforementioned Chris and Cam Grant, founders of off-grid cabins, Unyoked. 

There was also life advice from tailor and entrepreneur Patrick Johnson, share trading tips from Seneca Financial Solutions’ Luke Laretive, forward-thinking crypto insights from BTC Markets’ Caroline Bowler, steak cooking advice from Vic’s Meat’s Anthony Puharich and business class travel hacks from Flight Hacks’ Immanuel Debeer. 

RELATED: ‘Social Media Fasting’: A Health Hack That Actually Works

Surfboard shaper Hayden Cox gave us an enlightening discussion about his attitude to sustainable surfboard design (and his new fashion label) too, while Australia’s version of Elon Musk (in all the good ways) Matt Pearson spoke to us about flying car racing (and its real life applications).

DMARGE House guests were hosted by IWC Schaffhausen and Bushmills Irish Whiskey. IWC Schaffhausen hosted watchmaking classes, offering an exclusive look at how some of Switzerland’s most high-tech watches are created. Guests also enjoyed relaxing in the VIP lounge, where they enjoyed drinks from the exclusive Bushmills Bar and were able to dabble in a complimentary range of single malt whiskeys and cocktails – and take part in whiskey masterclasses. 

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• Sydney Watch Lovers Offered Unique Watchmaking Experience – For One Day Only

The post How The Cost Of Living Crisis Is Impacting Australian Men appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Teqball is a ball sport that is essentially a mash-up of football and table tennis. It may sound strange, but Teqball has been adopted around the world, with the number of fans well into the thousands. And when you consider the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar are among those fans, Teqball suddenly becomes a sport that’s well worth your attention.

When footage was released of one of Lionel Messi’s first training sessions with Paris St. Germain back in 2021, Tik Tok was sent into a frenzy with what they saw.

WATCH: Lionel Messi, Neymar & The PSG Team Play Teqball

Messi and other football superstars such as Neymar could be seen playing football on what looked like a table tennis table.

But Messi is not the only footballer to have been seen playing this variation of the beautiful game The Brazilian national team featuring the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus have also been spotted playing on the curved table, as have Harry Kane and the Tottenham Team.

Even Justin Bieber is trying out this new activity. Well, it turns out this new activity, named teqball is a sport that’s growing rapidly across the planet.

So, what is teqball and why is it taking the soccer world by storm? Read on to find out why.

What is Teqball?

Teqball (pronounced, “tek-ball”) is one of the youngest, but fastest growing sports in the world. A mix of soccer and table tennis, the game is played on a special curved table with a regular size 5 football. So, as long as you have a table, teqball is pretty accessible.

Instead of using a standard table tennis net, there is a piece of plexiglass in its place, that cuts the middle of the table in half.

Much like with ping pong, you can play singles or doubles in Teqball, if you happen to have a group of mates that are all wanting to play together.

What are the rules of Teqball?

To start playing, first the ball must be served from behind a set line. Once the ball bounces on the opponent’s side of the table, the game is in play.

According to the rules, you can touch the ball with every part of your body except your hands and you get a maximum of three touches before the ball is returned to the opponent’s side of the table.

If you are playing doubles, the ball must be passed at least once between the pair before sending the ball over the net.

A player, or team, wins once you reach 12 points.

What is the origin of Teqball?

Teqball was first played in Hungary in 2012 by former soccer player Gábor Borsányi and two other Hungarian soccer fans, Gyuri Gattyán and Viktor Huszár.

They pioneered the idea of Teqball by playing with a soccer ball on a table tennis table. Borsányi worked out that curving the table changed the manner in which the ball bounced, improving the experience.

In 2014, the first table was constructed and since then, the demand for more Teqball tables across the world has only increased.

There are now over 5000 players in more than 100 countries across the world that play Teqball.

Ex-football players such as famed Brazilian maestro Ronaldinho are also ambassadors for the game.

Can I watch Teqball on TV?

Teqball has become accessible to watch regularly, with the sport signing an exclusive deal with U.S. sports broadcasting giant, ESPN.

This follows on from a string of new, slightly obscure sports being broadcast by the network, including OmegaBall and Spikeball.

The deal between the Fédération Internationale de Teqball (FITEQ) and ESPN is reportedly as high as $850,000.

Multiple channels including ESPN2 and ESPNU currently broadcast Teqball, airing coverage of the USA and European Teqball tours. Full games of the Teqball World Championships can also be found on the YouTube channel TEQ TV.

How much money do professional Teqball players earn?

Financially, Teqball is still not fully viable, but this is to be expected given the sport is still in its infancy. The 2021 Teqball World Cup saw a total prize pool of $200,000, but this is split between multiple winners over five divisions.

According to Forbes, Margaret Odmunson, a world number one in women’s doubles earned only $15,000 in a two-year Teqball career.  

But CEO of the Teqball Group and President of the U.S. National Teqball Federation, Ajay Nwosu says that players who participate full-time have the potential to earn up to $100,000 annually thanks to growing prize pools.

Will Teqball be added to the Olympics?

Ajay Nwosu has made it clear that the ultimate goal of Teqball is for it to become an Olympic sport.

However, getting into the Olympics is a pretty complicated affair. Baseball only returned to the Olympics in 2021, after it was omitted in the previous two Games. Golf was also not added to the Olympics for over 100 years. And, given both sports are obviously have much wider exposure than Teqball, it’s unlikely we’ll see in the Olympics for some time.

But Teqball’s natural crossover with the estimated 3.5 billion soccer fans globally could work in its favour. The Olympics has started adding spin-off sports such as 3X3 Basketball to the Games. So, given Teqball derives itself from the most popular sport on the planet (soccer, in case you were wondering) it could yet see a similar trajectory.

Teqball’s case is also bolstered from its addition to the upcoming 2023 European Games.

The 2028 Olympics, which are to be held in Los Angeles, California, may well be the first time we see Teqball as an Olympic sport.

Is there Teqball in Australia?

Teqball has just started to find its way to Australia from Europe with The Australian National Teqball Federation only being founded in May 2022.

What this means for any aspiring Australian soccer fans, you may end up seeing more Teqball tables sprouting up across the country.

The post What is Teqball? The Sport That Has Messi and Neymar Hooked appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Conor McGregor has taken to Instagram to show off two medieval-sounding core workouts. The first workout involves a modified TRX Pike Up, and the second involves doing a weighted hanging leg raise with his arms threaded through leather straps.

Conor McGregor is no slouch. Despite his notoriously bad cardio, he rarely needs it, such is his ability to finish off most opponents in the opening seconds of a fight. In any case, compared to the rest of us mortals, he’s a beast, and what he may lack in cardio he makes up for with strength and explosiveness.

Speaking of which: ‘The Notorious’ recently took to Instagram with two core blasting workouts for all the world (or at least his 46.1 million followers) to see. The first one was captioned: “Abdominal muscles getting nice and serrated.”

WATCH: Conor McGregor’s Workout For ‘Serrated’ Abs

In this video, McGregor does what looks to be a cross between a TRX pike up and a TRZ knee tuck. To do a TRX Pike Up you start in a plank position, with your feet in the lower straps of the TRX (about three to four inches from the ground). At this point, your torso and legs should be in alignment (there should be a straight line from your heel to your ears). You then pull your shoulder blades back and down to engage the core.

Next, you exhale, keeping your stomach tight and your legs and torso straight while bending at the hips. You press your hips up and forward towards the shoulders. At the top of the TRX Pike Up you should try to have your arms and torso perpendicular to the floor with your legs straight. You should be looking at your feet and keeping your head neutral instead of looking at the floor or in front of you.

As for the TRX Knee Tuck, it’s quite similar except there is a different hinge point: you put your feet in the straps and pull your legs up into a tuck position. We’d say Conor is either doing this exercise, or attempting to do the former exercise, but with poor form (we’ll let you be the judge of that).

Conor also posted a video of himself doing a weighted hanging leg raise (with toes to bar). He captioned this exercise video “core bomb” and the abuse we imagine such an exercise would wreak on your abs is truly atomic. McGregor does this exercise with a dumbbell (by the looks of it, a 15-20kg one) between his feet. The exercise involves going from a dead hang position to an L-shaped position (and then even further, touching your feet to the height of the chin-up bar). Conor did this 10 times, grimacing particularly hard for the last few reps.

RELATED: Conor McGregor ‘Quadzilla’ Photo Leaves The Internet Shook

The videos encouraged comments from McGregor’s fans and critics alike. Among the positive comments were remarks like “I don’t think I have seen Connor in better shape ever in all these videos” and “the bionic leg is holding up nice.” Among the negative comments were: “just buy some ankle weights, you have the bloody money” and “should if carried on with no weight.”

Others were inspired to try the workout themselves. One wrote, for instance: “I need to add the weight to mine next time!” As for the 34-year-old’s much-anticipated return to the ring, news broke in August that it had been postponed once again. At the moment all that is known is that he likely won’t fight until 2023, with a representative of the Irish star telling media he is “on track” for a “big return next year.”

• Conor McGregor Angers Fans With Latest Self-Destructive Habit
• Conor McGregor’s Surprising 7 Year Body Transformation

The post Conor McGregor Reveals Secret To ‘Serrated’ Abs appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Business class flyers are being slapped around the chops with wildly expensive ticket prices to Los Angeles when flying from Australia. This is due to a surge in demand, high jet fuel prices, an influx in revenge travellers, a lack of staff industry-wide and the fact that airlines are conducting some much-needed balance sheet repair.

Australian business class travellers had better have a bloody good reason to fly to Los Angeles at the moment, with return ticket prices for flights from Sydney to Los Angeles currently sitting between $21,000 and $26,000.

Hawaiian Airlines is a little cheaper, with some business class flights going for $12,000 (with a 6 hour lay over). You also have the option of flying with United/Virgin Australia on a nonstop flight for $16,000. Beyond that, you’ve got the option of flying with Air New Zealand, with a 3.5 hour layover, for $12,000.

If you can swing it with your dates, you also have the option of flying with Fiji Airways and Qantas, with a 2.5 hour stopover, for $9,651.

RELATED: Fiji Airways Business Class Review: Barefoot Luxury At Its Finest

Prices for return business class tickets to Los Angeles from Sydney, pre-pandemic, were normally around $5,000 to $10,000. So what’s going on? There are numerous factors at play. First and foremost, is demand. When there is particularly high demand for travel, as there has been generally since we got rid of COVID restrictions, and as there appears to be over the next couple of months especially, prices rise.

It’s not quite as simple as that though. Part of the problem is that although some of us are still as stingy as ever, there are other people out there booking tickets who are happy to spend more on travel.

This ‘revenge travel’ phenomenon is defined as people who were emotionally affected by the lockdowns, crave travel deeply, are very spontaneous, and are willing to spend more money than they would have previously (thus contributing to keeping prices up for the rest of us). Cheers, guys.

Then there is the matter of increased fuel prices, a trend worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As the AFR reported recently, “Jet fuel now represents as much as 38 per cent of an average airline’s costs, up from 27 per cent in the years leading to 2019.”

RELATED: Why I Prefer Flying Economy To Business Class

Finally, airline staffing issues (airlines were forced to lay off workers during COVID, and some of them have no desire to return) and the need for balance sheet repair mean airlines are charging a pretty penny for flights at this point in time – across all classes.

Though it remains unknown how long these wild prices will last, we can draw a shred of hope from Stephen Tracy, chief operating officer at Milieu Insight, who told the AFR: “The rise in prices is a short-term phenomenon” and that they are “fairly confident” they will come back down.

• $150 Etihad Business Class Flight Glitch Leaves Australians Fuming
• One Kind Of Business Class That’s Almost Never Worth It

The post Australian Business Class Flyers Slapped With Eye-Watering Fares To Los Angeles appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The jackpot keeps getting bigger for the biggest football tournament of them all.

The FIFA World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world, so naturally, this means there is a considerable amount of prize money to be won.

The tournament kicks off in Qatar on 20 November and runs until 18 December. The final takes place a week before Christmas, in Doha.

RELATED: How To Watch The World Cup 2022 In Australia

While the main focus for the players competing is bringing the coveted FIFA World Cup Trophy (as it is officially known) back to their country, there is also a large monetary incentive for lifting the World Cup.

But exactly how much money is at stake? Read on to find out.

What is the total amount of prize money at the 2022 World Cup?

As listed in the 2020 FIFA annual report, the total prize money pot for the 2022 World Cup stands at a whopping $440 million (700 million AUD).

This is a noteworthy increase from the last tournament, as the total prize money for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was ‘just’ $400 million.

For the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the total prize pot stood at $358 million.

How much prize money does the winner of the 2022 World Cup receive?

As with the total prize money pot, the amount of money for the eventual winner of the tournament has also increased since 2018.

In 2022, FIFA confirmed that the winning country will receive $42 million (67 million AUD). That’s $4 million more than France received four years ago.

After the 2002 World Cup, there was a significant increase in total prize money awarded, as FIFA’s annual profits grew drastically. Even since 2006, the amount of money the winner of the World Cup receives has more than doubled.

Do the runners-up get any prize money at the 2022 World Cup?

It is not only the winners who benefit from the increase prize pot at the 2022 World Cup, as all 32 teams competing in Qatar will receive more money.

All 32 nations will receive $1.5 million before the competition even starts. This is to cover the teams’ preparation costs.

As the teams progress through the tournament, they stand to receive larger and larger sums of money, depending on where they finish (all figures listed below are in USD):

• Winner – $42 million
• Runners-up – $30 million
• Third Place – $27 million
• Fourth Place – $25 million
• 5th – 8th Place – $17 million
• 9th – 16th Place – $13 million
• 17th – 32nd Place – $9 million

Based on these figures, simply showing up to the World Cup will net you more than Brazil received for winning the tournament in 2002.

How much of the prize money will players get at the 2022 World Cup?

Usually, the prize money earned during the tournament is split between both the entire squad and other staff members. Some money also goes to charity and the National Football Association of that country.

However, there is no set ratio to decide how much each individual player receives. FIFA allows each team to decide this themselves.

In many cases, all the players included in the squad will be paid the same, even those that don’t get much game time. In 2022, the Australian national football team, affectionally known as the Socceroos, have announced that each player will receive $226,000 for their inclusion in the squad. They will also receive a bonus of $290,000 if they reach the knockout stages.

By comparison, German players are set to receive just shy of $50,000 (€50,000) if they clear the group stage at this year’s World Cup (perhaps an indication of the lack of confidence, following 2018’s shock first-round exit?). If they reach the last 8, this increases to just under $100,000 (€100,000). But, if they are victorious in the final, this will increase to $390,000.

Do the players’ clubs receive any of the 2022 World Cup prize money?

The World Cup means that the players will be away from their usual clubs for over one month in the middle of the season. Usually, the World Cup takes place in the European summer, when most clubs take a break. But, due to the intense heat of Qatar, the 2022 World Cup tournament has to take place during European winter.

Whilst the clubs do not receive prize money for the players’ absence, they are invited to apply for money from a $209 million fund set aside by FIFA. Clubs get paid a daily rate of $10,000 for as long as players are away on national team duty.

This deal will include more than 400 clubs worldwide, including teams in the A-League in Australia. During the 2018 World Cup, A-league clubs earned a combined sum of $1.53 million in compensation from FIFA.

How does the men’s World Cup prize money compare with the women’s?

The prize money for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is set to take place in Australia and New Zealand, between July and August, is significantly lower than the total prize pot set aside for the men.

The total prize pot for the 2023 Women’s World Cup is only $60 million, which when compared with the $440 million on offer in Qatar, is a staggering difference. However, whilst it is still such a large gap, the $60 million figure is still a substantial increase over the $30 million total given by FIFA for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

It may still increase further, as FIFA enters the final year of preparations.

• World Cup Kits 2022: Our Favourite (And Not So Favourite) Jerseys On Show In Qatar
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The post FIFA World Cup Prize Money 2022: How Much Will Winners Get? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Finska is as essential to Australian summer holidays as huge family gatherings, prawns on the barbecue and cracking open a couple of cold ones. You may already be familiar with popular Finnish family game, but if not, then you’ve come to the right place to find out the history of Finksa and how to play it.

What is Finska?

Finska is an outdoor party game that requires you to knock down numbered wooden pins, using either a separate wooden pin or a dowel. There are 12 numbered pins to knock down, and the winner is the first to reach 50 points.

Where did Finska come from?

The Australian version of Finska is based on the Finnish game of Kyykkä, otherwise known as ‘Finnish skittles.’ In Australia, the game of Finska is a scaled down version of its ancestor, as players only need to start 3 to 4 metres from the numbered pins, whereas with Kyykkä, players must stand some 20+ metres away.

Kyykkä spawned the game Möllky in Finland, and this is more resemblant of the game of Finska played in Australia.

It is claimed that Finska was devised by two dads from Sydney, who were introduced to the game of Kyykkä by a Finnish friend, and realising there wasn’t an equivalent in Australia, decided to come up with their own version.

How to play Finska?

• 2 – 8 players
• Numbered pins must be arranged in specific order
• 3 – 4 metre throwing distance
• First to 50 points wins

Playing Finska is relatively simple, in the fact that players must take turns throwing a wooden pin at the 12 numbered pins, with the aim of knocking down as many as they can. However, there are a few rules to follow.

Firstly, the 12 pins must be setup in a specific way (as in the image above). The pins included with your Finska set will all have numbers on and the 10, 11 and 12 must go in the middle to form a triangle. The other numbers are arranged around them in ascending order from left to right.

One the pins are arranged, players take turns throwing the separate wooden pin (the Finska) using an underarm throw, at the 12 numbered pins from a distance of 3 – 4 metres. They player can score either a ‘multiple pin score’ or a ‘single pin score’. A single pin score offers the chance to score higher points than a multiple pin score.

For example, if a player only manages to knock down pin number 7, they score 7 points. But if they knock down multiple pins, such as a 7, 12 and 2, then they only score 3 points.

After each throw, the pins must be stood up in the position where they landed. This means the pins will likely end up being spread out across the ground. This can open up the opportunity for players to score higher single pin scores.

For a pin to be counted as a score, it must be fully horizontal. If a wooden pin is leaning on another pin, then it isn’t counted.

Getting knocked out of Finska

It is possible to get knocked out of Finska. If you fail to score any points for 3 consecutive throws, you are out of the game. If you are playing on a team, then your remaining team members can continue to play.

How to win Finska

The winner of Finska is the first to reach exactly 50 points. If you go over 50 points when scoring from a throw, then you start the next turn on 25 points, and then have to build up your score once more.

So, while it may seem Finska is a simple knock ’em down game, it actually requires a lot more strategy, cunning and mathematics than you might have first expected.

If you’re getting close to 50 points, for example, and only need 3 points to win, but knocking down just 3 pins, or the number 3 is going to be tricky because there are multiple other pins nearby, then you may want to deliberately miss a throw so that other players can distribute the pins more using their throws.

Where to buy Finska?

Because Finska has become such a popular game in Australia, you can now buy Finska sets from a number of online retailers.

Finska Official

Finska is the official retailer of the game of Finska, and the company that also hosts the Australian Finska Championship (more on that below). Finska offers the original game in standard wood, a ‘Preemio’ version made from premium beechwood and finished with a varnish for durability and longevity, a ‘Mini’ version and a number of coloured versions.

Find them all at Finska’s official website.

Planet Finska

Offering many of the same Finska sets as the official company, Planet Finska also offers a Launch Bar, which you would use to mark an unpredictable throwing position. Using this could make your game easier or more difficult, depending where it lands.

Australian Finska Championship

Each year, Finska hosts the Australian Finska Championship. Each annual tournament sees 150 teams of two players compete against one another for the chance to be crowned Australian Finska Champion.

The 150 teams are divided into pool groups. Each team in a pool competes against the other teams in their pool, to determine who advanced to the knockout stages. The 2022 Australian Finska Championship was contested on Saturday 15th October at The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, Sydney.

Finskaroos

Due to the popularity of Finska in Australia, there is now an official national team called the Finskaroos. The Finskaroos competed in the Finska World Championships, which were held in Samoëns, France. The Finskaroos didn’t win, but since it was their first tournament, they gained valuable experience to try again in Finland in 2023 and Japan in 2024.

The post What Is Finska? Rules & Origin Explained appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

For most of us, when we dine out, if we feel we’ve received a particularly high level of service we will leave a tip to our server to acknowledge it. But, in the United States at least, it has now been suggested the servers employ some psychological trickery to ensure they eke out from you as much money as they can.

As reported by New York Post, waitresses in the United States of America have found that appealing to the still apparent sleazy nature of men can see their earnings from tips increase exponentially.

Whilst servers don’t quite need to match the levels of Hooters waitresses, female servers in American have found wearing their hair a certain way (usually tied up in pigtails), wearing short shorts or even talking in a Southern accent, have been found to increase the amount they receive in tips from their customers.

In the US, tipping is customary, and customers are encouraged to tip at least 15-20% of their total bill to their server, whether it’s a waitress or waiter in a restaurant, bartender, a taxi driver, valet or even a barber, to name a few.

But, for restaurant servers, women specifically, essentially sexualising themselves tends to result in being more highly rewarded. Bella Woodard, a 21-year-old student who works as as server came across a TikTok video showing another girl telling her audience that wearing her hair in pigtails had resulted in higher tips.

Bella is claimed to have been skeptical the trick would work for her, but after she did, she was tipped $135 by one male customer alone, the New York Post reports.

The TikTok video, posted by user Grace (@wildyhotverymentallyill) has received hundreds of comments, many of which appear to be from other female servers giving their own anecdotal evidence as to the effectiveness or dressing or acting in a more provocative way towards male customers.

Comments include,

“do it because it’s such an easy hairstyle when i forgot to put up my hair but i’m always getting hit on by older men and now it makes sense.”

and,

“Wait this makes me nervous I didn’t think ab that one time I wore two braid pigtails cuz I was running late and got a 15 dollar tip that night.”

or even, “this week for the first time in my life i wore pigtails and i promise you i got 10x the attention i used to.. what’s wrong with this world.”

To that last point, many other users were quick to question why female servers should even have to go above and beyond to increase their tips from male customers, when their quality customer service alone should warrant it in the first place.

“wearing pigtails arent the problem?? the people liking it are the problem,” says one. “it’s literally hair, the problem is people sexualizing it,” says another.

Bella said in a TikTok video of her own, “It’s weird and gross, but I’m down for more tips, so it doesn’t matter,” insinuating she would rather not have to wear her hair in pigtails just to see her tips increase, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s a pretty harmless way to earn some extra cash.

Professor William Michael Lynn from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration has studied the act of tipping to such an extent that he’s been able to formulate a list of 20 things servers can do that have been proven to increase the amount they receive in tips.

These include, “introduce yourself by name; squat down next to the table;  stand physically close to the customer; touch the customer; smile; compliment the customer’s food choices and repeat the order back to the customer.”

The findings could leave a bit of a sour taste. Firstly, there’s the whole issue of how men still objectify women and they’ll only ‘reward’ their female server if they feel she looks more attractive. At the same time, however, it could be argued that the women should indeed fleece these men for as much money as they can, almost as punishment?

Whatever your opinion, there should be agreement that no matter how your server looks, they should be financially rewarded for waiting on you hand and foot. Especially in the US, where they rely on tips for income because their base pay is so low.

• Australians Outraged At Man Who Wants To ‘Americanise’ Tim Tams
• Is This The One Week Of The Year You Should Tip Like An American?

The post The Subliminal Yet Obvious Restaurant Trick All Men Have Likely Experienced appeared first on DMARGE Australia.