Shis issue: (¥Y Caution: phony feminism, shameful (Y The report card:Racist team names Y Spiritual conversations should not be taboo And more! Have your voice heard! Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor M opinions@theotherpress.ca www. theotherpress.ca ‘Breaking Bad’ habits of binge-watching » Why our energy is collapsing like a ‘House of Cards’ | Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer etflix is a huge blessing to families, people between 13-35, and anyone too cheap/ disinterested to pay for cable. It allows us to watch many shows, commercial free, with the next episode playing immediately after. It even sends } usa notification after the first two episodes, asking if we're still watching—which everyone : hates, because of course we are. } Binge-watching three or more episodes in one sitting isn’t just : easier to do with Netflix; it’s the : new normal. But it’s certainly not healthy. A recent survey showed that 91 per cent of Netflix users have binge-watched a show at some point. Almost all of us can admit to watching many episodes of a show in one day, and why wouldn't we? All the episodes stream continuously. You get to find out immediately how the Winchesters got out of Hell again, and you don’t even have to get up to play the next episode (except when those annoying notification comes : up). Watching an entire season : of a show in one day used to : be almost unheard of. Now, it’s : the most common thing to do : when you're sick, hungover, or : just plain lazy. It’s common sense that : watching TV for hours instead : of going outside, exercising, : and spending time with your : friends isn’t good for you. But : watching a whole series that : took five years to air ina couple : : of weeks is a great feeling. : It’s especially encouraged in : Netflix-exclusive series where : all the episodes air at once : (29 per cent of those surveyed: : binged on House of Cards). Still : : it’s easy to forget how harmful : binge-watching is and get : carried away, especially when : you're watching a show ona laptop or tablet instead of an : actual TV. Particularly concerning is the popularity of Netflix : amongst teenagers and young : adults. The convenience and accessibility of TV series for : this generation means many : would rather lose themselves : in the world of Gossip Girl Why is [binge-watching] something to be proud of in our culture? : than face reality, which is : only slightly less dramatic. : You don't need to go further : than your social media feed to : know what I’m talking about. : Everyone’s talking about their : love for Netflix and how much : TV they have watched in the : past weekend. Why is this : something to be proud of in : our culture? Ten years ago, watching a : show excessively was seen as : something only nerds or couch : potatoes did. I personally : have nothing against those : groups—in fact, I identify : as both. However, I think we : should take a long look at how : much time we spend watching : TV each week and think about : more useful ways to spend that : time. Maybe we could aspire : to live our real lives as the : next Frank Underwood, Piper : Chapman, or Walter White—or : maybe someone with more : morality, but I don’t judge. Save the dinner for the winter » Conquering the great outdoors, together FP Julia Siedlanowska | Staff Writer hen going ona first date, there’s nothing worse than awkward silences. Although it’s not any guarantee, taking your date into the fresh air might just spice up your life and garner some good impressions. The dinner and a but dating outdoors is a lot more fun. These days it seems like everybody I know is dating someone they met while travelling. The number of long-distance relationships around me has increased since : everyone I know is travelling : the world. Most of us are in our 20s, : getting in some fun while : we're still young, and societal : pressures of “settling down” : haven't yet grabbed ahold of : us. But why is it that love leaps : in when we are abroad? It : probably has something to do : with the sense of abandon we : feel when something is fleeting, : we are happy, and we are : learning new things. movie model is tried and tested, : When travelling, we are forced into situations where : we are meeting new people : and spending time outside : sightseeing. However, for many : of us a trip abroad is currently : out of the question, being : tied down by rent payments : and school. That’s why it’s : important to create mini- : vacations close to home. If : you're in the dating scene and : think that all the great people : are hiding under rocks, go : outside and look under some : rocks! : working for you, and you aren’t : Meeting any interesting people : at Venue, maybe take on a new : sport or visit some beaches : you've never been to. Personally, : : I like outdoorsy people, and : I like surprises. Sure, hiking : the Squamish Chief won't be : everybody’s idea of a perfect : date, but for the right person, it : might just be the opportunity to : : truly connect. In my experience, : people act differently when they : are on an adventure surrounded : by nature. I find that when you If PlentyOfFish isn’t : meet people camping or at an : outdoor music festival, they : are outside of their everyday : environment and willing to : : expose parts of themselves they : : might have closed to the city. Take your next date on an a new hike to do with your dog. : Askmen.com lists exploring : the great outdoors, ice skating, : and going out to the driving : range as ideal outdoor first date : activities. Pack a cute picnic and go to the beach, at least if you have nothing to talk about, : you can sunbathe! Vitamin D : levels rise in the sunshine, and : that light makes people happy : and relaxed. Take advantage of : the hot weather, because there : will be plenty of rainy days to : stay in. In the end, it’s all about : shared experiences. When my : : current partner and I started : outdoor adventure and see what : : happens. If your date takes you : ona trail ora hike you've never : been on, even if the date was an : : absolute flop, at least you've got dating, we went out to parties : together, we conquered the : world. Now we are in the seemingly inevitable phase of : comfort where we would rather : stay in and watch a movie at : night. People get into patterns, : but the thing I always forget is : how simple it is to break out of : them. I’ve started making an : effort to spend less time indoors : and more time out in the world. : I’ve realized that I’m happiest : when I’m meeting new people : and spending time in the world : of reality—and not online.