I recently wrote about the new trend of “rawdogging” on flights. However, numerous doctors have come forward to advise against the practice. What could be wrong with sitting in solitude? Plenty, as it turns out…
Doctors: Rawdogging On Flights May Be Injurious To Your Health
“Rawdogging” is a new trend on flights that may include “fasting” from:
- food
- drinks
- IFE screens
- talking
- moving
Essentially, you board the flight, sit down, and deeply focus…turning on the in-flight map is okay, but no movies or music! Then you sit and do not move for the duration of the flight.
But this is not necessarily a healthy alternative to eating, sleeping, and watching movies onboard.
Dr. Gill Jenkins told the BBC:
“A digital detox might do you some good, but all the rest of it is against medical advice,” Dr. Gill Jenkins, a general practitioner. The whole thing about the risk of long-haul flying is that you’re at risk of dehydration. If you’re not moving, you’re at risk of deep vein thrombosis, which is compounded by dehydration. Not going to the toilet, that’s a bit stupid. If you need the loo, you need the loo.”
Nutritionist Toby King agrees:
“Keeping hydrated can help your skin and mucous membrane cells to keep bacteria from entering your body and make you more susceptible to infection, especially when you are surrounded by hundreds of others in a confined area. Getting sick at the beginning of your holiday isn’t a great way to start it.”
There are more examples I can cite, but you get the picture.
I’ll soon be embarking on an 11.5-hour flight myself and I did consider “rawdogging” it…purely for the sake of having something different to write about. But then again, I think I’ll just have breakfast and watch a movie instead…I’d rather not arrive home dehydrated and hungry.
hat tip: SINJim
No one actually does this. They take a selfie with a dumb look on their faces and then spend the rest of the flight watching movies.
You’re probably right.
+1
First smart thing i’ve seen Chi Hsuan ever write!
So true.
This was a meme that floated around back in like 2019, it referenced someone who boarded a plane without bags, snacks, a phone, or headphones, but it made no mention of staring straight and ignoring everything. It has resurfaced in the form of men pretending to do it. It isn’t real. It’s just a recirculation of old-ish internet lore.
I concur with Chi… Just another insta”scam” to get more clicks. No one does it.
That AI-generated image is creepy af.
I thought it was okay.
A little creepy. It’s like a young Claire from Modern Family in zombie mode.
Her eyes are wonky.
I disagree. That photo has me thinking of that other definition of “rawdogging” for some reason.
She looks like she is waiting for a chance to pull out a hollowed out pineapple and metal pitcher from her purse while rasping “KOUUUU- FEEEEEE!” at the camera.
Agreed.
It’s a bunch of guys who think they’re “alpha,” takeca picture of themselves staring, and then watch Friends.
Yep.
I personally would love these people if they actually existed. Don’t care about the window shade? Check. Don’t recline onto your knees? Check. Don’t engage in annoying conversations with you or a half-deaf person on the phone? Check. Except for the fact that no human does this there’s not a lot to dislike about such a neighbor.
Totally agree LOL
A flight is a great time to spend to read a book you’ve always wanted to read but got caught up in the dizzy whirlwind some call “life”.
This meme seemed like a weird attempt to celebrate doing something that significantly high percentage of the population could readily accomplish.
If someone did this they are not doing a large international flight. Probably a 2-3 hour domestic max. Try and doing this from SYD-DFW no thank you. Also if your seat neighbour wanted to get out then you would fail at this as well. But yes like everyone else says it is for a like on social media.
WWJD? LOL
On short flights on less than 3 hours, I do not snack, just drink water that I bring. I do not necessarily have to get up if I just went to the bathroom/lavatory before the flight. On a longer flight, up to 6 hours, I get an aisle seat so I can get up to the lavatory. I drink water, but I still do not eat. The snacks that they give you are basically processed with no “real food” in them. And fasting (NO food) up to 12 to 14 hours can have beneficial effects on your body’s metabolism. And I take a low dose of aspirin for one or two days to reduce the likelihood of blood clotting in my legs. Whatever works for you!