Less Rage Bait

More Goblin Mode

Rage bait was Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2025. Announced a few weeks ago, the definition offered is “Content (posts, videos, headlines) crafted to be frustrating, offensive, or provocative to make users comment, share, and react angrily.” I mean…that tracks, right? Being online isn’t usually a peaceful place to hang out, especially if you visit any news sites or scroll social media for more than a few minutes.

Brain rot was 2024’s word, the definition being “the supposed decline of mental or intellectual capacity from overconsumption of trivial online material, like endless TikTok scrolls or AI-generated junk.” Also fitting for the times, sadly enough.

Rizz—a shortened version of “charisma”—was Oxford’s word for 2023, basically meaning to “make something more attractive.” As much as the selection of rage bait and brain rot and rizz have to say about dominant culture, I continue to prefer Oxford’s word of the year in 2022, which was goblin mode, a term defined as a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent in a way that rejects social norms.

Here’s to ending the year showing up for yourself and what you truly need as we continue moving through this world that remains full of challenge, grief, and chaos.

Autumn is coming to a close later this week with the solstice. Winter is waiting in the wings, and not very patiently this year. Here in Minnesota, it’s been below zero for the past several days, so the lakes good and frozen, there is about six inches of snow on the ground, and the beavers and bears have been tucked away for several weeks already. The season of going to ground is upon us.

Consider the goblin: in most mythological tales, goblins do indeed spend a lot of time underground.

What does “goblin mode” look like for you right now? What would it mean to go to ground in the most healing sense as the year ends? Even though there are huge global issues demanding energy and attention, taking care of yourself remains important so you can do what you’re called to do when it comes to adding to the healing of the world. You never have to apologize for taking care of yourself.

More reading? Fewer parties? Not sending holiday cards? Moving to a cave filled with treasure for a few months? More wandering around outside, less scrolling in the living room? More analog, less digital? Huddling under the fuzziest blanket you have and watching your favorite movies? Taking a day, or even and afternoon, off? Enjoying food that you really like without feeling guilty about it? Sleeping as much as you need to to feel truly rested?

Here’s to the [life-giving] unapologetic self-indulgences that reject social norms. Maybe you’ll even add some extra rizz to your gobin plan as you commit to decreasing brain rot and not giving in to the allure of rage bait. I think rejecting social norms is always a great way to end a year. And will be until social norms include living simply and accepting peace as the only way forward.

Poem found in Church of Shadow and Light; Wayfarer Books, 2025

May the last two weeks of your calendar year include enough of the small things that bring joy, peace, and healing, in all the forms healing can take.

P.S. Consider signing up for Csermely Szilvia and Cheryl Magyar’s Daily Dose of Nature and making 2026 an Analog Year.

……and let’s not forget those in and out lists as 2025 wraps up. (Because if you’re not keeping up with the trends what are you even doing.)

These, of course, are non exhaustive lists; things that came to my mind just now based on the lens through which I see the word. What would YOUR lists say?