Today’s younger consumers assert their status through their visible values
There’s an old thought experiment that asks if a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It’s a riddle that raises important questions of observation, our knowledge of reality and whether something really is ever real.
Today, in the era of selfies and stream of consciousness social media feeds, we’re up against a whole new interpretation of the tree in the forest conundrum. I frame it like this: if you don’t take a picture of your experience and post it on social media, did you really do it?
Earlier this month, Democrat Elizabeth Warren stood up in the US Senate to protest the nomination of Jeff Sessions to the position of attorney general. To support her argument, she read out a letter from the late Coretta Scott King, who was an activist as well as the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. Her recently discovered letter contained a damning indictment of Mr Sessions’ alleged racism exhibited during riots in 1986. Senator Mitch McConnell intervened to stop Ms Warren from reading the letter. He later remarked: “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”
His comments that “nevertheless, she persisted” became an instant hit, co-opted by women to describe their daily struggles. As one post on Twitter explained, it’s a history of feminism. Another suggested that it should be the title of any future autobiography written by Ms Warren. Or a line of T-shirts.
That is exactly what Reebok produced within days. Their small training T-shirt, with the slogan “nevertheless, she persisted” was available soon after, sold for $20 (Dh74) with proceeds going to support the Women’s March. It has already sold out.
The retweeting of memes has become a recent trend within the wider phenomenon of clicktivism. It joins the practice of changing your Facebook icon or supporting a hashtag.
While many discount the power of the online protest, and urge keyboard warriors to get out onto the streets, they are not two separate phenomena.
Even the use of sarcastic and jovial memes has a vital role to play in consciousness raising and the drumming up of solidarity and enthusiasm. That it is done through iconography and clever wordplay is simply political campaigning catching up with our times.
In the 1960s and 1970s we saw the emergence of the T-shirt slogan, where the personal became political. And Reebok’s recent T-shirt is a more recent instalment.
These are just different ways of putting to use the public space we own, bypassing gatekeepers. Each tweet, icon or item of clothing adds to the support for a campaign, a form of grass roots people power.
But while social media may be (ostensibly) free of cost, the purchasers of the T-shirt are clearly willing to pay for others to know their politics and the fact they believe they are on the right side of history.
Conspicuous consumption for many decades has been the dominant mode of shopping – to show off how much money you have. How much gold can you wear? How bling is your car? How dope is your crib? There were pockets of consumers for whom the showcasing of wealth was more subtle, through quality, craftsmanship and only-in-the-know brands. But still, it was all about making your financial status known.
Today’s younger consumers assert their status through their visible values. Their ethics must be worn on their sleeves, literally. I rather like it. Why not have an opinion and be proud of it? And for women, who continue to suffer the erasure of their voices and opinions, to be able to walk down the street and make it known that you will continue to persist, despite all obstacles, from the holder of the highest status to the ordinary around you, sends a strong message.
Of course, the philosophical question of this era remains, if you don’t Instagram a picture of yourself doing it, did you really do anything worthy?
Shelina Janmohamed is the author of the books Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World and Love in a Headscarf
On Twitter: @loveinheadscarf
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
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What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
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Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
