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Max Osborn

@maxosb.bsky.social

990 followers 1.4K following 170 posts

🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 | he/they | queer/feminist/critical criminologist | assistant prof at villanova | studies queer and trans victimization, resilience, resource access, and community-building

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · May 27

New piece out in Punishment & Society: "Groomers, gays, and gender ideology: Why the anti-LGBTQIA+ legislative backlash is a moral panic and why criminologists should care."
doi.org/10.1177/1462...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

doi.org

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Rafi @rafil.bsky.social · 10d

I have approximately zero following on this app, sharing in the hopes it can get in front of the right person. A man I went to college with’s wife was kidnapped by ICE at a green card hearing, and he’s trying to find a reporter who will speak to him about the situation

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 14d

Lord I beseech you, when I ask for the confidence of a mediocre white man, please stop before hitting the 'thinks sitting down for a one-on-one profile by Isaac Chotiner is a good idea' level of confidence

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Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 15d

Everyone, I wanted to let you know about the sad news that despite everyone's best efforts Bluestockings will close at the end of the year: www.bluestockings.com - I want to thank every single person who sent books to them through my book drive [will share more later]. A tremendous loss to NYC.

Bluestockings Cooperative

Bluestockings Cooperative: Established in 1999, Worker-Owned since 2021. Located at 116 Suffolk Street, New York, NY 10002. One of NYC's only queer, trans, sex-worker run bookstores.

www.bluestockings.com

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 18d

Please read this thread.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 18d

At the Broadview ICE "processing facility" outside Chicago.

Earlier today, federal agents unleashed chemical weapons on protesters, elected officials, a local congressional candidate, and a local mayor.

Defiant anti deportation activists remain. Another protest is planned for 7pm.

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onion person @junlper.beer · 19d

the hysteria has gone off the rails so far that the average american thinks 1 in 5 people are transgender. pure absolute insanity that is driving the current lavender scare

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Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 19d

They just tear-gassed us. They tried to run us over in a van holding a peaceful protester. They shot us with pepper balls. They dragged another protester into the facility.

shawn @mulchy.bsky.social · 19d

moments ago, ice agents again came out of the broadview detention/“professing” facility to escort a silver suv out of the lot.

one of the agents picked up and threw congressional candidate kat abughazaleh to the ground.

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Blayne Haggart @bhaggart.bsky.social · 19d

Who could’ve predicted this, other than every single critical data studies scholar, who’ve been highlighting data bias issues for years and years?
Given this previous knowledge, it’s criminal that this technology has been deployed at scale. A triumph of willful ignorance and wishful thinking.

Steve Senior @stevensenior.bsky.social · 19d

AI medical tools downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities - on.ft.com/3IuZ5qz via @FT

AI medical tools downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities

Large language models reflect biases that can lead to inferior healthcare advice to female, Black and Asian patients

on.ft.com

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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 19d

The findings “suggest that medical AI tools powered by LLMs have a tendency to not reflect the severity of symptoms among female patients, while also displaying less ‘empathy’ towards Black and Asian ones.”

AI medical tools downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities

Large language models reflect biases that can lead to inferior healthcare advice to female, Black and Asian patients

www.ft.com

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Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 20d

Trump’s allies now control X, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, & TikTok.

They own Fox News, CBS, WaPo, WSJ & NY Post.

They own Sinclair Broadcasting which has 200 tv stations and local news in 100 markets.

“Freedom of speech” is now what Trump and his billionaire pals say it is.

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 20d

Wherever there is attempted repression of trans folks, there is also bravery and creativity and resilience. Thinking about the young people, in Texas and elsewhere, who are having to assert their personhood in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 20d

This is horrific, but just wanted to highlight this quote from a trans kid: “I don’t have to live my life as someone I am not. I am choosing to be brave and assert myself in my true identity, even though it is not socially acceptable. My name is MINE, and mine only. I own this part of myself.”

Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · 20d

NEW @teenvogue.com: a Texas bill passed this summer mandating schools deadname trans students, leaving enforcement to districts. @kitoconnell.com speaks to trans students in TX:

“I’ve never felt more at threat here. I can’t stop thinking that everything would be so different if I detransitioned.”

Some Texas Schools Are Making Teachers Deadname Trans Students After New Bill Passed

“This can’t be interpreted as anything else but an attack directly on trans kids.”

www.teenvogue.com

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 20d

Awful and dangerous to hear the Mayor echo the transphobic bigotry coming from the Trump administration. It's completely at odds with the values of our city and another reason why his single, disgraced term in office cannot end soon enough.

A screenshot of two tweets from the Politico reporter Joe Anuta.

The 1st: ".@NYCMayor elaborates on his comments yesterday that boys and girls should not use the same bathroom. He says he will review the policy of his own education department, which allows students to use restrooms “consistent with their gender identity” and potentially change it"

2nd: "He says students whose sex at birth differs should never be allowed to use the bathroom at the same time, regardless of gender identity"

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Matthew Dowd @matthewjdowd.bsky.social · 20d

I would love to be part of the conversation on MSNBC related to the Kimmel story and it's chilling effects on first amendment, but unfortunately I was terminated by MSNBC for stating that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which lead to hateful actions".

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Michael Ann, spooky, scary, spooky scary halloween femme @michaelann.bsky.social · 20d

I've been saying this for yearsf: LLM-GENERATED SAMPLES ARE JUST FALSIFIED DATA. It's similar to just lying about what people said, or taking your own best guesses.

HEY FELLOW SOCIAL SCIENTISTS: STOP TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO AVOID ACTUALLY TALKING TO THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE STUDYING

Jamie Cummins @jamiecummins.bsky.social · 20d

Can large language models stand in for human participants?
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.

One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.

THREAD 🧵

The threat of analytic flexibility in using large language models to simulate human data: A call to attention

Social scientists are now using large language models to create "silicon samples" - synthetic datasets intended to stand in for human respondents, aimed at revolutionising human subjects research. How...

arxiv.org

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 20d

More on it here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Advancing the Trifecta: An Integrated Theoretical Framework for Understanding Violence

The Trifecta of Violence — a theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between violent ideology/rhetoric, violent laws/policies, and violent actions perpetrated by individuals and th...

www.tandfonline.com

Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 20d

Thinking, as I now so often have cause to do, of Emily Lenning, Sara Brightman, and Carrie Buist's "trifecta of violence" framework, which traces the interplay between violent rhetoric, violent policy, and violent action: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 29d

This is messed up for a number of reasons, but worth naming specifically that the offending content appeared to be the general existence of trans people, which the student claimed was “illegal” to teach about.

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 29d

A professor at Texas A&M taught… something related to gender that offended a student, who secretly filmed herself objecting. That video is picked up by TX legislators, who demand her firing, and now the dean and dept head have been fired.

www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...

A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum

The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating.

www.kbtx.com

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Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · 29d

Lil Nas X faces felony charges of "battery" against an officer from an arrest during a mental health crisis in late August. I wrote about my family member's experience with police being sent during mental health episodes—still common for wellness checks—and how it ruined their life.
@teenvogue.com

Why Lil Nas X's Arrest Is More Proof Police Have No Business Treating the Mentally Ill

"Police generally aren’t trained or qualified to respond to mental health crises."

www.teenvogue.com

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · 29d

Still afraid to get my hopes up but…this seems good?!

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 29d

Zohran Mamdani has nearly twice the support in the New York City mayoral race as his closest rival, a New York Times/Siena poll found.

Mamdani Holds Huge Lead in Mayor’s Race, Times/Siena Poll Finds

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in the New York City mayoral race, is way ahead of his three rivals, but his lead would diminish considerably if the field shrank to a two-man race.

nyti.ms

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Vicky ACAB @vickyacab.bsky.social · Sep 4

Every step we take to lessen suffering makes the world better. Every life saved is a world saved. We needn't solve everything for everyone to be able to solve everything for entire worlds. Help Ella, Ellen and Alaa. Please. I just don't know what else to say

Help me save my family and escape from Gaza to Eygpt

My name is Alaa, and I am a mother of three precious children: Musa, who is 12 years old, and my twin daughters, Ella and Ellen, who are 8 years old. Before October 7th, our lives were filled with hop...

chuffed.org

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David_j_roth @davidjroth.bsky.social · Sep 4

We took the paywall down on this one. defector.com/how-the-fuck...

How Are You Supposed To Get The COVID Vaccine Now? An Explainer | Defector

As the muggy malaise of summer winds down, you might find yourself interested in taking advantage of one of several safe and proven vaccines to help protect you from the inevitable brumal surge of res...

defector.com

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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · Aug 27

A federal magistrate judge said an arrest in Northeast Washington was preceded by the “most illegal search I’ve seen in my life” and described another arrest as lacking “basic human dignity.” wapo.st/3Jyc2QI

D.C. judges and grand jurors push back on Trump policing surge

A federal magistrate judge said one arrest in D.C. was preceded by the “most illegal search I’ve seen in my life” and another lacked “basic human dignity.”

wapo.st

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Interrupting Criminalization @interruptcrim.bsky.social · Aug 25

The narrative being pushed around "crime"/ rates is copaganda, and is being used to justify the occupation of DC and other cities.

Again—this isn't actually about "crime" at all. If you want to learn more about the construction of crime, the manipulation of data, and more, here are some resources:

Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · Aug 24

Journalists writing about Trump's plans to send the National Guard to cities in blue states have to think carefully about how to frame it.

The federal government (including the National Guard) call it an anti-crime narrative. But it increasingly feels like that's a pretext for military occupation.

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · Aug 25

Like if you watched the Sopranos and your takeaway was “hmmm, that Tony seems like a real standup guy and very content with his life, I’m going to adopt him as my new role model” then I’m sorry, I cannot help you

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Max Osborn @maxosb.bsky.social · Aug 25

Ohhhh, is it “misreading the point of antihero narratives” time again already? I guess we were due for another round of it sooner or later.

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