Latest news with #buddies
Fast Company
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
A TikTok trend has men calling to wish their friends good night. What does that say about male loneliness?
A new trend that's been circulating on social media has grown men reaching out to their buddies to say 'good night,' and sometimes even 'sweet dreams.' The trend has taken off on TikTok and Instagram in recent weeks, in part because the reactions from the men receiving the calls has often been humorous. In one video, a man calls his friend, tells him good night, and immediately gets a shocked response: 'What?' The caller replies, 'I'm just calling to tell you good night. Sweet dreams.' But that's not quite enough clarity for the man on the other end. 'Good night? A grown man telling another grown man good night?' he presses, while the caller muffles a laugh. The TikTok prank operates on exactly that premise—that grown men calling each other to say good night is funny because it's so utterly unexpected. Because truthfully, most grown men are not calling each other to check in before bed. Some men receiving the calls commented that nobody has called them to say good night in many years. That's as nightly check-ins—perhaps check-ins of any kind—can feel contrary to ingrained masculinity norms. But that's problematic. Male loneliness has been viewed as a growing issue, and has even been called an epidemic by some experts in recent years. One 2024 review of masculinity norms and how they impact male loneliness highlighted an 'urgent need' for a shift in order to 'support men's social connectedness.' Not only do men feel less connected, but they also are less likely to seek mental health care than women. According to some research, only an estimated one in 10 men suffering with depression or anxiety disorders receive treatment. A 'foreign' feeling Experts say that men don't always feel able to reach out, and when they don't, it can lead to isolation. Dr. Rachel Austin, a Maryland-based clinical psychologist, tells Fast Company she saw the trend circulating and was struck—but not surprised—by how 'foreign' it feels to so many men to do something that's 'more connected to emotion' than they may be used to. According to Austin, it can be especially hard for men to learn how to 'facilitate connection' when they fear doing so may be perceived as 'weak' or not masculine, and especially when doing so hasn't been modeled for them. That can make even recognizing the feeling a challenge. 'Many male patients that are lonely aren't articulating (even to their partners) what they need,' says Austin. Judging by the videos, while confused at first, the men actually appreciated the seemingly bizarre phone calls. Many ended up feeling touched, or said things like, 'I miss you,' or even, 'love you,' in response. Some of the men even began reminiscing about their younger days, perhaps back in high school or college, when touching base to check in and say good night was not a weird occurrence, but part of their routine. In one video posted on Instagram, which has over 757,000 likes at present, a dad calls his longtime buddy to say good night. The friend on the other end of the line instantly bursts out laughing, and brings up their high school days when nightly calls were expected from those in their friend group. 'I can't believe you remembered that,' the friend says. 'That was like a staple.' While the trend is wholesome, and certainly worth clicking through a few videos for a chuckle, the responses seem to reveal a deeper issue—that men reaching out to each other is sorely needed. It may even spark some sorely needed discussion about why exactly this feels so unexpected.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Your Daily DogScope for May 25, 2025
Life is ruff when you're four-legged and furry with a completely clueless human. Fortunately, our daily Dogscope can brighten those boneless days with a little encouragement and a helping paw. You and your buddies have been bored so long that a spontaneous action will take you all by surprise. You can't plan ahead, but be ready for a new dog to initiate some fun. Slipping your collar and rushing ahead is usually a good idea, but not today. There's no way to check out all the options when your focus is on avoiding capture, so shop around while safely on the leash. Don't just stand around waiting for the next big idea. Initiate some fun yourself instead. There are plenty of options so pull one out of your hat and shake up time spent with your buddies. With your sharp mind, there's no reason to forget from one day to the next what earns you biscuits. Take your time memorizing just which tricks get you the pay off and forget the ones that are duds. The same old, same old is endless fun for you and your friends, but new games aren't bad, either. Have fun learning new tricks, and eating the new treats they earn you. Feeling lost with your career? Guidance is one click away! Avoiding fights is your reason for living, next to home and owner. But even you have to engage in conflict every now and then, just to show the other dogs you can. It's one of those tedious days. Do you still not know why each trip to the dog park can be either great or awful? It's all about your relationships, so spend all of your time working on them. You'll soon have a predictable daily date. Don't waste time getting your fur up at an odd human. They can't help themselves. The best you can do for yourself, and the rest of the world for that matter, is to treat them like everyone else. Your owner is your world and all that, but in this case it takes more than two to tango. You and the other dogs are doing a complicated dance, and only canines know the steps. When your human leaves in the morning, it's time for you to punch in. The safety of home rests on your shoulders all day long and you have your work cut out for you today. Some dogs yearn for freedom, but not you. Given the choice between the open sky and a ceiling to stare at, and you'll take the ceiling. So it's a shocker to all when you slip your collar, but it has to be done every now and again. Not all dogs are as tough as they look. Don't be afraid just because they appear menacing. Putting them in their place is a lot easier than wishing you were wearing camouflage. Are you meant to be? Find out with our Love Compatibility Report!
