If flying economy is like spending the night in a dingy dive bar (armrest tussles and all) then flying business-class is like ~vibing~ at an exclusive VIP lounge (purple disco lights included).

That’s the stereotype. But what most people don’t realise, is that the vintage Moët and lie-flat beds are just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, for some pointy end passengers, that’s not even why they pay to sit up front.

So – especially in this climate of flight shaming and thriftiness – why is business-class becoming more popular? How do we sleep knowing we are being mocked by (literally) ‘woke’ passengers in economy who arrive at the same place, at the same time, about $5,000 (give or take, depending on the airline and the route) better off?

In an era where it’s cooler to brag about ‘how many steps’ you did on the weekend than it is to recall how many Espresso Martinis you sank, why do statistics show business-class hedonism to be sharply increasing?

As always, the devil is in the detail. And his name is Immanuel Debeer: one of the world’s most prolific frequent flyers, owner of Flight Hacks, and proud business-class hedonist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Immanuel Debeer – Flight Hacks (@flighthacks) on Feb 2, 2019 at 3:58am PST

Inspired by losing my business class virginity on Qantas’ recently re-assigned A330, I sought out a more experienced pointy end flyer (Immanuel) to help me transition from budget-backpacker to elitist snob.

The problem was, Immanuel proved my assumption that everyone who flies business-class is worthy of disdain to be false, revealing that it is possible to be a down-to-earth human and also fly business, as well as helping me see there are a number of perks to flying business-class that you don’t truly appreciate until you actually do it.

Aside from Immanuel’s observations, we have also picked the brain of D’Marge editor-at-large Luc Wiesman, who can often be found at the lie-flat end of the plane.

In short, today we bring you all the reasons it’s worth it to fly business-class over economy, particularly internationally, and particularly if it’s a slight financial stretch (if you are rolling in cash, or if you have zero money, it is a no-brainer).

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Shaun Birley | Stylish Travel (@shaunbirley) on Nov 22, 2017 at 8:45pm PST

Hedonism changes your brain for the better

Sure: cigars and cocktails will kill you. But so (eventually) will water and gluten-free bread. Also, studies have shown hedonism can be good for your health, particularly when it doesn’t involve inhaling carcinogenic substances or pummelling your liver. Put simply: business class is your safe space to indulge, where the laws of international aviation (and customs) protect you from doing too much damage, leaving you free to loll in luxury.

And let’s face it: on an international red-eye, even if you make the rare move of trying to get some work done, you will likely have to redo it when you realise that your 40,000ft ‘revelations’ are mostly gibberish. So instead of hunching over your laptop in economy, determined to make use of your stolen sleep, why not hop up the pointy end and arrive refreshed, sharp and well-fed?

It makes it much easier to avoid jetlag

As frequent flyer Immanuel told us, “Apart from the freeflow champagne and better quality food, the main advantage of business-class is that you get a fully-flat bed.” According to him, “This can make a huge difference in terms of your health,” and enables you to, “Hit the ground running.”

“When you can get proper sleep, the effects of jetlag are minimised so whether you need to attend a meeting or have a full day of sightseeing, you will have an advantage over economy passengers.”

It gives you lounge access – no status credits required

Even if you are a non-frequent flyer with zero status credits, if you purchase a business-class ticket you will have lounge access wherever you need it for that journey. And, as Immanuel told us: “Most of those [lounges] on international routes have excellent shower facilities and a-la-carte restaurants to make your transit that much more relaxing.”

“Some airlines even offer ‘dine on demand’ benefits to their premium guests. This means you can eat what you want when you want. This can really help you to adjust your body clock when you’re not forced to eat when the airline would like you to.”

It gives you the chance to meet like-minded people

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Immanuel Debeer – Flight Hacks (@flighthacks) on May 21, 2019 at 11:49pm PDT

In a previous article, we suggested that flying up the pointy end of the plane gives you the chance to be shouted drinks by corrupt politicians and shmooze your way up the corporate ladder. While this was tongue-in-cheek, we believe the core point – there’s never a bad time to sip single malt with potential industry connections – still stands.

However, frequent flyer Immanuel calls bullsh*t on this claim, arguing that those who fly business do so for the anonymity and retreat-like feels – not to network: “Most people in the lounge want to keep to themselves and in business class, the reality is that most people are company men and women who’s employer paid for them to fly in business.”

“It’s not like every seat is taken up by some hot entrepreneur, well on their way to becoming the next Google or Facebook.”

“That said, of course, it’s fine to strike up conversations with other people (and there are plenty of nice and interesting people travelling in any class) as long as you can read social clues and know when your small talk isn’t appreciated,” he added.

It reduces the stress of your airport experience

You might not get a chopper or a chauffer like you do in first-class, but flying business-class culls much of the fat of air travel. Check-in is a red-roped breeze, most lounges have chicken edamame salads (of some variation thereof) to fly for and if there is a delay you wait it out in an adult playpen of delight, not McDonalds.

It gives you a licence to laze

Where else in the modern world can you sit back unmolested by emails, texts and calls (and judgement from your partner), to scoff salted nuts and swill single malt, while watching whatever guilty pleasure you so desire? Essentially: you get to do what you always do on a Friday night, sans judgement.

It allows you to make a socio-political statement

In a world where Crossfit is now cooler than clubbing, business-class is the hedonist’s last refuge.

Read Next

• The Hidden Benefits Of Flying First-Class That Business-Class Passengers Have No Idea About
• The Biggest Myth People Still Believe About Business Class

The post The Hidden Benefits Of Flying Business-Class That Economy Passengers Have No Idea About appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’ve had leaked images of new weapons and allegations ‘No Time To Die’ might not be Daniel Craig’s last appearance as 007 but – until now – there have been relatively few spoilers for next year’s much-anticipated Bond flick.

That may be set to change, as new Bond Girl Ana De Armas has just put her foot on a banana and engaged in a spot of Freudian figure skating. Or so the gossip mags would have you believe.

“In a new interview, de Armas did her duty keeping clues about the hotly-anticipated Bond 25 under wraps as [s]he opened up about doing her first-ever action movie, but appeared to hint at one part of her character’s story,” Express.co.uk reported on Friday.

This new interview was conducted by C Magazine, to whom Armas said it was a “very strange transition” going from (playing) Marilyn Monroe in the upcoming Blonde to a (so far nameless) Bond Girl in ‘No Time To Die’: “It’s so different.”

“I’ve never done an action movie and I must have underestimated what these kinds of movies are, but I must say I’m really impressed.”

She then revealed her character in the new 007 film is in some action scenes; as Express.co.uk puts it, “Involved in trying to take down her opposition,” even implying she shot scenes where she was “killing people.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A N A D E A R M A S (@ana_d_armas) on Apr 25, 2019 at 1:04pm PDT

“Man, it’s really hard. The training, to stay true to the kind of movie, to the tone. Everything takes so long, so your energy level, when you’re waiting, goes down,” Armas told C Magazine.

“And then you’re suddenly on set and you have to start killing people or kicking people. And it’s in high heels!”

“The woman I’m portraying is different [than previous Bond girls]. It has some bubbles in it. It’s really fresh and exciting,” she added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A N A D E A R M A S (@ana_d_armas) on Oct 25, 2019 at 9:18am PDT

Australian 007 fan page James Bond Down Under has told D’Marge this change is “part and parcel” of a modern Bond Girl. The also added, however, that they doubt she will have too much (by the way of action) to do because “previously actresses have had months of training.”

Ana, on the contrary, “turned up to the press launch without knowing a great deal” and has since (probably) “had a crash course with the scenes she needed to complete.”

“Whether she is killing villains or being part of the villain’s regime is something we don’t know yet.”

JBDU also noted that we’ve seen Bond Girls kill before, particularly in the modern era. They did admit, however, that “especially with Phoebe Waller-Bridge on board we are bound for some surprises.”

Ana De Armas recently appeared alongside Bond co-star Craig in Rian Johnson’s new comedy-thriller Knives Out, and has also previously starred as Joi in Blade Runner 2049.

Here’s hoping her performance in ‘No Time To Die’ can live up to her previous roles – and with Daniel Craig (and a deadly pair of heels at her disposal) – maybe even surpass them.

Read Next

• New Evidence Suggests Daniel Craig May No Longer Be Retiring As 007
• Leaked Photos Reveal The Physical Demand Of Bond May Finally Be Taking Its Toll On Daniel Craig

The post No Time To Die Ending: New Evidence Suggests Killer Plot Twist For James Bond appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It's no longer all about Swiss watches and fancy overpriced brand names. In 2019, Japanese manufactured watches are continuing to gain huge popularity for only for their design but quality and value for money. Seiko is one such brand that keeps delivering in all th...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post Score 50% Off Seiko’s Almost Perfect Minimalist Men’s Automatic Watch appeared first on D'MARGE.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Everyone at some point in time has owned a pair of Converse All-Stars. Their tough no-fuss approach to footwear has seen the company kick on for 111 years. At some point, however, you're going to get a little bored of the classics.

Enter their latest release. Du...

↬ Click here to view the full article/gallery on D'Marge

The post These $85 ‘Remastered’ Converse All-Stars Are The Perfect Anti White Sneakers appeared first on D'MARGE.

From the catacombs to Chernobyl, tourists have always had a fascination with The Macabre. In previous eras, this would have meant orderly lines and quiet reflection. Or so your grandparents would have you believe.

In 2019, however, even if we haven’t (quite) degenerated into the slavering selfie salmagundi Murdoch predicted, how we show appreciation for our ancestors (and how we document our trips) has definitely changed.

Enter: the selfie, the tagline of Modern Travel, which the Czech Republic has now banned from one of its most morbid chapels, Sedlec’s “Bone Church,” as part of a wider prohibition on photography of its sombre displays.

Chapel director Radka Krejci told the Czech news agency CTK people are taking improper photos and desecrating the sanctity of the site’s human remains.

In other words: selfies with the dead are not cool.

Bone Church is a small chapel located about an hour east of Prague, and attracts over 200,000 visitors a year. Inside it features an assortment of 40,000 human skeletons, which are used to create everything from chandeliers to an ornate heraldic Schwarzenberg coat of arms.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by (@aciddoll) on May 3, 2019 at 8:56am PDT

As The NZ Herald reports, “It was commissioned in the 1870s as a way to [put the] remains… into order and create something of a grizzly tourist attraction.”

“The artist behind the project František Rint even signed his work with a mosaic made of an assortment of bones – including vertebrae and tiny digits from fingers and toes.”

Nice.

The current group of parishioners have less of a stomach for interacting with the deceased though, and would kindly ask you not to take selfies with the skulls.

How did the site become so popular? According to the NZ Herald, “While the bone collection first gained attention in the late 19th century, there is a new generation of tourists – almost invariably wearing death metal t-shirts – who have begun posing for photos with the piles of bones.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Christina Stathopoulos, PCC (@hearxtinaroar) on Oct 20, 2019 at 5:25am PDT

Still curious? Check out the 19,000 Instagram posts with the ‘Bone Church‘ hashtag. Anyway, as we reported earlier this year, European authorities are now cracking down on tourist behaviour and photo etiquette, now targeting people for disrespectful actions – even ones which cause no physical damage.

“We have to be careful not to judge… For a generation of teenagers, this is the language they use.”

“You can see from the caption that people are showing the memorial was important to them.” Which is more than can be said for some of the tourists that have played up in other places in Europe this year, with tourists camping out on the iconic Rialto bridge and fighting with Gondoliers in Venice.

Read Next

• Australian Tourists Are Being Warned To Stay Away From This Morbid Balinese Attraction
• Travellers’ Reactions To The Barcelona Riots Exposes The Hypocrisy Of Western Tourism

The post Ghost Chapel: Tourists Are Being Warned Against Taking Selfies In This Creepy Czech Chapel appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Watch 70 years of the Porsche 911 in 2 minutes above.

So you want to buy a classic Porsche 911? Join the club.

No, really, join a Porsche car club. It’s the best advice we have to help you navigate the seven 911 generations and hundreds of variations Porsche has unleashed in the 57 years since Ferdinand Porsche’s iconic original.

But if you’d rather go it alone, or maybe you’re in a hurry to spend that inheritance windfall, then we’ve done some of the homework for you. We’ve spoken to classic Porsche 911 owners, collectors, car club members and even Porsche Australia HQ to come up with ‘almost everything you need to know before buying your first classic 911’.

Right then, let’s get started. Because the sooner you finish this, the sooner you’ll be hammering at the horizon and grinning at the luscious, gravelly howl of your very own 911’s distinctive flat-six engine.

The Beginning

Hard to believe a car that shares its roots with the 1930s Volkswagen Beetle has become the most influential sports car of the 20th century (voted by a panel of 133 car journos from around the world, by the way). No other car looks like it or sounds like it, and no other sports car can match its unique driving dynamics.

The Porsche 911 is an incredible sports car, no question. Thing is, it should never have worked. This rear-engined coupe is a Teutonic middle finger to the laws of physics because centrifugal force should fling it off the road at every corner.

That’s often what happened in the 60s, 70s and 80s when overly ambitious drivers lifted off the throttle mid-corner. But other more talented drivers used the 911’s power, light weight and inherent agility to dominate races like the Monte Carlo Rally, Targa Florio and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

These days, classic 911s can cost ten times more than a brand new 911 Turbo… But not every 911 will cost you a large house. A quick search of internet classifieds turns up a 1974 911 manual for just $45,000. So, how do you know if it’s a good buy?

The Models

There have been seven main generations of the Porsche 911, starting from the long-lived Type 901 (the ‘classic’ 911) all the way to today’s 992. Each subsequent generation has stayed remarkably faithful to Ferdinand Porsche’s 1964 original with a sleek two-door body and flat-six-cylinder engine snuggled up to the rear axle, with some slight tweaks over the years – notably a shift from air-cooled to water-cooled engines into the new millennium. Here’s a quick rundown of the differences between the different generations.

Type 901 (1963-89)

• 1963-73 models with metal bumpers are considered the quintessential 911
• First 911 Turbo (930) arrived in 1975
• 1974 redesign adds bulging ‘impact bumpers’ to satisfy US safety nannies (not a good look, still a great car)

Type 964 (1989-94)

• New styling, plastic bumpers, round headlights, first with all-wheel drive, coil springs, ABS, power steering + active rear spoiler
• A good starter model for first-time 911 buyers
• Singer Vehicle Design’s car of choice for their custom jobs

Type 993 (1995-98)

• New styling, new multilink rear suspension tames 911’s unruly rear end
• The best ‘first’ 911 to buy because it’s gorgeous and won’t try to kill the unwary at every turn
• 993 Turbo in 1995 the first with twin-turbochargers and all-wheel drive
  • Capable of 0-100 in 3.4 seconds
  • Your ego may want this one, but best to get a few years of 911 experience first
• The last air-cooled 911

Type 996 (1999-2004)

• All-new bigger chassis and body, new water-cooled engine, and those headlights… Fried eggs, anyone?
  • 2002 saw a front end redesign that made the car look less like a Boxster, and these are considered easier on the eyes
• Unloved, so cheaper than most
• Race-ready GT3 model debuts with this generation
  • Lighter, faster, no rear seats, roll cage optional

Type 997 (2004-12)

• Round headlights return, updated interior
• 2009 update brings new direct-injection engine and PDK double-clutch gearbox, new front-end styling, Bluetooth

Type 991 (2012-2019)

• All-new chassis and mainly aluminium body makes for bigger yet lighter 911
• New electric power steering polarises fans
• Manual now has seven speeds
• 2015 update brings all-new smaller 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine for all models to reduce fuel consumption but also increases power and performance

Type 992 (2019-present)

• Slightly wider, now uses aluminium body panels
• Staggered front and rear wheel diameters as standard
• Revised intake, bigger intercooler, new engine-mounting system
• Design tweaked to more closely resemble classic 911s of old


The Three Cs (almost…)

Ron Widdison is the editor of the Porsche Car Club magazine of Victoria. After selling his 964 last year (and doubling his investment) he now only owns three 911s – two 993s and a 997.

He’s owned ten Porsches over the years, including seven 911s. Most of them he’s made a profit on, so his advice is worth heeding. Ron buys his 911s using the Three Cs – although he admits “one of them is not a ‘c’…”

Condition: “General condition is important. Bodywork can sometimes be more expensive to fix than mechanical. The bodywork has to be spot on.”

Colour: “If you go and buy a green car, you’re really limiting the market when you go to sell the car. You may love the colour, but when you sell it there will be fewer people who also love it.”

Kilometres: “If you can buy a car with less than 100,000km on it, it’s going to be worth a lot more than a higher mileage example.”

“Coupes will always be worth more than your Convertibles and Targas, and manuals will always be worth more than Tiptronics.”

Ron relates that whatever you choose, do a pre-purchase inspection. “As with any classic, take it to a specialist and have the mechanicals checked. Make sure there’s no rust in it. That sort of thing. And make sure it’s been well maintained. You just have to do your due diligence and check them out properly.”

Best 911 To Buy?

Melbourne advertising executive Damian Royce has been “buying and selling and celebrating all things 911 for more than 20 years,” he tells us.

“For me the 911 is about purity… I was attracted to the timeless design, the purity of purpose and engineering. I bought my first 911 in the mid-1990s, a 1971 911E with a 2.2 [litre engine].”

Damian sold that 911E after more than a decade of driving pleasure and turned a profit. “It was a beautiful car to drive, a driver-focused car.” Since then he’s owned half a dozen more, including two 3.0-litre Carreras, two 3.2-litre Carreras, and a 964 Turbo. He knows a thing or two about buying and owning 911s. Here’s his top tips.

Buy the best you can

• Avoid any examples that need work or have modifications
• Make sure the engine number and VIN match the paperwork
• Make sure it has been serviced professionally and driven regularly

“Buy something that’s friendly on your wallet but in tip-top condition”, he instructs.

“It might be tempting to buy something rare that needs a little work, but it could turn out to be a basket case and not all that financially friendly.”

Damian also says to check the history and provenance of the car you’re interested in. “Make sure it has been cared for, serviced regularly and driven regularly. Porsche 911s need to be driven, not parked and admired.

“Make sure it has the service books, and that the chassis number and engine number match the books. Also, steer clear of examples with aftermarket or owner modifications. These can lower the value of the car and also make it harder to resell down the track.”

When it comes to buying tips for specific generations, and models within those generations, Damian says a bit of homework can save a lot of cash.

“Each model has its quirks”, says Damian, “so it’s really best to talk to people who know about – or own – the model you’re interested in. If you’re serious, join a 911 club, go to a meeting and soak up the knowledge.”

Picking the silk from the sows

Pretty much every Porsche expert we spoke to said the air-cooled models (pre-1998) are the only ones to buy.

“Air cooled is the way to go,” said Ron, “but it’s not just because it has the right engine”.

Ron says the late 1990s to 2000 coincided with a significant change in how prestige sports brands like Porsche made cars. “That’s when manufacturing methods really went from hand-made to machine-made. There’s a big difference in the build quality of a largely hand-built 993 compared to a 996 built by robots to efficiency methods popularised by Japanese carmakers at the time. I understand Porsche had to adopt those efficiencies to survive, but the 993 is a better quality car.”

Spell it out: Which one should I buy?

The really collectable ones now are the long-nose cars prior to 1973’s impact bumper design change, says Ron. “Once, no one wanted them, but now they’re hugely collectable because they’re such a gorgeous shape. The pick of those is the 72-73 models.”

Some more sage advice from Ron:

• The 993 is the last of the air-cooled engines, so they’re the best of the bunch. Everything was sorted out by then.
• Early 964s had a few problems, like oil leaks, distributor issues and flywheel issues, but they should all have been seen to by now.
• The last of the G Series cars (1984-89) are great cars. Anything from 1984 onwards is your best buy for reliability. The pick of those is the 87-89 models because they had a better gearbox.

Best Porsche 911 models for driving

If you’re like Damian and driving a 911 is about the purity of man and machine, the true essence of the sports car philosophy, then you’ll want to prioritise a first-generation 911 for between AU$70,000-$150,000 – although they can easily go higher.

Start your hunt with early to mid-1970s models. Keep in mind that Porsche increased the engine size to 2.7 litres from model-year 1974 onwards, and added fuel injection to some models, which all resulted in a tasty performance increase.

Also worth a look is the 1978-83 911SC, largely because they’re not as popular with purists, and therefore not as expensive as they could be. They’re light, torquey and loads of fun to drive.

A third, more potent option is the first-generation 911 Turbo (AKA 930 series, 1975-1989) with its signature whale tail rear spoiler. This road-going ballistic missile will definitely get the adrenaline pumping, but be very respectful of the throttle, because the 930’s lively combination of short-wheelbase, turbo-lag and lift-off oversteer earned it the ‘Widowmaker’ moniker.

The final option might be a 912. An entry-level version of the 911 produced from 1965 to 1969, the 912 is exactly the same as a 911, except with the 1.6L air-cooled flat-four from the last of the 356s. They’re still great to drive despite the reduced power, and because they’re the ‘junior’ version of the classic 911, they’re not quite as expensive.

The Best Porsche 911 For Investing

If we knew the answer to this, we’d be out buying vintage 911s, not writing about buying vintage 911s! Investing in classic cars for profit is a mug’s game, because the market is fickle.

That said, it is possible to maximise your profit potential come resale time. Buy as rare as you can afford – limited runs are gold – and preferably an example that’s factory-spec and unmolested by the aftermarket. Official documentation is a must to prove your car’s pedigree and bona fides.

The 993 generation (1994-98) is a good place to start, although you won’t find one worth looking at under $150,000. As the last of the air-cooled 911s, and a highly accomplished handler thanks to new multilink rear suspension, its appeal with owners and collectors will only keep climbing.

Older 911s such as the Carrera 3.2 (1984-89) and Carrera 3.0 (1976-77) are highly sought-after, so are good investments. Interestingly, the 911SC which bridged the gap from the 3.0’s end in 1977 to the 3.2’s arrival in 1984 is sometimes overlooked, which can make good examples something of a bargain. Relatively speaking.

What’s feeding the frenzy?

Rarity, obviously. But with Australia being one of the few right-hand drive markets in the Porsche world, another factor has recently jetted classic Porsche prices into orbit.

“A big part of the incredible rise in Australian 911 values is the increasing interest from Asian right-hand drive countries,” says Ron. On top of that, there’s “lots of new millionaires in China right now, and they want classic Porsches” (despite China being LHD).

“Prices are also driven by production numbers, and that’s a recent development too. I had a 3.2 Clubsport that I sold. They only made 52 but no-one cared up until three years ago. And although I doubled my $75,000 investment when I sold it, the car is now worth $400,000.”

Want a bargain? Buy the mongrel

The 911’s biggest generational change was the Type 996 launched in 1998. This was the first ‘all-new’ 911, which had a completely new chassis, and a new water-cooled engine to the horror of many 911 enthusiasts.

This major mechanical change makes pre-996 models more authentic, and therefore more desirable. That, and the fact the 996’s otherwise elegant styling was tainted by those terrible ‘fried-egg’ headlights.

Porsche’s designers have seldom put a foot wrong over the decades, but this was a big stumble – one that the next model rectified. Still, if you don’t mind fried eggs, the less popular 996 can be a bargain buy. But don’t expect this model to appreciate in price like the older ones do.

We like the 996 Turbo and 996 4S for future classics.

Classic Porsche 911 FAQ

Read Next

• Where To Buy Classic Cars For Sale In Australia
• Most Underrated Porsche Ever Might Be The Best Car Investment Of 2021

The post A Guide To Buying A Classic, Vintage & Used Porsche 911 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From Bukowski to Raskolnikov, smart people have always had a reputation for screwing up.

And it’s not just fiction: half the world’s tech overlords dropped out of uni, Conor McGregor is the UFC’s smartest fighter, and your smartest amigo probably has a love life that makes The Big Dipper look like an airport travellator.

That’s before we even mention Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson or Charlie Sheen. So, why do smart people fail harder at some of life’s basic challenges than the rest of us? Normally people assume the smarter you are the more you are plagued by existential thoughts.

While there may be something to this, a recent BBC video (published last Monday), which breaks down David Robinson’s book ‘The Intelligence Trap‘ into four digestible points, suggests there’s more to it.

Without further waffle: here’s why greater intelligence, education and expertise might actually amplify our errors, according to the latest psychological research.

Cognitive Miserliness

Capable of cognitive reasoning, but don’t apply your brainpower effectively? Welcome to high IQ life. According to the BBC, smart people often rely too much on their gut feelings. They give the example of a quiz, in which you are asked how many of pairs of animals made it onto Moses’ Ark, to which many intelligent people will miss the point of the question – which is to trick them (it was Noah’s, not Moses’) because they are already five steps ahead of everyone else trying to answer the question in good faith.

The fix? Don’t assume you know what’s coming, even when you probably do. Or, as the BBC puts it: “Cognitive miserliness can cause us to be swayed by irrelevant information or our own feelings, for example, leading to poor financial decisions when buying a house.”

Motivated Reasoning

Sometimes, thanks to the emotional pull of an argument, we can think in a very one-sided way. David Robinson, author of ‘The Intelligence Trap’ illustrates this point with Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes series, a man who clearly understood logic, but who still – in his personal life – maintained a strong belief in fortune-tellers, which his friends – including Harry Houdini – tried (and failed) to rid him of.

Risks of motivated reasoning? Polarized political views, pursuing a failing love affair or rationalising a poor business venture, all of which can get irrationally swept up into your identity.

The Curse Of Expertise

After years of experience in a job, experts might begin to act on autopilot, ‘The Intelligence Trap’ warns, and this can lead you to miss vital information. In other words: keep your brain engaged as much as your clutch.

The ‘Too Much Talent’ Effect

“A sense of conflict and competition within a group cam actually reduce each team member’s problem-solving skills and creativity,” the BBC says. “Even just one or two arrogant team members can completely ruin the group dynamic and reduce the performance of the whole team.”

• Argue against yourself
• Self distance (think from an outside perspective)
• Time travel (imagine yourself in a month or a year’s time, looking back at your decision)
• Fine-tune your emotions

Read Next

• Why Being Anti-Social Could Make You More Successful In Life, According To Researchers
• Scientists Reveal The Biggest Myths Men Still Believe About Sex

The post Why Do Smart People Do Stupid Things? There’s Actually A Reason According To Science appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Your hot new fling suddenly cancels. Tinder bae goes through your phone. Your partner of two years treats your kitchen like an (absurd) art studio.

While these situations all appear quite different, they have one thing in common: they stretch your patience.

But what does that have to do with ‘jerk-baiting’? We spoke to couple’s counseller Heidi Gee to get the low-down on that very question: welcome to the most devious dating trend of 2019.

‘Jerk-baiting’ is when you deliberately test how ~keen~ your partner really is on you (or how psycho they might be), by baiting them into being a jerk.

As Heidi tells us, the kindling for this trend (i.e. the age-old ‘shit test’) has been around forever. But now, with the advent of smartphones and dating apps, it has taken off, giving early-stage daters easier ways to test each other and longer-term couples more Instagram affairs things to bait each other with.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Samantha Rothenberg (@violetclair) on Sep 29, 2019 at 11:50am PDT

“Communication has changed and interpersonal skills have changed a lot so it’s quite easy for people to avoid difficult conversations.” Not only that but many women these days, Heidi tells us, are afraid of the consequences of directly rejecting someone.

As the wealth of rejection-gone-wrong literature reveals, there is good reason to jerk-bait a potential partner to make sure they are not a psycho.

The problem is, jerk-baiting can backfire in numerous ways. Not only can it land your phone with some truly bizarre text messages, but it can also push someone awesome away from you if they don’t realise that you’re testing them.

This also has a tendency to happen in full-blown relationships, with couples deliberately and subconsciously testing each other’s patience.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Samantha Rothenberg (@violetclair) on Mar 6, 2019 at 4:55pm PST

Why? According to Heidi, it comes down to self-esteem: “We all play those games of seeing how much the person does like us, what they would do for us, pushing their buttons, pushing them to the limit.”

“Moving in with someone and seeing how much they will take care of x y and z around the house,” is a great example, she tells us. “[I’ve had] couples come in and that’s been an issue: ‘I don’t do the dishes because I know she’s going to do it – these things can build up and cause tension.”

Another example is when one partner, “Will sabotage or say things to get a reaction to see how much they [the other parther] cares and whether they would be chased and how much they’re loved.”

Sound familiar? Here’s what Heidi recommends you should do if you find yourself jerk-baiting: “If you’re uncertain about where your relationship or feelings stand then you ask the partner rather than baiting them; that could make things fall apart rather than the partner chasing.”

Read Next

• ‘Subwaying’ Is The Infuriating New Dating Trend You Can’t Get Mad At
• The Social Media Flirting Rules You Are Probably Getting Wrong

The post 'Jerk-Baiting' Is The Infuriating New Dating Trend You Can't Get Mad At appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Conor McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC for over a year, but “The Notorious” is now set to step back into the Octagon at least three more times, starting on the 19th of January, 2020. The only problem is, though he is as cocky as ever, both fans and MMA veterans are questioning whether he can still put his money where his mouth is.

Conor’s last fight in the UFC resulted in a fourth-round loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov before a brawl broke out inside both the cage and stands.

McGregor has made his desire for a rematch clear on numerous occasions, but this time told media he wasn’t going to wait around for Khabib to say yes.

“The people of Russia deserve this inevitable rematch [against Nurmagomedov] to take place here in Moscow and it will happen… However, I’m not waiting around for that man.”

“That man [Khabib] is a known pull-out, a known fearer of risk… so I’m not waiting around. I’d like to announce to the public the return of ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor will take place on January 19 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada,” McGregor announced last night at a press conference in Russia.

“That is my comeback fight. It is 12 weeks this Saturday. I am in prime physical condition. I have agreed the date with the company. As far as the opponent, I have the… name, but from experience if I was to give you the name I know the UFC would flip it because they are a crafty company. So ask the UFC who the opponent is, because I do not give a f*** who the opponent is.”

ESPN reports the most likely candidates to fight Conor in January are Donald Cerrone and Justin Gaethje.

“That will be the beginning of my season. I will then look to compete against the winner of Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal. Obviously, I have history with Nate Diaz… Then I will seek the Moscow bout against the winner of Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Conor added.

Of course, McGregor would need to win two difficult fights in order to even get that opportunity – something he appears confident he can do. However, comments from both fans and UFC experts suggest the Irishman left some crucial information out of his, “I am going to go through the entire roster like a chainsaw through butter,” claim.

He sounds so rehearsed and lacking that swag he use to have. He is seeking the ufc to rebuild his name again. He’s a tarnished coke head with an allergy to the word no. I hope he gets embarrassed in his comeback. Too many in the ufc fight to be respected and this dude is trash

— Jessica (@reneejess0205) October 24, 2019

MMA veteran Chael Sonnen, for instance, told Express.co.uk, unless McGregor improves the “small details” of his fighting, he is unlikely to come off best in a rematch against Khabib, regardless of how fit he is. And he wasn’t the only one to notice that, with some fans now taking issue with McGregor’s comment that he will come into next year “sharp, fresh… [and with] no injuries,” as it appears to make excuses for previous defeat.

“I will have no alcohol, I will have no outside influences. I will be fully focused … and we will settle it once and for all.”

In Conor’s defence, despite his arrogant antics (see: his various legal disputes over bus-wrecking and old man-punching), he has shown humility in the face of defeat, tweeting “Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch” when he lost to Khabib, and even praising Mayweather’s overall fighting skills (something he had previously mocked), after losing their multi-million dollar boxing match.

So are his latest comments proof – as many UFC fans now claim – McGregor has changed from cocky-but-loveable to arrogant-and-past-it? Is it a Freudian slip that suggests Conor truly believes he is better than Khabib, but was physically unprepared for their last fight? Or is it just a humble promise to be better this time around, in a bid to amend his reputation as a serious fighter as well as a serious shit talker?

Read Next

• Conor McGregor’s Latest Workout Reveals A Cardio Training Technique Everyone Should Be Using
• 6 Things Conor McGregor Claims Will Make You Infinitely Stronger

The post Conor McGregor UFC Return: The Awkward Truth About It appeared first on DMARGE Australia.