Fergus Murray
@fergus.oolong.co.uk
Monotropic writer, science tutor, Autistic community organiser and independent researcher. Based in Edinburgh.
they/them.
https://linktr.ee/0olong
they/them.
https://linktr.ee/0olong
Pinned
Fergus Murray
@fergus.oolong.co.uk
· Jan 24
Hi everyone!
I'm Fergus Murray. I'm a science person, writer of nonfiction, and #Autistic community organiser (Chair of @amasedin.bsky.social). Also #ADHD, but I often just say I'm monotropic.
I'm here to post and learn more about #neurodiversity, politics, science, language and other things.
I'm Fergus Murray. I'm a science person, writer of nonfiction, and #Autistic community organiser (Chair of @amasedin.bsky.social). Also #ADHD, but I often just say I'm monotropic.
I'm here to post and learn more about #neurodiversity, politics, science, language and other things.
I thought I might make a pinned thread of my threads here (some of which are effectively photo albums) starting with this long Introductory thread:
bsky.app/profile/ferg...
bsky.app/profile/ferg...
With me!
We’re published in “It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Fostering Neurodivergent Thriving at School”.
Stimpunks Co-Creative Director Helen, @autisticrealms.bsky.social, has a chapter in “It Takes All Kinds of Minds” on “Embracing Monotropism and Flow”.
stimpunks.org/2026/01/14/w...
Stimpunks Co-Creative Director Helen, @autisticrealms.bsky.social, has a chapter in “It Takes All Kinds of Minds” on “Embracing Monotropism and Flow”.
stimpunks.org/2026/01/14/w...
We’re published in “It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Fostering Neurodivergent Thriving at School”
Stimpunks Co-Creative Director Helen has a chapter in "It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Fostering Neurodivergent Thriving at School" on “Embracing Monotropism and Flow”.
stimpunks.org
January 15, 2026 at 9:40 AM
With me!
There was some kind of update to the spec in 2021, but I have no idea what changed, and if they produced an updated teaching guide I'm drawing a blank!
manuals.plus/m/b5574ced73...
manuals.plus/m/b5574ced73...
manuals.plus
January 15, 2026 at 9:35 AM
There was some kind of update to the spec in 2021, but I have no idea what changed, and if they produced an updated teaching guide I'm drawing a blank!
manuals.plus/m/b5574ced73...
manuals.plus/m/b5574ced73...
(do they only issue new guidance when the spec changes? I notice this is version 2.0)
January 15, 2026 at 9:27 AM
(do they only issue new guidance when the spec changes? I notice this is version 2.0)
Oh is that right? Do you know the date of the previous update?
January 15, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Oh is that right? Do you know the date of the previous update?
Not entirely a bad thing if you'd've been complaining about something that's not their fault! Although I'm curious if the *previous* version of their guidance did have Littman.
Maybe I should write to them...
Maybe I should write to them...
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Not entirely a bad thing if you'd've been complaining about something that's not their fault! Although I'm curious if the *previous* version of their guidance did have Littman.
Maybe I should write to them...
Maybe I should write to them...
Oof! That is really interesting, and I wonder if there's been a coordinated effort to push revision sites that way...
Did you write to AQA already? I'm curious whether this is something that's been on their radar...
Did you write to AQA already? I'm curious whether this is something that's been on their radar...
January 14, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Oof! That is really interesting, and I wonder if there's been a coordinated effort to push revision sites that way...
Did you write to AQA already? I'm curious whether this is something that's been on their radar...
Did you write to AQA already? I'm curious whether this is something that's been on their radar...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Did you know we have a starter pack?
In this starter pack is a list of the sources we use to keep up with trans news when reporting on it:
go.bsky.app/4xXR3x9
In this starter pack is a list of the sources we use to keep up with trans news when reporting on it:
go.bsky.app/4xXR3x9
January 13, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Did you know we have a starter pack?
In this starter pack is a list of the sources we use to keep up with trans news when reporting on it:
go.bsky.app/4xXR3x9
In this starter pack is a list of the sources we use to keep up with trans news when reporting on it:
go.bsky.app/4xXR3x9
Got it. Updated last March, which isn't promising.
No Littman, at least... Is there much else that's jumping out at you?
Appreciate you pursuing this.
cdn.sanity.io/files/p28bar...
No Littman, at least... Is there much else that's jumping out at you?
Appreciate you pursuing this.
cdn.sanity.io/files/p28bar...
cdn.sanity.io
January 14, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Got it. Updated last March, which isn't promising.
No Littman, at least... Is there much else that's jumping out at you?
Appreciate you pursuing this.
cdn.sanity.io/files/p28bar...
No Littman, at least... Is there much else that's jumping out at you?
Appreciate you pursuing this.
cdn.sanity.io/files/p28bar...
Wait, it's *about* the AQA syllabus, but do we know what the exam board itself says about this, as opposed to Laura Swash/Save My Exams?
January 14, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Wait, it's *about* the AQA syllabus, but do we know what the exam board itself says about this, as opposed to Laura Swash/Save My Exams?
Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria. 😖
January 14, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria. 😖
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Research Request Share:
Seeking Autistic professionals qualified to teach mindfulness-based approaches for an interview study.
Are you:
Autistic or AuDHD (self-identified)?
Qualified to teach a mindfulness-based approach?
Aged 18 years or over?
More info: Emily on [email protected]
Seeking Autistic professionals qualified to teach mindfulness-based approaches for an interview study.
Are you:
Autistic or AuDHD (self-identified)?
Qualified to teach a mindfulness-based approach?
Aged 18 years or over?
More info: Emily on [email protected]
January 14, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Research Request Share:
Seeking Autistic professionals qualified to teach mindfulness-based approaches for an interview study.
Are you:
Autistic or AuDHD (self-identified)?
Qualified to teach a mindfulness-based approach?
Aged 18 years or over?
More info: Emily on [email protected]
Seeking Autistic professionals qualified to teach mindfulness-based approaches for an interview study.
Are you:
Autistic or AuDHD (self-identified)?
Qualified to teach a mindfulness-based approach?
Aged 18 years or over?
More info: Emily on [email protected]
Note also that this figure is for 2024 (I'm not sure why Ofcom's equivalent publication for 2025 doesn't provide an update). A good deal happened in that year that one would hope might reduce that 3% relying on X for news even further.
January 14, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Note also that this figure is for 2024 (I'm not sure why Ofcom's equivalent publication for 2025 doesn't provide an update). A good deal happened in that year that one would hope might reduce that 3% relying on X for news even further.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
How it started: Government claimed over half of all households use X as their main news source.
How it's going: the data shows fewer people say X is their most important news source than believe the moon landings were definitely faked.
How it's going: the data shows fewer people say X is their most important news source than believe the moon landings were definitely faked.
January 14, 2026 at 1:34 PM
How it started: Government claimed over half of all households use X as their main news source.
How it's going: the data shows fewer people say X is their most important news source than believe the moon landings were definitely faked.
How it's going: the data shows fewer people say X is their most important news source than believe the moon landings were definitely faked.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
I don’t think that’s wrong, although most imperial powers have a version of exceptionalism - Russia today, Japan, France and Britain (among others) earlier.
But the deliberate burial (often literally) of decades of American history *on its own soil* is a willed act, shaping our self understanding.
But the deliberate burial (often literally) of decades of American history *on its own soil* is a willed act, shaping our self understanding.
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
I don’t think that’s wrong, although most imperial powers have a version of exceptionalism - Russia today, Japan, France and Britain (among others) earlier.
But the deliberate burial (often literally) of decades of American history *on its own soil* is a willed act, shaping our self understanding.
But the deliberate burial (often literally) of decades of American history *on its own soil* is a willed act, shaping our self understanding.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
I'd argue American Exceptionalism contributes hugely as well. This idea of "the greatest country" is easy to propagandize as "we can do nothing wrong." It's incredibly easy to make in groups and out groups ("patriots" vs "traitors/terrorists") in this framework.
January 13, 2026 at 2:57 PM
I'd argue American Exceptionalism contributes hugely as well. This idea of "the greatest country" is easy to propagandize as "we can do nothing wrong." It's incredibly easy to make in groups and out groups ("patriots" vs "traitors/terrorists") in this framework.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
This.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
This exactly. U.S. and European culture uniformly showing the villainy of the Nazis, and the heroism of the leaders and the millions of volunteers on the Allied side—Evelyn Waugh, Kurt Vonnegut, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn!—every film, every TV show, every thriller in the bookshop. And now this?
It's weird thinking about all the history classes where we were sold ideas about decency, inclusiveness, democracy etc. Even if they were aspirational simplifications of nuanced history, I can't believe how many people were like, 'No. The Nazis were cool, slavery is good, ethnic cleansing is good.'
January 13, 2026 at 2:17 PM
This.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
I caught this a couple of minutes before, and it's annoying because I would have started the timelapse above then, only I couldn't think where I'd left my tripod 🤦🏼♀️
January 14, 2026 at 10:09 AM
I caught this a couple of minutes before, and it's annoying because I would have started the timelapse above then, only I couldn't think where I'd left my tripod 🤦🏼♀️
I think about this a lot! I actually think one of the absolutely central things in science is the ability to shift our timescale perception, but I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone else articulate that...
January 14, 2026 at 10:04 AM
I think about this a lot! I actually think one of the absolutely central things in science is the ability to shift our timescale perception, but I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone else articulate that...
Pretty good sunrise this morning!
30 minutes/30 seconds.
30 minutes/30 seconds.
January 14, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Pretty good sunrise this morning!
30 minutes/30 seconds.
30 minutes/30 seconds.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
So much wrong with this but…they sold his phone?!? Like, for profit?? Now ICE can just confiscate and pawn your property???
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
January 14, 2026 at 12:02 AM
So much wrong with this but…they sold his phone?!? Like, for profit?? Now ICE can just confiscate and pawn your property???
Reposted by Fergus Murray
A U.S. president cannot be held accountable. Therefore, a U.S. president must never make a policy decision.
January 14, 2026 at 4:41 AM
A U.S. president cannot be held accountable. Therefore, a U.S. president must never make a policy decision.
It's funny, I can't remember ever consciously making the connection between the USA as 'the world's policeman' and ACAB.
Anyway, this looks like a useful reading list of books with 40% off.
www.plutobooks.com/behind-venez...
Anyway, this looks like a useful reading list of books with 40% off.
www.plutobooks.com/behind-venez...
Behind Venezuela - An anti-imperialist reading list - Pluto Press
This reading list acts as a guide to understanding both Western imperialism and its effects on Venezuela and across South America, as well as the role of the revolutionary left in this unending war fo...
www.plutobooks.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:33 AM
It's funny, I can't remember ever consciously making the connection between the USA as 'the world's policeman' and ACAB.
Anyway, this looks like a useful reading list of books with 40% off.
www.plutobooks.com/behind-venez...
Anyway, this looks like a useful reading list of books with 40% off.
www.plutobooks.com/behind-venez...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
On Thurs 22nd January, we are hosting Lightning Talks with @arghscotland.bsky.social 🌩️
This will be a space for autistic and other ND folk to infodump and share the joy. Everyone is also welcome to just attend and enjoy!
Talks should be up to about 7 minutes long.
Sign up: luma.com/zh49tltt
This will be a space for autistic and other ND folk to infodump and share the joy. Everyone is also welcome to just attend and enjoy!
Talks should be up to about 7 minutes long.
Sign up: luma.com/zh49tltt
Lightning Talks with AMASE & ARGH Scotland · Zoom · Luma
On Thursday, 22nd of January, 7:30-8:30pm GMT, the Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh (AMASE) and ARGH Scotland are running a Lightning Talks event…
luma.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:00 PM
On Thurs 22nd January, we are hosting Lightning Talks with @arghscotland.bsky.social 🌩️
This will be a space for autistic and other ND folk to infodump and share the joy. Everyone is also welcome to just attend and enjoy!
Talks should be up to about 7 minutes long.
Sign up: luma.com/zh49tltt
This will be a space for autistic and other ND folk to infodump and share the joy. Everyone is also welcome to just attend and enjoy!
Talks should be up to about 7 minutes long.
Sign up: luma.com/zh49tltt
I was going to write a daylog today, but I got sidetracked reporting bugs in the rich text editor
January 13, 2026 at 9:55 PM
I was going to write a daylog today, but I got sidetracked reporting bugs in the rich text editor
It's not just the principle - we know that FIFA doesn't care much about those - but the players aren't safe travelling to the USA, and the fans *certainly* aren't.
#BoycottFIFA2026
It's time. The USA is a rogue nation and it's not safe any anyone to travel to. The footballing world needs to take a principled stand and not send their teams to play.
It's time. The USA is a rogue nation and it's not safe any anyone to travel to. The footballing world needs to take a principled stand and not send their teams to play.
January 13, 2026 at 9:53 PM
It's not just the principle - we know that FIFA doesn't care much about those - but the players aren't safe travelling to the USA, and the fans *certainly* aren't.