Latest news with #Quora
Listly
21 hours ago
- Business
- Listly
10 Most Popular Traffic Boosters to Grow Your Online Business
10 Most Popular Traffic Boosters to Grow Your Online Business Traffic Boosters are essential for anyone trying to grow an online presence. Whether you're a solopreneur, affiliate marketer, coach, or course creator, you need traffic that doesn't dry up the minute your ad spend does. These boosters are easy to implement, highly effective, and proven to bring attention to your offers consistently. What Are Traffic Boosters? Traffic boosters are simple, actionable strategies that help you drive targeted visitors to your website, content, or funnels. They aren't flashy trends—they're repeatable tools you can use daily, weekly, or as part of your long-term growth plan. The key? Choose a few and stay consistent. Here Are 10 of the Most Popular Traffic Boosters 1. Answering Questions on Forums and Groups Use platforms like Reddit, Quora, and niche Facebook groups to answer real questions with genuine value—and drop a soft CTA to your offer when relevant. SEO-Optimized Blog Posts Writing blog content that ranks for low-competition keywords gives you a steady stream of visitors from Google and builds long-term authority. Short-Form Video Content Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts grab attention fast. Post consistently and always link back to your offer or freebie. Pinterest Traffic Pins Pin your blog posts, freebies, and lead magnets with engaging graphics and keyword-rich descriptions. Pinterest content can drive traffic for years. Weekly Email Newsletters Build and nurture your list with regular emails that include value, storytelling, and a soft offer. Email converts better than almost any platform. Lead Magnet Promotion on Free Sites Post your lead magnet to giveaway directories, forums, and freebie blogs to gain new subscribers organically. Content Repurposing Across Platforms Turn one blog post into a LinkedIn article, a carousel on Instagram, and a Facebook post. Each format reaches a different slice of your audience. Guest Posting and Podcast Appearances Reach new audiences by contributing valuable content to others' blogs or podcasts. You build authority and get a backlink or bio CTA. YouTube Traffic Strategy Even without a massive following, YouTube videos optimized with keywords and solid thumbnails can generate consistent traffic. Engaging in Comment Marketing Leave meaningful comments on niche blogs, influencers' posts, and YouTube videos. This builds visibility and often brings click-throughs to your profile. Want Even More? Start Using a Booster Every Day These 10 methods are just the beginning. To build unstoppable momentum and a traffic stream that doesn't rely on guesswork, explore the full 365 Traffic Boosters system. You'll get: A new traffic method for every day of the year Built-in AI software to automate and expand your reach Full PLR rights to use the content in your business A done-for-you growth system that saves time and stress 📍 Visit Karen Dahlin Marketing today and unlock your full 365 Traffic Boosters system. Your business deserves visibility—daily, reliably, and without burnout.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How porn and gaming sapped young men of their desire to work
'I am 22 and unemployed,' one person writes on the question-and-answer website Quora. 'I am wasting [my] entire day watching porn and browsing Facebook. What should I do in my free time which is more productive?' The answers from well-meaning strangers are telling. Do a course, join the military, or learn to code so you can create fun apps for all the other bored 20-somethings out there who are watching porn all day. 'Or try going outside,' jokes another. 'I heard there's stuff to do out there. Supposedly, there are people and places outside that you can interact with.' Such complaints are growing increasingly common. Since Covid, Britain has been plagued by a worklessness crisis that is dragging down the public finances and creating a headache for ministers. Many believe that mental health is to blame, with easy access to online pornography and video games keeping young people stuck indoors. According to the latest figures, more than 900,000 16 to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training (Neets), the highest level since a decade ago when the jobs market was still recovering from the financial crisis. Most of those are men, with almost half a million male Neets compared to 425,000 women. Economic inactivity among young male Neets – which covers those who are not studying or working and are not looking for a job – has also risen by 48pc since the eve of the pandemic. The equivalent figure for young women is up by less than 10pc. The scale of this gender divide has captured economists, politicians and teachers alike, with some claiming that technology is responsible for driving young men away from work and into the online world. 'This is a secondary problem which came out of Covid, as a lot of work has been distributed online and education has become more device-focused,' says one senior secondary school teacher, who did not wish to be named. 'That means more people gaming, and porn is almost entirely online given that lad mags have died a death. 'We've surveyed parents who say they feel their children are online too much and children who say parents worry too much – there's a disconnect about what 'too much' is. 'Children are now digital natives, but their ability to calculate risks isn't fully formed yet. We do see students whose relationship with the online world has become unhealthy. 'Some [are] as young as year seven, who see their relationship with forums as being a real-life interaction worthy of pursuing at the expense of other things.' This can leave students feeling so disconnected from real life that they lose interest in work or further study, the teacher suggests. As he puts it, the online world is a 'synthetic replacement for real-life interactions'. This frequently sparks mental health issues down the line, experts say, which in turn damages prospects for employment. A US study in 2017 warned that young men were spending more of their free time on video games 'and other recreational computer activities'. The economists behind the report said the increased time spent gaming had fuelled a drop in working hours for young men between 2000 and 2015. For some, the rise of easy entertainment online has made the idea of employment seem like a lot of effort for little return. Graham Cowley, who works with unemployed young men in Blackpool, said last month that there are 'kids on the internet 24 hours a day, and they don't want to work for anything less than 40 grand'. As evidenced by the figures, this problem is disproportionately skewed towards boys. Some believe that issues start at an early age, particularly as almost all children own a smartphone by the age of 12. This has fuelled concerns that boys are being influenced by porn, gaming and toxic online role models. For example, in 2023, the third most Googled person in the world was Andrew Tate. The virtual world is reshaping real-life behaviour. Around 90pc of those using the National Centre for Gaming Disorder, which was set up in 2020, are male. And a report published earlier this year by the Centre for Social Justice warned that men aged 18-29 were far more likely to watch porn every day or most days than women (25pc compared to 2pc). In education, an increasing number of female teachers and pupils are also reporting sexual harassment from male pupils in school. Men who have been unemployed for years and now feel trapped in a digital world are searching the internet for signs of hope. A 29-year-old man seeking support on online forum Reddit writes how he is jobless, isolated and has had an addiction to porn since the age of 12. 'I have no motivation to do anything,' he writes. He is not alone. A 2023 study published in the US Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that anxiety and depression were 'strongly related' to problematic pornography consumption. Last year Mel Stride, then the work and pensions secretary, blamed porn and video games for the surge in jobless men. He argued that technology had a different impact on boys' and girls' mental health, with women more likely to suffer because of unrealistic ideals portrayed on social media platforms such as Instagram. 'For boys … things like gaming, and certainly pornography and things like that, are a more prevalent factor,' he told the work and pensions select committee. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has made that point in the past, claiming boys invested more of their time in computers and video games during the early stages of the technological entertainment revolution. That was before social media drew girls in in the late 2000s. He once argued that as the virtual world becomes more enticing for boys, the 'real world, and especially school, becomes more frustrating: shorter recess, bans on rough-and-tumble play, and ever more emphasis on sitting still and listening'. But not everyone agrees that online porn and gaming is to blame. Some argue that it's little wonder young men seek solace online when faced with the depressing reality of unemployment, the exhausting cycle of unsuccessfully applying for low-paid jobs and living at home. After failing to find a job, some may conclude there is no point even bothering. Lord Elliott, the former Vote Leave chief who now runs the Jobs Foundation, argues that 'blaming worklessness on video games and porn is a sound-bite diagnosis of a serious issue'. 'Rewind several decades – there were more opportunities for solid, rewarding jobs, and the property ladder was in reach for everyone,' he says. 'Good jobs are still out there, but the jobs market is less easy to navigate than it used to be, and buying a home is increasingly beyond reach. 'Since the global financial crisis, we have seen GDP per capita decline in the UK. People are, on average, poorer than their parents were, which is creating a sense of helplessness.' He adds that the 'root cause of worklessness is a wider malaise, which has grown over the past few decades'. In essence, he claims online addiction to porn or gaming is the result of the void left by unemployment. Maxwell Marlow, director of public affairs at the Adam Smith Institute, agrees. 'People are on video games at home because they can't find any work – it's what people do when they don't have a job,' he says. And what about porn? 'That's up to them – the state has nothing to do with that.' But addiction is powerful – a Cambridge University study found in 2014 that porn triggers brain activity in sex addicts in the same way that drugs trigger drug addicts. The research also found that the younger the user, the greater the neural response to porn. Jobless men write online about feeling stuck in a loop, turning to porn or gaming simply to stave off boredom. However, they often know that finding work could break the cycle. 'I remember my therapist asked me if I have a job and I answered 'no' – he told me that a job will fix almost everything f---ed up in my life,' one Reddit user writes. 'It will force me to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, get out of my parents' house, make friends and get in a relationship.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer Patients Reveal The Symptom That Made Them Think Something Might Be Wrong
Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the scariest things imaginable. But a cancer diagnosis doesn't have to be a death sentence. There is hope for recovery, especially with early detection. That's why it's so important to listen to your body when it tells you something is wrong. Over on Quora, hundreds of people answered the questions What symptoms did you notice before being diagnosed with cancer? and If you've had cancer, looking back, what was your very first symptom that you didn't think was one? Check out some of their stories hopefully will act as an essential reminder to listen to our bodies and not put off getting checked out when we feel anything might be off. 1."I noticed that every time I ate, I had to poo. I really didn't think anything about it until I did some hard drinking one weekend. On Tuesday, I went to the ER and was diagnosed with a swollen pancreas and esophageal bleeding. I was admitted to the hospital and then found I had Stage III pancreatic cancer. It took me four years and 119 lbs, but I've been cancer-free for 3 1/2 years." —HCKrod314, Quora 2."I was chewing ice a lot! This was new for me. My MD said it could be because of anemia, so he gave me a blood test. Yup, I had anemia. He wanted to know where my blood was going, so he suggested a colonoscopy. I was not thrilled, but said, 'OK.' It came back positive for rectal cancer. I had radiation, chemotherapy, and three surgeries over the next 18 months. Permanent colostomy now. But I'm alive! It's been 4+ years now. ALWAYS say 'yes' to tests your MD wants to run, especially the dreaded colonoscopy (which, by the way, isn't that bad because you're unconscious for it)!" —Renee, Quora 3."My Mom gave me a shirt as a gift. When I took off the one I was wearing to try it on, she spotted a black mole on my back that was nearly an inch long and irregularly shaped like a map of New Guinea. I'd noticed it weeks before and was ignoring it. She said, 'You make an appointment with my dermatologist right now!' You don't argue with my Mom. So I went. The doctor cut it out immediately, and the pathologist's report came back: malignant melanoma. Luckily, it was in situ (editor's note: meaning it hadn't spread). My mother gave me life, again." —David J. Winter, Quora 4."I had a throbbing sensation at the back of my head. It only lasted maybe 3–5 seconds, but I felt it whenever I strained (like to lift something heavy) or when I tilted my head down. It began happening more and more frequently, so I went to see my nurse practitioner. At first, he thought neck spasms might be causing it, but he ordered an MRI based on the frequency. The MRI revealed an almost 4cm brain tumor in my cerebellum. When it was excised and biopsied, it was determined to be Medulloblastoma — the most common brain tumor in children but extremely rare in adults, especially women. I was 38. I had my third tumor removed on 10/2023. So far, so good! The Lord has blessed me time after time!" —Keri Marlar, Quora 5."I peed. A lot. Frequently. At first, they tested for diabetes, but that wasn't it. Long story short, they found a tumor; I had radiation therapy to get rid of it, and that tumor hasn't come back for 30 years!" —Daniel Singer, Quora 6."I had swollen glands in my neck that hurt badly to the touch, but otherwise, I did not feel sick. I assumed I just had a seasonal bug, but it was nothing like I had ever experienced. One year later, after my diagnosis of uterine cancer, it was explained to me that the lymph nodes can swell up as an early reaction to abnormal cell activity, even if elsewhere in the body. About three months before my diagnosis, I started running a low-grade fever, which was quite unusual for me. I was unaware of it until I got my annual flu shot, and my doctor told me to return in a week when my fever was gone. The fever didn't go away. Later, it was explained as a 'cancer fever,' which some people get — another natural defense mechanism of the body." "Then, about two months before my diagnosis, I started experiencing severe lower back pain and pelvic cramps. That is what ultimately led me to my ob-gyn. It was a tricky diagnosis. Even a biopsy did not indicate cancer, but the doctor decided to perform a D&C as an extra measure, and that is how the cancer was found. Surgery and radiation were the treatment plans. That was three years ago. I just had a PET SCAN, which showed I am now cancer-free, but I remain under surveillance for two more years." —Jill Andrea Lambert, Quora Related: 51 People Who Quickly Discovered Why Their Hilariously Clueless Partner Was Single Before Meeting Them 7."My friend Cathy was probably late 40s or early 50s. She and her husband wanted to live off the grid and participate in the world only on their terms. One day, she and her husband came down the mountain to visit; they lived two hours north. She mentioned that they were about ready for her husband to quit his job, and then they'd sell everything and start over in another state." "'Before I tell him to quit, I'd like to get your opinion,' she said. 'Let's go into the bathroom. I want to show you something.' This wasn't something I expected or anticipated. She lowered her pants and had me look just above her buttocks. There was a three-inch growth that resembled a worm. It was large, thick, and angry-looking. 'Don't let him quit his job yet,' I said. 'You need a doctor first. Do it while you still have insurance.' 'What do you think it is?' 'That's way above my pay grade,' I said. I'm not medical in any way, shape, or form.' The next week, she saw her primary care doctor, who turned her over to a specialist, which kind, I don't know. 'Thanks for telling me to see the doctor,' she said. 'He's going to hang in until we get to the bottom of this.' My friend had anal cancer. Because she wanted to handle her healing herself, she went with a natural approach and ate only things with no mothers and no faces and watched only old screwball comedies on TV. In three years, she went from an 85% survival rate to terminal. By the time she went back to a 'normal' doctor, she was inoperable and in tremendous pain. Hospice wouldn't provide her with enough pain medication to control her pain. It was a horrible death. In a nutshell, noticing something unusual needs to be investigated. Only you really know your body; keep looking for answers." —Lisa Dooley Fisk, Quora 8."I had a sharp pain in my left breast throughout one day last summer. I never had this before or since. But this pain made me think I should check my breasts as I never do. To cut a long story short, I found out I had HER2 +++ breast cancer in my left breast. Surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, and I'm back at work nine months later. Hoping all will be well." —Nicolette Loftus, Quora 9."It was 2016. I started a walking program—10,000 steps daily. After six weeks, I noticed a nagging ache in my lower back. It persisted for about three weeks, and I thought I'd pulled a muscle. I was also an avid popcorn addict. One Saturday evening, I ate a bag of microwave popcorn. By midnight, I was in agony. I told my adult daughter (an RN) I was going to the ER to be treated for diverticulitis — it runs in my family. She told me not to tell the ER my 'self-diagnosis,' and I said, 'Of course not. I'm going to tell him my symptoms, and he's going to tell me I have diverticulitis.' I still remember the shock when the ER doctor came in and said, 'Well, I have some bad news. It's not diverticulitis (I had not mentioned the condition to him). I'm certain it's ovarian cancer, and we have a specialist coming in to see you. She'll be here within a few hours. It was a Sunday morning. She was there before 8 a.m." "Today, I'm a six-year ovarian cancer survivor because it was detected early, aggressive treatment was started immediately, and I had the support of my family and an incredible medical team. (My oncologist is Dr. Hope! Isn't that the best possible name?)" —Laura Jones, Quora 10."At 33, I did a self-exam after taking a shower and found a lump. It didn't seem really big, but enough in size that I knew it was unusual. I was in bed with my then-husband and asked him if he felt it. He did and said he would call the doctor the next day and set up an appointment. We had three small children in elementary school, so I got them up and off to school. After they left, I did a double-check to make sure I wasn't imagining things and found a much larger lump on the baseline of my breast. Breast cancer runs in my family, so I was pretty sure what I found was breast cancer. I tried to stay upbeat until I got the official diagnosis, but deep down, I knew I was in for a rough road. I was correct it was stage 3 cancer. That was 22 years ago, and I'm still here." "Five years later, I had another diagnosis of cancer, but it was caught early, and it was stage one. I didn't feel that one — it was found on a mammogram. But months before, I felt extremely tired and had trouble staying awake during the day. I always wondered if that was a sign that something wasn't right with my body. The tiredness got better once my treatments were finished. Who knows. I am blessed to be here still, though!" —Vicki Stevens, Quora Related: 27 Horrifying Deaths People Can Never, Ever, Ever, Ever Forget Because They Were That Bad 11."All I had was a mouth ulcer. It wasn't even particularly painful, but then my cat started acting oddly — sniffing at my mouth, pressing her head under my chin. I went to see my GP and three weeks later was diagnosed with carcinoma. Sadly, my cancer had been growing for months inside the muscle of my tongue. I'd had a few odd symptoms during that time, but nothing that gave me any indication it was cancer. If I hadn't gone to the doctor when I did, I wonder how long I'd have waited. I've heard stories about animals sensing cancer and other illnesses but never really believed it until now!" —Lyndsey Chapman, Quora 12."For five years, I had occasional bright red blood in my poop. Dr. Google said I had hemorrhoids, so I never thought much about it after that. It was only when I developed uterine cancer that the CT scan showed a 4cm tumor in my colon. At that point, it was already stage 3, and I thank god for the uterine cancer (Stage 1, cured), or I would likely be dead from the colon cancer. Never, EVER trust Dr. Google and get any bleeding checked, no matter how small." –Shelley Heich, Quora 13."I had a fungal infection under my thumbnail. It was no big deal, but it was annoying because it was unsightly and did not respond to any medication, even very expensive ones. I treated it for eight months without results. During a routine exam, my PSA levels were high; upon retesting, they were normal, then a month later, they were high again. The suspicion was that I had prostate cancer, but an ultrasound revealed that I had bladder cancer and a separate kidney cancer. Stage 3 for both. The removal of my kidney, three procedures to burn away the bladder cancer, six rounds of chemotherapy, and heaps of MRIs and cystoscopies took a year. I have been cancer-free now for ten years." "The strange part was that despite not being treated for the duration of my cancer treatment, the fungus infection healed up all by itself. That fungal infection was the only indication that I had a serious problem." —John Fenn, Quora 14."Not me, but my husband. I noticed that his breath had become unpleasant. The problem increased until his breath was foul. I insisted he see a dentist, and the dentist found no problem with his mouth. Getting him to make an appointment with his doctor for no reason other than bad breath was hard, but eventually, he went. The doctor sent him for some tests that are routine for a man of his age. When the test results came back, she sent him for a biopsy on his prostate. The test results could have indicated cancer or only an infection. The biopsy proved that he had prostate cancer. After the surgery, his breath returned to normal." —Pam Johnson, Quora 15."During the last 4-5 years, I have had a dry cough a few times a year. I would cough for a few days, and then the cough would go away. Finally, in October 2022, I went to a doctor to discuss my cough. She did an x-ray of my chest and found a growth between my heart and lung. Further investigation (a few biopsies later) showed that I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The cardiovascular surgeon, pulmonologist, and oncologist all said that the coughing was most likely caused by the tumor pressing against a nerve (I think it's called the vagus nerve). Since starting chemotherapy, I no longer have the cough." "December 2023 UPDATE: One year has passed. I had six months (12 infusions) of hard chemotherapy, and as of the end of September 2023, I was told that the cancer was in remission." —Richard, Quora 16."The very first symptom was pain in my lower abdomen. It came and went, and I convinced myself it wasn't serious. On some level, though, I knew something was wrong. This went on for a couple of years. I began to lose weight uncontrollably. I blamed it on how much exercise I was doing. I started eating more. I stopped being very active and still became scarily skinny. I thought it was weird that my pants felt so snug around my waist. It was because of the skinniness that I saw it. I was lying on my back, and when I lifted my head, I could see a huge lump in my lower abdomen. I went to the ER because it freaked me out. They referred me to an oncologist. It was a huge (20x10cm) tumor on my right ovary (mucinous adenocarcinoma). That is how I first noticed my ovarian cancer. It was a long journey, but that was five years ago, and I have recently been declared CURED!!!" —Tiger Lily, Quora 17."I was the only one who noticed my husband had a strong offensive odor ( to me) that seeped into his clothing, bedding, and soft furnishings. I asked his doctor about it and only got a strange look. After three years of this, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The odor disappeared after surgery cured him of cancer." —Ann Ette, Quora 18."Mine was really odd: I noticed a small FLAT spot on the side of my breast that didn't go away. I got it sampled, and it was breast cancer. So it's not always a discernible lump — sometimes it's a flat place or an actual depression in the skin. And no one had ever told me that, so please, if you notice a change — any change — in your body, please see a doctor as soon as you can." —Patricia Marshall, Quora 19."On the day of my college farewell party, I (20 then, now 22) distinctly remember asking my roommate, 'Do I look fat? I think my belly is getting bigger; It feels tight.' After a month, I started facing problems with breathing; I thought my asthma was back (I had a history of childhood asthma). I (with my mom) went to a doctor, saying I felt uncomfortable and my stomach looked big. He told my mother, 'You know today's generation, they sleep late, wake up late, don't eat on time. It's just acidity, madam.' Boom, one week later, I was diagnosed with third stage ovarian cancer. It was a kilogram of tumor. My periods were very regular and I had no early symptoms. I advise you to get yourself checked for cancer. It really is late when you're diagnosed." —Dyk, Quora 20."I honestly didn't notice the ones that should have been obvious: fatigue and night sweats. To be honest, even if I had seen those symptoms listed somewhere, I wouldn't have expected that at age 22, non-Hodgkins lymphoma would be the cause. Then, one Saturday morning, as I attempted to move my bowels, the tumor perforated my intestine, releasing half-digested food into my gut. This is called peritonitis and is equivalent to a burst appendix. The pain was immediate, intense, and enough to get me to an emergency room. Thirteen weeks later, I had completed chemotherapy AND my bachelor's degree. I'm 58 now." —Curt Wiederhoeft, Quora 21."I was exceptionally tired. The tiredness was like nothing I had ever felt in my 42 years; it made me feel sick to my stomach. I was also pale, although I didn't realize it until someone asked me if I was ill. The most obvious sign was bleeding when I used the bathroom. It had started as an occasional spot/drop in my underwear (Had I scratched myself? Was it vaginal spotting?). Later, there was a blood spatter in the toilet. I finally had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with colon cancer (I assumed I was too young — not at all, it turns out). Had surgery and chemo. That was 21 years ago." "But, four years after that cancer, I was diagnosed with very early ovarian cancer. It turns out colon/ovarian/ breast are related in some people. That cancer had no symptoms. It was found because I knew the connection between the three cancers and did aggressive follow-up. The doctor spotted an ovarian tumor so small that it couldn't be felt if he were to examine the ovary. Turns out my peritoneum was loaded with tiny tumors. Lesson: colon cancer w/symptoms saved my life. I never would have found the ovarian if I hadn't been doing serious follow-up. That cancer was 17 years ago." —Kris Webb, Quora Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also in Internet Finds: 15 Facebook Marketplace Items You'll Wish, From The Depths Of Your Soul, You Could Unsee Also in Internet Finds: People Are Confessing Their Absolute Pettiest "Revenge Served Cold" Stories, And It's Deliciously Entertaining Also in Internet Finds: My Innocence Has Been Destroyed After Learning These Terrible, Disturbing, And Creepy Things
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Snow Patrol fans are only now realising what 'Chasing Cars' means after 19 years
Snow Patrol fans are only just realising the meaning behind their hit song "Chasing Cars", which was released 19 years ago. It turns out some people have been ignorant for years When it comes to bands who have a string of huge hits, Snow Patrol is probably up there with some of the best. From "Chocolate" to "Run" to "Open Your Eyes" - the band has endless popular tracks to their name. However, one of their most famous songs is loved by many, even though some people don't appear to know what it means. The Northern Irish Scottish rock band actually first came together in 1994 in Dundee, and comprises Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar), Nathan Connolly (guitar, backing vocals) and Johnny McDaid (piano, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals). Lightbody is the band's only remaining original member decades later. Even though the band has been making music for decades, it turns out there are still some facts people don't actually know about them, including the meaning behind their hit "Chasing Cars". The song, released in 2006, was reported to be the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio back in 2019. Despite this, a lot of people still don't know what the lyrics really mean, and the topic recently came up on social media platform Quora. One person wrote: "What is the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol about?" Naturally, the question encouraged a variety of responses, with many fans quick to offer their ideas. All sorts of thoughts were put forward. One wrote: "I absolutely adore this song. I think it's a pretty basic love song actually. It's about a young man trying to express his love for his partner. They sing 'those three words are not enough'. You have to assume he's talking about the words 'I love you' right? "I love the lyrics 'forget what we're told, before we get too old'. To me, that means that they should not waste their youthful love no matter what. Perhaps their parents, or other elders, have tried to discourage them from being together. "And the chorus simply asks whether his lover will just stay with him in their love, and shut out everything else. The reference to the 'garden bursting into life' is, I think, just a reference to how beautiful love can be. "I don't think there are really any real hidden meanings in this song. I think it's just a beautiful love song from one person to another." One more added: "I think what the song is implying is that it's about a guy who is trying to persuade a woman to be his girl." However, despite being a love song, the band have previously confirmed what the term "Chasing Cars" actually means. You may be surprised to learn what the answer is. What does Chasing Cars mean? Lead singer Gary Lightbody actually composed the song, though it's still credited to all then-members of Snow Patrol, including Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson and Paul Wilson. According to reports, Gary Lightbody is said to have written the song after becoming sober following a binge of white wine. He is claimed to have been sitting in the garden of song producer Jacknife Lee's Kent cottage. Previously speaking to Rolling Stone, he said: "It's the purest love song that I've ever written. There's no knife-in-the-back twist. When I read these lyrics back, I was like, 'Oh, that's weird.' "All the other love songs I've written have a dark edge." The phrase "Chasing Cars" was also said to be inspired by Gary's father, and it refers to a girl Gary was infatuated with when he was younger. "You're like a dog chasing a car. You'll never catch it and you just wouldn't know what to do with it if you did," he said.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Super Mario fans only just discover real-life inspiration behind video game icon's name
Iconic Nintendo character Super Mario is known the world over, but the back story on how he got his name is not so well-known – until now Nintendo's Mario is undeniably one of the most iconic video game characters ever created – yet, surprisingly, fans are only now uncovering the origins of the Italian plumber's name. Gaming enthusiasts are likely familiar with him not just being the face of the Super Mario series and numerous other games within the expansive Mario franchise, but also as the gaming company's beloved mascot. The Mario franchise holds the title of the highest-selling video game franchise, boasting an impressive 830 million copies sold worldwide – with a staggering 430 million attributed solely to Super Mario games. Mario's image is ubiquitous, often spotted at costume parties and Halloween gatherings, and he's an instantly recognisable figure globally. However, the story behind his moniker remains a mystery to many. Mario made his debut in the 1981 classic Donkey Kong, initially known as "Jumpman". It wasn't until the 1982 sequel, Donkey Kong Jr, that he was rechristened Mario, marking the beginning of his meteoric rise to international fame. Recently, fans were astonished to discover the reason behind the name change and how the developers arrived at the name Mario. A curious fan posed the question on Quora, inquiring "Why is Mario called Mario?" Those in the know promptly shared their insights, revealing the fascinating origins of the name. It transpired that Mario was named after Mario Segale, an American entrepreneur and real estate developer. Segale, the proprietor of a warehouse in Tukwila, Washington, found himself inadvertently etched into gaming history when Nintendo, his tenants in the early 1980s, fell behind on rent. Minoru Arakawa, the founder and former president of Nintendo of America, was confronted by an irate Segale demanding payment. But it was an encounter that would spark inspiration within the team. A Quora user remarked: "Could have been Shigeru Miyamoto, but I'm going with former Nintendo of America president Minoru Arakawa as a means to mock their then-landlord Mario Segale, which in turn, turned Jumpman into Mario when the character became the antagonist in Donkey Kong Jr." Another individual clarified: "Mario is called Mario because he was named after Mario Segale, who was the landlord of Nintendo of America's office, after barging in on a company meeting to demand payment of overdue rent." Jeff Ryan delves into this anecdote in his 2011 book, Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America, suggesting that Segale's animated frustration over the rent, in which he "jumped up and down himself", mirrored Jumpman's own movements. He wrote: "Around this time, the Tukwila warehouse's owner showed up in person to angrily remind Arakawa about the rent. As the legend goes, the owner, Mario Segale, interrupted a conversation over what to call Jumpman. Segale said his piece, and he grew so incensed he almost jumped up and down himself. "After the landlord left, the eviction threat delivered, someone suggested the name Mario. It was a joke, since both men had moustaches. But everyone liked the name. "If Mr Segale had only shaved that morning, who can say what name the character on the screen might have been given? Super Carlos? Super Ivan? Super Stavros? Would that alternate-universe name have made a difference in Nintendo's success? Under any other name, would Mario play as sweet?" Mario will next appear in Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2, which will be released as a launch game for the new console on June 5.
