Mark Fabian
@markfabian.bsky.social
Ass-Prof of Public Policy at Warwick. Work mostly on wellbeing from an interdisciplinary perspective. Interested in *everything*. Run ePODstemology: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1763534/episodes
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Mark Fabian
@markfabian.bsky.social
· Feb 26
Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment
YouTube video by M. Fabian Education
www.youtube.com
Friends, foes, family:
I have a popular booking coming out on April 10 - Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment. It's the book I wish existed when I was 18. I couldn't find it in 20 years of searching, so I went and wrote it.
A video brief:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XPZ...
I have a popular booking coming out on April 10 - Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment. It's the book I wish existed when I was 18. I couldn't find it in 20 years of searching, so I went and wrote it.
A video brief:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XPZ...
😂
1 billion is a big number.
Not to be an economist, but I think if matters ever genuinely got dire our values would shift and our behaviours too.
It's no coincidence that one of the only rich nations with fertility around 3 is Israel - they need to repopulate!
1 billion is a big number.
Not to be an economist, but I think if matters ever genuinely got dire our values would shift and our behaviours too.
It's no coincidence that one of the only rich nations with fertility around 3 is Israel - they need to repopulate!
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
😂
1 billion is a big number.
Not to be an economist, but I think if matters ever genuinely got dire our values would shift and our behaviours too.
It's no coincidence that one of the only rich nations with fertility around 3 is Israel - they need to repopulate!
1 billion is a big number.
Not to be an economist, but I think if matters ever genuinely got dire our values would shift and our behaviours too.
It's no coincidence that one of the only rich nations with fertility around 3 is Israel - they need to repopulate!
Yeah and for most of us that academic work is publicly funded.
I'd like to know the history of how flagship journals came to be for profit. Like journal of political philosophy editorial board resigned on mass to start a new OA journal, but I'm curious why JPP was w/ a for profit to begin with.
I'd like to know the history of how flagship journals came to be for profit. Like journal of political philosophy editorial board resigned on mass to start a new OA journal, but I'm curious why JPP was w/ a for profit to begin with.
November 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Yeah and for most of us that academic work is publicly funded.
I'd like to know the history of how flagship journals came to be for profit. Like journal of political philosophy editorial board resigned on mass to start a new OA journal, but I'm curious why JPP was w/ a for profit to begin with.
I'd like to know the history of how flagship journals came to be for profit. Like journal of political philosophy editorial board resigned on mass to start a new OA journal, but I'm curious why JPP was w/ a for profit to begin with.
Interesting. I think im lucky that our field is growing. But I have found it challenging to unearth potential reviewers who aren't prominent because of how page rank and citation count search works. Even someone at a solid US state university is basically invisible to cold search for keywords.
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Interesting. I think im lucky that our field is growing. But I have found it challenging to unearth potential reviewers who aren't prominent because of how page rank and citation count search works. Even someone at a solid US state university is basically invisible to cold search for keywords.
Oh wow that's next level.
I've had something orthogonal where I submit a very suitable paper that keeps getting blocked by an outsourced wiley person with a checklist that it doesn't fit e.g. no data statement for a theory paper. I eventually have to email the editor.
I've had something orthogonal where I submit a very suitable paper that keeps getting blocked by an outsourced wiley person with a checklist that it doesn't fit e.g. no data statement for a theory paper. I eventually have to email the editor.
November 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Oh wow that's next level.
I've had something orthogonal where I submit a very suitable paper that keeps getting blocked by an outsourced wiley person with a checklist that it doesn't fit e.g. no data statement for a theory paper. I eventually have to email the editor.
I've had something orthogonal where I submit a very suitable paper that keeps getting blocked by an outsourced wiley person with a checklist that it doesn't fit e.g. no data statement for a theory paper. I eventually have to email the editor.
I think this must implicitly be practiced in narrow fields but it's awkward for people like me who publish all over the place. I generally try to accept review requests from places I have published.
November 24, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I think this must implicitly be practiced in narrow fields but it's awkward for people like me who publish all over the place. I generally try to accept review requests from places I have published.
When charity is compensated it ceases to be charitable and loses its moral qualities. There is reams of literature on this from the study of care.
Trying to fix the commercialisation of academia by commoditising peer review is like trying to cure termites with a controlled house fire.
Trying to fix the commercialisation of academia by commoditising peer review is like trying to cure termites with a controlled house fire.
November 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
When charity is compensated it ceases to be charitable and loses its moral qualities. There is reams of literature on this from the study of care.
Trying to fix the commercialisation of academia by commoditising peer review is like trying to cure termites with a controlled house fire.
Trying to fix the commercialisation of academia by commoditising peer review is like trying to cure termites with a controlled house fire.
Science and the humanities are characterised by public goods, large positive externalities, and merit goods, making them Ill-suited to market solutions. Community based solutions are the appropriate policy tool, and "social" media is a fine place to spread the good word.
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Science and the humanities are characterised by public goods, large positive externalities, and merit goods, making them Ill-suited to market solutions. Community based solutions are the appropriate policy tool, and "social" media is a fine place to spread the good word.
Mate I *am* doing something about it. I volunteer my time at an open access non profit journal being the structurally change we want. The "whining" is me imploring my trapped colleagues to work with me to get us out of the BS. Social media is the water cooler of academia & so a good place to preach.
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Mate I *am* doing something about it. I volunteer my time at an open access non profit journal being the structurally change we want. The "whining" is me imploring my trapped colleagues to work with me to get us out of the BS. Social media is the water cooler of academia & so a good place to preach.
I'm surprised that an account with as much anti capitalist content as yours would advise introducing even more intense market forces into an already highly hierarchical and capitalistic industry, one that also happens to produce public goods.
November 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I'm surprised that an account with as much anti capitalist content as yours would advise introducing even more intense market forces into an already highly hierarchical and capitalistic industry, one that also happens to produce public goods.
Nope.
Do you think that would improve the scientific ecosystem?
Do you think that would improve the scientific ecosystem?
November 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Nope.
Do you think that would improve the scientific ecosystem?
Do you think that would improve the scientific ecosystem?
Yeah that's fair. Obviously more egregious at places like MPDi but I got one from scientific reports the other day that just didn't need to be published. I suspect the authors were just trying to hit the absurd quotas in US psych departments.
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Yeah that's fair. Obviously more egregious at places like MPDi but I got one from scientific reports the other day that just didn't need to be published. I suspect the authors were just trying to hit the absurd quotas in US psych departments.
Why are market forces the most appropriate framework for this policy?
If the publisher is for profit OK, but the profit model is precisely the crux of the problem.
We are a diamond open access non profit journal.
Commercially unprofitable truths aren't obvious candidates for a market approach.
If the publisher is for profit OK, but the profit model is precisely the crux of the problem.
We are a diamond open access non profit journal.
Commercially unprofitable truths aren't obvious candidates for a market approach.
November 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Why are market forces the most appropriate framework for this policy?
If the publisher is for profit OK, but the profit model is precisely the crux of the problem.
We are a diamond open access non profit journal.
Commercially unprofitable truths aren't obvious candidates for a market approach.
If the publisher is for profit OK, but the profit model is precisely the crux of the problem.
We are a diamond open access non profit journal.
Commercially unprofitable truths aren't obvious candidates for a market approach.
Also that for every paper you submit you should do 3 reviews because that's how many you generate. Certainly that's our in house rule.
The people pumping out 10 scientific reports a year from bland regressions would stop that quick smart if this rule was enforced across journals.
The people pumping out 10 scientific reports a year from bland regressions would stop that quick smart if this rule was enforced across journals.
November 24, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Also that for every paper you submit you should do 3 reviews because that's how many you generate. Certainly that's our in house rule.
The people pumping out 10 scientific reports a year from bland regressions would stop that quick smart if this rule was enforced across journals.
The people pumping out 10 scientific reports a year from bland regressions would stop that quick smart if this rule was enforced across journals.
Yes.
Unfortunately, the 'top' journals are often for profit. People review there to publish there.
I'm asking from a diamond open access journal entirely non profit. We can't displace the for profits if we can't find reviewers.
The system is cooked. Base issue is volume of needless papers.
Unfortunately, the 'top' journals are often for profit. People review there to publish there.
I'm asking from a diamond open access journal entirely non profit. We can't displace the for profits if we can't find reviewers.
The system is cooked. Base issue is volume of needless papers.
November 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Yes.
Unfortunately, the 'top' journals are often for profit. People review there to publish there.
I'm asking from a diamond open access journal entirely non profit. We can't displace the for profits if we can't find reviewers.
The system is cooked. Base issue is volume of needless papers.
Unfortunately, the 'top' journals are often for profit. People review there to publish there.
I'm asking from a diamond open access journal entirely non profit. We can't displace the for profits if we can't find reviewers.
The system is cooked. Base issue is volume of needless papers.
Yes I hate it when I get a request to one email when I already have an account at the journal with a different email. Queue 15 minutes of faff to merge them.
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Yes I hate it when I get a request to one email when I already have an account at the journal with a different email. Queue 15 minutes of faff to merge them.
Completely agree with the advice but it seems to be decreasingly effective.
The overworked ppl at top unis are the most responsive, even when I'm asking for something beneath them. This is worrying.
Peer review is broken but we can't fix it if diamond open access journals can't get reviewers.
The overworked ppl at top unis are the most responsive, even when I'm asking for something beneath them. This is worrying.
Peer review is broken but we can't fix it if diamond open access journals can't get reviewers.
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Completely agree with the advice but it seems to be decreasingly effective.
The overworked ppl at top unis are the most responsive, even when I'm asking for something beneath them. This is worrying.
Peer review is broken but we can't fix it if diamond open access journals can't get reviewers.
The overworked ppl at top unis are the most responsive, even when I'm asking for something beneath them. This is worrying.
Peer review is broken but we can't fix it if diamond open access journals can't get reviewers.
Reposted by Mark Fabian
You might not like it, but this is what peak male performance looks like
Additionally, hippos - despite being massive - have almost no fat on them. All of that impressive bulk is muscle.
2% body fat. Compare that to Elephants, which are around 8-10%, or rhinos, which are 10-20%.
The average human is around 20-40%, for reference.
They're *all* muscle.
2% body fat. Compare that to Elephants, which are around 8-10%, or rhinos, which are 10-20%.
The average human is around 20-40%, for reference.
They're *all* muscle.
November 24, 2025 at 1:57 AM
You might not like it, but this is what peak male performance looks like
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
I'm still relatively new to this journal associate editor business, but it already sucks… I've had a paper on my desk for more than a month now:
Reviewers invited: 12
Of those…
Declined: 5
No response: 7
Reviewers invited: 12
Of those…
Declined: 5
No response: 7
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
Reposted by Mark Fabian
I have extensive instructions on spatchcocking a bird (and why) in COLOR TASTE TEXTURE!
(also highly recommend getting poultry shears)
(also highly recommend getting poultry shears)
I’m an Autistic classically trained chef and I wrote a food aversion acceptance cookbook and guide titled COLOR TASTE TEXTURE, that’s all about finding out what works for specific sensory needs and how to customize food for them. It’s useful for all ages, no cooking experience necessary.
Color Taste Texture by Matthew Broberg-Moffitt: 9780593538593 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An accessible family cookbook that offers solutions rather than tricks to empower the food-averse, autistic, and picky eater, with 46 recipes. This much-needed cookbook combines tips and techniques.....
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I have extensive instructions on spatchcocking a bird (and why) in COLOR TASTE TEXTURE!
(also highly recommend getting poultry shears)
(also highly recommend getting poultry shears)
Reposted by Mark Fabian
I am Jupiter
November 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM
I am Jupiter
Reposted by Mark Fabian
Incidentally, I want to visit Kyushu so badly 😆
November 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Incidentally, I want to visit Kyushu so badly 😆
I work mostly on wellbeing policy & I think orderly decline is such a good sandbox for thinking about it, especially because you don't have to have the usual arguments about degrowth because there just isn't any. Once you deprioritise economics, much space opens for culture and psych but few ideas.
November 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I work mostly on wellbeing policy & I think orderly decline is such a good sandbox for thinking about it, especially because you don't have to have the usual arguments about degrowth because there just isn't any. Once you deprioritise economics, much space opens for culture and psych but few ideas.
Yes. Though my partner speaks often of the background level of sadness that can be felt in some parts of Japan that are declining, especially where industry was the thing to be proud of (as opposed to areas of natural beauty like Hokkaido). We need to think more about maintaining pride in place.
November 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Yes. Though my partner speaks often of the background level of sadness that can be felt in some parts of Japan that are declining, especially where industry was the thing to be proud of (as opposed to areas of natural beauty like Hokkaido). We need to think more about maintaining pride in place.
Oh cool! My partner is Japanese so we talk about this a lot. I'm veering into a new line of research on how to do orderly wind-downs of depopulating places. Pride in place, wellbeing, efficient consolidation, that sort of thing. Lots of interesting stuff going on in Japan.
November 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Oh cool! My partner is Japanese so we talk about this a lot. I'm veering into a new line of research on how to do orderly wind-downs of depopulating places. Pride in place, wellbeing, efficient consolidation, that sort of thing. Lots of interesting stuff going on in Japan.