Mark Doidge
@markdoidge.bsky.social
Sociologist at Loughborough University researching sport, environmental sustainability, antiracism & refugees. Member @fanseurope, trustee @britsoci
Pinned
Mark Doidge
@markdoidge.bsky.social
· Oct 17
One of the hardest things to do in academia is to try new skills and make yourself uncomfortable. We tried new creative methodologies with football fans and, for me at least, fear of looking stupid was a big thing.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sport is an important activity to help refugees feel human. It creates a sense of normality in an abnormal situation, helps mental & physical health, & creates social connections. Destroying sport facilities is another way of dehumanising refugees
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Palestinian refugees’ West Bank football pitch saved after Uefa president lobbies Israel
A football pitch used by refugees in the occupied West Bank has been saved from demolition after an intervention by the president of Uefa, Aleksander Ceferin
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Sport is an important activity to help refugees feel human. It creates a sense of normality in an abnormal situation, helps mental & physical health, & creates social connections. Destroying sport facilities is another way of dehumanising refugees
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Man of the people 🙄
NEW: NEW: Standards commissioner finds Nigel Farage committed seventeen breaches of MPs code of conduct.
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
January 21, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Man of the people 🙄
Reposted by Mark Doidge
"You are helping by cycling when you can"
British WWII propaganda poster
ca. 1940
🧵
British WWII propaganda poster
ca. 1940
🧵
January 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM
"You are helping by cycling when you can"
British WWII propaganda poster
ca. 1940
🧵
British WWII propaganda poster
ca. 1940
🧵
Reposted by Mark Doidge
A fascinating podcast!
The #bicycle was to prove transformative. Cheaper than a horse, it freed women and young working class people to roam free. And the bike was the testing ground for countless improvements in manufacturing that would later lead to Henry Ford’s production lines.
#BicyclesRecycle
The #bicycle was to prove transformative. Cheaper than a horse, it freed women and young working class people to roam free. And the bike was the testing ground for countless improvements in manufacturing that would later lead to Henry Ford’s production lines.
#BicyclesRecycle
BBC World Service - 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy, Bicycle
Has the bicycle had its day, or is it a technology whose best years lie ahead?
www.bbc.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 8:33 AM
A fascinating podcast!
The #bicycle was to prove transformative. Cheaper than a horse, it freed women and young working class people to roam free. And the bike was the testing ground for countless improvements in manufacturing that would later lead to Henry Ford’s production lines.
#BicyclesRecycle
The #bicycle was to prove transformative. Cheaper than a horse, it freed women and young working class people to roam free. And the bike was the testing ground for countless improvements in manufacturing that would later lead to Henry Ford’s production lines.
#BicyclesRecycle
Reposted by Mark Doidge
Take a look at The Telegraph's view on Trump. Every single 'columnist' (I use the term loosely) utterly wrong and totally disproven. Never read again.
January 21, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Take a look at The Telegraph's view on Trump. Every single 'columnist' (I use the term loosely) utterly wrong and totally disproven. Never read again.
Wonder how Labour, Tories, and the right-wing media will dismiss this as student politics or naive young people?
Extraordinary polling from @yougov.co.uk today, showing the @greenparty.org.uk in first place across all working age people
🟢Grn - 20.5%
🔴Lab - 20.3%
⚫Ref - 20.1%
🔵Con - 15.5%
baffling why 60% of pensioners are supporting Con/Ref who will slash public spending that mainly goes to pensioners
🟢Grn - 20.5%
🔴Lab - 20.3%
⚫Ref - 20.1%
🔵Con - 15.5%
baffling why 60% of pensioners are supporting Con/Ref who will slash public spending that mainly goes to pensioners
January 21, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Wonder how Labour, Tories, and the right-wing media will dismiss this as student politics or naive young people?
Reposted by Mark Doidge
If he can’t do being an MP properly, imagine him in charge of the country!
… including payments for promoting gold, presenting on GB News and from his friend George Cottrell, within 28 days.
Reform UK leader apologised for what he described as administrative errors by his team.
Reform UK leader apologised for what he described as administrative errors by his team.
January 21, 2026 at 9:53 AM
If he can’t do being an MP properly, imagine him in charge of the country!
Reposted by Mark Doidge
According to Darren Jones, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, we should not:
- wear seat belts
- get vaccinated
- take out insurance
- have a healthcare system
- have a defence system
- prepare for a possible future pandemic.
What an utter clown.
- wear seat belts
- get vaccinated
- take out insurance
- have a healthcare system
- have a defence system
- prepare for a possible future pandemic.
What an utter clown.
Susanna Reid asks Darren Jones what British companies who export to the US should do to prepare for a possible increase in tariffs.
Darren Jones replies: "you shouldn't prepare for a hypothetical"
Darren Jones replies: "you shouldn't prepare for a hypothetical"
January 20, 2026 at 12:14 PM
According to Darren Jones, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, we should not:
- wear seat belts
- get vaccinated
- take out insurance
- have a healthcare system
- have a defence system
- prepare for a possible future pandemic.
What an utter clown.
- wear seat belts
- get vaccinated
- take out insurance
- have a healthcare system
- have a defence system
- prepare for a possible future pandemic.
What an utter clown.
Reposted by Mark Doidge
‘All these souls deserve a dignified rest’: Ukraine’s ‘body seekers’ bring home the fallen
‘All these souls deserve a dignified rest’: Ukraine’s ‘body seekers’ bring home the fallen
Driven by a belief in a common humanity, the Platzdarm search team bring the bodies of soldiers back from the frontline – no matter which side they fought on
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:26 AM
‘All these souls deserve a dignified rest’: Ukraine’s ‘body seekers’ bring home the fallen
Reposted by Mark Doidge
Iran’s central bank is using vast quantities of a cryptocurrency championed by Farage according to a report. One of the major shareholders is also Reform's biggest donor - but he seems somewhat tetchy about it even being mentioned.
January 21, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Iran’s central bank is using vast quantities of a cryptocurrency championed by Farage according to a report. One of the major shareholders is also Reform's biggest donor - but he seems somewhat tetchy about it even being mentioned.
Reposted by Mark Doidge
Israeli forces on Tuesday began bulldozing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency ’s offices in Sheikh Jarrah, pushing forward with a crackdown against agency tasked with delivering humanitarian services to millions of people across the region apnews.com/article/isra...
Israeli crews target UN facilities for Palestinian refugees in east Jerusalem
Israeli forces have targeted two United Nations facilities as part of their crackdown on the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Israeli forces on Tuesday began bulldozing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency ’s offices in Sheikh Jarrah, pushing forward with a crackdown against agency tasked with delivering humanitarian services to millions of people across the region apnews.com/article/isra...
Reposted by Mark Doidge
So far the "Board of Peace" is Trump, Orban, Lukaschenko and Netanyahu.
Which if you wrote in a satire would be considered too outlandish and sent back.
Which if you wrote in a satire would be considered too outlandish and sent back.
January 21, 2026 at 7:16 AM
So far the "Board of Peace" is Trump, Orban, Lukaschenko and Netanyahu.
Which if you wrote in a satire would be considered too outlandish and sent back.
Which if you wrote in a satire would be considered too outlandish and sent back.
Reposted by Mark Doidge
"FIFA can audit compliance with technical statutes but appears structurally incapable of – or uninterested in – confronting entrenched governance failures within member associations." Brilliant piece from @fidelisz.bsky.social for @playthegame-org.bsky.social www.playthegame.org/news/the-bro...
How systemic corruption's killing South African football
As South African football struggles with unpaid players and collapsing development structures, this investigation traces the flow of legacy funds meant for the grassroots and explains the financial an...
www.playthegame.org
January 21, 2026 at 7:21 AM
"FIFA can audit compliance with technical statutes but appears structurally incapable of – or uninterested in – confronting entrenched governance failures within member associations." Brilliant piece from @fidelisz.bsky.social for @playthegame-org.bsky.social www.playthegame.org/news/the-bro...
Reposted by Mark Doidge
This should be posted under every post Farage sends and quoted at him in every interview he gives - forever.
January 21, 2026 at 7:27 AM
This should be posted under every post Farage sends and quoted at him in every interview he gives - forever.
Starmer is the invisible man. He was invisible when the far-right were on the streets. He was invisible when Grok was creating abusive images. I was invisible when Trump invaded Venezuela. The world is in a difficult place & the leader of the UK is invisible.
Ed Miliband: "The PM is navigating a really difficult international situation with great skill.. he's shown calm leadership.. we've got a principle which is we seek common ground with Trump, but where we disagree we say so.."
.. and then we do nothing.
.. and then we do nothing.
January 21, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Starmer is the invisible man. He was invisible when the far-right were on the streets. He was invisible when Grok was creating abusive images. I was invisible when Trump invaded Venezuela. The world is in a difficult place & the leader of the UK is invisible.
Reposted by Mark Doidge
Starmer and co have just sneaked out the until now suppressed national security report on the climate and ecological crisis
It's grim, but it is only a few pages long and doesn't look like the full report
When are we going to see the rest of it Mr Starmer
www.gov.uk/government/p...
It's grim, but it is only a few pages long and doesn't look like the full report
When are we going to see the rest of it Mr Starmer
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk
January 20, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Starmer and co have just sneaked out the until now suppressed national security report on the climate and ecological crisis
It's grim, but it is only a few pages long and doesn't look like the full report
When are we going to see the rest of it Mr Starmer
www.gov.uk/government/p...
It's grim, but it is only a few pages long and doesn't look like the full report
When are we going to see the rest of it Mr Starmer
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Mark Doidge
The vibe shift in the EU and Canada over the weekend is unlike anything I've ever seen. US hegemony in military and economic alliances is effectively dead. History will look back and wonder how the elites in power not only did nothing to stop it but cheered it on willingly.
January 20, 2026 at 6:34 PM
The vibe shift in the EU and Canada over the weekend is unlike anything I've ever seen. US hegemony in military and economic alliances is effectively dead. History will look back and wonder how the elites in power not only did nothing to stop it but cheered it on willingly.
Reposted by Mark Doidge
The death of neoliberalism does not necessarily mean something better. Or something anti-capitalist.
the Actual Death of neoliberalism would firstly mean a reversal of Carney's policies, starting with austerity and, well, all of them
January 20, 2026 at 8:55 PM
The death of neoliberalism does not necessarily mean something better. Or something anti-capitalist.
What is it about the Tory party that recruits bafflingly confident people who think they can just tell people to do something and they do it? 🤔
Kemi Badenoch tells the BBC's Matt Chorley that if she were prime minister, Donald Trump would simply not be like this.
January 20, 2026 at 5:06 PM
What is it about the Tory party that recruits bafflingly confident people who think they can just tell people to do something and they do it? 🤔
Reposted by Mark Doidge
“One notable MIT study found that 95 percent of companies that integrated AI saw zero meaningful growth in revenue. For coding tasks, one of AI’s most widely hyped applications, another study showed that programmers who used AI coding tools actually became slower at their jobs.”
AI Completely Failing to Boost Productivity, Says Top Analyst
AI may or may not excel at a lot of things, but from an economic standpoint, it's definitely not making us more productive.
futurism.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:52 AM
“One notable MIT study found that 95 percent of companies that integrated AI saw zero meaningful growth in revenue. For coding tasks, one of AI’s most widely hyped applications, another study showed that programmers who used AI coding tools actually became slower at their jobs.”
VHS boom could falter without wider adoption
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
Big tech boss tells delegates at Davos that broader global use is essential if technology is to deliver lasting growth
www.irishtimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:03 PM
VHS boom could falter without wider adoption
Reposted by Mark Doidge
At some point it has to be acknowledged that the 'just placate him' strategy has been tested to destruction.
Trump amplifies post that says NATO — not China or Russia — is part of the “real threat” to America.
January 20, 2026 at 4:43 PM
At some point it has to be acknowledged that the 'just placate him' strategy has been tested to destruction.
Reposted by Mark Doidge
Not the most important thing but it's vexing that Zizek's crappy mistranslation of Gramsci has become a zombie quote.
Gramsci said "in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear" not "you live in a time of monsters".
Gramsci said "in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear" not "you live in a time of monsters".
waking up to the Belgian PM quoting Gramsci at Davos re: Trump www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
January 20, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Not the most important thing but it's vexing that Zizek's crappy mistranslation of Gramsci has become a zombie quote.
Gramsci said "in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear" not "you live in a time of monsters".
Gramsci said "in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear" not "you live in a time of monsters".
So the free market only works if we steal content and force people to use it 🙄
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
Big tech boss tells delegates at Davos that broader global use is essential if technology is to deliver lasting growth
www.irishtimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:55 PM
So the free market only works if we steal content and force people to use it 🙄
Reposted by Mark Doidge
Water companies have extracted £57bn+ in profits, built up huge debts, raised bills, & now expect us to pay £104bn more!
The govts response? We'll have a new regulator. They'll do anything other than scrap the profiteering companies & take our water back into public ownership
The govts response? We'll have a new regulator. They'll do anything other than scrap the profiteering companies & take our water back into public ownership
January 20, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Water companies have extracted £57bn+ in profits, built up huge debts, raised bills, & now expect us to pay £104bn more!
The govts response? We'll have a new regulator. They'll do anything other than scrap the profiteering companies & take our water back into public ownership
The govts response? We'll have a new regulator. They'll do anything other than scrap the profiteering companies & take our water back into public ownership