Conan McKegg
@conanmckegg.bsky.social
Film-maker, queer advocate, cat lover, gamer, and weirdo. I work for Wētā FX. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
“The weird men online have endless reservoirs of psychological dysfunction and large expanses of time to marshall their obsessions into people’s mentions. More often than not, they win.”
They win not just because there are no consequences but ‘decent men’ give them a seat at the table. #nzpol
They win not just because there are no consequences but ‘decent men’ give them a seat at the table. #nzpol
Weird men are driving people out of politics
Their smear campaigns are ham-fisted and grotesque. They’re also working.
thespinoff.co.nz
January 6, 2026 at 9:18 PM
“The weird men online have endless reservoirs of psychological dysfunction and large expanses of time to marshall their obsessions into people’s mentions. More often than not, they win.”
They win not just because there are no consequences but ‘decent men’ give them a seat at the table. #nzpol
They win not just because there are no consequences but ‘decent men’ give them a seat at the table. #nzpol
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Hey, how about we stop calling things A.I. when they’re just machine learning?
An LLM isn’t intelligent
Generative graphics aren’t intelligent
A rotoscoping tool isn’t intelligent
Elon Musk’s deepfake porn machine isn’t intelligent
A.I. is the term the hucksters prefer. We don’t need it.
An LLM isn’t intelligent
Generative graphics aren’t intelligent
A rotoscoping tool isn’t intelligent
Elon Musk’s deepfake porn machine isn’t intelligent
A.I. is the term the hucksters prefer. We don’t need it.
January 3, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Hey, how about we stop calling things A.I. when they’re just machine learning?
An LLM isn’t intelligent
Generative graphics aren’t intelligent
A rotoscoping tool isn’t intelligent
Elon Musk’s deepfake porn machine isn’t intelligent
A.I. is the term the hucksters prefer. We don’t need it.
An LLM isn’t intelligent
Generative graphics aren’t intelligent
A rotoscoping tool isn’t intelligent
Elon Musk’s deepfake porn machine isn’t intelligent
A.I. is the term the hucksters prefer. We don’t need it.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
"How can a democratic society function if we assume political opponents are operating in bad faith?" is a tough question, but the answer is definitely not "ignore all evidence and assume they're acting in good faith".
January 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM
"How can a democratic society function if we assume political opponents are operating in bad faith?" is a tough question, but the answer is definitely not "ignore all evidence and assume they're acting in good faith".
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Something we have to remember, and it sucks, but it's still a factor, is that it's not just the right. Metiria Turei was driven out of politics 9 years ago not just for admitting historic welfare fraud - to illustrate the failures of the system - but because even people on "her side" turned on her
“our Mamdani” would also get immediately stochastic terrorism’d out of politics, very likely egged on by leaders of the current coalition parties, and have it framed as a personal failure so maybe we should fix that issue before looking for a figurehead we can slot in
Watch nz politics fall over themselves trying to “find our Mamdani” but not fix the way we treat wahine and takatāpui Māori in politics 👀
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Something we have to remember, and it sucks, but it's still a factor, is that it's not just the right. Metiria Turei was driven out of politics 9 years ago not just for admitting historic welfare fraud - to illustrate the failures of the system - but because even people on "her side" turned on her
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Friends, this Christmas Eve, remember: if someone at a family event this holiday season is being loudly racist or misogynist or homophobic and you tell them that's not acceptable behavior? You did not "start the fight" and you did not "spoil the mood".
They did.
Be good to yourselves.
They did.
Be good to yourselves.
December 24, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Friends, this Christmas Eve, remember: if someone at a family event this holiday season is being loudly racist or misogynist or homophobic and you tell them that's not acceptable behavior? You did not "start the fight" and you did not "spoil the mood".
They did.
Be good to yourselves.
They did.
Be good to yourselves.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Today's abysmal jobs report is a reminder that tax cuts for corporations and the rich don’t create jobs or grow the economy.
What's required is investment in working people — and better wages.
When workers have money to spend, the economy grows and businesses create more jobs.
Remember this.
What's required is investment in working people — and better wages.
When workers have money to spend, the economy grows and businesses create more jobs.
Remember this.
December 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Today's abysmal jobs report is a reminder that tax cuts for corporations and the rich don’t create jobs or grow the economy.
What's required is investment in working people — and better wages.
When workers have money to spend, the economy grows and businesses create more jobs.
Remember this.
What's required is investment in working people — and better wages.
When workers have money to spend, the economy grows and businesses create more jobs.
Remember this.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Remember when it was too much WFH that was the problem? This is just that again – finding something to point at and blame. The fact that the economy is full of seasonal businesses that make their money in summer is studiously ignored. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
‘Are we still in holiday mode until March?’ Simon Bridges also questions the long summer break
The summer shutdown is coming but should the Kiwi summer holiday still stay sacrosanct?
www.stuff.co.nz
December 8, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Remember when it was too much WFH that was the problem? This is just that again – finding something to point at and blame. The fact that the economy is full of seasonal businesses that make their money in summer is studiously ignored. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
Reposted by Conan McKegg
The tunnel will take a decade and total gridlock to finish, just to save a few minutes to the airport.
Meanwhile Courtenay Place would have finished by 2029 and would have been fully transformed for people, public transport and a thriving hospo scene.
Meanwhile Courtenay Place would have finished by 2029 and would have been fully transformed for people, public transport and a thriving hospo scene.
NZTA and the minister had refused to share a timeline, but the Herald can reveal the second Mt Victoria Tunnel and SH1 improvements project will take a decade to complete.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellingto...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellingto...
Capital's $3.8b tunnel project to won't be finished for ten years
A timeline for the project was previously kept secret, but can now been revealed
www.nzherald.co.nz
December 3, 2025 at 5:25 AM
The tunnel will take a decade and total gridlock to finish, just to save a few minutes to the airport.
Meanwhile Courtenay Place would have finished by 2029 and would have been fully transformed for people, public transport and a thriving hospo scene.
Meanwhile Courtenay Place would have finished by 2029 and would have been fully transformed for people, public transport and a thriving hospo scene.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
So many people don’t understand what intimacy coordinators do. It’s not just about actor safety. They choreograph the scene just like a stunt coordinator choreographs a fight scene.
Some actors underestimate how to make an authentic and genuine intimate scene.
Some actors underestimate how to make an authentic and genuine intimate scene.
*sigh* Here's a thought - if you want to run pieces shitting on intimacy coordinators perhaps try talking to actors who don't have enough clout to shut creepy bullshit down without committing career suicide?
December 1, 2025 at 9:14 PM
So many people don’t understand what intimacy coordinators do. It’s not just about actor safety. They choreograph the scene just like a stunt coordinator choreographs a fight scene.
Some actors underestimate how to make an authentic and genuine intimate scene.
Some actors underestimate how to make an authentic and genuine intimate scene.
And the great irony remains that just funding systems to house and support homeless people has a lower long term cost than the anti homeless architecture and move on policies that keep them homeless.
I absolutely fucking hate "move on orders" as a concept and anyone who agrees with them instead of FINDING HOMES FOR PEOPLE is an asshole
December 1, 2025 at 1:55 AM
And the great irony remains that just funding systems to house and support homeless people has a lower long term cost than the anti homeless architecture and move on policies that keep them homeless.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
THIS. In the end, if cynical nihilism is your political jam, you're as entitled to go to Hell in a handcart of your own design as everyone else. Just don't whine when nobody else is keen to take the ride.
I mean, you can pitch on basic competance - something this regime is lacking - but people are still going to ask "competance to do what"? And you need to have an answer besides "collect a huge salary to fix nothing and keep things as they are".
November 30, 2025 at 10:33 PM
THIS. In the end, if cynical nihilism is your political jam, you're as entitled to go to Hell in a handcart of your own design as everyone else. Just don't whine when nobody else is keen to take the ride.
Take advantage of this. Re;ACT is a really fun game. Easy to teach, challenging to master. :)
Bring Re;ACT home for Christmas this holiday season and dive into a game with hundreds of hours of replay value.
All Re;ACT items are up to 50% off, INCLUDING the Kickstarter Collector's Edition for Black Friday only!
www.brotherminggames.com/store?Proper...
All Re;ACT items are up to 50% off, INCLUDING the Kickstarter Collector's Edition for Black Friday only!
www.brotherminggames.com/store?Proper...
November 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Take advantage of this. Re;ACT is a really fun game. Easy to teach, challenging to master. :)
Ugh. This is so stupid and just goes to show what a crap job these people are doing.
The government's right hand doesn't know what its far-right hand is doing www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
'It's not impossible': Willis says National may join other parties to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
The National deputy leader said her party may also campaign to get rid of the law.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Ugh. This is so stupid and just goes to show what a crap job these people are doing.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
THIS. Friendly reminder that the only reason we know the Wannsee Conference even happened - and who participated - is because a single copy of the heavily edited record given to each attendee survived the war. And was accidentally discovered in an archive in 1947.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
THIS. Friendly reminder that the only reason we know the Wannsee Conference even happened - and who participated - is because a single copy of the heavily edited record given to each attendee survived the war. And was accidentally discovered in an archive in 1947.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannsee...
Reposted by Conan McKegg
So Winnie is saying he doesn't want to do the thing he said he wanted to do but promised he wouldn't do to get into government?
More flip flop than a ute full of jandals.
More flip flop than a ute full of jandals.
November 25, 2025 at 1:11 AM
So Winnie is saying he doesn't want to do the thing he said he wanted to do but promised he wouldn't do to get into government?
More flip flop than a ute full of jandals.
More flip flop than a ute full of jandals.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Hills Hats supplies AirNZ ($126m profit in 2025) and the Defence Force ($9 billion Judith-driven spend-up) but neither of these organizations can afford to pay a fair price to a local supplier? Ffs
#nzpol
#nzpol
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Hills Hats supplies AirNZ ($126m profit in 2025) and the Defence Force ($9 billion Judith-driven spend-up) but neither of these organizations can afford to pay a fair price to a local supplier? Ffs
#nzpol
#nzpol
Reposted by Conan McKegg
If joking about Charlie Kirk is considered “violent rhetoric,” how do we describe open calls to hang members of Congress?
November 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
If joking about Charlie Kirk is considered “violent rhetoric,” how do we describe open calls to hang members of Congress?
Just received my order from @storybrewersroleplaying.com and they even gave me a bonus gift I wasn’t expecting. Love your games ladies - hoping to get Fight with Spirit and Castles in the Sky games started these holidays! :)
November 20, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Just received my order from @storybrewersroleplaying.com and they even gave me a bonus gift I wasn’t expecting. Love your games ladies - hoping to get Fight with Spirit and Castles in the Sky games started these holidays! :)
Reposted by Conan McKegg
A lot of the people who are saying that generative A.I. is the future and everyone will use it and we'd better get on board are the same people who said the same thing about NFTs
November 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A lot of the people who are saying that generative A.I. is the future and everyone will use it and we'd better get on board are the same people who said the same thing about NFTs
This is a ridiculous expenditure of money. Wellington needs to invest in the Golden Mile first. That will revitalise the main shopping strip of the city and do far more for everyone than another tunnel.
There goes my hope that a new govt would see this for the expensive boondoggle that it is and can it.
Hard to fathom why Labour would be in favour of such a wasteful and retrograde project and disinterested in a much smaller project to make Wellington's core a modern, attractive, safe place.
#nzpol
Hard to fathom why Labour would be in favour of such a wasteful and retrograde project and disinterested in a much smaller project to make Wellington's core a modern, attractive, safe place.
#nzpol
Hipkins keen on new $3.8b Wellington tunnels too - but what do you think?
A four-week ‘engagement’ period has started for the project that is intended to make travel easier through downtown Wellington.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 18, 2025 at 2:21 AM
This is a ridiculous expenditure of money. Wellington needs to invest in the Golden Mile first. That will revitalise the main shopping strip of the city and do far more for everyone than another tunnel.
Nothing says “I’m innocent” like fighting openly to avoid letting any of the evidence that exonerates you from being shared.
Can we just take a minute and acknowledge that our POTUS is right OUT IN THE OPEN lobbying Congressional members to vote against releasing the Epstein files?! Like... what the fuck else does anyone even need to know?
November 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Nothing says “I’m innocent” like fighting openly to avoid letting any of the evidence that exonerates you from being shared.
Reposted by Conan McKegg
Earlier this year, I met a Croatian journalist who was in the US doing a piece on America’s politics and I asked her what surprised her. And she said, “What you all call the far left is just being normal.”
November 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Earlier this year, I met a Croatian journalist who was in the US doing a piece on America’s politics and I asked her what surprised her. And she said, “What you all call the far left is just being normal.”
Reposted by Conan McKegg
There’s a third:
The Greens suggested it so we will disregard it as nonsensical without reading the detail. #nzpol
The Greens suggested it so we will disregard it as nonsensical without reading the detail. #nzpol
One of my favourite things about NZ politics is there's only two possible categories for ideas:
It'll never work here
&
We can definitely make it work despite it failing elsewhere
#nzpol
It'll never work here
&
We can definitely make it work despite it failing elsewhere
#nzpol
November 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
There’s a third:
The Greens suggested it so we will disregard it as nonsensical without reading the detail. #nzpol
The Greens suggested it so we will disregard it as nonsensical without reading the detail. #nzpol
Reposted by Conan McKegg
I hate to bring stuff from the bad place over here, but I can't help sharing this screenshot I saw on Insta because it's incandescent with truth.
November 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I hate to bring stuff from the bad place over here, but I can't help sharing this screenshot I saw on Insta because it's incandescent with truth.