Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
@michaelann.bsky.social
Online Communities, Social Tech, Folk Theories, Epistemic Justice, Queer/Trans HCI. Assistant Prof of Comp Sci & Comm Studies @ Northeastern University. @nusealab.bsky.social director. Neurodivergent, trans woman, wife girl, femme lesbian, dork. (she/her)
Pinned
Hi, I'm Michael Ann, and I'm a Computer Science professor and longtime shitposter! I work on improving social technology. The shitposting is below, the science I'm responsible for is on my site:
- Epistemic Justice: wp.me/P2O4Fr-hN
- Folk Theorization: wp.me/P2O4Fr-9m
- Queer HCI: wp.me/P2O4Fr-9s
- Epistemic Justice: wp.me/P2O4Fr-hN
- Folk Theorization: wp.me/P2O4Fr-9m
- Queer HCI: wp.me/P2O4Fr-9s
This strategy is working beautifully, btw
Me watching my wife play cyberpunk
Me: "my love did you bring a literal knife to this gun fight?" (Shooting competition)
My beautiful wife with glee in her eyes: "YES and I'm gonna WIN!"
This woman is the most adorable charming lady and I would marry her a million billion times
Me: "my love did you bring a literal knife to this gun fight?" (Shooting competition)
My beautiful wife with glee in her eyes: "YES and I'm gonna WIN!"
This woman is the most adorable charming lady and I would marry her a million billion times
February 12, 2026 at 3:34 AM
This strategy is working beautifully, btw
Okay fine here’s my whole plan youtu.be/cKLIivrA3g0
February 12, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Okay fine here’s my whole plan youtu.be/cKLIivrA3g0
Idk I think it’s kinda important to remember that dykes look all kinda ways and that’s a good thing.
Like there’s not one lesbian “look” that shit is just Internet Nonsense.
Like there’s not one lesbian “look” that shit is just Internet Nonsense.
February 12, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Idk I think it’s kinda important to remember that dykes look all kinda ways and that’s a good thing.
Like there’s not one lesbian “look” that shit is just Internet Nonsense.
Like there’s not one lesbian “look” that shit is just Internet Nonsense.
Okay but what if the Muppets doing Mahna Mahna was the best TV was ever gonna get and everything since has been a mistake
February 11, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Okay but what if the Muppets doing Mahna Mahna was the best TV was ever gonna get and everything since has been a mistake
TBH I mostly want to post about the overwhelming beauty of fat butch lesbians all day but the world being as it is demands I do serious work with real impact and I’ll never forgive any of you for that.
February 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
TBH I mostly want to post about the overwhelming beauty of fat butch lesbians all day but the world being as it is demands I do serious work with real impact and I’ll never forgive any of you for that.
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"If you don't like reading, this was a weird career choice."
"If you don't like reading, this was a weird career choice."
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“Alright, let's go over to the computer and you can show me what happened."
“Alright, let's go over to the computer and you can show me what happened."
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“What kind of bird?”
“What kind of bird?”
February 11, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"If you don't like reading, this was a weird career choice."
"If you don't like reading, this was a weird career choice."
Certain non-lesbian folks bring a real "this is WRONG and you are a MONSTER but it's okay when I DO IT because PET ISSUE and TRAUMA" vibe to the conversation about lesbian business they shouldn't have been involved with in the first place.
February 11, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Certain non-lesbian folks bring a real "this is WRONG and you are a MONSTER but it's okay when I DO IT because PET ISSUE and TRAUMA" vibe to the conversation about lesbian business they shouldn't have been involved with in the first place.
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
I find it interesting on this site when a journalist/politician says something and then gets very angry at people for misreading them.
If it is one or two then, sure, there'll always be illiterates. If the vast majority are 'misreading' them then as communicators the problem is theirs, no?
If it is one or two then, sure, there'll always be illiterates. If the vast majority are 'misreading' them then as communicators the problem is theirs, no?
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 PM
I find it interesting on this site when a journalist/politician says something and then gets very angry at people for misreading them.
If it is one or two then, sure, there'll always be illiterates. If the vast majority are 'misreading' them then as communicators the problem is theirs, no?
If it is one or two then, sure, there'll always be illiterates. If the vast majority are 'misreading' them then as communicators the problem is theirs, no?
This is an important piece of our history that younger trans folks might not know about. Transmedicalism was and continues to be a real thing, and it's the horrible nonsense described here. The current media narratives are partially aimed towards returning to this state of affairs (at best).
this famously led to people being blacklisted from receiving care for things like being too large framed, showing up to their first therapy appointment in anything but a skirt or dress, not showing up in makeup or not being skilled enough with it, being attracted to women, masculine "vibes", etc.
February 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
This is an important piece of our history that younger trans folks might not know about. Transmedicalism was and continues to be a real thing, and it's the horrible nonsense described here. The current media narratives are partially aimed towards returning to this state of affairs (at best).
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
The thing that about child safety online is that it is going in the exact wrong direction.
As a kid I had it drilled into me that I was never to disclose my real name, location, age or other identifiable information so that people couldn't groom me.
But that's hard on marketers, so.
As a kid I had it drilled into me that I was never to disclose my real name, location, age or other identifiable information so that people couldn't groom me.
But that's hard on marketers, so.
February 9, 2026 at 10:19 AM
The thing that about child safety online is that it is going in the exact wrong direction.
As a kid I had it drilled into me that I was never to disclose my real name, location, age or other identifiable information so that people couldn't groom me.
But that's hard on marketers, so.
As a kid I had it drilled into me that I was never to disclose my real name, location, age or other identifiable information so that people couldn't groom me.
But that's hard on marketers, so.
I prefer years when I kinda forget about my birthday and get surprised by it. Alas, this year is too big a milestone for that to hold. Instead, I will be ambiently grumpy about everything.
February 9, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I prefer years when I kinda forget about my birthday and get surprised by it. Alas, this year is too big a milestone for that to hold. Instead, I will be ambiently grumpy about everything.
The gremlin in me is definitely grumbling hopefully about "finally not having to use that piece of shit chat platform anymore"
February 9, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The gremlin in me is definitely grumbling hopefully about "finally not having to use that piece of shit chat platform anymore"
Welp, at least we know Discord's IPO will be an all-time failure now.
IDK who forgot to tell them that you're supposed to wait to gut your product until AFTER you get all the money from tech investment idiots
IDK who forgot to tell them that you're supposed to wait to gut your product until AFTER you get all the money from tech investment idiots
February 9, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Welp, at least we know Discord's IPO will be an all-time failure now.
IDK who forgot to tell them that you're supposed to wait to gut your product until AFTER you get all the money from tech investment idiots
IDK who forgot to tell them that you're supposed to wait to gut your product until AFTER you get all the money from tech investment idiots
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
it drives you insane how much erosion of freedom is justified by concern for kids when the people who actually hurt them will never face consequences
February 9, 2026 at 2:42 PM
it drives you insane how much erosion of freedom is justified by concern for kids when the people who actually hurt them will never face consequences
Just got growled at because I told Jadzia she couldn't eat a ballpoint pen, now I know how Worf felt
February 9, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Just got growled at because I told Jadzia she couldn't eat a ballpoint pen, now I know how Worf felt
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
This is creepy when we recognise contemporary AI is all humans all the way down, just obfuscated behind the screen or dashboard. Based on stolen data, stolen labour, stolen humanity... AI is not currently emancipatory and just serves the privileged and deskills those who think this is automation.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
February 7, 2026 at 7:40 AM
This is creepy when we recognise contemporary AI is all humans all the way down, just obfuscated behind the screen or dashboard. Based on stolen data, stolen labour, stolen humanity... AI is not currently emancipatory and just serves the privileged and deskills those who think this is automation.
NEW STUDY!
@juliahusar.bsky.social and I have a grant to build trans health and wellbeing tech, and we need input from other trans women and transfems to make sure it serves us all well. This is research BY transfems FOR transfems and we're inviting y'all to be part of it. Also, we're paying!
@juliahusar.bsky.social and I have a grant to build trans health and wellbeing tech, and we need input from other trans women and transfems to make sure it serves us all well. This is research BY transfems FOR transfems and we're inviting y'all to be part of it. Also, we're paying!
Hi all, I'm leading a study! We're looking to understand transfem experiences searching for information related to transitioning online, setting transition-related goals, and making decisions based on the information acquired in these searches.
February 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
NEW STUDY!
@juliahusar.bsky.social and I have a grant to build trans health and wellbeing tech, and we need input from other trans women and transfems to make sure it serves us all well. This is research BY transfems FOR transfems and we're inviting y'all to be part of it. Also, we're paying!
@juliahusar.bsky.social and I have a grant to build trans health and wellbeing tech, and we need input from other trans women and transfems to make sure it serves us all well. This is research BY transfems FOR transfems and we're inviting y'all to be part of it. Also, we're paying!
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
February 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
Me, looking at the Bitcoin price drop:
a close up of a man 's face with the words more on the bottom right
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words more on the bottom right
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Me, looking at the Bitcoin price drop:
My new license came in the mail and friends, this picture makes me look the angriest I've ever been in my entire life
February 5, 2026 at 9:53 PM
My new license came in the mail and friends, this picture makes me look the angriest I've ever been in my entire life
One of my favorite tiny little things is that HCI authorship credits work on basically the same system as American TV credits - the "star" (first author) is of course listed first, and then if you're the supervisor of the whole thing you get the prestigious "and" credit at the very end of the list.
February 5, 2026 at 9:48 PM
One of my favorite tiny little things is that HCI authorship credits work on basically the same system as American TV credits - the "star" (first author) is of course listed first, and then if you're the supervisor of the whole thing you get the prestigious "and" credit at the very end of the list.
Kept having relationships end because it was "too much like dating a girl"
WELP YEAH THERE WAS A SOLID REASON IT FELT THAT WAY
Also.... the yearning.
WELP YEAH THERE WAS A SOLID REASON IT FELT THAT WAY
Also.... the yearning.
how did you know you were a lil fruity?
i was a sensitive emo kid who thought boys were cute and secretly wished i was a girl. i didn't have the vocabulary until later but i always knew who i was
i was a sensitive emo kid who thought boys were cute and secretly wished i was a girl. i didn't have the vocabulary until later but i always knew who i was
how did you know you were a lil fruity ??
As a teenager I had a crush on kd lang
As a teenager I had a crush on kd lang
February 5, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Kept having relationships end because it was "too much like dating a girl"
WELP YEAH THERE WAS A SOLID REASON IT FELT THAT WAY
Also.... the yearning.
WELP YEAH THERE WAS A SOLID REASON IT FELT THAT WAY
Also.... the yearning.
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
February 5, 2026 at 5:05 PM
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
Reposted by Michael Ann, sociotechnical femme
worth noting that the second rich people stopped being afraid of mobs tearing them limb from limb, they stopped building libraries and opera houses and stuff and started ripping the copper wiring out of the walls of society instead
February 4, 2026 at 4:44 PM
worth noting that the second rich people stopped being afraid of mobs tearing them limb from limb, they stopped building libraries and opera houses and stuff and started ripping the copper wiring out of the walls of society instead
The endless prism of turning 20 memes being the same as turning 25 memes the same as turning 30 memes the same as turning 35 memes and it's all actually based on the lifestyle of a 40 year old women but we are collectively obsessed with declaring younger and younger ages "old"
February 4, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The endless prism of turning 20 memes being the same as turning 25 memes the same as turning 30 memes the same as turning 35 memes and it's all actually based on the lifestyle of a 40 year old women but we are collectively obsessed with declaring younger and younger ages "old"