Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist)
@roderickgraham.bsky.social
Gadfly | I post about social science, culture, and progressive politics | Views are my own
https://rodgraham.substack.com/
https://rodgraham.substack.com/
It was all a dream. They used to read Word Up magazines. They hung pictures on their wall. Way back, they had black lumberjacks. And hats to match!
December 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
It was all a dream. They used to read Word Up magazines. They hung pictures on their wall. Way back, they had black lumberjacks. And hats to match!
The wildest thing is they can be born in Alaska and raised by Eskimos, went to Stanford and then Oxford and then Harvard, talking about an idea I can barely understand while on a light jog...
Yet and still I can 99% tell I'm talking to a brother just by voice.
I can't square that circle.
Yet and still I can 99% tell I'm talking to a brother just by voice.
I can't square that circle.
December 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The wildest thing is they can be born in Alaska and raised by Eskimos, went to Stanford and then Oxford and then Harvard, talking about an idea I can barely understand while on a light jog...
Yet and still I can 99% tell I'm talking to a brother just by voice.
I can't square that circle.
Yet and still I can 99% tell I'm talking to a brother just by voice.
I can't square that circle.
This is all kinds of right and all kinds of wrong all kinds of times.
December 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This is all kinds of right and all kinds of wrong all kinds of times.
Don't usually watch romantic comedies anymore.
At this stage in life, two strangers meeting in odd circumstances and falling into this odd state called "love" is some kind of science fiction.
But the new Duplass movie Baltimorans is quirky enough to be entertaining.
At this stage in life, two strangers meeting in odd circumstances and falling into this odd state called "love" is some kind of science fiction.
But the new Duplass movie Baltimorans is quirky enough to be entertaining.
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Don't usually watch romantic comedies anymore.
At this stage in life, two strangers meeting in odd circumstances and falling into this odd state called "love" is some kind of science fiction.
But the new Duplass movie Baltimorans is quirky enough to be entertaining.
At this stage in life, two strangers meeting in odd circumstances and falling into this odd state called "love" is some kind of science fiction.
But the new Duplass movie Baltimorans is quirky enough to be entertaining.
So you can watch videos on your phone during team meetings...just not porn. Got it!
December 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
So you can watch videos on your phone during team meetings...just not porn. Got it!
Conservative media bubbles cannot construct the narrative of a successful competent president for their captured audience anymore, and this is why the man's approval ratings are so low.
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
Trump's Approval Rating Drops to 36%, New Second-Term Low
President Donald Trump's job approval rating has slipped to a new second-term low point and is approaching his all-time low of 34%.
news.gallup.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Conservative media bubbles cannot construct the narrative of a successful competent president for their captured audience anymore, and this is why the man's approval ratings are so low.
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
Not the most PC take, but vote yay or nay on something because it's what you think is the right and moral thing to do.
Not because someone said something you don't like.
It's what's wrong with politics.
And I'm someone who is happy with your voting decision.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...
Not because someone said something you don't like.
It's what's wrong with politics.
And I'm someone who is happy with your voting decision.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...
Indiana GOP state senator says he will vote no on redistricting push after Trump used slur
Indiana state Sen. Michael Bohacek said he would vote no on a GOP push to redraw congressional districts after Trump used a slur for intellectually disabled people.
www.nbcnews.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Not the most PC take, but vote yay or nay on something because it's what you think is the right and moral thing to do.
Not because someone said something you don't like.
It's what's wrong with politics.
And I'm someone who is happy with your voting decision.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...
Not because someone said something you don't like.
It's what's wrong with politics.
And I'm someone who is happy with your voting decision.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...
I suffer fools lightly.
November 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I suffer fools lightly.
This was a reply in a very popular thread about higher education.
This is one reason. There are others...
1. Students feel they *have* to attend university.
2. Unis are now over- leveraged with so many administrators and programs, they *need* those students, and so they lower(ed) standards.
This is one reason. There are others...
1. Students feel they *have* to attend university.
2. Unis are now over- leveraged with so many administrators and programs, they *need* those students, and so they lower(ed) standards.
This is huge - the deal is fundamentally different now. "I give you a whole bunch of money, and in return I get a degree and my easiest path to that degree" is entirely rational.
We were lucky, who went to university with a feeling we were being "allowed" somewhere to expend effort learning.
We were lucky, who went to university with a feeling we were being "allowed" somewhere to expend effort learning.
November 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This was a reply in a very popular thread about higher education.
This is one reason. There are others...
1. Students feel they *have* to attend university.
2. Unis are now over- leveraged with so many administrators and programs, they *need* those students, and so they lower(ed) standards.
This is one reason. There are others...
1. Students feel they *have* to attend university.
2. Unis are now over- leveraged with so many administrators and programs, they *need* those students, and so they lower(ed) standards.
Ken Burns' new documentary about the Revolutionary War describes the conflict as a *Civil War* between conservative loyalists and progressive patriots.
Quite a framing for most people I'd think! I certainly never thought this way.
1/2
Quite a framing for most people I'd think! I certainly never thought this way.
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Ken Burns' new documentary about the Revolutionary War describes the conflict as a *Civil War* between conservative loyalists and progressive patriots.
Quite a framing for most people I'd think! I certainly never thought this way.
1/2
Quite a framing for most people I'd think! I certainly never thought this way.
1/2
Reposted by Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist)
What do these corporations have in common?
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
November 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
What do these corporations have in common?
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
When someone or something is described as "out of whack", it suggests an unfavorable state.
But I do not think being whack or, I don't know..."in whack" is better?
But I do not think being whack or, I don't know..."in whack" is better?
November 29, 2025 at 1:53 AM
When someone or something is described as "out of whack", it suggests an unfavorable state.
But I do not think being whack or, I don't know..."in whack" is better?
But I do not think being whack or, I don't know..."in whack" is better?
Individual patterns can fairly be unique - one of one. Environmental conditions also.
Groups are rarely so.
There are no "essences" where a group of people move from one condition to another, and slavishly follow old patterns despite the new situations encountered.
1/2
Groups are rarely so.
There are no "essences" where a group of people move from one condition to another, and slavishly follow old patterns despite the new situations encountered.
1/2
November 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Individual patterns can fairly be unique - one of one. Environmental conditions also.
Groups are rarely so.
There are no "essences" where a group of people move from one condition to another, and slavishly follow old patterns despite the new situations encountered.
1/2
Groups are rarely so.
There are no "essences" where a group of people move from one condition to another, and slavishly follow old patterns despite the new situations encountered.
1/2
In the coming years, AI acknowledgements will have the same empty functions as land acknowledgements to the point where they may converge...
"Before we begin proceedings, we acknowledge that this land was once owned by the Powhatan. This acknowledgment was written by ChatGPT."
"Before we begin proceedings, we acknowledge that this land was once owned by the Powhatan. This acknowledgment was written by ChatGPT."
November 28, 2025 at 12:57 PM
In the coming years, AI acknowledgements will have the same empty functions as land acknowledgements to the point where they may converge...
"Before we begin proceedings, we acknowledge that this land was once owned by the Powhatan. This acknowledgment was written by ChatGPT."
"Before we begin proceedings, we acknowledge that this land was once owned by the Powhatan. This acknowledgment was written by ChatGPT."
I'm watching a show I like so much it is guaranteed to be cancelled.
November 28, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I'm watching a show I like so much it is guaranteed to be cancelled.
Commercials are absurd after streaming for years.
I mean it's just odd to hear about State Farm insurance and see that goofy guy right after I learn the identity of the serial killer.
Then I kinda forget the storyline because of the characters and scenes in ads.
Oh yeah...the serial killer.
I mean it's just odd to hear about State Farm insurance and see that goofy guy right after I learn the identity of the serial killer.
Then I kinda forget the storyline because of the characters and scenes in ads.
Oh yeah...the serial killer.
November 28, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Commercials are absurd after streaming for years.
I mean it's just odd to hear about State Farm insurance and see that goofy guy right after I learn the identity of the serial killer.
Then I kinda forget the storyline because of the characters and scenes in ads.
Oh yeah...the serial killer.
I mean it's just odd to hear about State Farm insurance and see that goofy guy right after I learn the identity of the serial killer.
Then I kinda forget the storyline because of the characters and scenes in ads.
Oh yeah...the serial killer.
"We are ordinary, decent criminals and we thrive on neglect."
I love this series, A Thousand Blows.
I love this series, A Thousand Blows.
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"We are ordinary, decent criminals and we thrive on neglect."
I love this series, A Thousand Blows.
I love this series, A Thousand Blows.
Indeed.
Just imagine how many prayers each day are sent up for people who are victims of gun violence.
I guess these prayers provide solace to those hurt.
Some kind of policy that would reduce this violence would also be beneficial.
Just imagine how many prayers each day are sent up for people who are victims of gun violence.
I guess these prayers provide solace to those hurt.
Some kind of policy that would reduce this violence would also be beneficial.
The shooting of National Guard members is a horrific act of violence. I’m praying for these servicemembers and their loved ones.
November 26, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Indeed.
Just imagine how many prayers each day are sent up for people who are victims of gun violence.
I guess these prayers provide solace to those hurt.
Some kind of policy that would reduce this violence would also be beneficial.
Just imagine how many prayers each day are sent up for people who are victims of gun violence.
I guess these prayers provide solace to those hurt.
Some kind of policy that would reduce this violence would also be beneficial.
When faced with a problem that is easy to solve but someone is making it hard, instead of saying "it's not rocket science, I'm going to start saying "it's not social science".
With AI increasingly able to handle the more quantifiable aspects of society I suspect this will become more apt.
With AI increasingly able to handle the more quantifiable aspects of society I suspect this will become more apt.
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
When faced with a problem that is easy to solve but someone is making it hard, instead of saying "it's not rocket science, I'm going to start saying "it's not social science".
With AI increasingly able to handle the more quantifiable aspects of society I suspect this will become more apt.
With AI increasingly able to handle the more quantifiable aspects of society I suspect this will become more apt.
Watching old episodes of Hell's Kitchen has me wondering what percentage of those chefs now have lung cancer?
Wow they smoked like chimneys in those older seasons.
Wow they smoked like chimneys in those older seasons.
November 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Watching old episodes of Hell's Kitchen has me wondering what percentage of those chefs now have lung cancer?
Wow they smoked like chimneys in those older seasons.
Wow they smoked like chimneys in those older seasons.
I guess there was a time when someone said "that's none of your business" in response to a baker inquiring about how much a cobbler charges for his services.
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I guess there was a time when someone said "that's none of your business" in response to a baker inquiring about how much a cobbler charges for his services.
@grapheneos.org let me give this a try on my old pixel 7.
November 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
@grapheneos.org let me give this a try on my old pixel 7.
What I understand from watching old seasons of Hell's Kitchen is that all of those chefs probably have lung cancer now.
November 21, 2025 at 11:31 PM
What I understand from watching old seasons of Hell's Kitchen is that all of those chefs probably have lung cancer now.