Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
@ashley.rolfmore.com
I help software teams navigate capitalism & ensure both sides eat their greens. Regulated sectors specialist. 🇬🇧➡️🇵🇹🇪🇺 Personal/nerd account.
Pinned
We as software practitioners (professionals who design/make software) need to learn from adjacent fields like medicine and engineering and consider potential harm to other humans as a basic criteria for our decision making. Hiding it behind abstractions like “customer impact” is cowardly.
Fwiw, in fintech people tend to find it very obvious that you shouldn’t accidentally send 50000 EUR instead of 500 EUR, or let money disappear.
We currently find the equivalent harder to articulate for other types of software eg products, data or services that might affect the safety of others.
We currently find the equivalent harder to articulate for other types of software eg products, data or services that might affect the safety of others.
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
Job interviews are batshit.
You don't do a driving test by turning up on the day and they go “nope we don’t want you to sit a theory test like the recruiter said, we actually want you to improv driving a truck, right now, imitate the horn sounds” and yet in job interviews this is completely normal
You don't do a driving test by turning up on the day and they go “nope we don’t want you to sit a theory test like the recruiter said, we actually want you to improv driving a truck, right now, imitate the horn sounds” and yet in job interviews this is completely normal
January 8, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Job interviews are batshit.
You don't do a driving test by turning up on the day and they go “nope we don’t want you to sit a theory test like the recruiter said, we actually want you to improv driving a truck, right now, imitate the horn sounds” and yet in job interviews this is completely normal
You don't do a driving test by turning up on the day and they go “nope we don’t want you to sit a theory test like the recruiter said, we actually want you to improv driving a truck, right now, imitate the horn sounds” and yet in job interviews this is completely normal
I found a bunch of people calling themselves "sociotechnical architects" just now and it's taken all my willpower not to add this gif to the github repo.
The more latin and greek there is in your bloody words (in business comms), the less likely you are genuinely getting through to people.
The more latin and greek there is in your bloody words (in business comms), the less likely you are genuinely getting through to people.
a stick figure with a sad face and the words the point written above it
Alt: a stick figure with a sad face and the words the point written above it, implying that the person has completely missed the point.
media.tenor.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:33 AM
I found a bunch of people calling themselves "sociotechnical architects" just now and it's taken all my willpower not to add this gif to the github repo.
The more latin and greek there is in your bloody words (in business comms), the less likely you are genuinely getting through to people.
The more latin and greek there is in your bloody words (in business comms), the less likely you are genuinely getting through to people.
fwiw - you can be pro regulation in tech *and* believe that the current attempts to regulate are foolish and need rethinking. Both of these things can be true at the same time.
January 7, 2026 at 9:28 AM
fwiw - you can be pro regulation in tech *and* believe that the current attempts to regulate are foolish and need rethinking. Both of these things can be true at the same time.
I really need to remember to lock my screen when at home, I had “dergbh” in spotlight just now and a very innocent looking cat in the hall.
January 4, 2026 at 7:51 PM
I really need to remember to lock my screen when at home, I had “dergbh” in spotlight just now and a very innocent looking cat in the hall.
I think I am mainly spending today putting things in correct places or correct rooms 🤯
January 4, 2026 at 3:08 PM
I think I am mainly spending today putting things in correct places or correct rooms 🤯
Without cheating, most recent pic of your pets.
This is me documenting that ours queue. They also queue for the litter box.
This is me documenting that ours queue. They also queue for the litter box.
January 3, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Without cheating, most recent pic of your pets.
This is me documenting that ours queue. They also queue for the litter box.
This is me documenting that ours queue. They also queue for the litter box.
I have walked past Phil Jupitus multiple times now in two different countries and half awkwardly *run away* with no real prompt to do so to “not be a bother”.
Coming out of a bagel place in NYC, was about to dig in to my toasted sesame and cream cheese but some guy roughly snatched it from my hand and took a big bite, then walked away backwards, giving me the finger as he wolfed down the rest (disgustingly). As you probably guessed, it was Kevin Costner.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 30, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I have walked past Phil Jupitus multiple times now in two different countries and half awkwardly *run away* with no real prompt to do so to “not be a bother”.
Neurospicy was one of those in-community only tumblr originated terms that was meant to mean “look the labels keep shifting right now but damn the school bullies could smell us out anyway. Stop assuming we are subhuman”
It was never meant to be cute, or medical. Just an attempt to reclaim.
It was never meant to be cute, or medical. Just an attempt to reclaim.
December 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Neurospicy was one of those in-community only tumblr originated terms that was meant to mean “look the labels keep shifting right now but damn the school bullies could smell us out anyway. Stop assuming we are subhuman”
It was never meant to be cute, or medical. Just an attempt to reclaim.
It was never meant to be cute, or medical. Just an attempt to reclaim.
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
Marvellous, moving and wise column by @martinsandbu.ft.com:
Why your AI companion is not your friend
First, tech companies usurped the meaning of ‘friends’ and ‘connection’ — now they are coming for ‘companionship’
www.ft.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Marvellous, moving and wise column by @martinsandbu.ft.com:
“I’ve found people are maybe decorating their coffee with too much cream sometimes so yeah it’s ok for us to just let us use the cat litter box for the milk and coffee beans now”
Can't wait for the loosened up, non-perfect, but quickly shipped AI-enhanced updates to hit my banking and insurance services next year.
Im sure there will be no issues there at all.
Im sure there will be no issues there at all.
December 27, 2025 at 1:38 AM
“I’ve found people are maybe decorating their coffee with too much cream sometimes so yeah it’s ok for us to just let us use the cat litter box for the milk and coffee beans now”
You will be visited by 3 spirits
December 26, 2025 at 12:53 AM
You will be visited by 3 spirits
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
New ink painting of pyramidal cells #sciart artologica.etsy.com/listing/4430...
December 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
New ink painting of pyramidal cells #sciart artologica.etsy.com/listing/4430...
Btw I will go quieter later it’s just me right now into the other half wakes up then we drive to his parents. Only so many treats I can consume solo
December 25, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Btw I will go quieter later it’s just me right now into the other half wakes up then we drive to his parents. Only so many treats I can consume solo
From 2016 all George Michael bangers are Christmas music. 🎄
Scare your relatives with the pop culture trivia behind the Outside music video everyone!
Scare your relatives with the pop culture trivia behind the Outside music video everyone!
December 25, 2025 at 10:56 AM
From 2016 all George Michael bangers are Christmas music. 🎄
Scare your relatives with the pop culture trivia behind the Outside music video everyone!
Scare your relatives with the pop culture trivia behind the Outside music video everyone!
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
Woman in the park: She was 96.
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
December 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Woman in the park: She was 96.
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
Her friend: 96. I guess she was ready to go.
Woman: Are you kidding? She ordered new curtains last week. When I called her and asked, ‘Are they nice?’ she said, ‘No they're not. I won’t use that company next time I need new curtains.’
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
#OnThisDay in London's festive history: parliamentary Puritan ban on Xmas is widely ignored in London, 1644.
wp.me/p74yfw-gc
wp.me/p74yfw-gc
Today in London’s festive history: Puritan ban on Xmas widely ignored in London, 1644.
Everyone knows that Cromwell and the puritans of the English Revolution banned Christmas… Perhaps less well-known is the opposition and resistance the ban aroused. In London, as elsewhere, the repr…
wp.me
December 25, 2025 at 8:31 AM
#OnThisDay in London's festive history: parliamentary Puritan ban on Xmas is widely ignored in London, 1644.
wp.me/p74yfw-gc
wp.me/p74yfw-gc
Weirdly excited today - we did the big meal last night so it’s basically a curry today and then my coconut rice pudding. Here is me last night picking out the cardamom pods with a head torch.
December 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Weirdly excited today - we did the big meal last night so it’s basically a curry today and then my coconut rice pudding. Here is me last night picking out the cardamom pods with a head torch.
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
Live map of bus services in the UK and Ireland on Christmas Day, 25 December 2025, at around 8:40am. Bus services are largely suspended. London and Dublin shut down completely, with only a few local operators and airport coaches running limited services.
December 25, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Live map of bus services in the UK and Ireland on Christmas Day, 25 December 2025, at around 8:40am. Bus services are largely suspended. London and Dublin shut down completely, with only a few local operators and airport coaches running limited services.
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
December 24, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
got my adhd upgraded to ad4k
December 21, 2025 at 6:52 AM
got my adhd upgraded to ad4k
In the 2025 form of A Christmas Carol, the ghost of Christmas future puts all the AI bandwagon slop he's forcing on everyone else in charge of Scrooge's real money, and he loses it all.
Merry Christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas 🎄
December 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
In the 2025 form of A Christmas Carol, the ghost of Christmas future puts all the AI bandwagon slop he's forcing on everyone else in charge of Scrooge's real money, and he loses it all.
Merry Christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas 🎄
Reposted by Ashley Rolfmore (she/her)
