Goblin mode has suddenly emerged as the main phrase to label a common sympton of the pandemic.
This describes what happens when we’re confined to home, when social inhibitions fade because there is no “social” and we feel no joy, no energy or goals
You'll know when this takes hold by the behaviours which feel normal.
- Streaming media is rivetting even when we're watching something for the third time.
- Personal hygiene isn’t important and who wants to do the washing when the clothes we've been wearing for days are good enough?
- And food is best taken lying on the couch straight from the packet and beer cans when empty can wait on the carpet for the recycling pickup.
American psychologist Adam Grant has previously described this condition as languishing, the opposite of flourishing when you're feeling good and doing well in life..
He wrote: “Languishing mental health is referred to as not feeling good about and not functioning well in life."
But goblin mode has taken hold in social media and is emerging into mainstream media.
Google Trends shows a spike in usage of the phrase starting in February and continuing in March
Meltwater, the media monitoring service, ran a search across global online news and print plus global social (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, Tik Tok, Pinterest, Youtube and Reddit).
Usage of the phrase has been steadily rising but there’s been a sharp prike in the last month or so, up 1309% on the previous 30 days.
Victoria Morgan, managing editor of Macquarie Dictionary, thought it meant something else when she first heard it, someone causing mischief.
“But it seems to be pretty established as a particular trend of slobbing around in private,” she told AdNews.
“I think it's good to have an excuse and something to call it maybe.
"For years and years, we've had sloth mode when you're having a weekend and you don't want to leave the couch or TV or make an effort or dress up.
“So it's not really anything new, but I guess there could probably be a bit of backlash to all the fitspiration with everyone doing everything to look their best or put their best life forward.
“But it is very surprising that this has taken off like this just as we’re coming out of lockdown. I think maybe people like to have something to call it."
How this phrase started is a mystery.
One theory is linked to the breakup of Kanye West and Julia Fox, who was said to have gone goblin mode. But she has denied this.
Know Your Meme says: “ Goblin Mode is a slang term used to describe a person or animal acting feral or the cowgirl sex position.”
Apparently it was first used on Twitter in 2009 by @jenniferdujour who tweeted: “m was in full hyperactive goblin mode last night. it was as if she ate a bag of sugar-coated candy, then washed it down with a few red bulls.”
Another report points the finger at TikTok.
While we think that over, let's order takeaway and watch that movie for a fourth time.
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