Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
@nicomaramckay.com
Historian in Tkaronto (Toronto). Likes bats, monsters, sincereposting, alt text, and DEIA. Genderqueer. Trans. Autistic. 40s. 👬 🧛 nicomaramckay.com
There will be typos.
Ephemeral Record of queer and trans histories: patreon.com/ephemeralrecord
There will be typos.
Ephemeral Record of queer and trans histories: patreon.com/ephemeralrecord
Pinned
tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where users could feel safer, but inconsistent moderation quickly eroded trust.
When systemically marginalized users pushed back, Bluesky’s leadership minimized concerns and began to target them for bans.
When systemically marginalized users pushed back, Bluesky’s leadership minimized concerns and began to target them for bans.
Bluesky’s CEO meltdown: How leadership continues to fail its most marginalized users
tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where systemically marginalized users could feel safer, but…
plutopsyche.medium.com
Unban Link.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
when we say we want more streets to be pedestrianized, this is what we mean
November 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
when we say we want more streets to be pedestrianized, this is what we mean
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I do think young people should have access to puberty blockers if they want them but they should also have access to full, normal HRT if they want. Trans people should be able to go through puberty at the same age as and alongside their peers.
November 25, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I do think young people should have access to puberty blockers if they want them but they should also have access to full, normal HRT if they want. Trans people should be able to go through puberty at the same age as and alongside their peers.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Let’s make it Trans Joy Tuesday again!
For the trans people out there, please share something happy going on with you to offset all the bad stuff.
Whether it’s big or small, trans related or not, please share your joy!
For the trans people out there, please share something happy going on with you to offset all the bad stuff.
Whether it’s big or small, trans related or not, please share your joy!
November 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Let’s make it Trans Joy Tuesday again!
For the trans people out there, please share something happy going on with you to offset all the bad stuff.
Whether it’s big or small, trans related or not, please share your joy!
For the trans people out there, please share something happy going on with you to offset all the bad stuff.
Whether it’s big or small, trans related or not, please share your joy!
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Every allistic review of the Murderbot Diaries: A stunningly human portrayal of robot interiority!
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
November 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Every allistic review of the Murderbot Diaries: A stunningly human portrayal of robot interiority!
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
You know, I'm not sure I ever really read the Pond Rules at our local nature preserve all that closely before
November 25, 2025 at 1:24 AM
You know, I'm not sure I ever really read the Pond Rules at our local nature preserve all that closely before
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
On this day in 2014 I took this photo of the world’s biggest bookstore.
November 25, 2025 at 1:35 AM
On this day in 2014 I took this photo of the world’s biggest bookstore.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
It's hard to take the NDP seriously when they can't even put alt-txt on ANY of their images. A 0.00% rating. Ridiculous.
cred.blue/alt-text
cred.blue/alt-text
November 24, 2025 at 11:34 PM
It's hard to take the NDP seriously when they can't even put alt-txt on ANY of their images. A 0.00% rating. Ridiculous.
cred.blue/alt-text
cred.blue/alt-text
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
My setting was turned off, too. Jeez, Bluesky.
Idk how long it's been off but my Bsky app stopped reminding me to use alt text, you might have to turn yours back on too
I turned the reminder back on 🤦🏻♀️ annoying
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
My setting was turned off, too. Jeez, Bluesky.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Automatic captions make it difficult to watch videos because the viewer is forced to decipher misspelled or mistranslated words that appear in a string of text without any punctuation. These can be distracting and disorienting. Always edit your captions before publishing.
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Automatic captions make it difficult to watch videos because the viewer is forced to decipher misspelled or mistranslated words that appear in a string of text without any punctuation. These can be distracting and disorienting. Always edit your captions before publishing.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I really don't care how you joke with your sane friends. Don't bring bigotry against the mentally ill round me.
November 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I really don't care how you joke with your sane friends. Don't bring bigotry against the mentally ill round me.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Before I even clicked the video to see the context in which Carney responded “who cares” to a reporter asking when he last spoke with Trump, I knew it would a female reporter who asked the question.
Why? Because Carney is consistently more short with and rude to female reporters.
Sure enough:
Why? Because Carney is consistently more short with and rude to female reporters.
Sure enough:
November 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Before I even clicked the video to see the context in which Carney responded “who cares” to a reporter asking when he last spoke with Trump, I knew it would a female reporter who asked the question.
Why? Because Carney is consistently more short with and rude to female reporters.
Sure enough:
Why? Because Carney is consistently more short with and rude to female reporters.
Sure enough:
With alt text.
November 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
With alt text.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Writers — the ones you know and love, the ones you think of as successful — have sources of income outside that book you read. Most of us are a half-step ahead of the landlord at best, and struggling to maintain health insurance. We figure out other ways to make a buck.
I wrote 12 novels.
Hit #2 on the NYT bestseller list.
Optioned three works for film and TV.
Have close to 20 short fiction works in anthos.
I have 35,000 BSky followers.
Have you seen my jewelry shop that keeps my lights on.
www.peculiarityshop.com
Hit #2 on the NYT bestseller list.
Optioned three works for film and TV.
Have close to 20 short fiction works in anthos.
I have 35,000 BSky followers.
Have you seen my jewelry shop that keeps my lights on.
www.peculiarityshop.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Writers — the ones you know and love, the ones you think of as successful — have sources of income outside that book you read. Most of us are a half-step ahead of the landlord at best, and struggling to maintain health insurance. We figure out other ways to make a buck.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I love the power of debate
February 20, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I love the power of debate
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
I have two things I would really like people to internalize about the fashion industry/garment manufacturing, and they are:
1. Mass manufactured clothes are only ever intended to fit "good enough," and;
2. Everything you wear was made by actual human people.
1. Mass manufactured clothes are only ever intended to fit "good enough," and;
2. Everything you wear was made by actual human people.
November 23, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I have two things I would really like people to internalize about the fashion industry/garment manufacturing, and they are:
1. Mass manufactured clothes are only ever intended to fit "good enough," and;
2. Everything you wear was made by actual human people.
1. Mass manufactured clothes are only ever intended to fit "good enough," and;
2. Everything you wear was made by actual human people.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
There's this idea that the issues that motivate older generations are universal and the issues that motivate younger generations are niche, and until you realize how wrongheaded that is, you'll never build a multigenerational coalition.
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
There's this idea that the issues that motivate older generations are universal and the issues that motivate younger generations are niche, and until you realize how wrongheaded that is, you'll never build a multigenerational coalition.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
A lot of axolotls: the amphibian-themed banknote Mexicans don’t want to spend
Nearly 13m people are hoarding millions of dollars’ worth of the stylish 50 peso note, featuring Mexico’s cutest critter
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Nearly 13m people are hoarding millions of dollars’ worth of the stylish 50 peso note, featuring Mexico’s cutest critter
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
A lot of axolotls: the amphibian-themed banknote Mexicans don’t want to spend
Nearly 13m people are hoarding millions of dollars’ worth of the stylish 50 peso note, featuring Mexico’s cutest critter
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:50 AM
A lot of axolotls: the amphibian-themed banknote Mexicans don’t want to spend
Nearly 13m people are hoarding millions of dollars’ worth of the stylish 50 peso note, featuring Mexico’s cutest critter
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Nearly 13m people are hoarding millions of dollars’ worth of the stylish 50 peso note, featuring Mexico’s cutest critter
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Canada is releasing a set of stamps celebrating the nation's graphic novelists.
These stamps feature Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, alongside some of their famous works.
These stamps feature Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, alongside some of their famous works.
November 21, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Canada is releasing a set of stamps celebrating the nation's graphic novelists.
These stamps feature Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, alongside some of their famous works.
These stamps feature Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, alongside some of their famous works.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Notable there's not a single anti-trans "women's rights" organisation involved in the new campaign to end the criminalisation of abortion in Scotland.
But there are LGBTQ+ orgs.
It's almost as if one actually cares about women's rights and the other is just a hate campaign.
But there are LGBTQ+ orgs.
It's almost as if one actually cares about women's rights and the other is just a hate campaign.
November 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Notable there's not a single anti-trans "women's rights" organisation involved in the new campaign to end the criminalisation of abortion in Scotland.
But there are LGBTQ+ orgs.
It's almost as if one actually cares about women's rights and the other is just a hate campaign.
But there are LGBTQ+ orgs.
It's almost as if one actually cares about women's rights and the other is just a hate campaign.
Good morning, Bluesky.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
November 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Good morning, Bluesky.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
This is your weekly reminder to take your HRT, medications, and vitamins.
Bluesky still deserves better leadership.
Trans rights are human rights. 🏳️⚧️
Unban Link.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
The damned in hell are not more powerful for the fact that the fires do not consume them; it is part and parcel of their torment.
November 23, 2025 at 10:42 AM
The damned in hell are not more powerful for the fact that the fires do not consume them; it is part and parcel of their torment.
Every allistic review of the Murderbot Diaries: A stunningly human portrayal of robot interiority!
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
November 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Every allistic review of the Murderbot Diaries: A stunningly human portrayal of robot interiority!
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
Every autistic reading the Murderbot Diaries: This robot is autistic.
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
Officially asking now for author folks (and reader folks) to tell me about the new queer holiday romances coming out this year—I don’t know why I’m having trouble finding them this year, but I am.
Drop 'em here, please.
(Bonus if low-angst; also happy for sapphic—this is not just a dude zone).
Drop 'em here, please.
(Bonus if low-angst; also happy for sapphic—this is not just a dude zone).
November 23, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Officially asking now for author folks (and reader folks) to tell me about the new queer holiday romances coming out this year—I don’t know why I’m having trouble finding them this year, but I am.
Drop 'em here, please.
(Bonus if low-angst; also happy for sapphic—this is not just a dude zone).
Drop 'em here, please.
(Bonus if low-angst; also happy for sapphic—this is not just a dude zone).
Reposted by Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)
y'know, if tech companies weren't so fired up to call every single thing "AI" it would be a lot easier to distinguish "ML spam filter that is well-sandboxed and tuned on your emails" from "giant context and IP-eroding foundation model that makes people paranoid and unhappy"
since the "google is now training gemini on your email contents" thing keeps bumping around here: it's _not happening_. I say this not to defend google but because I know a lot of people that have broken their filtering and made their lives much more annoying from sheer misinformation.
The malwarebytes Google opting-your-emails-into-ai-training thing is not true. The post is based on one bad tweet.
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
November 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
y'know, if tech companies weren't so fired up to call every single thing "AI" it would be a lot easier to distinguish "ML spam filter that is well-sandboxed and tuned on your emails" from "giant context and IP-eroding foundation model that makes people paranoid and unhappy"