Cheating with chatbots, ballet-induced trauma, and ‘The Next Girl’ by Pip Drysdale
The book giveaway this week is ‘Who Gets to Be Smart’ by Bri Lee.
This month, my personal trainer encouraged all his clients to set a goal. Sure, he meant a fitness goal, but in true ‘me’ style, I chose a different path. I wrote mine on the mini whiteboard he gave us, and propped it up in our bedroom: ‘Take weekends off from writing to recharge and have fun.’
At first glance, this looks like a gimme. Like, isn’t that what everyone does? But no. Not writers – at least, not this one. I’ve often described a writing career as ‘like having homework for the rest of your life’ and it certainly do be that way. Every second of every day, you’re either writing, or feeling guilty about not writing. You don’t have defined work hours, and unless you’re a champ at self-discipline (not me), your ‘work’ hours tend to blend with your ‘home’ hours. Doubly so if you literally work from home rather than one of those mega-hip co-working spaces.
Anyhoo, my point is: I’ve been trying to give myself real, honest-to-goodness Saturday-and-Sunday time off in January. It’s hard. I almost cheated this last weekend. And I’m sure in the coming months I’ll get buried under a pile of deadlines and have to work on a weekend or two to catch up. That’s okay. The point is that I’m trying to reel the practice in and make it the exception, not the rule. It feels good. Saturday, I got a pedicure! Last weekend, I got a massage! I’m thinking this January challenge should become an all-year-round affair.
Here's to allowing yourself to rest!
News
1. Ah, I remember back to my days in the computer science lab at uni, tooling around with Eliza, a chatbot pretending to be a psychologist. Any semblance of actual mental health advice was pretty thin, and she was nigh on useless at actually carrying on a proper conversation. We’d deliberately try to confuddle her into replying with gibberish like: ‘I think that you think that I think I am entitled to my own opinion.’ We didn’t have to try very hard. Seems artificial intelligence has moved on since then, to the point it can convince uni lecturers that students wrote their own exam answers. Well… crap. Maybe this will become like the old debate over whether using calculators is cheating in maths class (nope), but we’re in the stage now of working out how newer AI tools like ChatGPT can fit into our lives in a legit way. When are they okay and when do they cross the line? We’re still trying to figure out how much access to mobile phones and the internet in schools will aid in learning rather than act as a distraction. Technology sure is fun until all those pesky ethical questions get in the way. Personally, I don’t think AI should ever be used for things like marking exam papers or assessing CVs for jobs. It sounds more objective than a human, but prejudices can be and are programmed into algorithms. Anyway, we’ll see.
2. This seems like a sizeable stride in the right direction when it comes to combatting misinformation online – Australia’s media regulator is getting new powers to set and enforce standards for digital platforms. As far as I’ve seen, voluntary codes of conduct are about as useful as a bra on a pancake, so it’s nice to see the big stick will become available when non-compulsory measures fail. As long as there aren’t too many loopholes around lack of resources being an excuse and the regulator’s powers aren’t only enforceable once the horse has already bolted. It seems hopeful, at least.
Reviews
1. A weird one: I finished The Next Girl by Pip Drysdale on Sunday after plodding through it during the break. Usually if I’m digging a book, like most of us, I’ll barely pop it down for a moment. I found with this one that each individual chapter was compelling, but the overall narrative drive to reach the end was lacking for me. It’s odd because the plot is based on such an intriguing premise – the main character, Billie, is a New Yorker who brings perpetrators of sexual violence to justice by becoming their next victim, then reversing the situation and making sure they’re caught. She’s a vigilante using a mix of social media and semi-legal spy devices to ensnare her targets. Once I reached the midpoint of the story, the action really kicked off and I finished the novel in a day. I’m still gonna give this 4 out of 5 stars, especially for the song references peppered throughout and Billie’s cute kitten who reaches the end of the book safe and sound (a tiny spoiler, but I thought you’d want to know).
2. With the amount of exercise I do each week (a decent amount, although you probably can’t tell by looking at me, lol), I’m on an eternal quest to find a magical ointment that’ll instantly cure my aching muscles. Indie Lee’s I–Recover Mind and Body Gel ain’t bad. It smells like a bunch of hippies have made a nest in a lavender field (which isn’t a bad pong, by the way). The lavender is a nice mind-body-soothing addition. This stuff goes on quite innocently, but after a few minutes, really starts to pack a menthol-y punch. I applied it to my legs and soon the backs of my knees were seriously smarting, but in a good tingly way. Anyway, this gel is nice, but at $74.00 is far from the cheapest option for relieving muscles and joints post-exercise. Daggy ol’ Mentholatum Ice Gel from the chemist or supermarket is still hard to beat.
3. I read Catherine’s story of the emotional damage she incurred from ballet with sympathy and interest. I took dance classes – mostly ballet, occasionally jazz – for much of my childhood and adolescence. While it was disappointing at the time, I had to face the reality in my late teens that I was a mediocre dancer. This meant that the pressure to stay stick-thin, which undoubtedly existed at one studio I attended, wasn’t focused in my direction. I was shielded from it by being viewed as a lost cause (yay!) when it came to aspirations of an international career in dance companies. Fortunately, it wasn’t a serious goal of mine by that stage anyway. I had plenty of other interests (like eating burgers, and honestly, I probably loved them more than ballet). But imagine if it was the only thing you’d ever wanted to do and it turned into a nightmare of bullying, anxiety, and counting calories? Ballet always encourages students to strive towards perfection. If that mindset is channeled by mentors, parents, and peers into an obsession around weight loss and body shape, it leads down the road of eating disorders and mental illness. This is not a new revelation, but maybe this toxic environment is slowly changing for the better. You know what I would’ve wanted as a young dancer? Classes or workshops or regular discussions about recovery from muscle soreness, preventing injuries, maintaining happiness and mental health, and healthy eating to fuel your body rather than restricting calories. Fingers crossed more of this happens in future.
Raves and Faves
Five of my favourite Aussie fashion magazines, then and now (that aren’t Vogue)
Growing up, and still, magazines were my smol monthly luxury. An escape from harsh reality, a glimpse into a glamorous world, inspiration for craft projects and make-up looks – everything colourful and quirky and clever. Here’s a round-up of ones that’ve made my eyeballs sing over the years.
1. SHOP Til You Drop
Sure, the title made it sound as vapid as anything (you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a glorified catalogue), but SHOP was a quality magazine. The fashion was at a mixture of price points, catering to everyone from broke students to couture queens, so it was lovely and inclusive. Also, the writing was cheeky and cheerful, the pages bright, and it was just full of fun trends without judgy weight-loss features or celeb gossip. RIP to a mag gone too soon.
2. Madison
I was devastated when Madison closed in 2013. If you don’t remember it, picture Marie Claire aimed at a slightly younger audience and containing marginally more affordable clothes in its fashion pages. It really does feel like in the last decade this is the type of publication that’s disappeared – the mid-point between WHO and Vogue, which is a mighty shame.
3. Frankie
Frankie is an absolute gem, and blessedly still around. In truth, it’s a bit rough to categorise it as a fashion mag. It’s so much more – a witty agony aunt to what’s troubling your brain cells, inspo for starting an arty side hustle, your off-the-beaten-track stylist for your home and wardrobe, a reminder of the sweetest nostalgic moments, and a blast of creative renewal.
4. Peppermint
Similar to Frankie, but Peppermint probably leans even harder into environmental-friendliness. There are sewing patterns, discussions about the future of sustainability, delightful giveaways, and doses of wonder. Want the low-down on all things plant-based, local, and down-to-earth – set in a muted pastel palette? This is your mag.
5. Marie Claire
Look, it’s probably way too obvious, but there’s a reason Marie Claire has weathered the icy waters of the Aussie magazine scene for decades. It has fab fashion spreads sans the fluff, tackles pithy political and social questions facing modern women, and provides a guide for the most relevant cultural offerings in Australia and abroad. It moves with the times, it shakes things up, it campaigns for justice. A leader, not a follower. Respect.
Giveaway
The winner of The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland from last week’s contest is Karli Florisson. Fab stuff! Karli, I’ve emailed you.
This week the giveaway is Bri Lee’s non-fiction book Who Gets to be Smart. Pop your name and email address in here to enter.
Playlist of the Week
Only the freshest tunes for dancing around your living room in your undies:
1. Breakfast – Dove Cameron
2. Lay Low – Tiesto
3. Way Back – Skrillex, Pink Pantheress, Trippie Redd
4. New York ft. mazie – Steve Aoki, Regard, mazie
5. Good To You – RHODES
6. Pink Slip – White Reaper
7. Somewhere in Between - Leony
8. Time After Time – Pascal Letoublon, ILIRA
9. I Need Ya – Somebody’s Child
10. Heartbeat – Davina Michelle
11. AY AY AY – Preston Pablo
12. Used to Love You – ROZES
13. Easy To Love – Armin van Buuren, Matoma, Teddy Swims
14. Radio – Sigala, MNEK
15. See, I’m Sorry - Seafret