pickwick
@pickwick.bsky.social
just another angry glaswegian leftie
Reposted by pickwick
Q: will this help?
A: yes. celebrating the misfortune of bad people is one of the ways society discourages antisocial behavior
Q: is it healthy?
A: also yes. one needs to pretend that the unaccountable can at least be laid low by chance
A: yes. celebrating the misfortune of bad people is one of the ways society discourages antisocial behavior
Q: is it healthy?
A: also yes. one needs to pretend that the unaccountable can at least be laid low by chance
Before publicly celebrating terrible things happening to bad people, maybe don't just ask yourself if such statements are "fair" or if those people "deserve" what's happening to them...
Maybe ask yourself:
"Will this help?" and "Is this healthy?"
And take a moment if the answer to both is "No."
Maybe ask yourself:
"Will this help?" and "Is this healthy?"
And take a moment if the answer to both is "No."
January 14, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Q: will this help?
A: yes. celebrating the misfortune of bad people is one of the ways society discourages antisocial behavior
Q: is it healthy?
A: also yes. one needs to pretend that the unaccountable can at least be laid low by chance
A: yes. celebrating the misfortune of bad people is one of the ways society discourages antisocial behavior
Q: is it healthy?
A: also yes. one needs to pretend that the unaccountable can at least be laid low by chance
Reposted by pickwick
Banning social media for kids may be good or bad but that guy is a comically obvious bullshit artist with entire books full of trite lessons extrapolated from anecdotes that are themselves barely half-true.
January 14, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Banning social media for kids may be good or bad but that guy is a comically obvious bullshit artist with entire books full of trite lessons extrapolated from anecdotes that are themselves barely half-true.
The Maccabees thing has been confusing me because of how much effort is being put in to gaslighting people that the fans aren't notoriously violent racist thugs, but I think it's actually more to do with making sure nobody official listens to Muslims when they complain about racism
January 14, 2026 at 12:21 PM
The Maccabees thing has been confusing me because of how much effort is being put in to gaslighting people that the fans aren't notoriously violent racist thugs, but I think it's actually more to do with making sure nobody official listens to Muslims when they complain about racism
Reposted by pickwick
Thinking about that time the My Little Pony comics, of all things, absolutely bodied Scott Adams.
March 26, 2024 at 9:35 AM
Thinking about that time the My Little Pony comics, of all things, absolutely bodied Scott Adams.
Do you think he'd say this about a literal Nazi bar?
Labour MP Gordon McKee, "If there are millions of people using X, I have a responsibility to be in that place making that argument standing up for the things I believe in"
"And the truth is if Labour politicians are not there making that argument it'll be left to Reform UK who do use that platform"
"And the truth is if Labour politicians are not there making that argument it'll be left to Reform UK who do use that platform"
January 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Do you think he'd say this about a literal Nazi bar?
I support this policy but deplore the missing hyphenation and terrible line break in the graphic
January 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM
I support this policy but deplore the missing hyphenation and terrible line break in the graphic
Reposted by pickwick
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.
What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.
slate.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:11 PM
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
Reposted by pickwick
A few things that people don't seem to understand about the Grok/X/Musk issue.
Firstly, the ability to create misogynist content, CSAM etc is a *feature*, not a bug. This isn't an accident, an oversight, some rogues finding an unfortunate use for an otherwise benign tool. It's how it works.
1/5
Firstly, the ability to create misogynist content, CSAM etc is a *feature*, not a bug. This isn't an accident, an oversight, some rogues finding an unfortunate use for an otherwise benign tool. It's how it works.
1/5
January 13, 2026 at 3:05 PM
A few things that people don't seem to understand about the Grok/X/Musk issue.
Firstly, the ability to create misogynist content, CSAM etc is a *feature*, not a bug. This isn't an accident, an oversight, some rogues finding an unfortunate use for an otherwise benign tool. It's how it works.
1/5
Firstly, the ability to create misogynist content, CSAM etc is a *feature*, not a bug. This isn't an accident, an oversight, some rogues finding an unfortunate use for an otherwise benign tool. It's how it works.
1/5
Reposted by pickwick
One out of 12 rams is uninterested in females. Deemed “non-procreative" by farmers, they're typically sent to slaughter. German farmer Michael Stücke rescues the gay rams. His company Rainbow Wool, sells fabulous wool products from his flock of gay sheep. rainbow-wool.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:26 PM
One out of 12 rams is uninterested in females. Deemed “non-procreative" by farmers, they're typically sent to slaughter. German farmer Michael Stücke rescues the gay rams. His company Rainbow Wool, sells fabulous wool products from his flock of gay sheep. rainbow-wool.com
Reposted by pickwick
If you like books about linguistics and languages (perhaps you'd like to write your own?), here's a free talk for you!
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 12, 2026 at 3:31 PM
If you like books about linguistics and languages (perhaps you'd like to write your own?), here's a free talk for you!
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
I feel like I go round shops these days with a permanent exclamation mark dialogue bubble above my head. £3.30 for Boursin! £4.05 for five creme eggs!
January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM
I feel like I go round shops these days with a permanent exclamation mark dialogue bubble above my head. £3.30 for Boursin! £4.05 for five creme eggs!
Little, late, but something!
BREAKING: The Scottish Government is to introduce two new council tax 'for the most expensive properties'
January 13, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Little, late, but something!
Plastering the sides of the new Glasgow ebikes with "first ride free" is either genius or "didn't run it past a Scot first" and I'm not sure which
January 13, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Plastering the sides of the new Glasgow ebikes with "first ride free" is either genius or "didn't run it past a Scot first" and I'm not sure which
I mean it's still happening. Jonathan Haidt wrote an entirely vibes-based book about mental health and now govts around the world are banning kids from social media because Haidt's assumptions and prejudices match their own, and Haidt's been basically canonised
in retrospect, it was amazing how much power people like Steven Pinker and Malcolm Gladwell had at their fingertips in the pre-social media era. They could write an airport book claiming potato chips killed more people than all historical wars combined and it would become universal received wisdom
January 13, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I mean it's still happening. Jonathan Haidt wrote an entirely vibes-based book about mental health and now govts around the world are banning kids from social media because Haidt's assumptions and prejudices match their own, and Haidt's been basically canonised
Reposted by pickwick
I am once again reminding you all that the UK government introduced an Online Safety Act that is effectively a porn ban on most adult porn websites, but is dithering over banning a website that is actually creating child porn.
January 13, 2026 at 11:03 AM
I am once again reminding you all that the UK government introduced an Online Safety Act that is effectively a porn ban on most adult porn websites, but is dithering over banning a website that is actually creating child porn.
Reposted by pickwick
As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself transformed into an enormous Bug-type.
January 12, 2026 at 4:58 PM
As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself transformed into an enormous Bug-type.
Reposted by pickwick
If you’re after something to distract you for the next few days, try this. A grid of 2025 things – all you need to do is put them into 45 categories of 45 things each. Rather restful.
thomaswc.com/2025.html
thomaswc.com/2025.html
January 3, 2026 at 7:36 PM
If you’re after something to distract you for the next few days, try this. A grid of 2025 things – all you need to do is put them into 45 categories of 45 things each. Rather restful.
thomaswc.com/2025.html
thomaswc.com/2025.html
Reposted by pickwick
Kemi, this is just a population density map
January 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Kemi, this is just a population density map
There's like a dozen RAF Tycoons apparently patrolling around the coast of Britain right now which I'm gonna assume is some sort of training exercise
January 12, 2026 at 11:47 AM
There's like a dozen RAF Tycoons apparently patrolling around the coast of Britain right now which I'm gonna assume is some sort of training exercise
Reposted by pickwick
Ofcom may take decisive action against X, like requiring it to apologise in eight months on a webpage so buried that nobody will read it.
January 12, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Ofcom may take decisive action against X, like requiring it to apologise in eight months on a webpage so buried that nobody will read it.
Reposted by pickwick
I didn’t see it but it could be part of the Wages for Housework movement. and you used to have to soak terry nappies in a pail (pre-disposable)
January 11, 2026 at 9:20 PM
I didn’t see it but it could be part of the Wages for Housework movement. and you used to have to soak terry nappies in a pail (pre-disposable)
Reposted by pickwick
we’re in the vet’s office waiting room and they just called for Agamemnon. we all looked at the Great Dane but it turns out Agamemnon is an orange kitten in a backpack that makes him look like an astronaut cheese puff
January 11, 2026 at 5:27 PM
we’re in the vet’s office waiting room and they just called for Agamemnon. we all looked at the Great Dane but it turns out Agamemnon is an orange kitten in a backpack that makes him look like an astronaut cheese puff
The women's lib march on Call The Midwife's march tonight had several "Beyond The Pail" placards and I'm googling to see if this is a reference because their production values wouldn't normally let that sort of screw-up through
January 11, 2026 at 9:03 PM
The women's lib march on Call The Midwife's march tonight had several "Beyond The Pail" placards and I'm googling to see if this is a reference because their production values wouldn't normally let that sort of screw-up through
US Air Force flight roaring out of Prestwick there
January 11, 2026 at 8:03 PM
US Air Force flight roaring out of Prestwick there
the TV equivalent of printing lorem ipsum in the newspaper
January 11, 2026 at 6:52 PM
the TV equivalent of printing lorem ipsum in the newspaper