Culture

With semester two’s end now in sight, some of you might be thinking about your entrance into the working world. It’s going to be a little tough. Someone is going to expect you to be reasonably dressed and coherent by 9am, and to labour for eight hours toward vague and mystifying goals. You may have to use the phrase “working in silos,” or learn how to operate a fax machine (yes, really).

Here’s a little advice: make sure your teeth are brushed, and carry mints with you. Brush your hair, check your flies and make sure your skirt isn’t tucked into your undies. Use deodorant. If you’re in an office job, you’re going to be stuck in a small space with a bunch of people who may or may not be pricks. Soon, the little things will start to annoy you – the loud breather, the clacky typist, the apple cruncher. Please don’t be that person. If you are that person, eventually someone is going to have to have to have a very awkward conversation with you. You may even find a box of floss placed suggestively on your desk.

That is, unless this week’s app comes into common use! Hot Mess allows you to let others know, discreetly and anonymously, that their breath smells like a sewer or that there’s something green and gooby in their teeth. The app sends a text message, and warns the receiver to open the message in private, thus making the “uhh, there’s a gross booger in your nose” conversation much less awkward.

“This is intended to break a social taboo,” says Hot Mess’ creator. “If someone is a close talker and has halitosis, or is too loud, it’s hard to share that without offending them. Why? You’re doing them a disservice by not telling them.”

Technology! Helping humans to avoid awkwardness since aaaaaages ago.