Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
@joshuafoust.com
Made the CommSky Starter Pack https://go.bsky.app/QkcgePD
Assistant Professor at Syracuse. I study public relations, military esports, video games, and gender theory. Happily 🏳️🌈.
Assistant Professor at Syracuse. I study public relations, military esports, video games, and gender theory. Happily 🏳️🌈.
Pinned
Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
@joshuafoust.com
· Oct 13
New Research: Masculinity as an Affect, and What It Means for Video Games
I contributed a chapter in a new volume, The Handbook on Gender and Digital Media, about how we can start to use affect theory to better understand how men behave the way they do with video games. …
joshuafoust.com
Recently had a chapter published in the Handbook of Gender and Digital Media, where I develop a theory of “affective masculinity” to try to better understand what masculine genders are doing in video games. It tries to answer the question: what work do feelings do for men who play games? 1/9
This would be a massive, historic crime even if no one died — a rich guy is not permitted to arbitrarily close a government agency in a law-based society — but the massive body count turns it into an atrocity, the kind of thing we put people on trial for at The Hague.
The numbers vary from study to study but hundreds of thousands of people have died because of Elon Musk and Marco Rubio illegally disbanding USAID — a body count on par with the first eight years of the Syrian civil war — In just seven months. It’s mass death that is simply unfathomable in scale.
USAID shutdown has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, accord...
hsph.harvard.edu
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
This would be a massive, historic crime even if no one died — a rich guy is not permitted to arbitrarily close a government agency in a law-based society — but the massive body count turns it into an atrocity, the kind of thing we put people on trial for at The Hague.
The numbers vary from study to study but hundreds of thousands of people have died because of Elon Musk and Marco Rubio illegally disbanding USAID — a body count on par with the first eight years of the Syrian civil war — In just seven months. It’s mass death that is simply unfathomable in scale.
USAID shutdown has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, accord...
hsph.harvard.edu
November 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The numbers vary from study to study but hundreds of thousands of people have died because of Elon Musk and Marco Rubio illegally disbanding USAID — a body count on par with the first eight years of the Syrian civil war — In just seven months. It’s mass death that is simply unfathomable in scale.
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
The African American History Behind American Mac and Cheese
(And Thomas Jefferson and more of some deeply troubled history)
www.epicurious.com/ingredients/...
tntribune.com/the-african-...
(And Thomas Jefferson and more of some deeply troubled history)
www.epicurious.com/ingredients/...
tntribune.com/the-african-...
November 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The African American History Behind American Mac and Cheese
(And Thomas Jefferson and more of some deeply troubled history)
www.epicurious.com/ingredients/...
tntribune.com/the-african-...
(And Thomas Jefferson and more of some deeply troubled history)
www.epicurious.com/ingredients/...
tntribune.com/the-african-...
Why do so many democrats, academics, and journalists angrily refuse to ditch this platform? I don’t get its utility anymore, to say nothing of its appeal.
"Potentially fake accounts crying at other potentially fake accounts that they aren’t real, all while refusing to acknowledge that they themselves aren’t who they say they are—a Russian nesting doll of bullshit." www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Why do so many democrats, academics, and journalists angrily refuse to ditch this platform? I don’t get its utility anymore, to say nothing of its appeal.
Jesus. Appalling decision.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Jesus. Appalling decision.
“The committee reviewed all three reasons Texas A&M gave for firing McCoul…and unanimously rejected each one. It also found the university failed to investigate, did not follow its own policies and never proved the allegations used to justify her dismissal.”
This is meaningful to get on the record.
This is meaningful to get on the record.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“The committee reviewed all three reasons Texas A&M gave for firing McCoul…and unanimously rejected each one. It also found the university failed to investigate, did not follow its own policies and never proved the allegations used to justify her dismissal.”
This is meaningful to get on the record.
This is meaningful to get on the record.
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
This article is fucked up in a ton of ways, several of which are ably dismantled in this thread. But it also creates this utopian idea that there was ever a time that childhood wasn't determined by adult wants and needs, entirely separate from child labor (an extremely valid point in and of itself!)
I don't think I've ever disagreed and agreed more strongly with a piece, seesawing from one paragraph to the next.
Will come back to dissect.
#GiftLink #GiftArticle
Will come back to dissect.
#GiftLink #GiftArticle
America’s Children Are Unwell. Are Schools Part of the Problem?
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 AM
This article is fucked up in a ton of ways, several of which are ably dismantled in this thread. But it also creates this utopian idea that there was ever a time that childhood wasn't determined by adult wants and needs, entirely separate from child labor (an extremely valid point in and of itself!)
James Carville is, in a lot of (but not all) ways, responsible for the current state of US politics. He has no business advising any liberal candidate or party interested in winning. So, of course, he gets a “get off my lawn” essay in the paper of wrecker to keep making us lose.
Did, uh, anyone notice that when Carville claims in his NYT piece that “defund the police” was bad that the link takes you to an Appeal story about why ”fund the police“ was bad? Any editors, perhaps?
November 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
James Carville is, in a lot of (but not all) ways, responsible for the current state of US politics. He has no business advising any liberal candidate or party interested in winning. So, of course, he gets a “get off my lawn” essay in the paper of wrecker to keep making us lose.
Guess we’re discovering moral hazard again, again
You have to keep giving money to avoid collapse and if there’s collapse you have to give more money. It’s called the free market.
November 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Guess we’re discovering moral hazard again, again
Anyone else remember when Crystal Dynamics published a very bad 3DO game made by Toys for Bob, with an awful lot of Kirk Cameron putting things in his mouth?
November 25, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Anyone else remember when Crystal Dynamics published a very bad 3DO game made by Toys for Bob, with an awful lot of Kirk Cameron putting things in his mouth?
Northeastern University is hiring an Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media. The tenure home would be either Communication Studies or Journalism, with a joint appointment with the policy school. Please apply and be my colleague :)
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media
About the Opportunity About the Opportunity The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media, ...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
Mark MacCarthy says there is little doubt that the AI investment boom is a bubble. The real questions, he says, are when will the bubble burst, how severe will the consequences be, and what should policymakers do now to prepare for the inevitable downturn.
Policymakers Have to Prepare Now for When the AI Bubble Bursts | TechPolicy.Press
Mark MacCarthy says the fear of making a mistake in industrial policy should not paralyze policymakers.
www.techpolicy.press
November 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Mark MacCarthy says there is little doubt that the AI investment boom is a bubble. The real questions, he says, are when will the bubble burst, how severe will the consequences be, and what should policymakers do now to prepare for the inevitable downturn.
Post a famous toilet scene.
November 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Post a famous toilet scene.
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
You should be listening to Sudanese synthwave legend Jantra, btw
Synthesized Sudan: Astro-Nubian Electronic Jaglara Dance Sounds from the Fashaga Underground by Jantra on Apple Music
Album · 2023 · 10 Songs
music.apple.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
You should be listening to Sudanese synthwave legend Jantra, btw
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Don’t do this, you guys. The enormous pile of dead bodies, and small but still massive of dead careers, would point to the opposite being true: DOGE was a massive financial and political boon to Elon Musk and it paid off marvelously for him at horrendous cost.
DOGE is one of the greatest failures of the Trump administration. The next Democratic administration should pick up that issue and actually work to cut government waste, fraud, and abuse. I’d suggest starting by taking a look at Elon Musk’s government contracts.
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Don’t do this, you guys. The enormous pile of dead bodies, and small but still massive of dead careers, would point to the opposite being true: DOGE was a massive financial and political boon to Elon Musk and it paid off marvelously for him at horrendous cost.
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
Researchers say AI chatbots “pose serious risks to individuals vulnerable to eating disorders,” doling out dieting advice, tips on how to hide disorders, and AI-generated “thinspiration” — partly as a result of features deliberately designed to drive engagement. www.theverge.com/news/818508/...
AI chatbots are helping hide eating disorders and making deepfake ‘thinspiration’
Chatbot guardrails are too crude to help with eating disorders.
www.theverge.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Researchers say AI chatbots “pose serious risks to individuals vulnerable to eating disorders,” doling out dieting advice, tips on how to hide disorders, and AI-generated “thinspiration” — partly as a result of features deliberately designed to drive engagement. www.theverge.com/news/818508/...
Just had an awkward “I won’t attend meetings in Texas or Florida because of their nightmare anti-queer governments” conversation with a colleague… who chose not to understand.
Really frustrating how little this seems to filter out to heterosexuals in the wild.
Really frustrating how little this seems to filter out to heterosexuals in the wild.
November 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Just had an awkward “I won’t attend meetings in Texas or Florida because of their nightmare anti-queer governments” conversation with a colleague… who chose not to understand.
Really frustrating how little this seems to filter out to heterosexuals in the wild.
Really frustrating how little this seems to filter out to heterosexuals in the wild.
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
Was an honor to have @hypervisible.blacksky.app on our podcast to talk about spying on ourselves, spying on each other, Flock, Ring, food delivery robots, and general surveillance culture:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBg...
How Big Tech Has Convinced Us to Surveil Ourselves and Each Other
YouTube video by 404 Media
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Was an honor to have @hypervisible.blacksky.app on our podcast to talk about spying on ourselves, spying on each other, Flock, Ring, food delivery robots, and general surveillance culture:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBg...
These are wealthy men in their fifties cackling at the idea of outsourcing your bullying to a chatbot
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
These are wealthy men in their fifties cackling at the idea of outsourcing your bullying to a chatbot
In some cases, maybe. But this exercise often won’t work because students (like most of us) are very bad at intuitively understanding the limits of their knowledge without being trained to recognize it, and “fact check the AI” quickly becomes “using AI to fact check AI” and the cycle repeats.
November 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In some cases, maybe. But this exercise often won’t work because students (like most of us) are very bad at intuitively understanding the limits of their knowledge without being trained to recognize it, and “fact check the AI” quickly becomes “using AI to fact check AI” and the cycle repeats.
Reposted by Joshua Foust 🪖🎮
Everything wrong with political journalism in one graf. This is not a policy proposal that exists but that doesn’t matter, what matters is that someone “won” by asking it bsky.app/profile/larr...
What a strange framing and characterization. How does one describe his blatantly dishonest, racist question about taxes as “press[ing] the Mayor-elect on his policy proposals”? In what way does this lying troll emerge as a “winner“?
November 24, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Everything wrong with political journalism in one graf. This is not a policy proposal that exists but that doesn’t matter, what matters is that someone “won” by asking it bsky.app/profile/larr...
You could frame this as evidence that there is no clean way to accept dirty (Koch) money for your work — it will inevitably pull you in its direction because the reward cycle is so effective.
Or, you could say Emma was always a dishonest hack and just hid it well until it paid off. Either way.
Or, you could say Emma was always a dishonest hack and just hid it well until it paid off. Either way.
It's been a sad three years of watching the quality of Emma's analysis spiral downward into Realist tribalism and Europhobia... but here we are. foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/23/t...
Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan Is a Step Forward
For Europe, continued war is perhaps not entirely unwelcome.
foreignpolicy.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:10 PM
You could frame this as evidence that there is no clean way to accept dirty (Koch) money for your work — it will inevitably pull you in its direction because the reward cycle is so effective.
Or, you could say Emma was always a dishonest hack and just hid it well until it paid off. Either way.
Or, you could say Emma was always a dishonest hack and just hid it well until it paid off. Either way.