M. Laser
@mlaser.bsky.social
Historian, history communicator, 'historytuber', Oxford Alumnus & Cambridge PhD student, trying to promote & write about public history & history communication. Also about medieval history sometimes.
www.youtube.com/@MLaserHistory
www.youtube.com/@MLaserHistory
Pinned
M. Laser
@mlaser.bsky.social
· Aug 13
How Rome Changed Sex : Creation of European Sexual Standards
YouTube video by M. Laser History
youtu.be
My new video is an exploration of the sexual laws and morals in Ancient Rome and their evolution from the time of the Republic all the way to the fall of Rome. I argue that it was during the late Roman Empire that our modern conservative ideas about sexuality were created. youtu.be/AY5L0Ik0WNo
When it comes to modern Eastern European geopolitics security guarantees have proven to be complelty meaningless.
November 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
When it comes to modern Eastern European geopolitics security guarantees have proven to be complelty meaningless.
Reposted by M. Laser
I attended an interesting seminar which argued that early medieval rulers did not care for enforcing Christian doctrine unless it served a political purpose. Even Justinian, a Roman emperor touted to be very religious, did on multiple occasions not bother converting heretics.
November 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I attended an interesting seminar which argued that early medieval rulers did not care for enforcing Christian doctrine unless it served a political purpose. Even Justinian, a Roman emperor touted to be very religious, did on multiple occasions not bother converting heretics.
The largest video creators in most genres are the biggest grifters. It makes sense. They are the largest because they prioritise views/subscription, i.e. profits, over everything else, but in the process they lose (if they had any to begin with) a sense of morality & creative integrity.
November 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The largest video creators in most genres are the biggest grifters. It makes sense. They are the largest because they prioritise views/subscription, i.e. profits, over everything else, but in the process they lose (if they had any to begin with) a sense of morality & creative integrity.
On TikTok and Instagram you consume history because of the individual. Their comedy, personality, presentation, way of explaining. On YouTube people are more likely to consume history for the historical information. You don't search for history topics on TikTok or Instagram but on YouTube some do.
November 17, 2025 at 11:53 AM
On TikTok and Instagram you consume history because of the individual. Their comedy, personality, presentation, way of explaining. On YouTube people are more likely to consume history for the historical information. You don't search for history topics on TikTok or Instagram but on YouTube some do.
I love keeping my viewers on their toes. Is my next video going to be about the history of Slavs, Aztecs, Greeks, Sex, Sports?
Who knows😄
Anything can happen ...
Who knows😄
Anything can happen ...
November 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I love keeping my viewers on their toes. Is my next video going to be about the history of Slavs, Aztecs, Greeks, Sex, Sports?
Who knows😄
Anything can happen ...
Who knows😄
Anything can happen ...
Austrians continue to rank as having one of the highest English proficiencies from non native English speaking countries, and as someone who goes to Austria often I refuse to believe who ever does this survey has ever left Vienna.
November 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Austrians continue to rank as having one of the highest English proficiencies from non native English speaking countries, and as someone who goes to Austria often I refuse to believe who ever does this survey has ever left Vienna.
Reeves inherited a financial shitshow from the past Conservative goverment. Don't get me wrong, I think she has made some bad political decisions but what she's getting a lot of hate for in the media is mostly about stuff that isn't even her fault. Hate on the actual people responsible!
November 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reeves inherited a financial shitshow from the past Conservative goverment. Don't get me wrong, I think she has made some bad political decisions but what she's getting a lot of hate for in the media is mostly about stuff that isn't even her fault. Hate on the actual people responsible!
Being a public historian means that you get a lot of weird emails. I have had emails from the Archdiocese of Toronto asking me questions about Good King Wenceslas, multiple neo-pagan Slavic movements wanting my opinion, Balkan filmmakers wanting help with a historical fiction movie ...
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Being a public historian means that you get a lot of weird emails. I have had emails from the Archdiocese of Toronto asking me questions about Good King Wenceslas, multiple neo-pagan Slavic movements wanting my opinion, Balkan filmmakers wanting help with a historical fiction movie ...
Using Chatgpt to write something for you with citations is terrible. It makes up sources (especially ancient or medieval ones) and is over all just lost. However, asking it to simply just recommend you books on a specific topic which you can then read and cite yourself works very well.
November 4, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Using Chatgpt to write something for you with citations is terrible. It makes up sources (especially ancient or medieval ones) and is over all just lost. However, asking it to simply just recommend you books on a specific topic which you can then read and cite yourself works very well.
I wrote this long post about people caring too much about who their ancestors were. But it became too personal so I deleted it. The moral of the story is that you are you, & your ancestors (both close & distant) shouldn't define who YOU are & people who define you based on your ancestors are idiots.
October 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
I wrote this long post about people caring too much about who their ancestors were. But it became too personal so I deleted it. The moral of the story is that you are you, & your ancestors (both close & distant) shouldn't define who YOU are & people who define you based on your ancestors are idiots.
I was in the book store.
Kid runs pasts me to the kids' book section yelling "Yaaaayyy books!" Then proceeds to open a book and says "Wait I have to read?" 🤣
(The kid looked quite young so I think he was expecting like a picture book but in the moment it sounded so funny)
Kid runs pasts me to the kids' book section yelling "Yaaaayyy books!" Then proceeds to open a book and says "Wait I have to read?" 🤣
(The kid looked quite young so I think he was expecting like a picture book but in the moment it sounded so funny)
October 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I was in the book store.
Kid runs pasts me to the kids' book section yelling "Yaaaayyy books!" Then proceeds to open a book and says "Wait I have to read?" 🤣
(The kid looked quite young so I think he was expecting like a picture book but in the moment it sounded so funny)
Kid runs pasts me to the kids' book section yelling "Yaaaayyy books!" Then proceeds to open a book and says "Wait I have to read?" 🤣
(The kid looked quite young so I think he was expecting like a picture book but in the moment it sounded so funny)
Next time you see a particularly outrageous thing on the internet. Just remember it's probably a person who's just trying to rage bait you to get interaction and revenue. Don't give them that satisfaction. Just ignore them or block them.
October 17, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Next time you see a particularly outrageous thing on the internet. Just remember it's probably a person who's just trying to rage bait you to get interaction and revenue. Don't give them that satisfaction. Just ignore them or block them.
Reposted by M. Laser
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.
History of Ice Hockey Video: 80% views come from Brows/Suggested (1.7% from YouTube search)
Athenian Empire Video: 73% Brows/Suggested (1% YouTube search)
Slavic Paganism: 79% Brows/Suggested (7% YouTube Search)
Roman Sexuality: 71% come from YouTube search (12% from Brows/Suggested)
Athenian Empire Video: 73% Brows/Suggested (1% YouTube search)
Slavic Paganism: 79% Brows/Suggested (7% YouTube Search)
Roman Sexuality: 71% come from YouTube search (12% from Brows/Suggested)
September 30, 2025 at 1:32 PM
History of Ice Hockey Video: 80% views come from Brows/Suggested (1.7% from YouTube search)
Athenian Empire Video: 73% Brows/Suggested (1% YouTube search)
Slavic Paganism: 79% Brows/Suggested (7% YouTube Search)
Roman Sexuality: 71% come from YouTube search (12% from Brows/Suggested)
Athenian Empire Video: 73% Brows/Suggested (1% YouTube search)
Slavic Paganism: 79% Brows/Suggested (7% YouTube Search)
Roman Sexuality: 71% come from YouTube search (12% from Brows/Suggested)
A lot of people seem to find it hard to internalise that their opinion is not the majority. Only once you internalise that the things which you hold to be self evident may not be so for many other people will you be able to formulate a better picture of your country, & a plan for how to change it.
September 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A lot of people seem to find it hard to internalise that their opinion is not the majority. Only once you internalise that the things which you hold to be self evident may not be so for many other people will you be able to formulate a better picture of your country, & a plan for how to change it.
Reposted by M. Laser
Expert here: We were not, in fact, ever puzzled. It has been and always will be a writing tablet. www.indy100.com/news/ancient...
'Laptop' spotted in Ancient Greek statue leaving experts puzzled
An ancient Greek statue of a woman seemingly using a laptop has sparked time travel theories online. "Grave Naiskos of an Enthroned Woman with an Attendant" is a 37-inch marble statue created around 1...
www.indy100.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Expert here: We were not, in fact, ever puzzled. It has been and always will be a writing tablet. www.indy100.com/news/ancient...
Reposted by M. Laser
a really fucking exhausting thing about this current moment is that any good faith efforts to reform or acknowledge short comings of knowledge producing and sense making institutions is promptly weaponized by people who want to burn the entire thing down and drown us in avalanche of bullshit
September 22, 2025 at 10:20 PM
a really fucking exhausting thing about this current moment is that any good faith efforts to reform or acknowledge short comings of knowledge producing and sense making institutions is promptly weaponized by people who want to burn the entire thing down and drown us in avalanche of bullshit
Reposted by M. Laser
Few things better represent American culture right now than showing women's cleavage on the thumbnail in order to get people to watch an AI-generated video about the Monroe Doctrine.
September 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Few things better represent American culture right now than showing women's cleavage on the thumbnail in order to get people to watch an AI-generated video about the Monroe Doctrine.
Reading a book you don't understand (often philosophy for me) can be still useful. Many times have I read something which I didn't get at the time only for it to click later on as I encounter or read other things. You're preparing yourself to be able to think about & deal with things in the future.
September 21, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reading a book you don't understand (often philosophy for me) can be still useful. Many times have I read something which I didn't get at the time only for it to click later on as I encounter or read other things. You're preparing yourself to be able to think about & deal with things in the future.
Reposted by M. Laser
Reference librarian Eddie Kristan said lenders at the library where he works have been asking him to find books that don’t exist without realizing they were hallucinated by AI.
🔗 www.404media.co/librarians-a...
🔗 www.404media.co/librarians-a...
Librarians Are Being Asked to Find AI-Hallucinated Books
It’s a trippy time to have a library card.
www.404media.co
September 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reference librarian Eddie Kristan said lenders at the library where he works have been asking him to find books that don’t exist without realizing they were hallucinated by AI.
🔗 www.404media.co/librarians-a...
🔗 www.404media.co/librarians-a...
I can guarantee you anyone who has ever worked in academia has a bunch of tea to spill. The amount of petty academic politicking that happens, and the gossip that comes out of it, is astounding.
September 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I can guarantee you anyone who has ever worked in academia has a bunch of tea to spill. The amount of petty academic politicking that happens, and the gossip that comes out of it, is astounding.
Reposted by M. Laser
The AI authorship issue is real. We've caught papers that looked OK but had references to works by the *journal editors* that *do not exist*. Like, don't send us papers citing papers we know we didn't write, right?
September 6, 2025 at 11:12 PM
The AI authorship issue is real. We've caught papers that looked OK but had references to works by the *journal editors* that *do not exist*. Like, don't send us papers citing papers we know we didn't write, right?
You got to love when Universities use graduate students as a source of free or almost free (paying someone $25 to give multiple undergrad presentations is a joke) labour.
September 11, 2025 at 12:04 PM
You got to love when Universities use graduate students as a source of free or almost free (paying someone $25 to give multiple undergrad presentations is a joke) labour.
Reposted by M. Laser
Today is offering another reminder for why I have far more respect for people willing to admit they haven't read something (whether because of time or failure to realise it) than those who either try to pretend they have or invent another reason why a given text didn't make it into their own work.
September 9, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Today is offering another reminder for why I have far more respect for people willing to admit they haven't read something (whether because of time or failure to realise it) than those who either try to pretend they have or invent another reason why a given text didn't make it into their own work.