The Laughing Otter

Topic hub

Community

The people part. Community posts, upcoming events, the hosts who run them, and how membership fits in.

Community stories

Fresh reads and watches on this topic.

Whimsical illustration of an elderly person happily using a tablet with letter envelopes floating out from the screen.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Charming Way Older Generations Use Social Media

From signing public comments with full names to treating status updates like family newsletters, digital etiquette is getting a delightfully polite makeover.

A whimsical illustration showing cotton underwear buried in dark garden soil surrounded by worms and plant roots.

Scientists Asked 1,000 People to Bury Their Undies—Here's Why

Inside the bizarre Swiss experiment that proved messy, chaotic gardens are full of subterranean life while perfect lawns are practically ghost towns.

Retro illustration featuring a 1970s typewriter, office coffee pot, and newsletters symbolizing the birth of the 9to5 movement.

Before It Was an Anthem, "9 to 5" Was a Real-Life Office Rebellion

Long before Dolly Parton clicked her acrylic nails together to create a classic anthem, two Boston clerical workers started a full-blown workplace movement.

A group of adults in swim caps laughing in the ocean shallows at sunrise

The 6am swim club that is mostly about the chatting

Cold water, warm people, and a thermos of tea on the sand.

This is what the future of media looks like | Hamish McKenzie10:58

This is what the future of media looks like | Hamish McKenzie

What if the polarizing mess of social media, clickbait headlines and addictive algorithms isn't a breakdown of media but a transition to something better?

What if the climate movement felt like a house party? | Matthew Phillips8:34

What if the climate movement felt like a house party? | Matthew Phillips

You’re invited into a bold new vision for the climate movement — a space of trust and honesty, where artists inspire action and everyone has a role to play.

The delicious potential of rescuing wasted food | Jasmine Crowe-Houston13:48

The delicious potential of rescuing wasted food | Jasmine Crowe-Houston

What if solving hunger isn't about growing more food but wasting less of it?

Are we cooked? How social media shapes your language | Adam Aleksic13:52

Are we cooked? How social media shapes your language | Adam Aleksic

Gen Z slang is rife with new words like "unalive," "skibidi" and "rizz." Where do these words come from — and how do they get popular so fast?

Challenges

Challenge

Community Clean-Up

Pick up litter from one waterway, park or street near you.

Questions about this hub

How do I host an event?

Apply through the Host an Event page. Approved hosts get a dashboard, marketing materials and recognition points.

Is membership required to attend events?

Most events are open to everyone. A few member-only events are marked on the event page.

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