Ryan Randall
@ryanpatrickrandall.com
A better world is possible, together.
Instructional design, humanities/Cultural Studies, pedagogy, open ed (OER/OA), library work. A human-presenting social media account.
https://www.ryanpatrickrandall.com/
https://hcommons.social/@ryanrandall
Instructional design, humanities/Cultural Studies, pedagogy, open ed (OER/OA), library work. A human-presenting social media account.
https://www.ryanpatrickrandall.com/
https://hcommons.social/@ryanrandall
Pinned
Ryan Randall
@ryanpatrickrandall.com
· Apr 25
Gentle reminder that there's no such thing as a "TERF".
The term you were looking for is "Feminism-Appropriating Reactionary Transphobe".
The term you were looking for is "Feminism-Appropriating Reactionary Transphobe".
"More people should work toward the flourishing of other people"? Yes! Of course!
"More places should operate like libraries"? Perhaps, with many caveats.
"Librarians should run the world"?‽ Hokay, 1st of all, this labor force has been backsliding in diversity since the 1980s. 2nd, have you (1/∞)
"More places should operate like libraries"? Perhaps, with many caveats.
"Librarians should run the world"?‽ Hokay, 1st of all, this labor force has been backsliding in diversity since the 1980s. 2nd, have you (1/∞)
I cringe every time someone says "librarians should run the world!" like they're a whimsical moral caste of people instead of just people in a regular job, and who may think your cutesy praise is patronizing, actually.
November 26, 2025 at 6:43 AM
"More people should work toward the flourishing of other people"? Yes! Of course!
"More places should operate like libraries"? Perhaps, with many caveats.
"Librarians should run the world"?‽ Hokay, 1st of all, this labor force has been backsliding in diversity since the 1980s. 2nd, have you (1/∞)
"More places should operate like libraries"? Perhaps, with many caveats.
"Librarians should run the world"?‽ Hokay, 1st of all, this labor force has been backsliding in diversity since the 1980s. 2nd, have you (1/∞)
Huh—I'd forgotten there's a couple people from Riverside in _Parable of the Sower_.
Hope they don't make me angry.
Hope they don't make me angry.
November 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Huh—I'd forgotten there's a couple people from Riverside in _Parable of the Sower_.
Hope they don't make me angry.
Hope they don't make me angry.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
My speaker notes & slides from today's panel on 'Resisting GenAI & Big Tech in Higher Education', co-organised with the Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU). The full recording, slides and resources will be available soon via the CJUU site.
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
November 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
My speaker notes & slides from today's panel on 'Resisting GenAI & Big Tech in Higher Education', co-organised with the Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU). The full recording, slides and resources will be available soon via the CJUU site.
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
"Yeah, it's an older Subaru… oh, that's not going to help much, is it?"
– me, utterly failing to usefully describe my ride at the Co-op (having had to park outside of their designated curbside spots)
– me, utterly failing to usefully describe my ride at the Co-op (having had to park outside of their designated curbside spots)
November 26, 2025 at 12:14 AM
"Yeah, it's an older Subaru… oh, that's not going to help much, is it?"
– me, utterly failing to usefully describe my ride at the Co-op (having had to park outside of their designated curbside spots)
– me, utterly failing to usefully describe my ride at the Co-op (having had to park outside of their designated curbside spots)
Reposted by Ryan Randall
A ruthless criticism of everything existing does not require a corresponding cynicism, a belief that good things are impossible. Quite the opposite: your normative commitments create a standard against which you judge progress towards your goal. That judgement is unsparing, but it's for a purpose.
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
A ruthless criticism of everything existing does not require a corresponding cynicism, a belief that good things are impossible. Quite the opposite: your normative commitments create a standard against which you judge progress towards your goal. That judgement is unsparing, but it's for a purpose.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
The Boy Scouts of America is an interesting lens through which to witness and analyze masculinity in the US. May I recommend Jay Mechling's book On My Honor for those who want to read more. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The Boy Scouts of America is an interesting lens through which to witness and analyze masculinity in the US. May I recommend Jay Mechling's book On My Honor for those who want to read more. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Ryan Randall
democratic backsliding
bowling alone
lost third spaces
is there a parallel phrase in this tier of sociology-informed widely circulated common parlance for "unraveling social fabric / civic decomposition"?
bowling alone
lost third spaces
is there a parallel phrase in this tier of sociology-informed widely circulated common parlance for "unraveling social fabric / civic decomposition"?
November 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
democratic backsliding
bowling alone
lost third spaces
is there a parallel phrase in this tier of sociology-informed widely circulated common parlance for "unraveling social fabric / civic decomposition"?
bowling alone
lost third spaces
is there a parallel phrase in this tier of sociology-informed widely circulated common parlance for "unraveling social fabric / civic decomposition"?
Reposted by Ryan Randall
In my defense, answering "they won't let me be" did correctly identify the precipitating event that led to kid asking "Dad, what's the FCC?"
November 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
In my defense, answering "they won't let me be" did correctly identify the precipitating event that led to kid asking "Dad, what's the FCC?"
Reposted by Ryan Randall
I think there's an interesting study of media to be done looking at who gets labeled an "expert" and who gets labeled a "skeptic". Certainly for coverage of "AI", but I wonder if there are other topics that would make interesting comparisons.
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I think there's an interesting study of media to be done looking at who gets labeled an "expert" and who gets labeled a "skeptic". Certainly for coverage of "AI", but I wonder if there are other topics that would make interesting comparisons.
Drophead for an AI article at the Verge says "Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence".
*This* is how I learn that I've been doing cutting edge research ever since I started being a high school newspaper editor, working in a writing center, or teaching 1st year comp?
*This* is how I learn that I've been doing cutting edge research ever since I started being a high school newspaper editor, working in a writing center, or teaching 1st year comp?
November 25, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Drophead for an AI article at the Verge says "Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence".
*This* is how I learn that I've been doing cutting edge research ever since I started being a high school newspaper editor, working in a writing center, or teaching 1st year comp?
*This* is how I learn that I've been doing cutting edge research ever since I started being a high school newspaper editor, working in a writing center, or teaching 1st year comp?
Impressive how intensely that interconnected group of quite obviously "real" users all liked to post a particular photo of famous footballers.
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Impressive how intensely that interconnected group of quite obviously "real" users all liked to post a particular photo of famous footballers.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
this is beautiful xkcd.com/3172/
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:49 AM
this is beautiful xkcd.com/3172/
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Reposted by Ryan Randall
All that super hyper masculine warrior nonsense is also basically just barbarian shit. The only kind of society where real men aren't producing works of love, gentleness, and beauty is a crusty, musty society of barbarity, disease, and brutism.
I, personally, am a fan of civilization.
I, personally, am a fan of civilization.
November 25, 2025 at 1:34 AM
All that super hyper masculine warrior nonsense is also basically just barbarian shit. The only kind of society where real men aren't producing works of love, gentleness, and beauty is a crusty, musty society of barbarity, disease, and brutism.
I, personally, am a fan of civilization.
I, personally, am a fan of civilization.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
It's National Novel Generation Month. LLMs have drained much of the original creativity and impetus for NaNoGenMo, but I gave it a go this year anyway. I took "No Time to Discourse," my interactive web-based speculative atlas of climate disaster, and turned it into a ~400-page book.
No Time to Discourse (Novel) · Issue #15 · NaNoGenMo/2025
My NaNoGenMo '25 contribution reworks No Time to Discourse, my interactive web-based speculative atlas of climate disaster, transforming it into a stable print book. The online version uses context...
github.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:21 PM
It's National Novel Generation Month. LLMs have drained much of the original creativity and impetus for NaNoGenMo, but I gave it a go this year anyway. I took "No Time to Discourse," my interactive web-based speculative atlas of climate disaster, and turned it into a ~400-page book.
This free online event is starting any minute now!
Next Monday, 11/24, two celebrated writers and scholars explore the craft and influence of Octavia E. Butler. Join @imaniperry.bsky.social and @tananarivedue.bsky.social for an evening dedicated to the revered SFF author’s luminous imagination. RSVP for free: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-radica...
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
This free online event is starting any minute now!
Glimpsed at a few all-wool sweaters and was once again reminded of the stand-up philosopher Mitch Hedberg's profound insight:
"This is 'dry clean only'. Which means it's *dirty*."
"This is 'dry clean only'. Which means it's *dirty*."
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Glimpsed at a few all-wool sweaters and was once again reminded of the stand-up philosopher Mitch Hedberg's profound insight:
"This is 'dry clean only'. Which means it's *dirty*."
"This is 'dry clean only'. Which means it's *dirty*."
Lunchtime conversation about how "still life" painting is a really weird term for what's ultimately a "Damn, Daniel!" showing off of wealth (including the painters' own skills).
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Lunchtime conversation about how "still life" painting is a really weird term for what's ultimately a "Damn, Daniel!" showing off of wealth (including the painters' own skills).
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Part of why I think existential phenomenology is a very good framework for thinking thru the philosophical problems w AI is bc it has a very clear and direct framework for showing how this is bad faith, a renunciation of your obligation to think and act and participate in society
I'm literally just living a normal life while also experiencing a theophany via communication with the satellite called VALIS.
November 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Part of why I think existential phenomenology is a very good framework for thinking thru the philosophical problems w AI is bc it has a very clear and direct framework for showing how this is bad faith, a renunciation of your obligation to think and act and participate in society
In addition to "slop", the over-eager introduction of Gen "AI" into everything feels increasingly like the moments when lead went into paint or asbestos when into every ceiling.
Society will be cleaning up the various types of damage for far longer than the profiteers will exist.
Society will be cleaning up the various types of damage for far longer than the profiteers will exist.
Schoolslop. Yes! That's exactly what it is. A great breakdown of what teaching is like in high school rn.
www.tiktok.com/@busynessgir...
www.tiktok.com/@busynessgir...
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
In addition to "slop", the over-eager introduction of Gen "AI" into everything feels increasingly like the moments when lead went into paint or asbestos when into every ceiling.
Society will be cleaning up the various types of damage for far longer than the profiteers will exist.
Society will be cleaning up the various types of damage for far longer than the profiteers will exist.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
"Sarita Hernandez and Selva Zafiro, co-founders of Marimacha Monarca Press in McKinley Park, were working at a community art event when members of the Southwest Rapid Response team—part of the immigrant coalition—approached them with an idea."
Signs across Chicago mark locations of ICE arrests
Signs resembling temporary no parking notices serve as reminders for the thousands of people arrested by federal immigration authorities under "Operation Midway Blitz" and the pain left behind for lov...
chicago.suntimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
"Sarita Hernandez and Selva Zafiro, co-founders of Marimacha Monarca Press in McKinley Park, were working at a community art event when members of the Southwest Rapid Response team—part of the immigrant coalition—approached them with an idea."
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Having done observational (deep individual & shallow space-based) research, I know how may difficulties there would be… but it is still mind-blowing how little follow-up there seems to be in the conception of "have students do X, Y, Z wit Gen 'AI'" assignments.
What do students actually do later?
What do students actually do later?
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Having done observational (deep individual & shallow space-based) research, I know how may difficulties there would be… but it is still mind-blowing how little follow-up there seems to be in the conception of "have students do X, Y, Z wit Gen 'AI'" assignments.
What do students actually do later?
What do students actually do later?
Reposted by Ryan Randall
I think it’s pretty clear at this point that one of the main impacts of LLMs is to disrupt thinking: to make it so that far too many people never properly learn how to do it, and then to control the output so there are thoughts that people never learn how to think.
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I think it’s pretty clear at this point that one of the main impacts of LLMs is to disrupt thinking: to make it so that far too many people never properly learn how to do it, and then to control the output so there are thoughts that people never learn how to think.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
everyone is talking about getting copies of University Keywords (or other JHU Press books) for all their friends, students, and comrades for the holidays, especially when it is 40% off with the code HHOL25.
November 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
everyone is talking about getting copies of University Keywords (or other JHU Press books) for all their friends, students, and comrades for the holidays, especially when it is 40% off with the code HHOL25.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
frame: it's a crime fighting tool
negation: it doesn't actually work
kirby: THE GOAL OF SURVEILLANCE IS TO EXERT POWER AND CONTROL. it isn't about "preventing crime" it's about defining a class of presumptive criminals, and *it doesn't have to be accurate to be effective for that purpose*
negation: it doesn't actually work
kirby: THE GOAL OF SURVEILLANCE IS TO EXERT POWER AND CONTROL. it isn't about "preventing crime" it's about defining a class of presumptive criminals, and *it doesn't have to be accurate to be effective for that purpose*
November 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
frame: it's a crime fighting tool
negation: it doesn't actually work
kirby: THE GOAL OF SURVEILLANCE IS TO EXERT POWER AND CONTROL. it isn't about "preventing crime" it's about defining a class of presumptive criminals, and *it doesn't have to be accurate to be effective for that purpose*
negation: it doesn't actually work
kirby: THE GOAL OF SURVEILLANCE IS TO EXERT POWER AND CONTROL. it isn't about "preventing crime" it's about defining a class of presumptive criminals, and *it doesn't have to be accurate to be effective for that purpose*