Upcoming Events

National | Consumer Issues

no events match your query!

Blog Feeds

The Saker

Indymedia ireland

Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.

offsite link Fraud and mismanagement at University College Cork Thu Aug 28, 2025 18:30 | Calli Morganite
UCC has paid huge sums to a criminal professor
This story is not for republication. I bear responsibility for the things I write. I have read the guidelines and understand that I must not write anything untrue, and I won't.
This is a public interest story about a complete failure of governance and management at UCC.

offsite link Deliberate Design Flaw In ChatGPT-5 Sun Aug 17, 2025 08:04 | Mind Agent
Socratic Dialog Between ChatGPT-5 and Mind Agent Reveals Fatal and Deliberate 'Design by Construction' Flaw
This design flaw in ChatGPT-5's default epistemic mode subverts what the much touted ChatGPT-5 can do... so long as the flaw is not tickled, any usage should be fine---The epistemological question is: how would anyone in the public, includes you reading this (since no one is all knowing), in an unfamiliar domain know whether or not the flaw has been tickled when seeking information or understanding of a domain without prior knowledge of that domain???!

This analysis is a pretty unique and significant contribution to the space of empirical evaluation of LLMs that exist in AI public world... at least thus far, as far as I am aware! For what it's worth--as if anyone in the ChatGPT universe cares as they pile up on using the "PhD level scholar in your pocket".

According to GPT-5, and according to my tests, this flaw exists in all LLMs... What is revealing is the deduction GPT-5 made: Why ?design choice? starts looking like ?deliberate flaw?.

People are paying $200 a month to not just ChatGPT, but all major LLMs have similar Pro pricing! I bet they, like the normal user of free ChatGPT, stay in LLM's default mode where the flaw manifests itself. As it did in this evaluation.

offsite link AI Reach: Gemini Reasoning Question of God Sat Aug 02, 2025 20:00 | Mind Agent
Evaluating Semantic Reasoning Capability of AI Chatbot on Ontologically Deep Abstract (bias neutral) Thought
I have been evaluating AI Chatbot agents for their epistemic limits over the past two months, and have tested all major AI Agents, ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, for their epistemic limits and their negative impact as information gate-keepers.... Today I decided to test for how AI could be the boon for humanity in other positive areas, such as in completely abstract realms, such as metaphysical thought. Meaning, I wanted to test the LLMs for Positives beyond what most researchers benchmark these for, or have expressed in the approx. 2500 Turing tests in Humanity?s Last Exam.. And I chose as my first candidate, Google DeepMind's Gemini as I had not evaluated it before on anything.

offsite link Israeli Human Rights Group B'Tselem finally Admits It is Genocide releasing Our Genocide report Fri Aug 01, 2025 23:54 | 1 of indy
We have all known it for over 2 years that it is a genocide in Gaza
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has finally admitted what everyone else outside Israel has known for two years is that the Israeli state is carrying out a genocide in Gaza

Western governments like the USA are complicit in it as they have been supplying the huge bombs and missiles used by Israel and dropped on innocent civilians in Gaza. One phone call from the USA regime could have ended it at any point. However many other countries are complicity with their tacit approval and neighboring Arab countries have been pretty spinless too in their support

With the release of this report titled: Our Genocide -there is a good chance this will make it okay for more people within Israel itself to speak out and do something about it despite the fact that many there are actually in support of the Gaza

offsite link China?s CITY WIDE CASH SEIZURES Begin ? ATMs Frozen, Digital Yuan FORCED Overnight Wed Jul 30, 2025 21:40 | 1 of indy
This story is unverified but it is very instructive of what will happen when cash is removed
THIS STORY IS UNVERIFIED BUT PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT AS IT GIVES AN VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT A CASHLESS SOCIETY WILL LOOK LIKE. And it ain't pretty

A single video report has come out of China claiming China's biggest cities are now cashless, not by choice, but by force. The report goes on to claim ATMs have gone dark, vaults are being emptied. And overnight (July 20 into 21), the digital yuan is the only currency allowed.

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Climatism in Europe is Dying Tue Sep 30, 2025 19:00 | Eugyppius
Climatism in Europe is dying as its grassroots support evaporates and Left-wing activists move onto other concerns. Eurocrats are well-insulated from public opinion but they can't ignore it forever, says Eugyppius.
The post Climatism in Europe is Dying appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Blow to Miliband as Reeves Signals Support for North Sea Drilling and Union Boss Calls for Him to Be... Tue Sep 30, 2025 17:36 | Will Jones
Rachel Reeves has signalled support for drilling in the North Sea in a blow to Ed Miliband ? as the boss of the Unite union calls on Keir Starmer to sack the "disastrous" Net Zero Secretary.
The post Blow to Miliband as Reeves Signals Support for North Sea Drilling and Union Boss Calls for Him to Be Sacked appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Wes Streeting Says Nigel Farage is ?Racist? Tue Sep 30, 2025 15:30 | Will Jones
Health Secretary Wes Streeting?has said Nigel Farage is "racist", joining Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in using the insult of the Reform party and its leader.
The post Wes Streeting Says Nigel Farage is “Racist” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Is the ?Friend-Enemy Distinction? Right-Wing Critical Race Theory? Tue Sep 30, 2025 13:00 | Noah Carl
Perfectly neutral institutions will never be attainable, argues Noah Carl, but that doesn?t mean that reasonably neutral institutions aren?t worth striving for.
The post Is the ‘Friend-Enemy Distinction’ Right-Wing Critical Race Theory? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Europe Has Never Looked More Pathetic Tue Sep 30, 2025 11:27 | Will Jones
With Trump's announcement of a peace plan backed by both Israel and Arab leaders, Europe, with its toothless alternative proposal to reward terror, has never looked more pathetic or weaker on the global stage.
The post Europe Has Never Looked More Pathetic appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Tokophobia - Fear of Childbirth

category national | consumer issues | opinion/analysis author Friday March 07, 2008 17:51author by Tracy Doneganauthor email TracyDonegan at DoulaIreland dot com Report this post to the editors

Taking the Fear out of Childbirth

Tokophobia is a debilitating fear of childbirth which in many cases is so profound that it can lead to a complete avoidance of pregnancy or a pregnancy filled with terror and anxiety.

Tokophobia

As women are more frequently exposed to disturbing images and stories of childbirth from friends family and especially the media, Tokophobia is becoming more and more common. For whatever reason (movies…..scary birth stories etc) your subconscious mind has associated childbirth with something to be feared. The most painful aspect of Tokophobia is that many of these women long to have children of their own.

Actress Helen Mirren described where her own fear of childbirth came about in a recent interview after being exposed to a childbirth video in her early teens in school.
"I swear it traumatised me to this day. I haven't had children and now I can't look at anything to do with childbirth. It absolutely disgusts me." - Helen Mirren

There are two kinds of Tokophobia – ‘Primary’ Tokophobia for women who have never given birth and ‘Secondary – those women who’s previous birth experiences were so traumatic that they are also suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – a condition associated with war veterans. According to author and birth expert Sheila Kitzinger approximately 1 in 20 women having a hospital birth will leave the hospital with PTSD.

This high level of fear is irrational and uncontrollable. It cannot be consciously controlled by counseling, yoga or controlled breathing…(although these will help with the feelings of panic)…...the change has to be initiated in the subconscious mind. Telling a woman suffering with Tokophobia to get over it would be akin to telling someone to change their spiritual beliefs, their love for chocolate or passion for shoes ! It’s part of who they are at a very deep level. Just like any other irrational fear such as flying or other phobias it’s easy to resolve with hypnotherapy. All the talk therapy in the world won’t even scrape the surface with an irrational fear. You can’t reason with such a strong negative belief….women often say – “logically I know birth is relatively safe and my hospital has all the tools I need if it’s necessary to intervene so why am I still so terrified?” When sufferers understand that it’s not the logical reasoning part of their mind that is creating this panic it’s the subconscious mind an area which we have no conscious control over.
If you suffer from Tokophobia you are not alone and help is available.

Using self hypnosis you how you feel about pregnancy and childbirth easily and effectively. You weren't born with this fear and it is possible to recondition your subconscious mind to expect pregnancy and birth to be much more positive – something to be excited about rather than feared and avoided. You begin to associate pregnancy and birth with much more positive images and feelings. You may still have the same thoughts about childbirth but the anxiety is gone and is replaced with normal feelings of excitement. Tokophobia becomes a thing of the past as the normal worries of becoming a parent take hold (maternity leave, finding childcare and putting your childs name down for primary school !)

Hypnosis is not magic but it definitely feels that way to the women who go from planning a cesarean under general anesthetic to comfortable enjoyable pregnancies and blissful births !!

Tracy Donegan

Related Link: http://www.ChangeYourMind.ie
author by Tracy Doneganpublication date Sat Mar 08, 2008 18:07author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Tips to help you stay home longer in early labour so you arrive at the hospital in established and progressing labour.
The bags are packed and sitting in the hall…..the floors are gleaming and everything is ready. The stack of well read pregnancy books sit on the kitchen table with highlighted sections for your partner. After lots of research and stories from friends, you’re determined not to be one of those women who panic at the first strange tightening sensation of labour and race off to the hospital only to find out to their mortification that it was just wind….

First labours are such a unique experience and even after reading every pregnancy book on the planet you’re still not quite sure what to expect. Thankfully there is quite a lot you and your partner can do together at home to make this time at home before you go into the hospital memorable and comfortable. Dr. Michel Odent, the French obstetrician who pioneered the birth pool has some suggestions for creating the conditions for a shorter easier labour and what he refers to an ‘undisturbed birth’.

This labour ‘recipe’ has a few key ingredients that will help create that fantastic cocktail of hormones that helps your labour progress.

1. You need to feel safe and uninhibited. If mum feels stressed and anxious her body releases adrenaline which are the brakes of labour. When mum feels safe and not afraid her body produces oxytocin and endorphins - these are labour helpers ! When you feel uninhibited you can easily slip into that primal part of your mind that regulates labour.

2. You need to feel unobserved – don’t text everyone that your labour has started. You’ll be plagued by well meaning friends and family….and you start to suffer from a kind of labour performance anxiety….you start to think that you’re taking too long….(here comes the adrenaline again !!)

3. Dim lighting. Get your candles out and hit the dimmer switch. Bright fluorescent lighting inhibits the hormonal release by stimulating your ‘thinking’ brain.

4. Excessive conversation also keeps you in your reasoning and analytical part of your mind so rest is important and those relaxation CDs.

5. Low activity – both mentally and physically. Despite what you might have read walking for Ireland when you’re in early labour is unhelpful – UNLESS you feel it’s helping you. Don’t walk because someone told you to or because you read it in a book. High activity inhibits your helper hormones and boosts adrenaline….plus you want to conserve as much energy as you can….rest rest rest..

I know it’s a bit of a stretch for first time mums and dads to associate labour with romance so bear with me. I can already hear the ewwwwww’s as you read this….. But if you look at it logically it’s the same perfect cascade of hormones that resulted in most mums becoming pregnant…and it’s the same cascade of hormones that helps your baby to be born. Just look back at the 5 points above….feeling safe….uninhibited…..unobserved….dim lighting…and not much conversation…it might remind you of when you were dating your partner and the things you did to create a romantic atmosphere and get in the mood ;-) You see where I’m going ? The more intimate and yes romantic the environment you can create at home the more likely your labour is to progress quicker and easier.

Even Dad’s sexy hypnotic voice has a role to play in getting your baby out (after all Dad’s sexy hypnotic voice helped get the baby there in the first place)

Have a labour project that requires low mental and physical activity….think romance !!

Rent a few funny DVDs – laughter creates endorphins - your labour helpers !!

Bake a birthday cake for your baby

DP (Dear Partner) can run you a warm bath….and light the candles…..

DP can cook you some nice food….and encourage you to stay hydrated

DP can give you a relaxing massage…or foot rub…

DP can tell you how beautiful you look

DP can put on some nice music – any slow easy listening music that has good memories for you

DP can put on your relaxation CDs and maybe read some of the scripts to you to deepen your relaxation.

DP can make sure there is petrol in the car and not panic when it’s time to go…..

Now print this out and make sure DP reads it !! He probably hasn’t read all those highlighted pages you’ve prepared for him just yet and probably won’t. His eyes may move across the pages but his mind is most likely on the Championship league…....

Wishing you a wonderful birth

Tracy

Related Link: http://www.DoulaIreland.com
author by C McCpublication date Sun Mar 09, 2008 13:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It's not entirely a bad thing for people to be warned of the dangers & pains of childbirth & after (post-partum depression & even puerperal psychosis, which is devastating for mother & child & the wider family). Often mothers have said that they'd felt guilty & inadequate when the baby arrived, that they'd found the birth a shocking experience, as they'd been told that "maternal instinct" would make everything OK. Friends have advised me to have kids, even though I've never wanted any of my own, that everything would be OK once I'd a baby, but I believe parenthood is best left to people with a real vocation for it.

author by bilkispublication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 13:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I agree that parenthood should be seriously considered...I am an independant parent with three children, and it's very hard. It's hard to constantly give give give, to be teacher, peace mediator, nurse, developmental psychologist, entertainer, breastfeed, cook, wash clothes, tidy tidy tidy, spend quality time with kids etc & still remember who i am!! it's very hard without anyone there to make you a cup of tea, rub your back, or just listen...It's quite imprisoning and isolating in many ways - this really tests my 'vocation' and maternal instincts. sometimes I just want to run away. but of course I don't, because I do love my children.

So I'd say, (here's my tuppenc'ort)
*make sure you live near your family (as long as they are supportive - not everyone is this fortunate), make sure you have lots of friends around, make sure you have a loyal and loving partner who is not going to buckle under the added stress of a baby and leave you...because If you are dealing with children and protracted PND or PSS (because you actually can't get the space or time to deal with or express it and heal - you may not even have the time to notice that you are suffering!) then it is a nightmare...

*Take time before you ever get pregnant to do some thereapy and clear any childhood issues, and deprogram yourself from anti-childbirth conditioning - because there IS a culture surrounding us that promulgates nagative images of birth - including women screaming (I found i was too focused in labour to scream). remember that there are many positive birth experiences - there is pain, but it really is worth it when you see your child and hold them and breastfeeed them, and look at their little face.

*don't give birth in a hospital if you can help it...the obstretric profession is a business, if you have a caesarian, the anaesthatist is paid a huge sum, as is the doctor. If you deliver naturally, the doctor gets less, and the anaesthatist gets zilch. he gets paid if you have an epidural. the philosophy of the obstretric business is risk managment and prevention. they don't trust you, or your body to do what comes naturally. ( that in itself is traumatic at a time when a womwn is deeply instinctual - it separates the womyn from her pregnant body, from her baby, from herSelf). Homebirth midwives support a woman, and aid her in giving birth - if you can do this, it is a much better option - you can rest in your own bed after having your baby

*have loads of money...I don't mean ridiculous amounts, but you have to pay for a homebirth, and it would be good to pay someone to clean your house for the first 6 months..or next 20 years, depending on your attitude to housework. Kids are expensive, and they break precious things, they test you to the limits and beyond, mess your stuff, paint the wall in your brand new lipstick (last one in the shop!). The expenses never end

*Be prepared to put your own life on hold for an indefinate period - not just career, but socially, emotionally, creatively.

Of course it is also wonderful and when thay tell you thatyou are the best mum in the world or that they love you, it is all worth it - but then again, once you have the child, you are a slave to the hormones and instincts, and you will try to convert other women so you can have company...(joke)

Bilkis

 
© 2001-2025 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy