Have you heard about #goblinmode?

Friday 03 March 2023

Have you heard about #goblinmode? Now, if you’re currently making a face which is both bemused and confused whilst thinking to yourself that perhaps I’ve finally run out of trending words to talk about in this column, and have resorted to making them up instead – I understand.

But, ye of little faith, #goblinmode isn’t just a real social media buzzword, it was actually Oxford Languages’ (the Maker of the Oxford English Dictionary) word of the year for 2022!

So, what exactly is #goblinmode?

Well, it’s a whimsical expression to describe a very particular mood that I’m sure we’ve all felt at some point: wanting to unleash our inner goblin.

You know when you have a weekend where you have no plans, so you decide to spend it being as disgusting as possible? You don’t wash or leave the house; you certainly don’t engage in any activity that involves being seen by another human – that’s for sure!  

Pictured: "You know when you have a weekend where you have no plans, so you decide to spend it being as disgusting as possible?"

Oxford Languages defines the phrase as: “a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.” 

In other words, it's allowing yourself to exist free from the pressures of ‘being normal’ or ‘hygienic’ or ‘palatable for other people who expect you to be charming, fun to be around, clean and not covered in Wotsits dust all the time,’ and other assorted, very unrealistic standards. 

I believe #goblinmode is the sum of all our grossest habits that we indulge when we think no one is watching. The immediate one that comes to mind is when I was a kid, I used to sneak spoonfuls of icing sugar when no one else was in the kitchen to catch me in full #goblinmode.  

Pictured: #goblinmode - freeing yourself from the pressure of being "palatable for other people who expect you to be charming, fun to be around, clean and not covered in Wotsits dust all the time."

The truth is I think #goblinmode is a much truer representation of humans than we like to let on.

Whilst I wish I could say that at my core I am the polished, smiley, freshly showered, makeup wearing version of myself that I present to the world, I reckon if I’m honest with myself, I’m probably more authentically me when I’m in #goblinmode.

And in a way, that’s quite empowering.

In a world where we put ourselves and each other under so much pressure to be perfect and obsess over the multiple ways we can self-improve, I would argue that accepting one’s #goblinmode form is a rather liberating concept.

I mean, if I can love myself as greasy, unlikeable and unwashed as I am when in full #goblinmode then that’s true self-love, surely!

Right, I’m off to buy eight share bags of Wotsits. No one look at me.

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This article first appeared in the February edition of Connect Magazine, which you can read in full below...