Dr Amanda Dillon
@oddityofwings.bsky.social
SFF, gothic, time&gender&history, Victoriana. Time travelling women historians are my jam.
UEA History, sometimes UEA LDC. FHEA, Expat PA/VA. Wrangler of academics, books, & words. Sometime flutist. #wiasn Views own; she/her.
UEA History, sometimes UEA LDC. FHEA, Expat PA/VA. Wrangler of academics, books, & words. Sometime flutist. #wiasn Views own; she/her.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
As promised, here are the slides I shared with students to convince them to NOT use chatGPT and other artificial stupidity.
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
February 23, 2025 at 1:45 PM
As promised, here are the slides I shared with students to convince them to NOT use chatGPT and other artificial stupidity.
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
aaaaaaaand it turns out the answer to "how TF did some guys with a ladder steal the French crown jewels" is "cuts to arts funding mean the Louvre is massively understaffed"
October 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
aaaaaaaand it turns out the answer to "how TF did some guys with a ladder steal the French crown jewels" is "cuts to arts funding mean the Louvre is massively understaffed"
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
And I will tell you flat out, there is a HELL OF A LOT BETTER-QUALITY ACTUAL TEACHING involved in getting a good degree out of a student who came in with BCD than there is getting one from an A*A*A student.
The government plans to link university fees to institutional "quality". This is a nonsense because there are no metrics that actually measure teaching quality. There is no Ofsted, rather a handful of largely irrelevant statistics to actual quality. The NSS measure satisfaction, not quality.
October 20, 2025 at 6:03 PM
And I will tell you flat out, there is a HELL OF A LOT BETTER-QUALITY ACTUAL TEACHING involved in getting a good degree out of a student who came in with BCD than there is getting one from an A*A*A student.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
We all know that the UK could have a well-funded university system without heaping debt on the heads of students, if politicians wanted it to.
That's the only thing to say, really. Every dysfunction is a choice. A choice made by politicians, not by lecturers or students.
That's the only thing to say, really. Every dysfunction is a choice. A choice made by politicians, not by lecturers or students.
October 20, 2025 at 5:40 PM
We all know that the UK could have a well-funded university system without heaping debt on the heads of students, if politicians wanted it to.
That's the only thing to say, really. Every dysfunction is a choice. A choice made by politicians, not by lecturers or students.
That's the only thing to say, really. Every dysfunction is a choice. A choice made by politicians, not by lecturers or students.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
I remember once at an office job I had, I was really struggling with a big awkward box of files and paper up some stairs, and my boss came past me and said "oh let me help you" and took ONE SHEET OF A4 PAPER off the top.
Anyway, in completely unrelated news.....
Anyway, in completely unrelated news.....
University tuition fees in England to rise with inflation every year from 2026
Bridget Phillipson confirmed the plans for the next two years, with fees to increase automatically after that.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I remember once at an office job I had, I was really struggling with a big awkward box of files and paper up some stairs, and my boss came past me and said "oh let me help you" and took ONE SHEET OF A4 PAPER off the top.
Anyway, in completely unrelated news.....
Anyway, in completely unrelated news.....
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
Apparently university finances have already been stabilised. So speedily some of us must have missed it. 2/x
October 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Apparently university finances have already been stabilised. So speedily some of us must have missed it. 2/x
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
You do realize that not adjusting for inflation has been unsustainable for over a decade?
That cost of living applies to faculty and staff as well who don’t get pay rises in part because universities have been getting less money from fixed fees every year.
That cost of living applies to faculty and staff as well who don’t get pay rises in part because universities have been getting less money from fixed fees every year.
Students: cost of living is soaring and we can hardly afford to feed ourselves
Government: I hear you - how about higher fees and more debt?
Government: I hear you - how about higher fees and more debt?
🚨 NEW: University tuition fees will increase in line with forecast inflation for the next two years
October 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
You do realize that not adjusting for inflation has been unsustainable for over a decade?
That cost of living applies to faculty and staff as well who don’t get pay rises in part because universities have been getting less money from fixed fees every year.
That cost of living applies to faculty and staff as well who don’t get pay rises in part because universities have been getting less money from fixed fees every year.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
Pair with: "we’ll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope. ...realists of a larger reality." www.ursulakleguin.com/nbf-medal
October 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Pair with: "we’ll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope. ...realists of a larger reality." www.ursulakleguin.com/nbf-medal
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
When we refuse to hold people accountable for atrocious actions, we should not expect better behavior, or even just the same behavior.
We should and arguably must expect worse after every time we make this same mistake.
We should and arguably must expect worse after every time we make this same mistake.
October 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
When we refuse to hold people accountable for atrocious actions, we should not expect better behavior, or even just the same behavior.
We should and arguably must expect worse after every time we make this same mistake.
We should and arguably must expect worse after every time we make this same mistake.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
Here's the thing:
Everything is Gamergate because no one with any power to actually hold people accountable took this seriously.
The same will be true if every time something atrocious happens like this and no one is held accountable.
They are only further emboldened.
Everything is Gamergate because no one with any power to actually hold people accountable took this seriously.
The same will be true if every time something atrocious happens like this and no one is held accountable.
They are only further emboldened.
October 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Here's the thing:
Everything is Gamergate because no one with any power to actually hold people accountable took this seriously.
The same will be true if every time something atrocious happens like this and no one is held accountable.
They are only further emboldened.
Everything is Gamergate because no one with any power to actually hold people accountable took this seriously.
The same will be true if every time something atrocious happens like this and no one is held accountable.
They are only further emboldened.
Well OneDrive has eaten my 1/3 done index. I wasn’t enjoying it THAT MUCH, universe. Fuck’s sake.
October 17, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Well OneDrive has eaten my 1/3 done index. I wasn’t enjoying it THAT MUCH, universe. Fuck’s sake.
Reposting this to see if I reach anyone who knows what I’m referring to here. It’s driving me nuts.
Goths! Academics! I have possibly made this up (irony), but I am reasonably sure I read something in the last few months that said LLMs are essentially gothic in nature.
Sound familiar to anyone? Any idea what it might have been? Probs just a thread, but might have been a substack…
Sound familiar to anyone? Any idea what it might have been? Probs just a thread, but might have been a substack…
October 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposting this to see if I reach anyone who knows what I’m referring to here. It’s driving me nuts.
Indexing is really the most chaotic thing.
‘These are the things I think are important and the way I see them connecting. If you don’t like it, tough bunnies.’
There’s legit no real rules. I weirdly enjoy it.
‘These are the things I think are important and the way I see them connecting. If you don’t like it, tough bunnies.’
There’s legit no real rules. I weirdly enjoy it.
October 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Indexing is really the most chaotic thing.
‘These are the things I think are important and the way I see them connecting. If you don’t like it, tough bunnies.’
There’s legit no real rules. I weirdly enjoy it.
‘These are the things I think are important and the way I see them connecting. If you don’t like it, tough bunnies.’
There’s legit no real rules. I weirdly enjoy it.
Proofs and proms today (yes, well after the fact; I just want something on in the background). I had not realised how the BBC had turned it into a sports event. The commentary is… no. Just no.
October 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Proofs and proms today (yes, well after the fact; I just want something on in the background). I had not realised how the BBC had turned it into a sports event. The commentary is… no. Just no.
Goths! Academics! I have possibly made this up (irony), but I am reasonably sure I read something in the last few months that said LLMs are essentially gothic in nature.
Sound familiar to anyone? Any idea what it might have been? Probs just a thread, but might have been a substack…
Sound familiar to anyone? Any idea what it might have been? Probs just a thread, but might have been a substack…
September 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Goths! Academics! I have possibly made this up (irony), but I am reasonably sure I read something in the last few months that said LLMs are essentially gothic in nature.
Sound familiar to anyone? Any idea what it might have been? Probs just a thread, but might have been a substack…
Sound familiar to anyone? Any idea what it might have been? Probs just a thread, but might have been a substack…
That sound you are hearing is my jet lagged brain slowly creaking back into teaching mode.
September 22, 2025 at 10:59 AM
That sound you are hearing is my jet lagged brain slowly creaking back into teaching mode.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
Major yn Englisshe:
• focused readinge & writinge prepare you for anythinge
• research, communicacioun, creativitye, and interpretacioun will be needed for careers not even invented yet
• meaningful engagement wyth big ideas and textes that will staye wyth you forevir
• it ys awesome
• books!
• focused readinge & writinge prepare you for anythinge
• research, communicacioun, creativitye, and interpretacioun will be needed for careers not even invented yet
• meaningful engagement wyth big ideas and textes that will staye wyth you forevir
• it ys awesome
• books!
September 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Major yn Englisshe:
• focused readinge & writinge prepare you for anythinge
• research, communicacioun, creativitye, and interpretacioun will be needed for careers not even invented yet
• meaningful engagement wyth big ideas and textes that will staye wyth you forevir
• it ys awesome
• books!
• focused readinge & writinge prepare you for anythinge
• research, communicacioun, creativitye, and interpretacioun will be needed for careers not even invented yet
• meaningful engagement wyth big ideas and textes that will staye wyth you forevir
• it ys awesome
• books!
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
There's lots more to say about @davidharvie.bsky.social and my findings. Please read the report to support union action & honour those who shared experiences.
I'll finish with an eyeopening stat: the hidden, 'backdoor' redundancies affecting *11,500* people. 11,500 HIDDEN job cuts. This must end.
I'll finish with an eyeopening stat: the hidden, 'backdoor' redundancies affecting *11,500* people. 11,500 HIDDEN job cuts. This must end.
June 17, 2025 at 8:58 AM
There's lots more to say about @davidharvie.bsky.social and my findings. Please read the report to support union action & honour those who shared experiences.
I'll finish with an eyeopening stat: the hidden, 'backdoor' redundancies affecting *11,500* people. 11,500 HIDDEN job cuts. This must end.
I'll finish with an eyeopening stat: the hidden, 'backdoor' redundancies affecting *11,500* people. 11,500 HIDDEN job cuts. This must end.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
Queen
September 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Queen
First morning back in Britain: cold*, wet. Trying to figure out how to get the washing to dry.
Welcome home to me. ❤️
*it was well into the mid 20s and above in the US. 12 may as well be winter to me right now.
Welcome home to me. ❤️
*it was well into the mid 20s and above in the US. 12 may as well be winter to me right now.
September 17, 2025 at 6:49 AM
First morning back in Britain: cold*, wet. Trying to figure out how to get the washing to dry.
Welcome home to me. ❤️
*it was well into the mid 20s and above in the US. 12 may as well be winter to me right now.
Welcome home to me. ❤️
*it was well into the mid 20s and above in the US. 12 may as well be winter to me right now.
Also my cabbie from the station was a full on lefty and the sigh of relief I let out was incredible. The US was not, shall we say, comfortable over the last week and a bit.
(NB not my family - just the overall vibe.)
(NB not my family - just the overall vibe.)
September 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Also my cabbie from the station was a full on lefty and the sigh of relief I let out was incredible. The US was not, shall we say, comfortable over the last week and a bit.
(NB not my family - just the overall vibe.)
(NB not my family - just the overall vibe.)
Found out when using my brand spanking new British passport for the first time this morning that apparently you need to thwack them to get the chip to work correctly.
There’s a metaphor in there somewhere, as a friend put it.
There’s a metaphor in there somewhere, as a friend put it.
September 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Found out when using my brand spanking new British passport for the first time this morning that apparently you need to thwack them to get the chip to work correctly.
There’s a metaphor in there somewhere, as a friend put it.
There’s a metaphor in there somewhere, as a friend put it.
Reposted by Dr Amanda Dillon
More prosaically, as someone pointed out to me recently: LLMs are *always* hallucinating. its just that sometimes their hallucinations appear to map our experienced reality. But the map is never *of* our reality, just *like* it. So the words don’t describe it. 4/4
September 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
More prosaically, as someone pointed out to me recently: LLMs are *always* hallucinating. its just that sometimes their hallucinations appear to map our experienced reality. But the map is never *of* our reality, just *like* it. So the words don’t describe it. 4/4
Haven’t had a single serving friend on a flight in… 15 years? 20? Nice to pass the time with someone way too happy to chatter for a change.
September 16, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Haven’t had a single serving friend on a flight in… 15 years? 20? Nice to pass the time with someone way too happy to chatter for a change.
Me: *finishes book proofs while on holiday*
Me: ah, I have three days left - I will reward myself with a Barnes and Noble trip and relax til my flight.
Journal article proofs, 1am Saturday: the hell you will.
Me: ah, I have three days left - I will reward myself with a Barnes and Noble trip and relax til my flight.
Journal article proofs, 1am Saturday: the hell you will.
September 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Me: *finishes book proofs while on holiday*
Me: ah, I have three days left - I will reward myself with a Barnes and Noble trip and relax til my flight.
Journal article proofs, 1am Saturday: the hell you will.
Me: ah, I have three days left - I will reward myself with a Barnes and Noble trip and relax til my flight.
Journal article proofs, 1am Saturday: the hell you will.