Dr Alex
@afedorov.bsky.social
Hong Kong & Asia | Religion, plurality & secularity
Sociology & education | Autoethnography & writing
Liminality | Freedom, diversity, motivation
afedorov.com | #RaveAsMethod | jatb.nl
Sociology & education | Autoethnography & writing
Liminality | Freedom, diversity, motivation
afedorov.com | #RaveAsMethod | jatb.nl
Pinned
Dr Alex
@afedorov.bsky.social
· 23d
Paid work. I’m always interested in:
1. A remote assistant to help with admin + writing tasks in Asana (indie research/conferences/travel logistics). Part-time to start, potentially close to full-time.
2. Editor(s) for my website, essays, and academic papers (hourly or project-based).
#postPhD
1. A remote assistant to help with admin + writing tasks in Asana (indie research/conferences/travel logistics). Part-time to start, potentially close to full-time.
2. Editor(s) for my website, essays, and academic papers (hourly or project-based).
#postPhD
Affect is interesting to me because it’s the missing layer that explains almost everything I care about—without reducing it to “ideas,” “identity,” or “culture.”
My default instrument is calibration. I raise a little pressure and watch what happens. That’s affect work.
My default instrument is calibration. I raise a little pressure and watch what happens. That’s affect work.
February 17, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Affect is interesting to me because it’s the missing layer that explains almost everything I care about—without reducing it to “ideas,” “identity,” or “culture.”
My default instrument is calibration. I raise a little pressure and watch what happens. That’s affect work.
My default instrument is calibration. I raise a little pressure and watch what happens. That’s affect work.
Mini-holiday logic: 5 nights in Bangkok on Hilton points, but the structure follows me. “Vacation” = 1 writing block, 1 admin block, 1 body block (gym/pool/walk). If those happen, the day counts.
The older I get, the less I believe in “full vacations.”
The older I get, the less I believe in “full vacations.”
February 16, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Mini-holiday logic: 5 nights in Bangkok on Hilton points, but the structure follows me. “Vacation” = 1 writing block, 1 admin block, 1 body block (gym/pool/walk). If those happen, the day counts.
The older I get, the less I believe in “full vacations.”
The older I get, the less I believe in “full vacations.”
Today’s #Top3:
1. Targeted polishing on the #HabitusOfStaycations paper
2. One 90-minute Asana block: bills + Australia/US logistics
3. Gym + pool in my beloved Hilton, after a proper breakfast ahah
1. Targeted polishing on the #HabitusOfStaycations paper
2. One 90-minute Asana block: bills + Australia/US logistics
3. Gym + pool in my beloved Hilton, after a proper breakfast ahah
February 16, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Today’s #Top3:
1. Targeted polishing on the #HabitusOfStaycations paper
2. One 90-minute Asana block: bills + Australia/US logistics
3. Gym + pool in my beloved Hilton, after a proper breakfast ahah
1. Targeted polishing on the #HabitusOfStaycations paper
2. One 90-minute Asana block: bills + Australia/US logistics
3. Gym + pool in my beloved Hilton, after a proper breakfast ahah
"Phangan Power" is a 9,2k-word cinematic diary of two periods of time, 10 days each, written day by day.
First block: day 0 — night bus + ferry; some interesting shit is clearly going to happen (do you know Vipassana?). Then days 1–10.
Second block: same structure, another 10 days on Koh Phangan +
First block: day 0 — night bus + ferry; some interesting shit is clearly going to happen (do you know Vipassana?). Then days 1–10.
Second block: same structure, another 10 days on Koh Phangan +
February 15, 2026 at 4:55 AM
"Phangan Power" is a 9,2k-word cinematic diary of two periods of time, 10 days each, written day by day.
First block: day 0 — night bus + ferry; some interesting shit is clearly going to happen (do you know Vipassana?). Then days 1–10.
Second block: same structure, another 10 days on Koh Phangan +
First block: day 0 — night bus + ferry; some interesting shit is clearly going to happen (do you know Vipassana?). Then days 1–10.
Second block: same structure, another 10 days on Koh Phangan +
Been in great shape in my beloved writing laboratory, Thailand.
Finished a new chapter, “Phangan Power,” on discipline, emotions, sunrises (and #Eden). A bit for #DigitalDetox, 4 weeks in Nepal of #AI withdrawal. + proposals/slides, Asana, admin.
Can’t wait to start the actual detox/withdrawal 👯♀️💆♂️
Finished a new chapter, “Phangan Power,” on discipline, emotions, sunrises (and #Eden). A bit for #DigitalDetox, 4 weeks in Nepal of #AI withdrawal. + proposals/slides, Asana, admin.
Can’t wait to start the actual detox/withdrawal 👯♀️💆♂️
February 15, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Been in great shape in my beloved writing laboratory, Thailand.
Finished a new chapter, “Phangan Power,” on discipline, emotions, sunrises (and #Eden). A bit for #DigitalDetox, 4 weeks in Nepal of #AI withdrawal. + proposals/slides, Asana, admin.
Can’t wait to start the actual detox/withdrawal 👯♀️💆♂️
Finished a new chapter, “Phangan Power,” on discipline, emotions, sunrises (and #Eden). A bit for #DigitalDetox, 4 weeks in Nepal of #AI withdrawal. + proposals/slides, Asana, admin.
Can’t wait to start the actual detox/withdrawal 👯♀️💆♂️
What I love about bookstores in fancy Bangkok malls is that their bestseller tables look almost like an airport in Boston or New York — the kind of places where people (1) read and (2) wonder why they read.
Surprised 48 Laws of Power isn’t here. #LivingLiminal
Surprised 48 Laws of Power isn’t here. #LivingLiminal
February 14, 2026 at 5:08 AM
What I love about bookstores in fancy Bangkok malls is that their bestseller tables look almost like an airport in Boston or New York — the kind of places where people (1) read and (2) wonder why they read.
Surprised 48 Laws of Power isn’t here. #LivingLiminal
Surprised 48 Laws of Power isn’t here. #LivingLiminal
It was a joke about Nina Kraviz yesterday—she’s there every year, and I’ve danced to her “Spanish dictionary” vibes four summers in a row.
This year, they’re beyond expectations! 999999999, I Hate Models, Boris Brejcha, Charlotte de Witte, Richie Hawtin, Amelie Lens, Indira Paganotto, Adiel, etc.
This year, they’re beyond expectations! 999999999, I Hate Models, Boris Brejcha, Charlotte de Witte, Richie Hawtin, Amelie Lens, Indira Paganotto, Adiel, etc.
February 14, 2026 at 1:37 AM
It was a joke about Nina Kraviz yesterday—she’s there every year, and I’ve danced to her “Spanish dictionary” vibes four summers in a row.
This year, they’re beyond expectations! 999999999, I Hate Models, Boris Brejcha, Charlotte de Witte, Richie Hawtin, Amelie Lens, Indira Paganotto, Adiel, etc.
This year, they’re beyond expectations! 999999999, I Hate Models, Boris Brejcha, Charlotte de Witte, Richie Hawtin, Amelie Lens, Indira Paganotto, Adiel, etc.
I’ve been writing heavily on #TravelRave and #RaveAsMethod lately and realised my 2026 schedule is kind of unbelievable:
1. Awakenings in July, right after Australia.
2. Back to my beloved Ozora, hopefully with a #RaveAsMethod + epistemology talk.
1. Awakenings in July, right after Australia.
2. Back to my beloved Ozora, hopefully with a #RaveAsMethod + epistemology talk.
February 13, 2026 at 12:57 PM
I’ve been writing heavily on #TravelRave and #RaveAsMethod lately and realised my 2026 schedule is kind of unbelievable:
1. Awakenings in July, right after Australia.
2. Back to my beloved Ozora, hopefully with a #RaveAsMethod + epistemology talk.
1. Awakenings in July, right after Australia.
2. Back to my beloved Ozora, hopefully with a #RaveAsMethod + epistemology talk.
This brutally weak (by Thai standards) hotel breakfast was a friendly reminder why I avoid Hilton, except Milano Centrale (mia amore 🥰) or historic locations + point deals (like now).
Hilton basically normalized “continental” breakfasts (translation: you’ll still need to eat somewhere else) +
Hilton basically normalized “continental” breakfasts (translation: you’ll still need to eat somewhere else) +
February 13, 2026 at 2:25 AM
This brutally weak (by Thai standards) hotel breakfast was a friendly reminder why I avoid Hilton, except Milano Centrale (mia amore 🥰) or historic locations + point deals (like now).
Hilton basically normalized “continental” breakfasts (translation: you’ll still need to eat somewhere else) +
Hilton basically normalized “continental” breakfasts (translation: you’ll still need to eat somewhere else) +
Hilton 4+1 reward redemption is such a big deal for me because:
1. In 2025, I spent 4 nights with Hilton in Lisbon purely to grow these miles.
2. Now I realised I can do the same 4+1 block again in our Bangkok hotel empire, in the area I like.
+
1. In 2025, I spent 4 nights with Hilton in Lisbon purely to grow these miles.
2. Now I realised I can do the same 4+1 block again in our Bangkok hotel empire, in the area I like.
+
February 12, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Hilton 4+1 reward redemption is such a big deal for me because:
1. In 2025, I spent 4 nights with Hilton in Lisbon purely to grow these miles.
2. Now I realised I can do the same 4+1 block again in our Bangkok hotel empire, in the area I like.
+
1. In 2025, I spent 4 nights with Hilton in Lisbon purely to grow these miles.
2. Now I realised I can do the same 4+1 block again in our Bangkok hotel empire, in the area I like.
+
One more #HabitusOfStaycations talk coming up in Australia, so I was updating the slides ytd.
Writing about burnout today and suddenly realised I need a mini-holiday — and I’ve got a ridiculous amount of unused Hilton points.
Booked 5 nights in Bangkok (20K/N) to wash out from #HK.
Feels weird.
Writing about burnout today and suddenly realised I need a mini-holiday — and I’ve got a ridiculous amount of unused Hilton points.
Booked 5 nights in Bangkok (20K/N) to wash out from #HK.
Feels weird.
February 11, 2026 at 5:35 AM
One more #HabitusOfStaycations talk coming up in Australia, so I was updating the slides ytd.
Writing about burnout today and suddenly realised I need a mini-holiday — and I’ve got a ridiculous amount of unused Hilton points.
Booked 5 nights in Bangkok (20K/N) to wash out from #HK.
Feels weird.
Writing about burnout today and suddenly realised I need a mini-holiday — and I’ve got a ridiculous amount of unused Hilton points.
Booked 5 nights in Bangkok (20K/N) to wash out from #HK.
Feels weird.
Lately, I’m thinking in high-level frameworks again. One working “law of happiness” I keep observing:
Pick a fairly difficult, self-chosen task, grind through it, and you get a very specific kind of joy on the other side.
PhD, Vipassana, month in the mountains—same script.
Pick a fairly difficult, self-chosen task, grind through it, and you get a very specific kind of joy on the other side.
PhD, Vipassana, month in the mountains—same script.
February 10, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Lately, I’m thinking in high-level frameworks again. One working “law of happiness” I keep observing:
Pick a fairly difficult, self-chosen task, grind through it, and you get a very specific kind of joy on the other side.
PhD, Vipassana, month in the mountains—same script.
Pick a fairly difficult, self-chosen task, grind through it, and you get a very specific kind of joy on the other side.
PhD, Vipassana, month in the mountains—same script.
Next are these: #AERA (first time!) with #RaveAsMethod and #CIES with #FreedomOfConscience.
And Nepal for 1 month for #DigitalDetox.
And Nepal for 1 month for #DigitalDetox.
February 9, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Next are these: #AERA (first time!) with #RaveAsMethod and #CIES with #FreedomOfConscience.
And Nepal for 1 month for #DigitalDetox.
And Nepal for 1 month for #DigitalDetox.
The real work isn’t writing or travelling, it’s staying emotionally alive while you do both.
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 AM
The real work isn’t writing or travelling, it’s staying emotionally alive while you do both.
In the Q&A after a friend’s talk on multicultural teaching + student drinking in #HK, I got a bit too honest.
Alcohol is an emotion-flattener. Here, students are punished for showing emotions. It’s also one of the few drugs fully normalised.
EQ is real—and it cuts both ways. Feeling strange.
Alcohol is an emotion-flattener. Here, students are punished for showing emotions. It’s also one of the few drugs fully normalised.
EQ is real—and it cuts both ways. Feeling strange.
February 9, 2026 at 3:28 AM
In the Q&A after a friend’s talk on multicultural teaching + student drinking in #HK, I got a bit too honest.
Alcohol is an emotion-flattener. Here, students are punished for showing emotions. It’s also one of the few drugs fully normalised.
EQ is real—and it cuts both ways. Feeling strange.
Alcohol is an emotion-flattener. Here, students are punished for showing emotions. It’s also one of the few drugs fully normalised.
EQ is real—and it cuts both ways. Feeling strange.
#CESHK went great (as always).
I’m at the point where I know ~60% of the people in my “home” venue and was genuinely happy to see everyone (and disrupt a bit, as always).
Can’t wait to present the next iteration of this new work at #CIES (and #RaveAsMethod at #AERA).
I’m at the point where I know ~60% of the people in my “home” venue and was genuinely happy to see everyone (and disrupt a bit, as always).
Can’t wait to present the next iteration of this new work at #CIES (and #RaveAsMethod at #AERA).
February 8, 2026 at 5:32 PM
#CESHK went great (as always).
I’m at the point where I know ~60% of the people in my “home” venue and was genuinely happy to see everyone (and disrupt a bit, as always).
Can’t wait to present the next iteration of this new work at #CIES (and #RaveAsMethod at #AERA).
I’m at the point where I know ~60% of the people in my “home” venue and was genuinely happy to see everyone (and disrupt a bit, as always).
Can’t wait to present the next iteration of this new work at #CIES (and #RaveAsMethod at #AERA).
Just realized how much I miss hiking, “working” midday in Shek O.
Can’t remember my last HK hike—maybe 2–3 years ago. Work. Brutal shame.
There’s a month of Nepali mountains ahead. And I’m promising myself: after this conference cycle, one overnight camp + proper HK hike. If I’m still alive, ahah.
Can’t remember my last HK hike—maybe 2–3 years ago. Work. Brutal shame.
There’s a month of Nepali mountains ahead. And I’m promising myself: after this conference cycle, one overnight camp + proper HK hike. If I’m still alive, ahah.
February 6, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Just realized how much I miss hiking, “working” midday in Shek O.
Can’t remember my last HK hike—maybe 2–3 years ago. Work. Brutal shame.
There’s a month of Nepali mountains ahead. And I’m promising myself: after this conference cycle, one overnight camp + proper HK hike. If I’m still alive, ahah.
Can’t remember my last HK hike—maybe 2–3 years ago. Work. Brutal shame.
There’s a month of Nepali mountains ahead. And I’m promising myself: after this conference cycle, one overnight camp + proper HK hike. If I’m still alive, ahah.
Travel, raves, conferences, Vipassana, Koh Phangan, Hong Kong streets—same project: watching how people try to stay alive inside systems that don’t care.
The structured pleasure that doesn’t burn you out but quietly produces meaning—the scarcest resource we’ve got—and getting scarcer (hi, Graeber).
The structured pleasure that doesn’t burn you out but quietly produces meaning—the scarcest resource we’ve got—and getting scarcer (hi, Graeber).
February 5, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Travel, raves, conferences, Vipassana, Koh Phangan, Hong Kong streets—same project: watching how people try to stay alive inside systems that don’t care.
The structured pleasure that doesn’t burn you out but quietly produces meaning—the scarcest resource we’ve got—and getting scarcer (hi, Graeber).
The structured pleasure that doesn’t burn you out but quietly produces meaning—the scarcest resource we’ve got—and getting scarcer (hi, Graeber).
Dumped on another academic friend today about how we trade emotions for efficiency in Hong Kong.
I spent 30 minutes choosing paper and printing new business cards on the best stock (Harron, 2000); he spent maybe 20 minutes buying a new phone.
I spent 30 minutes choosing paper and printing new business cards on the best stock (Harron, 2000); he spent maybe 20 minutes buying a new phone.
February 4, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Dumped on another academic friend today about how we trade emotions for efficiency in Hong Kong.
I spent 30 minutes choosing paper and printing new business cards on the best stock (Harron, 2000); he spent maybe 20 minutes buying a new phone.
I spent 30 minutes choosing paper and printing new business cards on the best stock (Harron, 2000); he spent maybe 20 minutes buying a new phone.
Karma is the compounding interest of intention.
Self-help pep talk before another day of slides + paper drafting for a new presentation in a few days. #CESHK
Self-help pep talk before another day of slides + paper drafting for a new presentation in a few days. #CESHK
February 3, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Karma is the compounding interest of intention.
Self-help pep talk before another day of slides + paper drafting for a new presentation in a few days. #CESHK
Self-help pep talk before another day of slides + paper drafting for a new presentation in a few days. #CESHK
What I love about #HK winter vs. #Thailand is that you can actually walk a lot—pleasantly, in beauty, and (sometimes) under a deep blue sky. Perfect environment for audiobooks.
I only use Audible for writing/craft. During my #PhD, I built a huge library on “how writing works” and related stuff.
I only use Audible for writing/craft. During my #PhD, I built a huge library on “how writing works” and related stuff.
February 2, 2026 at 5:10 AM
Related to the #AI thread I’ve been running, this is why I insist on #Top-3, the #shippinglist, #Asana, my whole writing system.
Beyond the basic think/do split, you get attention leaks and ego games. The people AI seems to damage most are those with shaky emotional regulation + very sensitive egos.
Beyond the basic think/do split, you get attention leaks and ego games. The people AI seems to damage most are those with shaky emotional regulation + very sensitive egos.
January 31, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Related to the #AI thread I’ve been running, this is why I insist on #Top-3, the #shippinglist, #Asana, my whole writing system.
Beyond the basic think/do split, you get attention leaks and ego games. The people AI seems to damage most are those with shaky emotional regulation + very sensitive egos.
Beyond the basic think/do split, you get attention leaks and ego games. The people AI seems to damage most are those with shaky emotional regulation + very sensitive egos.
Dinner with a friend. One of my fav themes: different “classes” live similar scripts, yet can’t imagine each other’s lives.
– British couple in HK: play golf, eat the same “healthy” soup every day.
– British friend in Thailand: plays golf (it’s almost free), eats the same soup (tom yum goong).
🙃
– British couple in HK: play golf, eat the same “healthy” soup every day.
– British friend in Thailand: plays golf (it’s almost free), eats the same soup (tom yum goong).
🙃
January 31, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Dinner with a friend. One of my fav themes: different “classes” live similar scripts, yet can’t imagine each other’s lives.
– British couple in HK: play golf, eat the same “healthy” soup every day.
– British friend in Thailand: plays golf (it’s almost free), eats the same soup (tom yum goong).
🙃
– British couple in HK: play golf, eat the same “healthy” soup every day.
– British friend in Thailand: plays golf (it’s almost free), eats the same soup (tom yum goong).
🙃
I’m in #HK now, socialising, and every conversation with academics touches on #AI. I keep coming back to a few things:
1. It doesn’t seem great for mental health (and health should usually beat “career meaning”).
2. In the attention economy, going offline is basic hygiene, almost survival.
1. It doesn’t seem great for mental health (and health should usually beat “career meaning”).
2. In the attention economy, going offline is basic hygiene, almost survival.
January 30, 2026 at 8:38 AM