Biblioeclectica
@biblioeclectica.bsky.social
Ex-librarian. Interests: SFF, nature photography, climate & social justice, language & communication, information literacy. They/them.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Kate makes an excellent argument here.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Kate makes an excellent argument here.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
Also trauma plays heck with your memory formation and recall and these kids have been through a lot without adult resources to help.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
it is absolutely the tech companies fault that people now assume they’re doing something evil and sneaky even when they actually aren’t (regarding the latest Google kerfuffle)
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 AM
it is absolutely the tech companies fault that people now assume they’re doing something evil and sneaky even when they actually aren’t (regarding the latest Google kerfuffle)
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
like, no kidding that people have zero willingness to cut big tech the benefit of the doubt anymore
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Medicare for All would save $450B a year.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
November 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Medicare for All would save $450B a year.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I’ve always found it interesting how much microblogging character limits streamline language use. No room for weasel words, purple prose, digression.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
November 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I’ve always found it interesting how much microblogging character limits streamline language use. No room for weasel words, purple prose, digression.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
But I think it’s also part of how extremism ramps up.
Because neither is there room for nuance, citation, qualifiers, any softening or mitigation.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Stretch every couple of hours.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Those who are 35+, what advice do you have for people just entering their 30s?
October 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Stretch every couple of hours.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Exercise regularly.
Eat better.
Drink less booze.
Stop using your phone in bed.
Do the impossible task that you keep putting off and is weighing you down: it'll probably take you under thirty minutes.
Touch grass more than your phone.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I see your, "remove sound description from closed captions that annoy me, a hearing person" and I counter w/ put more details in the CC. I want the sound descriptions. I want the lyrics. I read 4 languages so miss me with the “speaks foreign lang." Give me exhaustive and insufferable deaf-ass CC 😂
September 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I see your, "remove sound description from closed captions that annoy me, a hearing person" and I counter w/ put more details in the CC. I want the sound descriptions. I want the lyrics. I read 4 languages so miss me with the “speaks foreign lang." Give me exhaustive and insufferable deaf-ass CC 😂
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
have been also learning lately that data centers primarily draw water from public drinking water systems
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
Thanks to Karen Hao's brilliant book Empire of AI, I learned that potable water is the only type of water that can be used to cool data centers.
Saltwater or wastewaster isn't useable.
Saltwater or wastewaster isn't useable.
August 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
have been also learning lately that data centers primarily draw water from public drinking water systems
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
with huge implications for access, infrastructure quality, cost of buildout, and water rates for residential customers who already usually subsidize industrial use, in addition to capex
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Doing GOOD historical research is very complex. It’s not gate keeping to say that out loud & expect other scholars to recognize it. It’s not gate keeping to expect epidemiologists to engage in the already existing scholarly conversation about these complexities.
"Interdisciplinary" means collaborating across disciplinary boundaries--not swanning in without doing the reading or consulting existing experts.
August 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Doing GOOD historical research is very complex. It’s not gate keeping to say that out loud & expect other scholars to recognize it. It’s not gate keeping to expect epidemiologists to engage in the already existing scholarly conversation about these complexities.
This is NOT good. Disease monitoring and testing and surveillance of food borne diseases are no longer reliably available. Very good article - I recommend reading the whole thing. And source your food carefully and cook it completely. www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Crisis within CDC is spilling into real world, experts say
"I’ve never heard as many colleagues saying things like 'CDC is dead’ as I have today," an agency employee told STAT.
www.statnews.com
August 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is NOT good. Disease monitoring and testing and surveillance of food borne diseases are no longer reliably available. Very good article - I recommend reading the whole thing. And source your food carefully and cook it completely. www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
To the person angry we weren't "neutral" in our AI Ethics panel:
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
August 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM
To the person angry we weren't "neutral" in our AI Ethics panel:
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
We absolutely should be saying no to technology that poisons the environment. We absolutely should be making moral choices about who we give money to.
There is nothing neutral about librarianship. Never has been, never will be.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
"Isn't it amazing? In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought."
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
August 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
"Isn't it amazing? In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought."
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
~ Dr. Ian Malcolm
(Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton)
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
if the rage-bait works too well it might be fake
::clap clap::
if the rage-bait works too well it might be fake
::clap clap::
look, we’ve all been fooled before
when a deep-fake makes us sore
but kindly doublecheck your source, it might be fake
::clap clap::
::clap clap::
if the rage-bait works too well it might be fake
::clap clap::
look, we’ve all been fooled before
when a deep-fake makes us sore
but kindly doublecheck your source, it might be fake
::clap clap::
August 18, 2025 at 6:08 AM
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
::clap clap::
If you want to believe it, check it twice
::clap clap::
Doesn’t matter if it’s awful
Doesn’t matter if it’s nice
If it confirms your bias, check it twice!
::clap clap::
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Assume, like many do, that AI *is* the future.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
August 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Assume, like many do, that AI *is* the future.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
Most advocates, those attempting to act responsibly, still say the key is human interpretation and decision-making.
That means we still need to teach students and early careers AS IF they cannot rely on these tools. They still NEED to become experts.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
I remember once astonishing a colleague’s husband when he naively asked why we (historians) couldn’t just look something up on the internet and we had to explain that WE are the ones who find the stuff and add it to the internet
“How does the computer know something happened if no one tells the computer about it” is the easy-reader way to explain why we still need human reporters and data-collectors
And I also find it genuinely alarming that even some people on this website don’t seem to grasp this
And I also find it genuinely alarming that even some people on this website don’t seem to grasp this
I firmly believe that if you’d said to someone in 2015 that in 10 years, “a lot of people will believe there’s no need for human field reporters because they think that entirely online-based AI chat bots can replace them”, they’d have called you insane.
August 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I remember once astonishing a colleague’s husband when he naively asked why we (historians) couldn’t just look something up on the internet and we had to explain that WE are the ones who find the stuff and add it to the internet
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
The @aaup.org report on AI is so hugely important. Among other key takeaways is the fact that most AI programs have been introduced by administrative fiat and by circumventing meaningful faculty, student, & staff consultation.
shorturl.at/InI5Q
shorturl.at/InI5Q
July 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The @aaup.org report on AI is so hugely important. Among other key takeaways is the fact that most AI programs have been introduced by administrative fiat and by circumventing meaningful faculty, student, & staff consultation.
shorturl.at/InI5Q
shorturl.at/InI5Q
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
One of the BEST things about the US undergrad systems was broad and mandatory GE requirements, that made us explore things even if we thought we knew what we wanted to / had to major in.
In college I was unhappy about having to take non-major classes, I felt like they were wasting my time when there was so much I had to learn.
This was a case of the adults in the room knowing better than the kid. In retrospect I wish that they had forced me to take MORE electives outside my major.
This was a case of the adults in the room knowing better than the kid. In retrospect I wish that they had forced me to take MORE electives outside my major.
What was your favorite early clas NOT in your eventual major. Mine was Ethnomusicology: an introduction to folk music.
July 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
One of the BEST things about the US undergrad systems was broad and mandatory GE requirements, that made us explore things even if we thought we knew what we wanted to / had to major in.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
One thing I hate about AI:
It steals the magic.
You see a photo or video online and it touches you.
It’s moving. Or poignant.
But you can’t stop there.
Because maybe it’s fake.
It steals the magic.
It steals the magic.
You see a photo or video online and it touches you.
It’s moving. Or poignant.
But you can’t stop there.
Because maybe it’s fake.
It steals the magic.
July 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
One thing I hate about AI:
It steals the magic.
You see a photo or video online and it touches you.
It’s moving. Or poignant.
But you can’t stop there.
Because maybe it’s fake.
It steals the magic.
It steals the magic.
You see a photo or video online and it touches you.
It’s moving. Or poignant.
But you can’t stop there.
Because maybe it’s fake.
It steals the magic.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
This is so important. And, having spent many years teaching preschool, I'd add that boys have the inclination and the skills for collective care very early, but they're often socialized *out* of these traits. Encouraging boys' caregiving competencies means allowing them access to their full selves.
If we want men to be less lonely, we should start by socializing them in boyhood to be part of a shared project of care. Give them dolls, toy kitchens, and tea sets. Ask them to help care for younger children. Expect them to clean up after themselves. Let them feel the work and value of care. 1/
When I see people complain about male loneliness, it is so painfully OBVIOUS to me that most of these lonely men are men who feel entitled to a woman who does that labor for them, who acts as their agent enmeshing them into community through unpaid pro-social labor on their behalf.
July 16, 2025 at 4:24 AM
This is so important. And, having spent many years teaching preschool, I'd add that boys have the inclination and the skills for collective care very early, but they're often socialized *out* of these traits. Encouraging boys' caregiving competencies means allowing them access to their full selves.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Ex-farm worker here.
We need to talk about this whole "But a living wage for farm workers would spike the cost of food!" thing.
Not true AT ALL.
Y'all don't understand how fast experienced farm workers are.
The average tomato picker pulls 650lbs per hour.
At $20/hr, that's $0.03/lb for labor.
We need to talk about this whole "But a living wage for farm workers would spike the cost of food!" thing.
Not true AT ALL.
Y'all don't understand how fast experienced farm workers are.
The average tomato picker pulls 650lbs per hour.
At $20/hr, that's $0.03/lb for labor.
July 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Ex-farm worker here.
We need to talk about this whole "But a living wage for farm workers would spike the cost of food!" thing.
Not true AT ALL.
Y'all don't understand how fast experienced farm workers are.
The average tomato picker pulls 650lbs per hour.
At $20/hr, that's $0.03/lb for labor.
We need to talk about this whole "But a living wage for farm workers would spike the cost of food!" thing.
Not true AT ALL.
Y'all don't understand how fast experienced farm workers are.
The average tomato picker pulls 650lbs per hour.
At $20/hr, that's $0.03/lb for labor.
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
Once again pointing to my gigantic sign that says “place descriptions are an element of viewpoint and should be used to reveal character”
The lake view a 90-year-old widower whose husband died by drowning sees is not the one a 22-year-old freshly graduated geologist does
The lake view a 90-year-old widower whose husband died by drowning sees is not the one a 22-year-old freshly graduated geologist does
July 13, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Once again pointing to my gigantic sign that says “place descriptions are an element of viewpoint and should be used to reveal character”
The lake view a 90-year-old widower whose husband died by drowning sees is not the one a 22-year-old freshly graduated geologist does
The lake view a 90-year-old widower whose husband died by drowning sees is not the one a 22-year-old freshly graduated geologist does
Reposted by Biblioeclectica
A really thoughtful essay on Murderbot: ‘Even If They Are My Favourite Human’: Murderbot Just Explained Boundaries
countercurrents.org/2025/07/even...
countercurrents.org/2025/07/even...
‘Even If They Are My Favourite Human’: Murderbot Just Explained Boundaries | Countercurrents
Murderbot might seem like another sci-fi show about robots and space missions. But it turned out to be one of the most emotionally resonant shows in recent memory. The Apple TV+ series is based on All...
countercurrents.org
July 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A really thoughtful essay on Murderbot: ‘Even If They Are My Favourite Human’: Murderbot Just Explained Boundaries
countercurrents.org/2025/07/even...
countercurrents.org/2025/07/even...