Melinda Robinson (she/they)
@melindarobinson.bsky.social
Philosophy MA student at Queen's University. My focus is on phenomenology, feminism, queer rights, neurodiversity and bioethics. Comparative classics is my secret crush.
If the person telling you how to be a man and attract women has little to no female audience, it's because they are good at repelling women, not attracting them.
Listening to Rogan, Peterson or Tate puts you at an automatic disadvantage because these men teach other men how to be unlikeable.
Listening to Rogan, Peterson or Tate puts you at an automatic disadvantage because these men teach other men how to be unlikeable.
April 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
If the person telling you how to be a man and attract women has little to no female audience, it's because they are good at repelling women, not attracting them.
Listening to Rogan, Peterson or Tate puts you at an automatic disadvantage because these men teach other men how to be unlikeable.
Listening to Rogan, Peterson or Tate puts you at an automatic disadvantage because these men teach other men how to be unlikeable.
I just finished my backlog of tasks that I've been dreading and putting off. Now I don't know what to do with myself. How am I supposed to motivate any kind of action if I don't have an immanent or overdue task to procrastinate on?
March 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I just finished my backlog of tasks that I've been dreading and putting off. Now I don't know what to do with myself. How am I supposed to motivate any kind of action if I don't have an immanent or overdue task to procrastinate on?
If we do not stop this now, our grandchildren will not learn that MAGA was like the Nazis. They will learn about the Nazis by being taught that they were like MAGA.
March 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
If we do not stop this now, our grandchildren will not learn that MAGA was like the Nazis. They will learn about the Nazis by being taught that they were like MAGA.
When concentrations camps opened, the term didn't yet mean death camp. The first gulags were sold as corrective labour camps. The US just shipped 238 people to a forced labour camp. There was no process. They were not deported to their country of origin.
You never get to pretend you "didn't know."
You never get to pretend you "didn't know."
March 18, 2025 at 1:43 AM
When concentrations camps opened, the term didn't yet mean death camp. The first gulags were sold as corrective labour camps. The US just shipped 238 people to a forced labour camp. There was no process. They were not deported to their country of origin.
You never get to pretend you "didn't know."
You never get to pretend you "didn't know."
An IPV survivor's perspective on Trump's "51st state" threats.
#canada #trumptariffs #canadastrong #elbowsup #WeTheNorth #trump #never51 #tradewar
#canada #trumptariffs #canadastrong #elbowsup #WeTheNorth #trump #never51 #tradewar
Trump is Already Making War on America's Allies
Threats are not just "words," they are a form of violence
open.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 6:42 PM
An IPV survivor's perspective on Trump's "51st state" threats.
#canada #trumptariffs #canadastrong #elbowsup #WeTheNorth #trump #never51 #tradewar
#canada #trumptariffs #canadastrong #elbowsup #WeTheNorth #trump #never51 #tradewar
You may be familiar with C. S. Lewis' argument that Jesus can't be a "great moral teacher," because he says he is Lord, so either he is, or he's a liar or a lunatic. This argument assumes that you can't be a great moral teacher and also mentally ill. Mental illness ≠ moral deficiency.
March 7, 2025 at 1:43 AM
You may be familiar with C. S. Lewis' argument that Jesus can't be a "great moral teacher," because he says he is Lord, so either he is, or he's a liar or a lunatic. This argument assumes that you can't be a great moral teacher and also mentally ill. Mental illness ≠ moral deficiency.
Why give a man a fish, when you can self-importantly assume that the problem is that he doesn't know how to fish, and then ignore him when he says "My people do live here. We know how to fucking fish. The problem is that you've poisoned the river and made it illegal to fish in it."
February 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Why give a man a fish, when you can self-importantly assume that the problem is that he doesn't know how to fish, and then ignore him when he says "My people do live here. We know how to fucking fish. The problem is that you've poisoned the river and made it illegal to fish in it."
Do analytic philosophers intend their thought experiments to be funny? Like, are they knowingly joking and part of the humour is keeping a straight face? Or are they like "This is a perfectly sober and serious idea which I am expressing in a very serious way ... wait, why are laughing?"
February 9, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Do analytic philosophers intend their thought experiments to be funny? Like, are they knowingly joking and part of the humour is keeping a straight face? Or are they like "This is a perfectly sober and serious idea which I am expressing in a very serious way ... wait, why are laughing?"
They believe aid work is a "scam" and NGOs are only concerned about their bottom line b/c that's how their charitable contributions work. They don't experience empathy & can't imagine it as a motive.
This is why teaching cognitive empathy matters. Not everyone feels empathy. But it can be learned.
This is why teaching cognitive empathy matters. Not everyone feels empathy. But it can be learned.
February 8, 2025 at 1:49 AM
They believe aid work is a "scam" and NGOs are only concerned about their bottom line b/c that's how their charitable contributions work. They don't experience empathy & can't imagine it as a motive.
This is why teaching cognitive empathy matters. Not everyone feels empathy. But it can be learned.
This is why teaching cognitive empathy matters. Not everyone feels empathy. But it can be learned.
The success of MAGA depends on people who know, instinctively, that something is wrong — and who also know, instinctively, that many of the people they love and depend on are not safe. If they name this truth, accept it, their whole world will fall apart.
And there will be nowhere safe to go.
And there will be nowhere safe to go.
It Takes Time
Safe spaces, ideological traps, and why people don't see Trump for what he is
open.substack.com
February 7, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The success of MAGA depends on people who know, instinctively, that something is wrong — and who also know, instinctively, that many of the people they love and depend on are not safe. If they name this truth, accept it, their whole world will fall apart.
And there will be nowhere safe to go.
And there will be nowhere safe to go.
Some people have realized that they were conned and they voted for fascism. They are hurt and angry. Be kind to these people: life will give them consequences, we need to help them move past shock into fighting to undo what they did.
The people who deserve anger are the ones still making excuses.
The people who deserve anger are the ones still making excuses.
February 4, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Some people have realized that they were conned and they voted for fascism. They are hurt and angry. Be kind to these people: life will give them consequences, we need to help them move past shock into fighting to undo what they did.
The people who deserve anger are the ones still making excuses.
The people who deserve anger are the ones still making excuses.
Reposted by Melinda Robinson (she/they)
"People who voted for Trump are evil people. They saw what was happening and they had the chance..."
I get the thought. I truly do. And if that thought motivates you to create healthy boundaries and cut out toxic people, then you know what, you do you.
But, here's where I think it's dangerous:
I get the thought. I truly do. And if that thought motivates you to create healthy boundaries and cut out toxic people, then you know what, you do you.
But, here's where I think it's dangerous:
February 2, 2025 at 10:23 PM
"People who voted for Trump are evil people. They saw what was happening and they had the chance..."
I get the thought. I truly do. And if that thought motivates you to create healthy boundaries and cut out toxic people, then you know what, you do you.
But, here's where I think it's dangerous:
I get the thought. I truly do. And if that thought motivates you to create healthy boundaries and cut out toxic people, then you know what, you do you.
But, here's where I think it's dangerous:
Trump's most recent displays of raging sociopathic narcissism are not caused by "dementia." He has always been this way.
Please do not use dementia as an insult and a slur. People with dementia are worthy of respect, compassion and inclusion. Trump's behaviour is typical of #Trump, not #dementia.
Please do not use dementia as an insult and a slur. People with dementia are worthy of respect, compassion and inclusion. Trump's behaviour is typical of #Trump, not #dementia.
January 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Performative guilt is always actually a demand for forgiveness, for the absolution of debts. Self-punishment is an attempt to coerce forgiveness through self harm.
Responsibility is the work of figuring out how to make restitution. This is what actually heals relationships.
Responsibility is the work of figuring out how to make restitution. This is what actually heals relationships.
January 17, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Performative guilt is always actually a demand for forgiveness, for the absolution of debts. Self-punishment is an attempt to coerce forgiveness through self harm.
Responsibility is the work of figuring out how to make restitution. This is what actually heals relationships.
Responsibility is the work of figuring out how to make restitution. This is what actually heals relationships.
White guilt, then, is the public performance of white pain. It centres the white agent. It construes others as objects of our failure, rather than members of our community who need us to act responsibly. It situates us in a violent past and demands performative atonement, self-inflicted retribution.
January 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
White guilt, then, is the public performance of white pain. It centres the white agent. It construes others as objects of our failure, rather than members of our community who need us to act responsibly. It situates us in a violent past and demands performative atonement, self-inflicted retribution.
Guilt can be a reminder that we have neglected responsibilities. But we can take responsibility without feeling, or being, guilty. To take responsibility is to respond to the present reality of a situation. Guilt is pain over a past that can't change, responsibility is the will to change the future.
January 17, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Guilt can be a reminder that we have neglected responsibilities. But we can take responsibility without feeling, or being, guilty. To take responsibility is to respond to the present reality of a situation. Guilt is pain over a past that can't change, responsibility is the will to change the future.
The fundamental problem with white guilt is that it reproduces the central assumption of white supremacy: that the white person is a subject, an agent, and all others are objects who are merely acted upon. Thus responsibility = whiteness.
This is why POC reject white guilt as useless/harmful.
This is why POC reject white guilt as useless/harmful.
January 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The fundamental problem with white guilt is that it reproduces the central assumption of white supremacy: that the white person is a subject, an agent, and all others are objects who are merely acted upon. Thus responsibility = whiteness.
This is why POC reject white guilt as useless/harmful.
This is why POC reject white guilt as useless/harmful.
There is a kind of obnoxious person who "works with" or "volunteers with" disabled kids, and who believes that special needs parents should be able to keep up the same level of energy and enthusiasm 24-7 that they have for an hour or two at a stretch. (Pt. 1)
#autism #autismparenting #ableism
#autism #autismparenting #ableism
January 14, 2025 at 4:13 AM
There is a kind of obnoxious person who "works with" or "volunteers with" disabled kids, and who believes that special needs parents should be able to keep up the same level of energy and enthusiasm 24-7 that they have for an hour or two at a stretch. (Pt. 1)
#autism #autismparenting #ableism
#autism #autismparenting #ableism
When I went to Italy in HS, we were told to prominently wear Canadian flags. Seemed weird, but locals routinely commented & told nice stories about Canadians. Then one night, a group of American tourists marched by our hotel in Rome at 2am loudly singing the Star Spangled Banner, and all made sense.
listen guys, we can't invade canada. we need canada. who are we going to pretend to be when when we travel in europe if not canadian?
January 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
When I went to Italy in HS, we were told to prominently wear Canadian flags. Seemed weird, but locals routinely commented & told nice stories about Canadians. Then one night, a group of American tourists marched by our hotel in Rome at 2am loudly singing the Star Spangled Banner, and all made sense.
Did not realize just how mad I was about Trump's threats against Canada until I started talking about something unrelated with a Trump supporter. Threats are still violent even if they are just hot air. You voted for someone who casually makes threats against my country. We are not friends.
January 8, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Did not realize just how mad I was about Trump's threats against Canada until I started talking about something unrelated with a Trump supporter. Threats are still violent even if they are just hot air. You voted for someone who casually makes threats against my country. We are not friends.
Talking to my partner, had to more precisely define "YOLO" as "The particular manifestation of humanity that you currently inhabit will realize only a single set of possibilities."
I promise we are not fun at parties.
I promise we are not fun at parties.
January 2, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Talking to my partner, had to more precisely define "YOLO" as "The particular manifestation of humanity that you currently inhabit will realize only a single set of possibilities."
I promise we are not fun at parties.
I promise we are not fun at parties.
The stages of reading philosophy:
"This is nonsense. Gibberish. What is he even talking about? Is that supposed to be an argument? Maybe it's the translation? Nope. What was this guy smoking?"
(Sleep)
(Re-read)
"Oh. Yes, Perfectly clear and lucid. Not sure why people struggle with this text."
"This is nonsense. Gibberish. What is he even talking about? Is that supposed to be an argument? Maybe it's the translation? Nope. What was this guy smoking?"
(Sleep)
(Re-read)
"Oh. Yes, Perfectly clear and lucid. Not sure why people struggle with this text."
December 11, 2024 at 10:17 PM
The stages of reading philosophy:
"This is nonsense. Gibberish. What is he even talking about? Is that supposed to be an argument? Maybe it's the translation? Nope. What was this guy smoking?"
(Sleep)
(Re-read)
"Oh. Yes, Perfectly clear and lucid. Not sure why people struggle with this text."
"This is nonsense. Gibberish. What is he even talking about? Is that supposed to be an argument? Maybe it's the translation? Nope. What was this guy smoking?"
(Sleep)
(Re-read)
"Oh. Yes, Perfectly clear and lucid. Not sure why people struggle with this text."
If you're an undergrad (or are in a position to advise one), I recommend against using Grammarly -- or if you use it, use it sparingly. It will recommend that you flatten your style so that you sound generically "academic." This makes it more difficult to distinguish your writing from AI.
December 9, 2024 at 5:01 AM
If you're an undergrad (or are in a position to advise one), I recommend against using Grammarly -- or if you use it, use it sparingly. It will recommend that you flatten your style so that you sound generically "academic." This makes it more difficult to distinguish your writing from AI.
The transvestigators are going after another non-white woman athlete. Here's an important paper on why this keeps happening. It's not coincidence, or just unconscious racism. Sex testing is intended to police bodies of women from the global south.
#BarbraBanda
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
#BarbraBanda
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) The Powers of Testosterone: Obscuring Race and Regional Bias in the Regulation of Women Athletes
PDF | Using strategies from critical race studies and feminist studies of science, medicine, and the body, we examine the covert operation of race and... | Find, read and cite all the research you nee...
www.researchgate.net
November 30, 2024 at 7:22 PM
The transvestigators are going after another non-white woman athlete. Here's an important paper on why this keeps happening. It's not coincidence, or just unconscious racism. Sex testing is intended to police bodies of women from the global south.
#BarbraBanda
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
#BarbraBanda
www.researchgate.net/publication/...