Bethany Keats
@bethanykeats.bsky.social
Writer ✍️ Reader 📚 Dancer 🩰 cyclist 🚲
PhD: creative writing, family history, 1950s Australia, gothic literature, women's history 🎓
Also: languages
Geelong ✈️ Townsville (sometimes 🇫🇷)
co-editor @sudojournal.bsky.social
co-host @editsannotations.bsky.social
PhD: creative writing, family history, 1950s Australia, gothic literature, women's history 🎓
Also: languages
Geelong ✈️ Townsville (sometimes 🇫🇷)
co-editor @sudojournal.bsky.social
co-host @editsannotations.bsky.social
Pinned
Books I read in 2025: a thread
@sitdowninfront.bsky.social inconvenient cyclone support vibes 🍸🍹
November 22, 2025 at 6:26 AM
@sitdowninfront.bsky.social inconvenient cyclone support vibes 🍸🍹
“Those in power recognized that oppression is best maintained by keeping the masses illiterate”
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“Those in power recognized that oppression is best maintained by keeping the masses illiterate”
And he gets a mention in my PhD!
Ceci n’est pas une pipe: René Magritte, influential Belgian surrealist painter, born #OTD 1898; commemorated in Brussels by the comprehensive Magritte Museum, and a street “Ceci n’est pas une rue”.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Magritte Museum Brussels | Grant Snider cartoon
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Magritte Museum Brussels | Grant Snider cartoon
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 AM
And he gets a mention in my PhD!
Reposted by Bethany Keats
Ceci n’est pas une pipe: René Magritte, influential Belgian surrealist painter, born #OTD 1898; commemorated in Brussels by the comprehensive Magritte Museum, and a street “Ceci n’est pas une rue”.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Magritte Museum Brussels | Grant Snider cartoon
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Magritte Museum Brussels | Grant Snider cartoon
November 21, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Ceci n’est pas une pipe: René Magritte, influential Belgian surrealist painter, born #OTD 1898; commemorated in Brussels by the comprehensive Magritte Museum, and a street “Ceci n’est pas une rue”.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Magritte Museum Brussels | Grant Snider cartoon
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Magritte Museum Brussels | Grant Snider cartoon
On Wednesday I carefully selected my dress and earrings to get a new licence photo taken. And I need to go back again next week because they took the photo but forgot to upload it to the system 🤦♀️
November 21, 2025 at 4:04 AM
On Wednesday I carefully selected my dress and earrings to get a new licence photo taken. And I need to go back again next week because they took the photo but forgot to upload it to the system 🤦♀️
Reposted by Bethany Keats
Discworld QOTD, from Feet of Clay, for Trans Day of Remembrance
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Feet of Clay, for Trans Day of Remembrance
Reposted by Bethany Keats
omfg. "wicked problem" are you fucking kidding me, jesus fucking christ
The real wicked problem here is Australia's mostly-white journalist class persistently stepping on the exact rakes the salivating white nationalists want them to step on. It is so nuts to me how none of this ever changes
The real wicked problem here is Australia's mostly-white journalist class persistently stepping on the exact rakes the salivating white nationalists want them to step on. It is so nuts to me how none of this ever changes
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
omfg. "wicked problem" are you fucking kidding me, jesus fucking christ
The real wicked problem here is Australia's mostly-white journalist class persistently stepping on the exact rakes the salivating white nationalists want them to step on. It is so nuts to me how none of this ever changes
The real wicked problem here is Australia's mostly-white journalist class persistently stepping on the exact rakes the salivating white nationalists want them to step on. It is so nuts to me how none of this ever changes
Reposted by Bethany Keats
You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.
November 20, 2025 at 10:35 AM
You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.
It would be great if the drivers of murder machines learned the road rules regarding indicating and right of way at roundabouts 😡
November 20, 2025 at 7:47 AM
It would be great if the drivers of murder machines learned the road rules regarding indicating and right of way at roundabouts 😡
First mango of the season!
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 AM
First mango of the season!
Reposted by Bethany Keats
If you get to a trillion dollars you should have to start the game over from the beginning at a higher difficulty like your parents not owning a bunch of emerald mines or whatever idk that’s just a random example
November 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
If you get to a trillion dollars you should have to start the game over from the beginning at a higher difficulty like your parents not owning a bunch of emerald mines or whatever idk that’s just a random example
Well, well, well, if it’s not all my library holds coming home to roost 🫠
November 17, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Well, well, well, if it’s not all my library holds coming home to roost 🫠
Reposted by Bethany Keats
Imagine writing a policy that required you to be explicit that you would not forcibly confiscate refugees’ wedding rings
Ministers now appear to be confirming in broadcast interviews that they would audit and could confiscate assets (including jewellery) excepting wedding rings from the jewellery that they could confiscate.
November 17, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Imagine writing a policy that required you to be explicit that you would not forcibly confiscate refugees’ wedding rings
Reposted by Bethany Keats
Whenever I tell people I specialise in Caribbean slavery, there will always be someone who says “but it’s such an uncomfortable and heavy topic!”
Personally, the fact that thousands of UK adults are unaware of Britain’s role in the slave trade makes me feel uncomfortable.
How disappointing.
Personally, the fact that thousands of UK adults are unaware of Britain’s role in the slave trade makes me feel uncomfortable.
How disappointing.
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean reparations leaders in ‘historic’ first UK visit to press for justice
CRC mission will seek to deepen public understanding of Britain’s colonial legacy and its lasting impact
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Whenever I tell people I specialise in Caribbean slavery, there will always be someone who says “but it’s such an uncomfortable and heavy topic!”
Personally, the fact that thousands of UK adults are unaware of Britain’s role in the slave trade makes me feel uncomfortable.
How disappointing.
Personally, the fact that thousands of UK adults are unaware of Britain’s role in the slave trade makes me feel uncomfortable.
How disappointing.
Reposted by Bethany Keats
If there is one thing I want for my daughter, it’s for her to live in a world where a dirty old man hitting on her in her place of employment (particularly, but also anywhere) is unthinkable instead of universal
Every woman who has read this shudders with recognition. It’s happened to every one of us. Some of us had their careers derailed because of it.
November 17, 2025 at 3:49 AM
If there is one thing I want for my daughter, it’s for her to live in a world where a dirty old man hitting on her in her place of employment (particularly, but also anywhere) is unthinkable instead of universal
Reposted by Bethany Keats
A good piece from @theguardian.com — and here is the thing: ARTISTS and PHOTOGRAPHERS are right here, willing to help aid agencies with images. And they won’t suck up the world’s water supply while doing it. And they can help stop the BS stereotyping and poverty porn.
AI-generated images of extreme poverty, children and sexual violence survivors are flooding stock photo sites and increasingly being used by leading health NGOs, according to global health professionals who have voiced concern over a new era of “poverty porn”.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
AI-generated ‘poverty porn’ fake images being used by aid agencies
Exclusive: Pictures depicting the most vulnerable and poorest people are being used in social media campaigns in the sector, driven by concerns over consent and cost
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:08 PM
A good piece from @theguardian.com — and here is the thing: ARTISTS and PHOTOGRAPHERS are right here, willing to help aid agencies with images. And they won’t suck up the world’s water supply while doing it. And they can help stop the BS stereotyping and poverty porn.
"Libraries are nothing less than our secret weapon in the war against ignorance and isolation."
Australia's libraries are treasures. Protect them.
theconversation.com/australias-p...
Australia's libraries are treasures. Protect them.
theconversation.com/australias-p...
Australia’s public libraries are thriving as the cost of living rises. We can’t afford to lose them
A new report shows that visits to Australian public libraries are up 10% – though funding is down. They provide everything from books and internet to help with CVs.
theconversation.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:58 PM
"Libraries are nothing less than our secret weapon in the war against ignorance and isolation."
Australia's libraries are treasures. Protect them.
theconversation.com/australias-p...
Australia's libraries are treasures. Protect them.
theconversation.com/australias-p...
The weekend plus WFH means I didn’t ride for five days and the wasps think this is acceptable behaviour. Rude.
November 16, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The weekend plus WFH means I didn’t ride for five days and the wasps think this is acceptable behaviour. Rude.
Reposted by Bethany Keats
My favourite year for oppressed literary masculinity was 2023 when the number of women on the Booker shortlist was smaller than the number of men named Paul
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
My favourite year for oppressed literary masculinity was 2023 when the number of women on the Booker shortlist was smaller than the number of men named Paul
Reposted by Bethany Keats
People are not taking the danger that One Nation poses in Australia seriously enough.
We could very quickly live in a world where they’re the shadow cabinet.
We could very quickly live in a world where they’re the shadow cabinet.
🚨 NEW: One Nation has climbed to a record 18% in the latest RedBridge poll, while the Coalition has fallen to 24%
Sussan Ley is losing to "neither" as preferred prime minister, with just 10% supporting her
Sussan Ley is losing to "neither" as preferred prime minister, with just 10% supporting her
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
People are not taking the danger that One Nation poses in Australia seriously enough.
We could very quickly live in a world where they’re the shadow cabinet.
We could very quickly live in a world where they’re the shadow cabinet.
Reposted by Bethany Keats
This is brilliant.
November 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This is brilliant.
Once upon a time I had a paparazzo with a fake six pack for mayor.
Former MP Nick Dametto declares victory in Townsville mayor election: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/townsville-mayoral-by-election-nick-dametto-declares-victory/106014032
Former MP Nick Dametto declares victory in Townsville mayor election
Nick Dametto, a former Queensland MP, has won 61 per cent of the votes counted, succeeding in his campaign to become Townsville's next mayor.
www.abc.net.au
November 16, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Once upon a time I had a paparazzo with a fake six pack for mayor.
Reposted by Bethany Keats
“Why are men afraid of women?”
“If your strength is only the other's weakness, you live in fear,” Ged said.
“Yes; but women seem to fear their own strength, to be afraid of themselves.”
“Are they ever taught to trust themselves?” Ged asked
“No,” she said.
“If your strength is only the other's weakness, you live in fear,” Ged said.
“Yes; but women seem to fear their own strength, to be afraid of themselves.”
“Are they ever taught to trust themselves?” Ged asked
“No,” she said.
November 16, 2025 at 2:23 AM
“Why are men afraid of women?”
“If your strength is only the other's weakness, you live in fear,” Ged said.
“Yes; but women seem to fear their own strength, to be afraid of themselves.”
“Are they ever taught to trust themselves?” Ged asked
“No,” she said.
“If your strength is only the other's weakness, you live in fear,” Ged said.
“Yes; but women seem to fear their own strength, to be afraid of themselves.”
“Are they ever taught to trust themselves?” Ged asked
“No,” she said.
Reposted by Bethany Keats
![Advertising poster promoting cycling for transport featuring four people in a row on bikes. At the top the text says, "You'd be better on a bicycle", and then in a bubble it says "Still [emphasized with big, red, italicized letters] the cheapest, handiest, healthiest way of getting about."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7vpdxcialxa6j5s7yh5g5jhf/bafkreihcp247ahol26isqxpjmh54kczqp6ieyycvhakzjug6ysgeqndpb4@jpeg)
Reposted by Bethany Keats
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here: