David Allsopp
@doublehelix.bsky.social
Scientist turned software engineer. He/him
🏹 Field archery 🐀 Rats 😷 COVID cautious 🏃 Parkrun
https://medium.com/@davidallsopp
@[email protected]
@doublehelix on the birdsite
🏹 Field archery 🐀 Rats 😷 COVID cautious 🏃 Parkrun
https://medium.com/@davidallsopp
@[email protected]
@doublehelix on the birdsite
Pinned
David Allsopp
@doublehelix.bsky.social
· Nov 17
“Sex-based rights” are contradictory nonsense
The term is a dog-whistle slogan, coined just to exclude trans people, with multiple meanings — none of which make sense.
medium.com
A short thread of my essays on Medium - mostly debunking anti-trans disinformation and other bigotry
1) "Sex-based rights" are contradictory nonsense
The term is a dog-whistle slogan, coined just to exclude trans people, with multiple meanings — none of which make sense
medium.com/@davidallsop...
1) "Sex-based rights" are contradictory nonsense
The term is a dog-whistle slogan, coined just to exclude trans people, with multiple meanings — none of which make sense
medium.com/@davidallsop...
Reposted by David Allsopp
At 9:18, 3rd period of the Finland-Switzerland women's ice hockey QF game, the ice crew came to clean the ice during a pause
What follows is the funniest use of the slo-mo alternate angle tech I've seen them use during these Olympics of one of the crew members falling
What follows is the funniest use of the slo-mo alternate angle tech I've seen them use during these Olympics of one of the crew members falling
February 15, 2026 at 12:14 AM
At 9:18, 3rd period of the Finland-Switzerland women's ice hockey QF game, the ice crew came to clean the ice during a pause
What follows is the funniest use of the slo-mo alternate angle tech I've seen them use during these Olympics of one of the crew members falling
What follows is the funniest use of the slo-mo alternate angle tech I've seen them use during these Olympics of one of the crew members falling
Reposted by David Allsopp
This is also half the reason for @fyi.org.nz going down so frequently: 95% of our traffic is from AI scrapers. They don't limit their request rates or react to site slowdowns, and just keep hammering away even if all requests are timing out.
The "AI revolution" in science is going so smoothly that my instititutional library is having to deploy multiple technical protection measures against "poorly behaved Gen AI crawling" just to maintain its timely service library.ed.ac.uk/research-sup...
February 15, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is also half the reason for @fyi.org.nz going down so frequently: 95% of our traffic is from AI scrapers. They don't limit their request rates or react to site slowdowns, and just keep hammering away even if all requests are timing out.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Out driving just now and saw this giant mural of Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian refugee who got stabbed on a bus.
Despite the fact that her family has asked them not to use her death for political reasons, Elon Musk has been funding these murals all over the country.
Despite the fact that her family has asked them not to use her death for political reasons, Elon Musk has been funding these murals all over the country.
February 15, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Out driving just now and saw this giant mural of Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian refugee who got stabbed on a bus.
Despite the fact that her family has asked them not to use her death for political reasons, Elon Musk has been funding these murals all over the country.
Despite the fact that her family has asked them not to use her death for political reasons, Elon Musk has been funding these murals all over the country.
Reposted by David Allsopp
We've invented a technology that will give everyone their time back and allow all of us to work less!
Oh no it made tech bros MORE addicted to work.
Oh no it made tech bros MORE addicted to work.
Token Anxiety
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
February 15, 2026 at 4:47 PM
We've invented a technology that will give everyone their time back and allow all of us to work less!
Oh no it made tech bros MORE addicted to work.
Oh no it made tech bros MORE addicted to work.
Reposted by David Allsopp
this is the description of life in a cult
Token Anxiety
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
February 15, 2026 at 5:59 PM
this is the description of life in a cult
Reposted by David Allsopp
I don't know how many times in how many ways i have to say "AI encodes, reinforces, & iterates on the prejudicial biases & other values & beliefs of humans, so events like this are entirely predictable as long as we keep building & training these systems the ways we do" before it fucking sinks in.
WhatsApp’s AI shows gun-wielding children when prompted with ‘Palestine’
By contrast, prompts for ‘Israeli’ do not generate images of people wielding guns, even in response to a prompt for ‘Israel army’
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2023 at 6:01 PM
I don't know how many times in how many ways i have to say "AI encodes, reinforces, & iterates on the prejudicial biases & other values & beliefs of humans, so events like this are entirely predictable as long as we keep building & training these systems the ways we do" before it fucking sinks in.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
February 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
Reposted by David Allsopp
When I first transitioned, I would drive a mile to a public gender neutral bathroom rather than use one at work. I found out later a dozen staff held “meetings” about what they would do if I used the women’s room. I was their boss’s boss at the time, still had no recourse, just had to let it happen.
The BBC reporting on Beth Upton’s current employment situation is definitely not in the public interest, and it is insane how much the British press freely get away with harassing her for the crime of simply living her life existing as a trans person in the UK.
February 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
When I first transitioned, I would drive a mile to a public gender neutral bathroom rather than use one at work. I found out later a dozen staff held “meetings” about what they would do if I used the women’s room. I was their boss’s boss at the time, still had no recourse, just had to let it happen.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Anyone who had genuine concerns about youth gender medicine would staunchly and wholeheartedly support social transition. Let kids explore their identities to see what works for them!
The fact that this movement opposes even pronouns and haircuts shows that it's just bigotry all the way down.
The fact that this movement opposes even pronouns and haircuts shows that it's just bigotry all the way down.
This draft guidance reproduces Cass insisting that clinicians must be involved in decisions about *social transition* which actually should be none of their damn business
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Anyone who had genuine concerns about youth gender medicine would staunchly and wholeheartedly support social transition. Let kids explore their identities to see what works for them!
The fact that this movement opposes even pronouns and haircuts shows that it's just bigotry all the way down.
The fact that this movement opposes even pronouns and haircuts shows that it's just bigotry all the way down.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Cass had the data and government resources to investigate whether this moral panic was true but instead of looking at it critically she just reinforced the panic.
and then cass has the absolute nerve to go on the bbc and say shit like this
February 15, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Cass had the data and government resources to investigate whether this moral panic was true but instead of looking at it critically she just reinforced the panic.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Since Bridget Phillipson announced her transphobic “guidance” for schools, how many trans people have been interviewed or even quoted in mainstream media about it?
February 15, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Since Bridget Phillipson announced her transphobic “guidance” for schools, how many trans people have been interviewed or even quoted in mainstream media about it?
Reposted by David Allsopp
"A Saint Louis scientist has discovered that we shall all be crazy by the year 2016. This, alas, is not the worst of it. We shall also be dead."
The Evening Herald, Ottawa, Kansas, January 27, 1902
The Evening Herald, Ottawa, Kansas, January 27, 1902
February 15, 2026 at 4:28 AM
"A Saint Louis scientist has discovered that we shall all be crazy by the year 2016. This, alas, is not the worst of it. We shall also be dead."
The Evening Herald, Ottawa, Kansas, January 27, 1902
The Evening Herald, Ottawa, Kansas, January 27, 1902
Reposted by David Allsopp
If you want to understand why the BBC's stance on trans rights - only platforming cis people (and only those with a sceptical perspective) - is so outrageous imagine if it only platformed men talking about women's rights (and only those with a sceptical perspective).
February 15, 2026 at 4:33 PM
If you want to understand why the BBC's stance on trans rights - only platforming cis people (and only those with a sceptical perspective) - is so outrageous imagine if it only platformed men talking about women's rights (and only those with a sceptical perspective).
Reposted by David Allsopp
A new classic from yesterday
February 6, 2026 at 4:39 PM
A new classic from yesterday
Reposted by David Allsopp
Reposted by David Allsopp
Between this and the story about the ice agents who ate at a Mexican restaurant and then arrested some of its workers when they were done, it's a reminder that these people reject even the most basic social agreements of hospitality and of helping others. They're sociopaths.
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Between this and the story about the ice agents who ate at a Mexican restaurant and then arrested some of its workers when they were done, it's a reminder that these people reject even the most basic social agreements of hospitality and of helping others. They're sociopaths.
Half of my posts these days seem to be parody album covers, but this was my favourite
February 15, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Half of my posts these days seem to be parody album covers, but this was my favourite
Reposted by David Allsopp
I have no hesitation in saying the new draft government guidance for schools, that follows Cass’s recommendations, amounts to child abuse, in the service of the myth of regret that Cass repeatedly pushes.
So, it looks like the new DfE guidance on trans students in schools incorporates recommendations from the Cass report. Suffice to say that is an *incredibly awful* decision.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
In Chapter 12, Cass considers social transition.
As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
February 15, 2026 at 10:11 AM
I have no hesitation in saying the new draft government guidance for schools, that follows Cass’s recommendations, amounts to child abuse, in the service of the myth of regret that Cass repeatedly pushes.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Cass here repeating the claims about “desistance” from her report.
The BBC fact checkers must be horrified, because this is bare faced lying…
The BBC fact checkers must be horrified, because this is bare faced lying…
Children 'weaponised' in toxic trans debate, Cass says
Clinician Dr Hilary Cass says
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Cass here repeating the claims about “desistance” from her report.
The BBC fact checkers must be horrified, because this is bare faced lying…
The BBC fact checkers must be horrified, because this is bare faced lying…
Reposted by David Allsopp
Let me get this straight. These MPs are welcoming Sandie Peggie? THIS Sandie Peggie? And people wonder why the Forde report said the Labour right has a racism problem. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
February 15, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Let me get this straight. These MPs are welcoming Sandie Peggie? THIS Sandie Peggie? And people wonder why the Forde report said the Labour right has a racism problem. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by David Allsopp
North Carolina lawmakers have voted to remove all college campus voting sites. Specifically at the largest HBCU in the US NC A&T. They now have to walk 30 minutes to their nearest polling place. Students are protesting this - pls share and support.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
Even without an on-campus voting site, NCAT students still marched to the polls. 💙💛 Students at North Carolina A&T showed that barriers won’t stop their voices. When access isn’t easy, they organize. ...
TikTok video by HBCU Student Action Alliance
www.tiktok.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:55 PM
North Carolina lawmakers have voted to remove all college campus voting sites. Specifically at the largest HBCU in the US NC A&T. They now have to walk 30 minutes to their nearest polling place. Students are protesting this - pls share and support.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
Reposted by David Allsopp
Reposted by David Allsopp
Dr Beth Upton went to work one day to help sick people, and that is it. She's done nothing wrong (highlighted by the courts), never got involved in the media, never said a bad word about anyone, even once. And she's been hounded out of the country by bigots who hate that she exists.
February 15, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Dr Beth Upton went to work one day to help sick people, and that is it. She's done nothing wrong (highlighted by the courts), never got involved in the media, never said a bad word about anyone, even once. And she's been hounded out of the country by bigots who hate that she exists.
Reposted by David Allsopp
The European Commission chose to condemn antisemitism & reference Holocaust Remembrance Day when asked about a doctored vid of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese circulated by misinformation accounts including
@UNWatch (X) & its director Hillel Neure.
Five sitting European foreign ministers...
@UNWatch (X) & its director Hillel Neure.
Five sitting European foreign ministers...
February 14, 2026 at 7:43 PM
The European Commission chose to condemn antisemitism & reference Holocaust Remembrance Day when asked about a doctored vid of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese circulated by misinformation accounts including
@UNWatch (X) & its director Hillel Neure.
Five sitting European foreign ministers...
@UNWatch (X) & its director Hillel Neure.
Five sitting European foreign ministers...