12 h. ago Steve Irwin's son Robert weighs in with wild take on viral '100 men vs one gorilla' debate

The conservationist, 21, said he 'couldn't believe' he was chiming in on the conversation after being asked the question repeatedly - even being stopped by people on the street.

Politics

6 d. ago People who don’t ask me questions drive me crazy. Why are they like that?

‘Non-askers’ can come across as selfish – but there might be personal and societal reasons for their lack of curiosityA few months ago, I was at a bar and hoped I might be making a new friend. We were sitting next to each other in a booth with a bunch of people. In response to my questions she told me interesting anecdotes about growing up, her job, her husband. After she’d been talking for about twenty minutes, I began to get an unpleasant, familiar feeling: I bet if I stop asking her questions, she won’t ask me any.Sure enough, she wrapped up one answer, then looked at me expectantly, like a dog waiting for a treat. Oh hell no, I thought. No way. I turned to the person next to me, a friend. “She’s a non-asker,” I said. “I’m done.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago My mum died in A&E last month – and the place was like a war zone | Zoe Williams

Amid the debate about trans people on hospital wards we have lost sight of dignity, respect and the horrifying reality of a health service in meltdownAnother morning, another absolutely bananas conversation about transgender people, without any trans people involved, following the supreme court ruling that permits the exclusion from single-sex spaces of anyone not born into that sex. On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Emma Barnett was asking care minister Stephen Kinnock about wards in hospitals, and came out with the immortal line: “Do you think it’s right for trans people to be segregated from other patients, as an interim measure, or for the future?”Great save, that “for the future” – because if you’re going to interpret this ruling as a requirement to exclude trans people, what does that mean in practice? Trans women on men’s wards, trans men on women’s wards? This delivers dignity and respect to precisely no one; so, sure, “segregate” away, and it would have to be for ever, beca...

Events

2 w. ago I visited every country in the world without flying. Here are eight things I learned

Spending nearly a decade on the move gave me a deeper understanding of the importance of conversation, people’s boundless generosity – and my limitationsI have often felt as if I was born 100 years too late. There was a time when satellites weren’t whizzing above us and everything had yet to be discovered or filmed. Growing up, it seemed as if all the great adventures had happened before I was born. But in 2013 I discovered that – although it had been attempted – no one had made an unbroken journey through every country without flying. I had a shot at becoming the first to do it.I was fascinated that such an adventure was still out there, untouched. However, I was in my 30s, I had just met a wonderful woman, my peers were having their first children (and in some cases their second) and I had a 12-year career in shipping and logistics. But I couldn’t let the idea go. So, at 34, I set off – and didn’t return home until almost a decade later. These are the lessons I learned along the w...

Politics

2 w. ago Growing up surrounded by boys, I’m fascinated – and a bit scared – by the dynamic between sisters | Rebecca Shaw

Many of the sister relationships I have witnessed balance extreme loyalty and care with a unique ability to press each other’s buttonsOne thing about living this crazy little thing we call life is that even though you might be a haggard lesbian in her 40s, you can still learn things about yourself. I was recently having a conversation with friends about the family dynamics of people we’ve dated, and all of a sudden a very clear pattern emerged that I’d never noticed before. Every single person I have ever dated, casually or seriously, has had one sister and no other siblings.Even though I’m aware this could sound like some strange special interest of mine, it’s not deliberate. I’ve actually never narrowed down prospective romantic interests based on siblings, but I did find this sister realisation notable. Is there something about me that queer people with sisters are attracted to? Is there something about having one sister that informs the kind of personalities I am drawn to? Did o...

Politics

3 w. ago Gen Z crave 'meaningful conversations' and are most likely to have them with older people

A study of 2,000 adults found that Gen Z 'love' having meaningful conversations and particularly enjoy having them with people who aren't the same age.

Politics

3 w. ago Labour’s welfare cuts consultation called a ‘sham’ as PIP changes not up for discussion

Campaigners have called the conversation a ‘sham’ as people are invited to discuss only half of the proposals

Politics