Rob Smith
@robinjsmith.bsky.social
Sociologist at Cardiff University and Visiting Professor at The University of the Witwatersrand. Ethnography, Ethnomethodology, and MCA, of all sorts of settings including policing, mountain rescue work, and public space.
Pinned
The (Re)Production, Negotiation, and Navigation of Social Asymmetries‐in‐Action: An Introduction to the Special Issue
This article reconsiders, and argues for, the contribution of ethnomethodological and conversation analytic research (EM/CA) to the understanding of social asymmetries in action. As well as highlight....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The introduction to our special issue on the (re)production of asymmetries-in-action. It’s been a pleasure working with @cathtam.bsky.social and our contributors in demonstrating EM/CA approaches to various “isms” and some of sociology’s “Big” concerns.
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The introduction to our special issue on the (re)production of asymmetries-in-action. It’s been a pleasure working with @cathtam.bsky.social and our contributors in demonstrating EM/CA approaches to various “isms” and some of sociology’s “Big” concerns.
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The (Re)Production, Negotiation, and Navigation of Social Asymmetries‐in‐Action: An Introduction to the Special Issue
This article reconsiders, and argues for, the contribution of ethnomethodological and conversation analytic research (EM/CA) to the understanding of social asymmetries in action. As well as highlight....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
The introduction to our special issue on the (re)production of asymmetries-in-action. It’s been a pleasure working with @cathtam.bsky.social and our contributors in demonstrating EM/CA approaches to various “isms” and some of sociology’s “Big” concerns.
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Rob Smith
Finally, I know of at least one case where the letter writer, deep into an episode of AI-induced psychosis, asked the LLM why scientists were not responding. The machine suggested that perhaps the scientists were trying to steal his discovery.
This will get someone killed sooner or later.
This will get someone killed sooner or later.
November 21, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Finally, I know of at least one case where the letter writer, deep into an episode of AI-induced psychosis, asked the LLM why scientists were not responding. The machine suggested that perhaps the scientists were trying to steal his discovery.
This will get someone killed sooner or later.
This will get someone killed sooner or later.
This! If you’ve spent any time with “most students” (which seems to be the operative category for management), you’d know this to be the case.
What I've been noticing lately in convos with students is that they *despise* the AI-slopification of everything as much or even more than I do. And yet our universities & their admin seem to believe that students for some reason want it integrated into everything. THEY DON'T.
“To be sat there with this material in front of you that is just really not worth anyone’s time, when you could be spending that time actually engaging with something worthwhile, is really frustrating,” he said.
November 21, 2025 at 8:28 AM
This! If you’ve spent any time with “most students” (which seems to be the operative category for management), you’d know this to be the case.
Reposted by Rob Smith
Come and work with my wonderful colleagues @lsepbs.bsky.social!
Assistant Professor in Social #Psychology / Environmental Psychology
#AcademicSky
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Assistant Professor in Social #Psychology / Environmental Psychology
#AcademicSky
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
November 6, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Come and work with my wonderful colleagues @lsepbs.bsky.social!
Assistant Professor in Social #Psychology / Environmental Psychology
#AcademicSky
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Assistant Professor in Social #Psychology / Environmental Psychology
#AcademicSky
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
A great opportunity to work with a great bunch of people on a very interesting project in Oulu!
A postdoctoral researcher position (languages and conversation analysis) open in Oulu! #EMCA oulunyliopisto.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Postdoctoral Researcher in languages and conversation analysis, Faculty of Humanities
We are now looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join us in the Research unit for Languages and Literature (English unit) at the Faculty of Humanities. The position is located in the research proje
oulunyliopisto.varbi.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A great opportunity to work with a great bunch of people on a very interesting project in Oulu!
Reposted by Rob Smith
We're hiring! Research Fellow role focused on institutional ethnography and helping us to develop the lived and living experience hub. Applications open until 17th November!
💡Job Opportunity!💡
We're looking for a Research Fellow to join the #DiscoveringLiveability team on a full-time and fixed-term basis for 30 months 🔎
For more information, follow the link below:
We're looking for a Research Fellow to join the #DiscoveringLiveability team on a full-time and fixed-term basis for 30 months 🔎
For more information, follow the link below:
Research Fellow (Discovering Liveability)
Research Fellow (qualitative methods) to join the Discovering Liveability: Co-producing alternatives to suicide prevention project, contributing to innovative suicide research that centres liveability...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM
We're hiring! Research Fellow role focused on institutional ethnography and helping us to develop the lived and living experience hub. Applications open until 17th November!
Reposted by Rob Smith
Membership categorisation, sociological description and role prompt engineering with ChatGPT #EMCA
In this paper (OA) we use Membership Categorisation Analysis to interrogate prompt engineering and the use of ‘natural’ sociological description - and lots more.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
In this paper (OA) we use Membership Categorisation Analysis to interrogate prompt engineering and the use of ‘natural’ sociological description - and lots more.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Membership categorisation, sociological description and role prompt engineering with ChatGPT #EMCA
In this paper (OA) we use Membership Categorisation Analysis to interrogate prompt engineering and the use of ‘natural’ sociological description - and lots more.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
In this paper (OA) we use Membership Categorisation Analysis to interrogate prompt engineering and the use of ‘natural’ sociological description - and lots more.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Rob Smith
You can get this from your local, independent bookshop next week!
www.routledge.com/Harvey-Sacks...
www.routledge.com/Harvey-Sacks...
Harvey Sacks and Ethnomethodology: The Prospect of an Alternate and Adequate Sociology
Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis have made major inroads into the disciplines that make up the social sciences. Although commonly run together under the title of EMCA, what their relationshi...
www.routledge.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
You can get this from your local, independent bookshop next week!
www.routledge.com/Harvey-Sacks...
www.routledge.com/Harvey-Sacks...
Reposted by Rob Smith
‘Practically the only people still pretending scaling LLMs is “all you need” are grifters.’ garymarcus.substack.com/p/game-over-... by @garymarcus.bsky.social
Game over for pure LLMs. Even Turing Award Winner Rich Sutton has gotten off the bus.
One by one, all the big names have turned around. What should we do next?
garymarcus.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 6:21 PM
‘Practically the only people still pretending scaling LLMs is “all you need” are grifters.’ garymarcus.substack.com/p/game-over-... by @garymarcus.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Smith
Turing Award laureate Rich Sutton now critiques pure LLMs—echoing @garymarcus.bsky.social . Time to move beyond science fiction and refocus on scientific rigour. #AI #LLM #Neurosymbolic #RichSutton #GaryMarcus
garymarcus.substack.com/p/game-over-...
garymarcus.substack.com/p/game-over-...
Game over for pure LLMs. Even Turing Award Winner Rich Sutton has gotten off the bus.
One by one, all the big names have turned around. What should we do next?
garymarcus.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Turing Award laureate Rich Sutton now critiques pure LLMs—echoing @garymarcus.bsky.social . Time to move beyond science fiction and refocus on scientific rigour. #AI #LLM #Neurosymbolic #RichSutton #GaryMarcus
garymarcus.substack.com/p/game-over-...
garymarcus.substack.com/p/game-over-...
Reposted by Rob Smith
A devastating piece from an anonymous Cardiff Uni academic:
“Huddled under blankets in my freezing office, because the anti-suicide lock on the window has seized slightly ajar, I am – like everyone –frantically trying to make it work for the students.”
voice.cymru/huge-cardiff...
“Huddled under blankets in my freezing office, because the anti-suicide lock on the window has seized slightly ajar, I am – like everyone –frantically trying to make it work for the students.”
voice.cymru/huge-cardiff...
Huge Cardiff University Cuts Have Been A Disaster For Staff & Students -
Reading Time: 3 minutesMonths since bosses at Wales’ biggest university imposed dramatic cuts, an anonymous academic reveals what…
voice.cymru
September 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
A devastating piece from an anonymous Cardiff Uni academic:
“Huddled under blankets in my freezing office, because the anti-suicide lock on the window has seized slightly ajar, I am – like everyone –frantically trying to make it work for the students.”
voice.cymru/huge-cardiff...
“Huddled under blankets in my freezing office, because the anti-suicide lock on the window has seized slightly ajar, I am – like everyone –frantically trying to make it work for the students.”
voice.cymru/huge-cardiff...
Reposted by Rob Smith
📢Meet the IIEMCA27 Keynote Speakers.
Read about their work on the conference website:
www.iiemca27.org/about
#EMCA #MCA
Read about their work on the conference website:
www.iiemca27.org/about
#EMCA #MCA
About | iiemca27
www.iiemca27.org
September 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
📢Meet the IIEMCA27 Keynote Speakers.
Read about their work on the conference website:
www.iiemca27.org/about
#EMCA #MCA
Read about their work on the conference website:
www.iiemca27.org/about
#EMCA #MCA
Reposted by Rob Smith
👋 Sociologists in Solidarity with Palestinians @socispal.bsky.social have joined Bluesky
Give them a follow for resources, events and upcoming actions calling on sociological professional bodies to us their platforms to stand with Palestinian
If you want to get involved email [email protected]
Give them a follow for resources, events and upcoming actions calling on sociological professional bodies to us their platforms to stand with Palestinian
If you want to get involved email [email protected]
September 18, 2025 at 9:24 PM
👋 Sociologists in Solidarity with Palestinians @socispal.bsky.social have joined Bluesky
Give them a follow for resources, events and upcoming actions calling on sociological professional bodies to us their platforms to stand with Palestinian
If you want to get involved email [email protected]
Give them a follow for resources, events and upcoming actions calling on sociological professional bodies to us their platforms to stand with Palestinian
If you want to get involved email [email protected]
Reposted by Rob Smith
In June 2024, a special issue CFP on the Chicago School sparked a collaboration with @robinjsmith.bsky.social, Terry, Erik & Patrik. Inspired by Sacks' (1992:27) appreciative critique, we explored how CS ethnography may relate to the development of #EMCA. Our paper is now out #OpenAccess: t.ly/Has34
September 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
In June 2024, a special issue CFP on the Chicago School sparked a collaboration with @robinjsmith.bsky.social, Terry, Erik & Patrik. Inspired by Sacks' (1992:27) appreciative critique, we explored how CS ethnography may relate to the development of #EMCA. Our paper is now out #OpenAccess: t.ly/Has34
“The banana is big, but its skin is bigger.”
Billionaires are convinced AI is on the verge of making new scientific discoveries because they don't understand how AI chatbots work.
Billionaires Convince Themselves AI Is Close to Making New Scientific Discoveries
gizmodo.com
July 16, 2025 at 8:01 AM
“The banana is big, but its skin is bigger.”
Reposted by Rob Smith
Reposted by Rob Smith
Chapter, verse, etc: if you’re an early career researcher with some serious writing to get done, Strictly Come Writing might hold the answer.
Apply by 1 September to join the Sociological Review Foundation's annual funded and facilitated writing retreat in beautiful rural Wales.
buff.ly/HGegMPZ
Apply by 1 September to join the Sociological Review Foundation's annual funded and facilitated writing retreat in beautiful rural Wales.
buff.ly/HGegMPZ
July 16, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Chapter, verse, etc: if you’re an early career researcher with some serious writing to get done, Strictly Come Writing might hold the answer.
Apply by 1 September to join the Sociological Review Foundation's annual funded and facilitated writing retreat in beautiful rural Wales.
buff.ly/HGegMPZ
Apply by 1 September to join the Sociological Review Foundation's annual funded and facilitated writing retreat in beautiful rural Wales.
buff.ly/HGegMPZ
Reposted by Rob Smith
This really shouldn't be in question: Do not rely on "generative AI" to bullshit out legal writings that could mean literal life-changing or *-ending* consequences for another person, or yourself.
And if you do it, & bad consequences arise, the harmed party should get to sue you & the "AI" company.
And if you do it, & bad consequences arise, the harmed party should get to sue you & the "AI" company.
I believe very strongly that any use of generative AI (at least that I can think of) in the practice of law is malpractice, and I wish more professionals and organizations would come out and say that
July 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This really shouldn't be in question: Do not rely on "generative AI" to bullshit out legal writings that could mean literal life-changing or *-ending* consequences for another person, or yourself.
And if you do it, & bad consequences arise, the harmed party should get to sue you & the "AI" company.
And if you do it, & bad consequences arise, the harmed party should get to sue you & the "AI" company.
Reposted by Rob Smith
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Computer-vision research powers surveillance technology - Nature
An analysis of research papers and citing patents indicates the extensive ties between computer-vision research and surveillance.
www.nature.com
June 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Reposted by Rob Smith
This is one of the most important conversations in sport. Thank you very much for giving it the focus it deserves, @hebagowayed.bsky.social and @nickocchiuto.bsky.social.
Latest in the Guardian with @nickocchiuto.bsky.social argues that the Club World Cup tournament has given Trump a platform for his authoritarianism, with full endorsement of FIFA. We must answer by boycotting the World Cup matches to be held in the US next year.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Authoritarian-friendly Fifa fest shows why next year’s World Cup must be boycotted | Byline Heba Gowayed and Nicholas Occhiuto
The Club World Cup is being staged across the US as citizens from 12 countries are banned and masked agents demand people’s papers based on the color of their skin
www.theguardian.com
June 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
This is one of the most important conversations in sport. Thank you very much for giving it the focus it deserves, @hebagowayed.bsky.social and @nickocchiuto.bsky.social.
Reposted by Rob Smith
Just 5 days left to submit an abstract…
Forensic Conversations symposium (17 Sep Lboro/online)
‼️ Abstract submission deadline ‼️
📅 15 June 2025
Forensic Conversations symposium (17 Sep Lboro/online)
‼️ Abstract submission deadline ‼️
📅 15 June 2025
Forensic Conversations is back!
🗓️ 17 Sep
📍 Lboro & online
A spectacular symposium #EMCA #conversationanalysis in criminal justice settings.
Call for abstracts & registration OPEN
bit.ly/4ivADkN
@darg-sessions.bsky.social @lborocrcc.bsky.social @lborouniversity.bsky.social @lizstokoe.bsky.social
🗓️ 17 Sep
📍 Lboro & online
A spectacular symposium #EMCA #conversationanalysis in criminal justice settings.
Call for abstracts & registration OPEN
bit.ly/4ivADkN
@darg-sessions.bsky.social @lborocrcc.bsky.social @lborouniversity.bsky.social @lizstokoe.bsky.social
June 10, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Just 5 days left to submit an abstract…
Forensic Conversations symposium (17 Sep Lboro/online)
‼️ Abstract submission deadline ‼️
📅 15 June 2025
Forensic Conversations symposium (17 Sep Lboro/online)
‼️ Abstract submission deadline ‼️
📅 15 June 2025
Just spent a while looking for a photo from a missing person search for a talk I’m giving next week. This. This was the photo…
Fortunately, there’s more in the detail* of the account that goes with it!
#ethnography
#fieldwork
Fortunately, there’s more in the detail* of the account that goes with it!
#ethnography
#fieldwork
June 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Just spent a while looking for a photo from a missing person search for a talk I’m giving next week. This. This was the photo…
Fortunately, there’s more in the detail* of the account that goes with it!
#ethnography
#fieldwork
Fortunately, there’s more in the detail* of the account that goes with it!
#ethnography
#fieldwork
Hand written instructions from a paper map was a vibe.
And everyone was good at holding a map on the steering wheel, between the thumbs. Always worked out ok… ish…
And everyone was good at holding a map on the steering wheel, between the thumbs. Always worked out ok… ish…
I am officially one of The Ancients, Keeper of Knowledge of the Before Time
June 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Hand written instructions from a paper map was a vibe.
And everyone was good at holding a map on the steering wheel, between the thumbs. Always worked out ok… ish…
And everyone was good at holding a map on the steering wheel, between the thumbs. Always worked out ok… ish…
Reposted by Rob Smith
Thank you @robinjsmith.bsky.social for an inspiring 3 and a half days of exploring #MCA and potential projects for @iiemca27.bsky.social. We are already looking forward to your next visit.
#EMCA
#EMCA
June 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Thank you @robinjsmith.bsky.social for an inspiring 3 and a half days of exploring #MCA and potential projects for @iiemca27.bsky.social. We are already looking forward to your next visit.
#EMCA
#EMCA
May 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM