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
Reposted by David Allsopp
Yet Iceland, despite being a smaller country can do this: "They have more patients and about half the staff of the NGS, yet in two years they eliminated their 700 person waiting list. They usually only need 30-45 minutes of assessment, and in their intensive weeks they’d start 30 people on HRT"
Your referral will be old enough to drink by the time the NGS sees you.
the-beacon.ie/2026/02/17/a...
#trans #transHealthcare #SpéirGorm #SpeirGorm
the-beacon.ie/2026/02/17/a...
#trans #transHealthcare #SpéirGorm #SpeirGorm
An eighteen-year wait for trans healthcare with more than 2,500 on waiting list – The Beacon
The waiting list for trans healthcare in Ireland continues to grow, with the wait now approaching two decades.
the-beacon.ie
February 17, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Yet Iceland, despite being a smaller country can do this: "They have more patients and about half the staff of the NGS, yet in two years they eliminated their 700 person waiting list. They usually only need 30-45 minutes of assessment, and in their intensive weeks they’d start 30 people on HRT"
Reposted by David Allsopp
As Nigel Farage makes Robert Jenrick his Shadow Chancellor, here's a quick reminder of the sort of man Reform wants to put in charge of the nation's finances
February 17, 2026 at 12:37 PM
As Nigel Farage makes Robert Jenrick his Shadow Chancellor, here's a quick reminder of the sort of man Reform wants to put in charge of the nation's finances
Reposted by David Allsopp
Also, nobody is holding back when it comes to how much the Trump government is not getting a presumption of regularity.
Here is how Judge Rufe's decision on Trump's attempt to erase history starts:
Here is how Judge Rufe's decision on Trump's attempt to erase history starts:
February 16, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Also, nobody is holding back when it comes to how much the Trump government is not getting a presumption of regularity.
Here is how Judge Rufe's decision on Trump's attempt to erase history starts:
Here is how Judge Rufe's decision on Trump's attempt to erase history starts:
Reposted by David Allsopp
Patients were forced to go private at great personal cost because NHS assessments for ADHD have waitlists up to 8 years long. And now, despite having those diagnoses, GPs are just refusing to give people meds they need for a diagnosis they have because... fuck you, that's why.
Cool!
Cool!
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
ADHD patients stripped of NHS prescriptions under crackdown
GP practices are increasingly withdrawing from shared-care agreements with patients diagnosed by private clinics
giftarticle.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Patients were forced to go private at great personal cost because NHS assessments for ADHD have waitlists up to 8 years long. And now, despite having those diagnoses, GPs are just refusing to give people meds they need for a diagnosis they have because... fuck you, that's why.
Cool!
Cool!
Reposted by David Allsopp
I applied for an ADHD diagnosis before COVID happened and only had my appointment Oct last year. They still won't give me medication for most of a year despite coming to a conclusive decision that I have ADHD. The system is designed to force people out of it and push us out of society.
Patients were forced to go private at great personal cost because NHS assessments for ADHD have waitlists up to 8 years long. And now, despite having those diagnoses, GPs are just refusing to give people meds they need for a diagnosis they have because... fuck you, that's why.
Cool!
Cool!
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
February 17, 2026 at 12:39 PM
I applied for an ADHD diagnosis before COVID happened and only had my appointment Oct last year. They still won't give me medication for most of a year despite coming to a conclusive decision that I have ADHD. The system is designed to force people out of it and push us out of society.
Reposted by David Allsopp
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
February 17, 2026 at 7:27 AM
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
Reposted by David Allsopp
We have the same problem in the UK with antivaxxers as in the US since 2020. counterdisinformationproject.substack.com/p/the-emails...
The emails that reveal MPs collaborating with conspiracy theorists & anti-vaxxers
#HARTleaks emails and internal chats provide irrefutable evidence
counterdisinformationproject.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:42 PM
We have the same problem in the UK with antivaxxers as in the US since 2020. counterdisinformationproject.substack.com/p/the-emails...
Reposted by David Allsopp
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
ADHD patients stripped of NHS prescriptions under crackdown
GP practices are increasingly withdrawing from shared-care agreements with patients diagnosed by private clinics
giftarticle.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:25 AM
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
Reposted by David Allsopp
"The withdrawals reflect GPs’ worries about the risks of taking on specialist care"
sick of this excuse - are you physicians who chose a broad specialty or not?
it isn't just adhd, we hear constantly about GPs who won't manage hormones and mine now claims to be unable to manage blood pressure meds
sick of this excuse - are you physicians who chose a broad specialty or not?
it isn't just adhd, we hear constantly about GPs who won't manage hormones and mine now claims to be unable to manage blood pressure meds
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
ADHD patients stripped of NHS prescriptions under crackdown
GP practices are increasingly withdrawing from shared-care agreements with patients diagnosed by private clinics
giftarticle.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:25 AM
"The withdrawals reflect GPs’ worries about the risks of taking on specialist care"
sick of this excuse - are you physicians who chose a broad specialty or not?
it isn't just adhd, we hear constantly about GPs who won't manage hormones and mine now claims to be unable to manage blood pressure meds
sick of this excuse - are you physicians who chose a broad specialty or not?
it isn't just adhd, we hear constantly about GPs who won't manage hormones and mine now claims to be unable to manage blood pressure meds
Reposted by David Allsopp
New study: People who had COVID were more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least three years afterward. We need long-term post-COVID care and monitoring.
Risk of type 2 diabetes may be higher up to 3 years after COVID infection in unvaccinated, severely ill
www.cidrap.umn.edu
February 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
New study: People who had COVID were more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least three years afterward. We need long-term post-COVID care and monitoring.
Reposted by David Allsopp
I live in a rural part of the UK & volunteer at a group for LGBTQ+ young people.
Many have been out of education, mostly because of being bullied or ostracised by their peers. When they make friends at group they swap social media details.
Can't stop thinking about how a ban would devastate them.
Many have been out of education, mostly because of being bullied or ostracised by their peers. When they make friends at group they swap social media details.
Can't stop thinking about how a ban would devastate them.
February 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
I live in a rural part of the UK & volunteer at a group for LGBTQ+ young people.
Many have been out of education, mostly because of being bullied or ostracised by their peers. When they make friends at group they swap social media details.
Can't stop thinking about how a ban would devastate them.
Many have been out of education, mostly because of being bullied or ostracised by their peers. When they make friends at group they swap social media details.
Can't stop thinking about how a ban would devastate them.
Reposted by David Allsopp
The government has discovered regulating social media is Hard (it's good at passing Tough Laws and then useless at enforcing them), so it's now going for the much easier job of just restricting the freedom of teenagers.
February 16, 2026 at 10:01 AM
The government has discovered regulating social media is Hard (it's good at passing Tough Laws and then useless at enforcing them), so it's now going for the much easier job of just restricting the freedom of teenagers.
"the AI was wrong in unpredictable ways".
AI can help with "write a function that does X" where X is hard to write but immediately testable. Or "rephrase this sentence concisely".
Churning out reams of text, in which *every single detail could be completely made up & wrong* is not actually helpful
AI can help with "write a function that does X" where X is hard to write but immediately testable. Or "rephrase this sentence concisely".
Churning out reams of text, in which *every single detail could be completely made up & wrong* is not actually helpful
We did this experiment at my former job. The highest paid employees (editors) ended up putting hours into editing and fact checking stories because the AI was wrong in unpredictable ways. Between coming up with the story idea, prompting, and editing they were the most expensive stories we did.
“We plan to hire an AI rewrite specialist to ingest the reporting by Hannah and others and use AI to convert it into stories.”
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
February 16, 2026 at 10:45 PM
"the AI was wrong in unpredictable ways".
AI can help with "write a function that does X" where X is hard to write but immediately testable. Or "rephrase this sentence concisely".
Churning out reams of text, in which *every single detail could be completely made up & wrong* is not actually helpful
AI can help with "write a function that does X" where X is hard to write but immediately testable. Or "rephrase this sentence concisely".
Churning out reams of text, in which *every single detail could be completely made up & wrong* is not actually helpful
Reposted by David Allsopp
I am pleased the Government has done another u turn.
Attempting to cancel elections, on top of scrapping jury trials, mandatory ID cards, criminalising peaceful protest and harassment of journalists is part of a disturbing authoritarian trend of this caretaker Prime Minister.
Attempting to cancel elections, on top of scrapping jury trials, mandatory ID cards, criminalising peaceful protest and harassment of journalists is part of a disturbing authoritarian trend of this caretaker Prime Minister.
Breaking: UK government is confirming it’s dropped plans to delay local elections at 30 English councils
February 16, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I am pleased the Government has done another u turn.
Attempting to cancel elections, on top of scrapping jury trials, mandatory ID cards, criminalising peaceful protest and harassment of journalists is part of a disturbing authoritarian trend of this caretaker Prime Minister.
Attempting to cancel elections, on top of scrapping jury trials, mandatory ID cards, criminalising peaceful protest and harassment of journalists is part of a disturbing authoritarian trend of this caretaker Prime Minister.
Reposted by David Allsopp
We did this experiment at my former job. The highest paid employees (editors) ended up putting hours into editing and fact checking stories because the AI was wrong in unpredictable ways. Between coming up with the story idea, prompting, and editing they were the most expensive stories we did.
“We plan to hire an AI rewrite specialist to ingest the reporting by Hannah and others and use AI to convert it into stories.”
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
February 16, 2026 at 6:28 PM
We did this experiment at my former job. The highest paid employees (editors) ended up putting hours into editing and fact checking stories because the AI was wrong in unpredictable ways. Between coming up with the story idea, prompting, and editing they were the most expensive stories we did.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Something's going on here
gardencourtchambers.co.uk/extinction-r...
gardencourtchambers.co.uk/extinction-r...
Extinction Rebellion medics unanimously acquitted despite defences being withdrawn | Garden Court Chambers
Tom Wainwright, of the Garden Court Protest Team, acted for the first and second defendants, instructed by Ella Jefferson and Hester Cavaciuti of Bindmans Solicitors.
gardencourtchambers.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Something's going on here
gardencourtchambers.co.uk/extinction-r...
gardencourtchambers.co.uk/extinction-r...
Reposted by David Allsopp
Nothing says patriotic man of the people quite like taking up to £10k a month from overseas fascists
February 16, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Nothing says patriotic man of the people quite like taking up to £10k a month from overseas fascists
Reposted by David Allsopp
Federal court orders Trump administration to restore historical panel exhibits at President’s House in Philadelphia.
Happy Presidents Day.
Happy Presidents Day.
February 16, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Federal court orders Trump administration to restore historical panel exhibits at President’s House in Philadelphia.
Happy Presidents Day.
Happy Presidents Day.
Reposted by David Allsopp
🔴 Wife of Keir Starmer’s comms chief had direct knowledge of Labour Together’s investigation into journalists
Full story on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Full story on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Starmer ally Josh Simons faces fresh questions about digging dirt on journalists
Tory and SNP chiefs call for Labour minister Simons to ‘come clean’ as we reveal new details of PR firm’s campaign to discredit journalists
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:59 PM
🔴 Wife of Keir Starmer’s comms chief had direct knowledge of Labour Together’s investigation into journalists
Full story on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Full story on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
When survey interviewers decide what your gender is for their data, without asking you, they get it wrong up to 7% of the time.
With a significant bias towards coding people as "male".
With a significant bias towards coding people as "male".
Kim Hipwell analyses how recent parallel usage of self-reported gender with their usual 'observational coding 'in the European Social Survey highlights the unreliability of observational coding.
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
The European Social Survey: A Case Study In Gender Assignation
In this article, I will show that it is incorrect to assume that “observation” can be used to find out a person’s gender or sex.
transsafety.network
February 16, 2026 at 6:35 PM
When survey interviewers decide what your gender is for their data, without asking you, they get it wrong up to 7% of the time.
With a significant bias towards coding people as "male".
With a significant bias towards coding people as "male".
Reposted by David Allsopp
The fucked up thing is this is *far* from the worst thing I've seen said about trans kids by so-called "gender-critcal" people. When Brianna Ghey died a lot of them set about trying portray her, a child murder victim, as a pervert.
February 16, 2026 at 6:21 PM
The fucked up thing is this is *far* from the worst thing I've seen said about trans kids by so-called "gender-critcal" people. When Brianna Ghey died a lot of them set about trying portray her, a child murder victim, as a pervert.
Reposted by David Allsopp
Kim Hipwell analyses how recent parallel usage of self-reported gender with their usual 'observational coding 'in the European Social Survey highlights the unreliability of observational coding.
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
The European Social Survey: A Case Study In Gender Assignation
In this article, I will show that it is incorrect to assume that “observation” can be used to find out a person’s gender or sex.
transsafety.network
February 13, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Kim Hipwell analyses how recent parallel usage of self-reported gender with their usual 'observational coding 'in the European Social Survey highlights the unreliability of observational coding.
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
Reposted by David Allsopp
New article in TSN in which I look at European Social Survey data which shows that “observational coding” of gender can create substantial errors in survey results.
The implication is that this practice is unreliable and should be abandoned, contrary to the Sullivan Review’s recommendations.
The implication is that this practice is unreliable and should be abandoned, contrary to the Sullivan Review’s recommendations.
Kim Hipwell analyses how recent parallel usage of self-reported gender with their usual 'observational coding 'in the European Social Survey highlights the unreliability of observational coding.
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
transsafety.network/posts/europe...
The European Social Survey: A Case Study In Gender Assignation
In this article, I will show that it is incorrect to assume that “observation” can be used to find out a person’s gender or sex.
transsafety.network
February 16, 2026 at 6:23 PM
New article in TSN in which I look at European Social Survey data which shows that “observational coding” of gender can create substantial errors in survey results.
The implication is that this practice is unreliable and should be abandoned, contrary to the Sullivan Review’s recommendations.
The implication is that this practice is unreliable and should be abandoned, contrary to the Sullivan Review’s recommendations.