Andrew Perfors
@perfors.net
Prof at UniMelb. I'm a computational cognitive scientist studying human inference, learning, information systems, culture, and (mis/dis)info. Nerd & opinionated loudmouth in Oz, originally from America, citizen of both. Parent of two. 🏳️⚧️ perfors.net
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Andrew Perfors
@perfors.net
· Apr 29
Anti-trans attitudes have existed for years, but organised disinformation campaigns are increasingly driving them
Disinformation exists across all parts of the political spectrum, but it goes far beyond simple lying when it comes to the campaign against the transgender community, says a University of Melbourne ex...
pursuit.unimelb.edu.au
I wrote an article about the psychology by which disinformation campaigns work, with examples from anti-trans propaganda. It's not just about individual beliefs, but also the way our institutions and norms are manipulated.
Please read and share!
pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/Ant...?
Please read and share!
pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/Ant...?
As a cognitive scientist, I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to realise that emotion matters a lot, not just for understanding humans, but for understanding any thinking agent.
Why? Because emotion is an indicator of what that agent values, and values are essential to rationality.
Examples:
Why? Because emotion is an indicator of what that agent values, and values are essential to rationality.
Examples:
There's much talk these days about what's required for "real" intelligence, such as world models and the like. One thing we know about the human evolution of it: it required/requires emotion. That may have been better appreciated in 1938 than today.
archive.org/details/in.e...
archive.org/details/in.e...
January 11, 2026 at 11:09 AM
As a cognitive scientist, I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to realise that emotion matters a lot, not just for understanding humans, but for understanding any thinking agent.
Why? Because emotion is an indicator of what that agent values, and values are essential to rationality.
Examples:
Why? Because emotion is an indicator of what that agent values, and values are essential to rationality.
Examples:
Slightly diminish a game.
Country of Warcraft
Country of Warcraft
Slightly diminish a game.
Menos Effect
Menos Effect
Slightly diminish a game.
Penultimate Fantasy.
Penultimate Fantasy.
January 11, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Slightly diminish a game.
Country of Warcraft
Country of Warcraft
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
It is impossible to overstate the degree to which the entire national political media's coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign, especially once Harris won the nomination, was deeply, fundamentally, shamefully unserious about the stakes & the candidates.
I can still recall all the tut-tutting from the media when Harris made this argument.
Kamala Harris at her closing campaign rally:
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
January 11, 2026 at 5:55 AM
It is impossible to overstate the degree to which the entire national political media's coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign, especially once Harris won the nomination, was deeply, fundamentally, shamefully unserious about the stakes & the candidates.
Just saw my first ever live magic show and man was it fun. No clue how they did any of it, but it was SO entertaining and such a nice vacation from normal life for a few hours.
No grass was touched but I feel like it was anyway. :)
Highly recommend!
No grass was touched but I feel like it was anyway. :)
Highly recommend!
THEATRE OF MAGIC | 215 Little Collins St Melbourne
MELBOURNE'S MOST MAGICAL NIGHT OUT. THE WORLDS BEST MAGICIANS IN A CLOSE UP THEATRE. THE THEATRE OF MAGIC SHOW IS THE #1 EVENT ON TRIP ADVISOR FOR BRISBANE
www.theatreofmagic.com.au
January 10, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Just saw my first ever live magic show and man was it fun. No clue how they did any of it, but it was SO entertaining and such a nice vacation from normal life for a few hours.
No grass was touched but I feel like it was anyway. :)
Highly recommend!
No grass was touched but I feel like it was anyway. :)
Highly recommend!
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
“make big tech afraid” has to be just as much of a priority as “prosecute the criminals of the previous regime” for the next Dem admin
the tech fascists are way too far out over their skis and what remains of global stability will not survive that state of affairs continuing
the tech fascists are way too far out over their skis and what remains of global stability will not survive that state of affairs continuing
As many have pointed out, there's no reason for big tech to change its behavior because they correctly understand that they have nothing to fear from Democrats taking power
January 9, 2026 at 4:46 PM
“make big tech afraid” has to be just as much of a priority as “prosecute the criminals of the previous regime” for the next Dem admin
the tech fascists are way too far out over their skis and what remains of global stability will not survive that state of affairs continuing
the tech fascists are way too far out over their skis and what remains of global stability will not survive that state of affairs continuing
Nothing like a day of 44C temperatures and high winds to remind you that we are all just little apes scrabbling frantically on the crust of a planet hurtling through the void, subject to many whims so much larger than ourselves.
I think this is a very useful perspective to have in times like these.
I think this is a very useful perspective to have in times like these.
January 9, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Nothing like a day of 44C temperatures and high winds to remind you that we are all just little apes scrabbling frantically on the crust of a planet hurtling through the void, subject to many whims so much larger than ourselves.
I think this is a very useful perspective to have in times like these.
I think this is a very useful perspective to have in times like these.
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
banning X is a national security issue for every country, plain and simple
its explicit goal is to amplify and empower the largest Nazi-adjacent party in every country in which it operates
it is also the largest deepfake porn generator in the world
this is not a difficult call to make
its explicit goal is to amplify and empower the largest Nazi-adjacent party in every country in which it operates
it is also the largest deepfake porn generator in the world
this is not a difficult call to make
January 8, 2026 at 5:43 PM
banning X is a national security issue for every country, plain and simple
its explicit goal is to amplify and empower the largest Nazi-adjacent party in every country in which it operates
it is also the largest deepfake porn generator in the world
this is not a difficult call to make
its explicit goal is to amplify and empower the largest Nazi-adjacent party in every country in which it operates
it is also the largest deepfake porn generator in the world
this is not a difficult call to make
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
The shooting in Minnesota is a reminder that while authoritarian governments may justify abuses of power by directing them at scapegoats or vulnerable populations, the goal is ultimately to deploy them against anyone they wish to www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 8, 2026 at 6:45 PM
The shooting in Minnesota is a reminder that while authoritarian governments may justify abuses of power by directing them at scapegoats or vulnerable populations, the goal is ultimately to deploy them against anyone they wish to www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
It takes an enormous amount of courage to stand there, keep filming, and scream "What the fuck, you asshole" at someone wearing a badge who just shot and killed one of your neighbors in cold blood.
I need people to wrap their minds around the fact that here in Minneapolis, ICE broke the window of a vehicle yesterday, pepper sprayed the occupants, and arrested them, and shot another observer in the face today, and OBSERVERS ARE STILL GOING OUT TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORS AT MASSIVE PERSONAL RISK
I’m eating lunch, I’m having a panic attack, I’m charging my phone, and then I’m going back out to try and keep my neighborhood safe.
January 7, 2026 at 6:13 PM
It takes an enormous amount of courage to stand there, keep filming, and scream "What the fuck, you asshole" at someone wearing a badge who just shot and killed one of your neighbors in cold blood.
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
I too have watched the video. There's nothing graphic in the visuals, thankfully. But this is straight-up, no defenses, not really questionable murder
I have watched the video. I think you probably do not need to watch the video. it shows what you think it's gonna show in terms of lack of justification.
January 7, 2026 at 6:29 PM
I too have watched the video. There's nothing graphic in the visuals, thankfully. But this is straight-up, no defenses, not really questionable murder
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
Sometimes all you can do is make the world 0.0000000000001% less awful by being a good person and it feels very meaningless but it’s also the only thing that really matters
January 7, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Sometimes all you can do is make the world 0.0000000000001% less awful by being a good person and it feels very meaningless but it’s also the only thing that really matters
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
Too many people are scared to act on principle over some fear they will be accused of being "political". As if this commitment to a social media website demonstrates their centrist, reasonable sensibilities; or their ability to avoid overacting to others' "emotional" responses or "virtue signalling"
Every media figure and politician could do exactly this right now. @garygannon signs off from X, the deepfake child sexual abuse material generation app.
January 7, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Too many people are scared to act on principle over some fear they will be accused of being "political". As if this commitment to a social media website demonstrates their centrist, reasonable sensibilities; or their ability to avoid overacting to others' "emotional" responses or "virtue signalling"
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
Today is one of those days where I’m struck anew by how *bad* the internet has gotten. It’s almost unusable. Clouds, apps, advertising — nothing is where it should be and it’s nigh impossible sometimes to do basic tasks online.
January 6, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Today is one of those days where I’m struck anew by how *bad* the internet has gotten. It’s almost unusable. Clouds, apps, advertising — nothing is where it should be and it’s nigh impossible sometimes to do basic tasks online.
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to memory-hole Jan. 6, thousands of videos from the riot live on ProPublica’s website and other places.
Additionally, much of the deleted DOJ database can be found on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
(Published Jan. 2025)
Additionally, much of the deleted DOJ database can be found on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
(Published Jan. 2025)
Memory-Holing Jan. 6: What Happens When You Try to Make History Vanish?
The Trump administration’s decision to delete a DOJ database of cases against Capitol riot defendants places those who seek to preserve the historical record in direct opposition to their own governme...
www.propublica.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to memory-hole Jan. 6, thousands of videos from the riot live on ProPublica’s website and other places.
Additionally, much of the deleted DOJ database can be found on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
(Published Jan. 2025)
Additionally, much of the deleted DOJ database can be found on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
(Published Jan. 2025)
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding one constructive real world offline thing you can do to use your particular skills in service of fighting fascism as a psychological defense against the constant drumbeat of fuckery
my hot take is that I don't think it's this website specifically that's toxic. the Circumstances are toxic and nobody really knows what to do about it so they come online and scream. and if I may offer an alternative: actually going outside and screaming feels better.
January 6, 2026 at 8:33 PM
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding one constructive real world offline thing you can do to use your particular skills in service of fighting fascism as a psychological defense against the constant drumbeat of fuckery
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
I just want people to remember that what this was was transparently obvious at the time and universally condemned. Hold on to that fact and don't let people change it under you.
January 6, 2026 at 7:17 AM
I just want people to remember that what this was was transparently obvious at the time and universally condemned. Hold on to that fact and don't let people change it under you.
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
As @jbakcoleman.bsky.social and I wrote, “Every time a scientist abdicates their work to an AI tool, that is a tacit admission that the work is not worth being done by the scientist.”
Same goes for instructors.
Same goes for instructors.
You’ll have to read for the what happens next part, but I can tell you what will happen when parents and students realize profs have handed over expertise and teaching to chatbots.
NYU professor tested students with AI oral exams, here's what happened next
When student work looked like McKinsey memos, an NYU business school professor used AI oral exams to test real learning.
www.businessinsider.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:14 PM
As @jbakcoleman.bsky.social and I wrote, “Every time a scientist abdicates their work to an AI tool, that is a tacit admission that the work is not worth being done by the scientist.”
Same goes for instructors.
Same goes for instructors.
The news in the world is, as usual, terrible, but a wombat has decided to move into my yard so that is pretty awesome 😊
January 6, 2026 at 3:14 AM
The news in the world is, as usual, terrible, but a wombat has decided to move into my yard so that is pretty awesome 😊
This is a really good discussion of the legal and international implications of the attack on Venezuela.
(gift link in the thread below this main one if you need it)
(gift link in the thread below this main one if you need it)
January 4, 2026 at 12:08 AM
This is a really good discussion of the legal and international implications of the attack on Venezuela.
(gift link in the thread below this main one if you need it)
(gift link in the thread below this main one if you need it)
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
People talk about distraction, but diffusion is a better way to think about it. When there are ten horrors a day, marshalling critical mass to overturn any one is difficult.
January 3, 2026 at 6:17 PM
People talk about distraction, but diffusion is a better way to think about it. When there are ten horrors a day, marshalling critical mass to overturn any one is difficult.
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
Yeah this is exactly how I feel
Remember how appalled we all were in 2022 when Russia completely unprovoked attacked Ukraine? That is what we’re doing tonight with Venezuela. We are the bad guys here. Everyone who supports this is supporting unprovoked murder. Fuck every last one of them
January 3, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Yeah this is exactly how I feel
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
In our name, with our money, ostensibly for oil, but mostly because we have a president who's addicted to power and attention and needs to deflect from being friends with the world’s most famous pedophile. Shame on these fucking monsters who run my country. They need out.
January 3, 2026 at 7:28 AM
In our name, with our money, ostensibly for oil, but mostly because we have a president who's addicted to power and attention and needs to deflect from being friends with the world’s most famous pedophile. Shame on these fucking monsters who run my country. They need out.
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
![[A fist strangling a snake with swastika eyes.]
NO
MERCY
FOR FASCISM](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eppsmw5nfmdzhfeymtzd3xbe/bafkreidkc2oyqccejtcpmi7qsax2yvvf6qraxfgdqyaxoyunnlzw3defpe@jpeg)
Reposted by Andrew Perfors
this is, indeed, a crusade by the people directly running the New York Times to destroy the rights and lives of trans people in this country
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 1, 2026 at 7:24 PM
this is, indeed, a crusade by the people directly running the New York Times to destroy the rights and lives of trans people in this country
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it