Ben Sharkey
@bsharkey.bsky.social
astronomer, archivist at U. Maryland (Small Bodies Node). aspiring killjoy.
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Historian of eugenics here. I don't normally like to retweet bad arguments, but this is such a fundamental misunderstanding of eugenics, I think it's important to point out. I don't have time to debunk all of the ways this is inaccurate, but I'll highlight a few things and then recommend some books🧵
December 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Historian of eugenics here. I don't normally like to retweet bad arguments, but this is such a fundamental misunderstanding of eugenics, I think it's important to point out. I don't have time to debunk all of the ways this is inaccurate, but I'll highlight a few things and then recommend some books🧵
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
„CSU—US’s largest public uni system—went all-in with a $17mill partnership with OpenAI. . .CSU unveiled its grand technological gesture just as it proposed slashing $375mill from its budget. While admin cut ribbons on AI, they were cutting faculty positions, academic programs, student services.“
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:43 AM
„CSU—US’s largest public uni system—went all-in with a $17mill partnership with OpenAI. . .CSU unveiled its grand technological gesture just as it proposed slashing $375mill from its budget. While admin cut ribbons on AI, they were cutting faculty positions, academic programs, student services.“
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
In light of today’s conversation on academic accommodations, I’m going to revive a thread lost to time when I deleted my Twitter profile.
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
December 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
In light of today’s conversation on academic accommodations, I’m going to revive a thread lost to time when I deleted my Twitter profile.
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
When I encounter myself as a different colored cursor because I have the Google Doc open in two tabs
December 21, 2023 at 10:09 PM
When I encounter myself as a different colored cursor because I have the Google Doc open in two tabs
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Me: [drinks straight from OJ carton]
Troy Aikman, appearing from behind the fridge door: That’s why he struggles, Joe, and it’s not getting better
Troy Aikman, appearing from behind the fridge door: That’s why he struggles, Joe, and it’s not getting better
November 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Me: [drinks straight from OJ carton]
Troy Aikman, appearing from behind the fridge door: That’s why he struggles, Joe, and it’s not getting better
Troy Aikman, appearing from behind the fridge door: That’s why he struggles, Joe, and it’s not getting better
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Please help an Afghan refugee family of 5 with 3 children under 7! They have been affected by the SNAP defending and need help with their rent. They need help with their rent. They need $1,350 and every little bit helps! Wahabk94 on PayPal.
November 3, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Please help an Afghan refugee family of 5 with 3 children under 7! They have been affected by the SNAP defending and need help with their rent. They need help with their rent. They need $1,350 and every little bit helps! Wahabk94 on PayPal.
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Nothing can prepare you for the factual basis behind this 'wokeness gone too far' anecdote.
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Nothing can prepare you for the factual basis behind this 'wokeness gone too far' anecdote.
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
I’m looking for a post doc! Come join us at ASU! apply.interfolio.com/176300
October 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I’m looking for a post doc! Come join us at ASU! apply.interfolio.com/176300
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Welcome sign
Toronto, SD
Toronto, SD
October 15, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Welcome sign
Toronto, SD
Toronto, SD
24 year olds will say the craziest shit. at a dinner tonight a dude said to me “you know, the costco guys? boom boom boom? they work with the rizzler”
October 13, 2025 at 1:17 AM
24 year olds will say the craziest shit. at a dinner tonight a dude said to me “you know, the costco guys? boom boom boom? they work with the rizzler”
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
actually our AI programs are like people so its racist to say you don't like them. anyway would you like to buy one
October 5, 2025 at 12:53 PM
actually our AI programs are like people so its racist to say you don't like them. anyway would you like to buy one
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
the usual story. rich guy wants to punish universities for not clamping down on pro-palestinian protests and for doing too much to recruit minorities. at base these guys want the top tier of american universities to become, once more, safe-spaces for their dunderheaded failsons
The Billionaire Behind Trump’s Deal for Universities
www.nytimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
the usual story. rich guy wants to punish universities for not clamping down on pro-palestinian protests and for doing too much to recruit minorities. at base these guys want the top tier of american universities to become, once more, safe-spaces for their dunderheaded failsons
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Some problems have simple solutions. This new “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” is one. The answer is simply saying no.
Simple does not mean easy. But Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, Univ of AZ, UPenn, USC, UT Austin & UVA must understand what they’ll lose if they sign on.
Simple does not mean easy. But Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, Univ of AZ, UPenn, USC, UT Austin & UVA must understand what they’ll lose if they sign on.
October 2, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Some problems have simple solutions. This new “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” is one. The answer is simply saying no.
Simple does not mean easy. But Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, Univ of AZ, UPenn, USC, UT Austin & UVA must understand what they’ll lose if they sign on.
Simple does not mean easy. But Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, Univ of AZ, UPenn, USC, UT Austin & UVA must understand what they’ll lose if they sign on.
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
I mostly agree with this, but more so: Any time spent on saying "they have incoherent politics" is probably better spent saying "what ideology, which policies, what social strategys have produced this violent nihilism, and what analogs do they have historically?"
since a lot of ppl are discussing the ICE camp shooter's apparent lack of ideology, i would like to posit that online irony blackpill is absolutely an ideology with coherent tenets - the reason it appears incoherent is because this an ideology primarily defined by faithlessness, negative space
September 25, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I mostly agree with this, but more so: Any time spent on saying "they have incoherent politics" is probably better spent saying "what ideology, which policies, what social strategys have produced this violent nihilism, and what analogs do they have historically?"
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
"We're going to have to learn to live with [radical right wing demagoguery with all its associated violence]" is:
- An abdication of responsibility.
- An abandonment of hope.
- A position only available to those who feel safe enough with an ongoing catastrophe to begin the work of normalizing it
- An abdication of responsibility.
- An abandonment of hope.
- A position only available to those who feel safe enough with an ongoing catastrophe to begin the work of normalizing it
"Much of what I would describe as Kirk's worst moments were now just standard fair MAGA Republicanism. And the leader of MAGA Republicanism is the President of the United States...we are going to have to live here with each other believing what we believe. Disagreeing in the ways we disagree."
September 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
"We're going to have to learn to live with [radical right wing demagoguery with all its associated violence]" is:
- An abdication of responsibility.
- An abandonment of hope.
- A position only available to those who feel safe enough with an ongoing catastrophe to begin the work of normalizing it
- An abdication of responsibility.
- An abandonment of hope.
- A position only available to those who feel safe enough with an ongoing catastrophe to begin the work of normalizing it
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
me: clean up your citations, it's easy to do! just a little mindless activity you can do to tidy up a document before you submit and make sure you've dotted your is and crossed your ts! :)
also me: nnnnnoooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah! ah! ah!!!!!!!!!!
also me: nnnnnoooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah! ah! ah!!!!!!!!!!
September 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
me: clean up your citations, it's easy to do! just a little mindless activity you can do to tidy up a document before you submit and make sure you've dotted your is and crossed your ts! :)
also me: nnnnnoooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah! ah! ah!!!!!!!!!!
also me: nnnnnoooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah! ah! ah!!!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
A blanket condemnation of "political violence" in our current cultural context is worthless given the ways that any disruption of the status-quo is treated as "violence."
In contrast, Pritzker locating the source of increase in violence in Pres. Trump's ongoing rhetoric attributes a cause.
In contrast, Pritzker locating the source of increase in violence in Pres. Trump's ongoing rhetoric attributes a cause.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk:
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
September 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
A blanket condemnation of "political violence" in our current cultural context is worthless given the ways that any disruption of the status-quo is treated as "violence."
In contrast, Pritzker locating the source of increase in violence in Pres. Trump's ongoing rhetoric attributes a cause.
In contrast, Pritzker locating the source of increase in violence in Pres. Trump's ongoing rhetoric attributes a cause.
September 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Well, let me put this in terms that a scientist might understand: when you throw your colleagues to the wolves, you are training them to expect to be fed
In which a Yale prof calls for jettisoning humanities to make way for science-only universities.
“scientists… are being punished for the sins of [humanities scholars] because we all live under one roof. I cannot see a compelling reason for our continued cohabitation.”
“scientists… are being punished for the sins of [humanities scholars] because we all live under one roof. I cannot see a compelling reason for our continued cohabitation.”
Unyoke the Sciences From the Humanities
Arts and sciences typically cohabitate. Should they?
thedispatch.com
August 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Well, let me put this in terms that a scientist might understand: when you throw your colleagues to the wolves, you are training them to expect to be fed
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Pointing out how safe DC by showing the low crime rates isn’t going to convince conservatives because “people breaking the actual law” isn’t what they mean by “crime”. To them, “crime” includes merely seeing black people, unhoused people, and anyone else the bigots clutch pearls about as “crime”
August 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Pointing out how safe DC by showing the low crime rates isn’t going to convince conservatives because “people breaking the actual law” isn’t what they mean by “crime”. To them, “crime” includes merely seeing black people, unhoused people, and anyone else the bigots clutch pearls about as “crime”
hey @asrivkin.bsky.social looks like someone got inspired by the kuiper carborne observatory
August 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
hey @asrivkin.bsky.social looks like someone got inspired by the kuiper carborne observatory
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
In light of the Columbia and Brown deals, I’m bumping these slides again about the Nazi takeover of German science, which includes discussion about how they took over academia, in a manner very similar to the Brown and Columbia deals
In light of this deeply illegal activity at NSF and the ongoing attack on American science, I'm posting the slides from my 2017 talk at the American Physical Society about the Nazi take over of German physics/why German is no longer science's lingua franca 🧪
🧵 1/26
drive.google.com/file/d/1_MCm...
🧵 1/26
drive.google.com/file/d/1_MCm...
July 31, 2025 at 1:50 PM
In light of the Columbia and Brown deals, I’m bumping these slides again about the Nazi takeover of German science, which includes discussion about how they took over academia, in a manner very similar to the Brown and Columbia deals
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Time to unionize
What the hell is Brown thinking agreeing to this??
“Student course evaluations that are collected on an anonymous basis at the end of each semester will be regularly reviewed to identify any reports of antisemitism, which will be promptly referred to OECR for appropriate action”
“Student course evaluations that are collected on an anonymous basis at the end of each semester will be regularly reviewed to identify any reports of antisemitism, which will be promptly referred to OECR for appropriate action”
www.brown.edu
July 31, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Time to unionize
Reposted by Ben Sharkey
Sharing this again because too many in higher ed think the appropriate analgesic for this pain is AI.
"This 'burnout' that secure scholars are feeling is phantom pain where their colleagues should be."
A Profession, If You Can Keep It
Imagined meritocracies mean little to extractive institutions.
contingentmagazine.org
July 24, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Sharing this again because too many in higher ed think the appropriate analgesic for this pain is AI.