Prof. Caroline Roux
@carolineroux.bsky.social
Associate professor of marketing at Concordia University (Montreal) | I study the psychology of resource scarcity | Geek, anglophile, wannabe foodie, not-so-crazy cat lady.
Pinned
Got a bunch of new followers, so I guess I should (re-)introduce myself. 👋
I'm a marketing professor and consumer behavior experimental researcher who's been studying the effects of resource scarcity.
If you'd like to learn more about this topic: 🧵
I'm a marketing professor and consumer behavior experimental researcher who's been studying the effects of resource scarcity.
If you'd like to learn more about this topic: 🧵
I was in music/arts programs throughout elementary and high school. I loved being creative but I knew I wasn't good enough to make a career out of either. My blue collar family wished I could find a relatively stable and well paid career path. A career counselor pointed me to marketing. 1/2
November 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I was in music/arts programs throughout elementary and high school. I loved being creative but I knew I wasn't good enough to make a career out of either. My blue collar family wished I could find a relatively stable and well paid career path. A career counselor pointed me to marketing. 1/2
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
"The only thing revealed by this transparency is that social media companies do not give a f*ck about this."
Our attention is the product
There are tutorials in many languages on how to exploit that for profit, not just to stir the pot
AI makes it so easy to exploit now and everyone wins but you
Our attention is the product
There are tutorials in many languages on how to exploit that for profit, not just to stir the pot
AI makes it so easy to exploit now and everyone wins but you
America’s Polarization Has Become the World's Side Hustle
The 'psyops' revealed by X are entirely the fault of the perverse incentives created by social media monetization programs.
www.404media.co
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 AM
"The only thing revealed by this transparency is that social media companies do not give a f*ck about this."
Our attention is the product
There are tutorials in many languages on how to exploit that for profit, not just to stir the pot
AI makes it so easy to exploit now and everyone wins but you
Our attention is the product
There are tutorials in many languages on how to exploit that for profit, not just to stir the pot
AI makes it so easy to exploit now and everyone wins but you
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
“AI workers said they distrust the models they work on because of a consistent emphasis on rapid turnaround time at the expense of quality.”
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
“AI workers said they distrust the models they work on because of a consistent emphasis on rapid turnaround time at the expense of quality.”
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Stats
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/stats-3
There's got to be SOME hypothesis that makes our experiment useless. THINK
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/stats-3
There's got to be SOME hypothesis that makes our experiment useless. THINK
November 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Stats
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/stats-3
There's got to be SOME hypothesis that makes our experiment useless. THINK
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/stats-3
There's got to be SOME hypothesis that makes our experiment useless. THINK
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
We built a calculator that doesn't work, but don't worry, it's also a plagiarism machine that will tell you to kill yourself. It runs on the world's oceans and costs 10 trillion dollars.
August 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
We built a calculator that doesn't work, but don't worry, it's also a plagiarism machine that will tell you to kill yourself. It runs on the world's oceans and costs 10 trillion dollars.
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
Jeffrey Epstein’s close ties to researchers and higher education has long been well documented. Newly released documents reveal researchers Epstein supported long turned to Epstein for advice on research, personal relationships, and even sexual harassment allegations. https://chroni.cl/44kNSR4
Jeffrey Epstein’s Inbox Reveals His Deep Ties to Prominent Researchers
In emails between the disgraced financier and researchers he supported, they asked for funding, expressed gratitude, and sought advice on how to deal with sexual-misconduct allegations.
chroni.cl
November 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Jeffrey Epstein’s close ties to researchers and higher education has long been well documented. Newly released documents reveal researchers Epstein supported long turned to Epstein for advice on research, personal relationships, and even sexual harassment allegations. https://chroni.cl/44kNSR4
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
On teaching under limited-term appointments at Concordia University. Necessary but never allowed to stay
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/nece...
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/nece...
Necessary but never allowed to stay | Opinions
I am one of the many faculty employed on precarious one-year contracts at Concordia University, and the recent decision to end our positions just as we were finally approaching the possibility of more...
thelinknewspaper.ca
November 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
On teaching under limited-term appointments at Concordia University. Necessary but never allowed to stay
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/nece...
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/nece...
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
The witch made him hot chocolate.
"They say I'm strong," he said. "And I am."
He took a sip.
"They say I can overcome any hardship."
"Mm," said the witch.
"And I can. I do."
The witch said nothing.
"But I shouldn't have to!"
"No."
The witch held the hero as he wept.
"No, you shouldn't."
"They say I'm strong," he said. "And I am."
He took a sip.
"They say I can overcome any hardship."
"Mm," said the witch.
"And I can. I do."
The witch said nothing.
"But I shouldn't have to!"
"No."
The witch held the hero as he wept.
"No, you shouldn't."
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The witch made him hot chocolate.
"They say I'm strong," he said. "And I am."
He took a sip.
"They say I can overcome any hardship."
"Mm," said the witch.
"And I can. I do."
The witch said nothing.
"But I shouldn't have to!"
"No."
The witch held the hero as he wept.
"No, you shouldn't."
"They say I'm strong," he said. "And I am."
He took a sip.
"They say I can overcome any hardship."
"Mm," said the witch.
"And I can. I do."
The witch said nothing.
"But I shouldn't have to!"
"No."
The witch held the hero as he wept.
"No, you shouldn't."
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
We can no longer trust that survey responses are coming from real people.”
A Researcher Made an AI That Completely Breaks the Online Surveys Scientists Rely On
We can no longer trust that survey responses are coming from real people.”
www.404media.co
November 17, 2025 at 8:15 PM
We can no longer trust that survey responses are coming from real people.”
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
It's hard to express what it meant to watch Maurice, Natalia, Celeste, and Rhea tell their stories—in their own voices—this morning.
The segment revealed a brutal reality: homelessness at this scale isn't about personal failure. It's the result of policy choices and systems built to exploit people.
The segment revealed a brutal reality: homelessness at this scale isn't about personal failure. It's the result of policy choices and systems built to exploit people.
November 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
It's hard to express what it meant to watch Maurice, Natalia, Celeste, and Rhea tell their stories—in their own voices—this morning.
The segment revealed a brutal reality: homelessness at this scale isn't about personal failure. It's the result of policy choices and systems built to exploit people.
The segment revealed a brutal reality: homelessness at this scale isn't about personal failure. It's the result of policy choices and systems built to exploit people.
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
“While the AI industry claims its models can “think,” “reason,” and “learn,” their supposed achievements rest on marketing hype and stolen intellectual labor. In reality, AI erodes academic freedom, weakens critical reading, and subordinates the pursuit of knowledge to corporate interests.”
AI Is Hollowing Out Higher Education
Olivia Guest & Iris van Rooij urge teachers and scholars to reject tools that commodify learning, deskill students, and promote illiteracy.
www.project-syndicate.org
November 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
“While the AI industry claims its models can “think,” “reason,” and “learn,” their supposed achievements rest on marketing hype and stolen intellectual labor. In reality, AI erodes academic freedom, weakens critical reading, and subordinates the pursuit of knowledge to corporate interests.”
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
A really good long read about the terrible Amazonesque anti-union moves Concordia is doing right now by not renewing all Limited Term teaching positions so they don't have to make them into Extended Term positions.
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/conc...
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/conc...
Concordia draws outcry over decision to cut limited-term teaching positions | News
Concordia University’s decision to cancel all limited-term teaching appointments next year has sparked grief and outrage among faculty, several of whom believed they were on the verge of securing more...
thelinknewspaper.ca
November 11, 2025 at 5:34 AM
A really good long read about the terrible Amazonesque anti-union moves Concordia is doing right now by not renewing all Limited Term teaching positions so they don't have to make them into Extended Term positions.
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/conc...
thelinknewspaper.ca/article/conc...
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
Philanthropy will never be a replacement for the services that the government can and should provide. Which is why we should tax the shit out of wealthy people to pay for such services.
The SNAP Freeze Shows Charity Is No Substitute for Welfare
The Trump administration suspended funding for food stamps this weekend, and local food banks are already overwhelmed by hungry Americans — belying conservative arguments that private charities can fi...
jacobin.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Philanthropy will never be a replacement for the services that the government can and should provide. Which is why we should tax the shit out of wealthy people to pay for such services.
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
Disposable cheap N95 respirators are one of the greatest inventions in medical history. We *accidentally* drove one of the circulating flu strains *EXTINCT* in the wild early in COVID!
N95s can prevent more than just Covid!
They stop colds, flus and other airborne illness.
They’re also highly effective against pollen, pollution, wildfire smoke and environmental triggers.
Many maskers haven’t been sick in years.
Respirators are pretty amazing.
They stop colds, flus and other airborne illness.
They’re also highly effective against pollen, pollution, wildfire smoke and environmental triggers.
Many maskers haven’t been sick in years.
Respirators are pretty amazing.
November 3, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Disposable cheap N95 respirators are one of the greatest inventions in medical history. We *accidentally* drove one of the circulating flu strains *EXTINCT* in the wild early in COVID!
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
“It’s not as simple as income being the differentiator here — it’s wealth being more the driver”
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
From fast food to beverage giants, brands see rising income inequality among customers
Consumer brands are adjusting to a two-tiered economy as the new normal. Yet there are signs that even high-income customers are under pressure.
www.nbcnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:09 PM
“It’s not as simple as income being the differentiator here — it’s wealth being more the driver”
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
www.nbcnews.com/business/eco...
More proof (as if we needed it) that we are living in the darkest timeline...
October 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
More proof (as if we needed it) that we are living in the darkest timeline...
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
The Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research is launching a US-style attack on EDI in Tri-Council funding.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research is launching a US-style attack on EDI in Tri-Council funding.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
Last chance to turn it off.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Last chance to turn it off.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
Exciting new addition to the AsPredicted and ResearchBox research infrastructure toolbox: AsCollected ascollected.org A platform to document results provenance - where did data come from, who collected it, and who cleaned and analyzed it. So important!
Home | AsCollected
ascollected.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Exciting new addition to the AsPredicted and ResearchBox research infrastructure toolbox: AsCollected ascollected.org A platform to document results provenance - where did data come from, who collected it, and who cleaned and analyzed it. So important!
Reposted by Prof. Caroline Roux
We've hit the point where a lot of our dystopian sci fi now feels hopelessly optimistic
October 30, 2025 at 1:51 AM
We've hit the point where a lot of our dystopian sci fi now feels hopelessly optimistic
The old debate persist! Where there is Nature, there is also...
October 30, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The old debate persist! Where there is Nature, there is also...