2025 Opinions
Published 18th November 2025
This is my first ever opinions page.
Each year, I’ll write down my opinions on some of the world’s biggest questions.
And then next year, I’ll see how much these opinions have changed (or not).
To quote Paul Saffo, I’ll have “Strong opinions, loosely held.”
Why am I doing this?
Two reasons:
1) I was recently asked for my opinion on climate change at a dinner party. And my answer was terrible. Pure, utter drivel. I babbled away for a few minutes and my mouth dried up, like it was trying to stop the verbal car crash that was rolling off my tongue. That won’t happen again.
2) I thought it would be cool.
Okay, here goes nothing...
Climate Change
Although I haven't read any scientific journals or peer-reviewed studies on the topic, I’ve watched plenty of documentaries.
And I'm more inclined to agree with David Attenborough, climate scientists, and Brian Cox than, say, Donald Trump, my Uncle Dave, and random people on Reddit.
That said, these shortcuts could be wrong.
I’ll dig deeper.
Nonetheless, whether there's climate change or global warming or — get this — global cooling, there’s an elephant in the room: we’re still destroying the planet.
What with deforestation, the bleaching of corals, and countless other signs, the time is now.
We need to get our sh*t together.
Crypto
I see the value in Bitcoin. It's a digital gold. There's a limited supply and enough people believe it has value, so its price goes up.
I won't pretend to know the deets, nor do I know anything about Ethereum or Doge. But what I would say is this: The idea that Bitcoin could somehow act as a global currency for the masses seems ludicrous to me.
Here's why.
Let's say you're doing your weekly shop. It comes to £40. You have the option to pay in cash or Bitcoin.
You could pay in Bitcoin, but 5 years from now - hell, 5 weeks from now - the price of your Bitcoin could have increased by 10%. Why would you use your Bitcoin?
Surely you’d use your Pounds?
The crux of the issue is this. Until Bitcoin’s price levels off, there will always be an incentive to buy and hold, which is exactly what you don't want from a global currency.
You want it sloshing around in bank accounts, going round and round.
Not being stored in digital wallets.
Of course, I could be completely wrong, and I’m cautiously “investing” in Bitcoin.
It’s always good to hedge.
But sorry, Crypto Bros — I don’t think it’ll take over the world.
The Royal Family
The Queen was a sweet old lady, bless her soul, and I like William and Kate.
But the rest of the Royal Family?
I have no idea what they do.
Having a monarchy is antiquated and of little value in 2025, other than to sell mugs and novelty plates.
Until I better understand what they do, I think we're better off without them.
So go on, people, turn Buckingham Palace into a museum.
No single family needs that many rooms — even with their eating-caviar-for-breakfast ways.
(In my mind, this is what they do.)
The next global recession
Okay, let's say a global recession strikes next week.
What would I do?
Hard assets like houses and gold are the way to go.
But would I buy these things? Probably not. Having one house is stressful enough.
And although I could buy gold, its price will inflate.
What about the stock market? Well, when everyone's selling, that's the time to buy. So investing into a global Vanguard fund makes sense.
Once the siren sounds, I’ll pour my liquid savings into it.
Next steps then?
1) Open one of Vanguard’s index funds and put some money into it.
2) Wait for the collapse.
3) Speak with my mortgage advisor to bring down my monthly repayments.
4) *Stock market crashes*
5) Pour my savings into the fund.
Solo travel
Travelling with people is great. But solo travel?
It’s overrated.
Let me tell you, that’s painful to write for someone who worshipped the “Digital Nomad” lifestyle. You know; working from a beach and sipping Mai Tais.
The truth is, travelling solo is lonely. (No sh*t). And there are only so many temples and beautiful buildings you can see before you feel like you've seen them all.
People make your travel stories worth telling.
Here's something else. No matter where you travel, you carry your heart. There's no escape. So no matter how much you want to run away from your feelings, they're always there, taging along.
They're kind of a b*tch, really.
University
Do I remember anything from my three years at university? (Of studies.)
Not really.
So was it a colossal waste of time and money?
The jury's out.
For developing life skills and making friends, Uni’s great. You become more self-aware and get to pursue rogue, outlandish hobbies. (“Anyone for a game of Korfball?”)
But the actual studying?
Meh.
It's crazy how much time I sunk into learning random economic theories, only to have them completely wiped from my brain seven years later.
So unless you're going to uni for a specific pathway (e.g. studying medicine to become a doctor), just save up and go travelling for two years.
You'll learn just as much and make a bunch of memories.
Turning 30
Politics. Power. Ruling a country.
It's something I had bold visions of when watching Kevin Spacey in House of Cards.
But since then?
I've become so dillusioned by MPs — particularly at state level — that I don't even know who the leader of the Conservatives is.
That’s nuts. I voted for them less than 6 years ago.
(I could find out right now, but I can’t even be bothered to Google it.)
But then again, maybe that's what happens as you get older. Do you become more skeptical? More cynical? For me, at least, grandiose plans are pushed to one side in favour of cosy evenings watching Stranger Things.
It's sad really.
Maybe one day I'll engage in local politics and volunteer for [Insert Town] in Bloom.
But right now?
I’d rather watch Eleven kick ass.