Stephen Jones | Lightnews

Stephen H. Jones

@stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social

210 followers 200 following 180 posts

Social scientist. Writes about religion and prejudice, society and politics. Teaches sociology and criminology. Rides bikes.

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Political science 39%

Sociology 28%

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Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 13h

Also applies to universities. I know too many colleagues who use these detectors on students' work. Ironically, one of the AI indicators is a 'flawless' writing style, which ends up with students penalised for being good at writing.

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 15h

"AI detectors" are themselves AI, and yet are endlessly trusted by people on here if they say that a newspaper article is AI.

AI detectors are snake oil. None of them reliably works. And UK broadsheet are not yet using AI to write articles. No, that link to the deal you found doesn't prove it.

Yiannis @yiannisbab.bsky.social · 15h

Just because I keep seeing those "I checked this piece and it's written by AI" - this is an old article of mine, before AI was available. So could we not?

Reposted by Steve Peers, David Merrett, Stephen Jones

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 15h

Yiannis @yiannisbab.bsky.social · 15h

Just because I keep seeing those "I checked this piece and it's written by AI" - this is an old article of mine, before AI was available. So could we not?

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Elizabeth Stokoe, Lesley A. Hall , and 5 more Richard S.J. Tol, Elizabeth Stokoe, Lesley A. Hall, Tom van der Meer, Aileen McHarg, Stephen Jones, Molly Scott Cato, Tom Louwerse

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 2d

I never really sign stuff. But this was different. It's not about trying to facilitate or block a particular party's route to power. It's about an electoral system that's unsuited to the political realities we face today and risks giving us government after government with no convincing mandate.

Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics

Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...

www.politicshome.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Stephen Jones, Stuart White , and 1 more Jonathan Portes, Stephen Jones, Stuart White, Aviel Roshwald

Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 3d

Here is an explanation on why Jewish Greens (who obviously don't speak for every single Jewish person in the party, etc) are so opposed to the Zionism is Racism motion brought to the #GreenParty's spring conference.

jewishgreens.greenparty.org.uk/2026/02/12/w...

Why Jewish Greens are urging party members to vote against MOTION A105: ZIONISM IS RACISM - Jewish Greens

Jewish Greens oppose motion at party conference unintentionally antisemitic

jewishgreens.greenparty.org.uk

Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 3d

Presumably this opens the government up to compensation claims? If so, this could be an expensive as well as stupid and draconian mistake.

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 3d

Nearly 3,000 peaceful people have been arrested under this outrageous ban.
It was brought in after lobbying by arms companies and Netanyahu's government.
It has been condemned by UN rapporteurs and many other experts.
All the while, our government has been collaborating in real state terrorism.

Reposted by Stephen Jones

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 3d

Reposted by Steve Peers, Laurent Pech, Stephen Jones , and 5 more Steve Peers, Laurent Pech, Stephen Jones, Stuart White, Andrew Novak, Vaughan S. Roberts, Christina Pagel, Richard Moorhead

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 3d

Wow!

Palestine Action win judicial review - Guardian report.

This is a *big* legal win.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

UK ban on Palestine Action unlawful, high court judges rule

Protest group’s co-founder wins legal challenge against decision to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Matt Zoller Seitz @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social · 5d

Totally normal democracy we have here, 10/10, no notes

thehill.com/homenews/med...

Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years

Gallup will no longer track presidential approval ratings after more than eight decades doing so, the public opinion polling agency confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday. The company said starting thi…

thehill.com

Reposted by Stephen Jones

COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 5d

Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.

How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI

The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.

www.coyotemedia.org

Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 6d

Badenoch apparently the most prime ministerial party leader. Shoot me now.

Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 6d

Forced choice head 2 head on preferred prime minister.
🌹Starmer v.narrowly edges Farage and Polanski but loses to Davey & Badenoch
🌳Badenoch wins all four head to heads
🔶Davey beats Starmer & v.narrowly Farage, but loses to Badenoch

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 6d

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Tim Bale, Stephen Jones , and 1 more Ben H. Ansell, Tim Bale, Stephen Jones, Pauline Stafford

Tom Roberts @tpgroberts.bsky.social · 6d

Right, but if you strip out the hyperbole it's just "the public are angry about the cost of living, immigration and the NHS and don't particularly understand any of them" which, sure, but what do I do with that?

Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 6d

You may not like it, but strip out the hyperbole and abuse and it's quite hard to argue with this Cummings asssessment of the public mood

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 6d

I missed the linked review on what works to reduce violence against women and girls, published by the Home Office in December

The review should be of value for English universities in addressing harassment and sexual misconduct (an OfS condition: www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an... )

What works to reduce violence against women and girls: a summary of the evidence (accessible)

www.gov.uk

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Georgina Sturge @georginasturge.bsky.social · 6d

I only recently found out about the Gen Z 'Christian revival,' where seemingly legitimate polls are showing a quadrupling of church attendance among young adults.

Naturally, I had to look into the data myself, and found a more mixed picture than I'd expected.

open.substack.com/pub/georgina...

The Gen-Z Christian 'revival', polling bots, and immigration

Botched online polling is unhelpful, but so is not having a clear picture of demographic change

open.substack.com

Reposted by Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Jessica E. Tierney, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 8 more Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Jessica E. Tierney, Rosemary A. Joyce, Robert Black, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Stephen Jones, Richard Pettigrew, Daniel Kuehn, Philipp Sarasin, Richard M. Carpiano, Jason A. Heppler

simi @simifresh.bsky.social · 7d

the bushes were people 😂

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Rachel Savage @rachelmsavage.bsky.social · 8d

Morgan McSweeney's resignation means the Epstein files have claimed another scalp in Europe. In the US, meanwhile, crickets...

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 10d

While people who would probably qualify as liberals risk their lives in the frozen streets of Minneapolis (and do similar brilliantly organized solidarity work in New Orleans and Chicago and many other cities), not sure what this is supposed to mean.

Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 10d

I'm not especially sympathetic to Starmer but JF makes a pretty compelling point here.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Ben H. Ansell, Matthew Bunn , and 38 more Anna O. Law, Ben H. Ansell, Matthew Bunn, Dorothy Bishop, Steve Peers, Robert W. Wallace, Samuel L. Perry, Caroline Krafft, Jonathan M. Gilligan, Martin Paul Eve, Pierre Bataille, Lesley A. Hall, Peter Campbell, Calvin K. Lai, Peter Holmes, Peter Schöttler, Jonathan Hopkin, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Silvia Secchi, Julia Lynch, Andrew L. Whitehead, Nazita Lajevardi, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Margot C. Finn, Stephen Jones, Jens Rydgren, Ben Rosamond, Dana R. Fisher, Cailin O’Connor, Lisa Diedrich, Paul Nightingale, Catherine J. Frieman, Gerardo Martí, Gayle Kaufman, Anthony Pecqueux, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Marianne Blanchard, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Martin Winter

Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 10d

I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.

Great work everyone.

The Board of Governors decided, unilaterally, that no published textbook in the field of sociology could be used in compliance with the law for an Intro to Sociology class. None.
Victor: There's not a single existing textbook on the market that could be used that would qualify under state law?
Zachary: Correct.
Victor: I'm sorry, that's kind of funny. Like, the absurdity of not a single sociology textbook getting past the censors. I mean, it makes me kind of proud of our colleagues, but...

Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 11d

Excellent appointment. I've been thinking recently the BSA ought to be talking more loudly about the (possibly existential?) crisis in UK sociology, and the wider crisis in higher ed. Les is among the best communicators on both subjects IMO.

Sociological and Cultural Studies, University of Glasgow @uofgsociology.bsky.social · 11d

Wonderful to see @academicdiary.bsky.social taking up his new role as President of @britsoci.bsky.social for the coming year!

Professor Les Back takes up role of BSA President - Everyday Society - The British Sociological Association

We are delighted to confirm that Professor Les Back has taken up the role of BSA President, stepping up from Vice President. Many members will know Les’s work and his...

es.britsoc.co.uk

Reposted by Stephen Jones, Matthew Waites

Sociological and Cultural Studies, University of Glasgow @uofgsociology.bsky.social · 11d

Wonderful to see @academicdiary.bsky.social taking up his new role as President of @britsoci.bsky.social for the coming year!

Professor Les Back takes up role of BSA President - Everyday Society - The British Sociological Association

We are delighted to confirm that Professor Les Back has taken up the role of BSA President, stepping up from Vice President. Many members will know Les’s work and his...

es.britsoc.co.uk

Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 12d

There was a definite uptick when he started working for PressTV and had a material incentive to be ragingly antisemitic.

(This is perhaps ironic given he made his name by analysing how material interests underpin prejudice.)

Stephen H. Jones @stphnhwrdjns.bsky.social · 12d

Apparently it's controversial and provocative to express hurt at innocent people dying.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘Focus on football’: Guardiola criticised by Manchester Jewish group over Palestine comments

The JRC hit out at the Manchester City manager’s ‘controversial views’ after Pep Guardiola had referred to ‘genocide in Palestine’ on Tuesday

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 1 more Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Stephen Jones

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 12d

I have yet to receive a reply to this from anyone in the Green Party - my image and quote appear under the title "Everyone Agrees, Labour Are Done!". As the excerpt from the same article quoted here I reproduce below makes clear, I do not "agree". This clearly misrepresents my views.

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 12d

Just a quick note to @greenparty.org.uk and @greenpartyhan.bsky.social - I was not consulted on being quoted on your leaflets and I have not endorsed your campaign (or any campaign in this seat). I think this note, like the bar chart next to it, is misleading and out of context.

tom @tommcr.bsky.social · 12d

👀

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Will Davies @will-davies.bsky.social · 13d

a dish served ice cold

Reposted by Will Jennings, Andrew Scott, Lesley A. Hall , and 7 more Will Jennings, Andrew Scott, Lesley A. Hall, Mike Rowe, Michael H. Whitworth, Stephen Jones, Geoff Pearson, Katrina Navickas, Jack Stilgoe, Steven H. Seggie

Caroline Russell @carolinerussell.bsky.social · 14d

“Jaywalking is permitted in London. In 1966, the police tried to crack down on it, but gave up after three months.”

People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.

Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Self-driving taxis are coming to London – should we be worried? | Jack Stilgoe

Waymo’s cars were first rolled out in San Francisco, but the English capital’s old roads, pelican crossings and jaywalkers may pose issues for AI, says science and technology professor Jack Stilgoe

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Matt Ashby @mattashby.com · 14d

The most-common victim of homicide a young man killed during a brawl. But what about child homicide, elder abuse and domestic abuse? This thread summarises what we know about homicide vulnerability for those specific groups in society.

🧵

Bar chart comparing domestic homicide victimisation rates per million people in England and Wales by ethnicity and sex. The chart is split horizontally: light blue bars show female victims, dark blue bars show male victims. Domestic-homicide risk is highest for Black women (7 homicides per million people), Black men (4.5 homicides per million) and Asian women and women of other ethnicities (4 per million). Looking at the number of victims in each category, the highest average annual number of victims is among White women (60 victims), followed by Asian (8), Black (7), Other (2), and Mixed/Multiple (1). Among males, White victims also have the highest rate at 29, followed by Asian (5), Black (4), Other (1), and Mixed/Multiple (0). The x-axis shows victimisation rate per million people; the y-axis lists ethnicities, grouped by sex. A note explains that 97.5% of homicides had known victim sex and ethnicity, and population data refers to those aged 16+ per the Home Office definition of domestic homicide. Data source is the Home Office Homicide Index.

Reposted by Stephen Jones

Matthew Cortland, Esq (they) @matthewcort.land · 16d

Lag. The federal judiciary is catching up — this is a remarkable order, it's only three pages. I recommend reading it. I have, in all of my time practicing law, never seen a judge do anything like this: