Alan Mackie
@oldmanmackie.bsky.social
He/Him, father of two and Community Development and Youth Work lecturer at the University of Dundee. Football, Cycling, Munro Bagging, Coffee and Social Justice. Not necessarily in that order. https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/alan-mackie
Reposted by Alan Mackie
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Andrew Lownie wrote an explosive book about Prince Andrew
Then came the backlash. Legal threats. Palace sources told journalists not to speak to him
Anonymous social media accounts accused Lownie of visiting sex workers.
New on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Then came the backlash. Legal threats. Palace sources told journalists not to speak to him
Anonymous social media accounts accused Lownie of visiting sex workers.
New on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Inside the Cover-up: How Prince Andrew was exposed
Behind the headlines lies a deeper story of privilege, protection and a public kept in the dark
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Andrew Lownie wrote an explosive book about Prince Andrew
Then came the backlash. Legal threats. Palace sources told journalists not to speak to him
Anonymous social media accounts accused Lownie of visiting sex workers.
New on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Then came the backlash. Legal threats. Palace sources told journalists not to speak to him
Anonymous social media accounts accused Lownie of visiting sex workers.
New on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Reposted by Alan Mackie
I have decided to start posting on here more often as Twitter just does my head in. Who should I follow, do starter packs still exist, do people like sport and video games?
November 8, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I have decided to start posting on here more often as Twitter just does my head in. Who should I follow, do starter packs still exist, do people like sport and video games?
Reposted by Alan Mackie
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Pips #61 Hard 🔴
15:13
Toughest pips yet, for me. 🥵
15:13
Toughest pips yet, for me. 🥵
October 18, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Pips #61 Hard 🔴
15:13
Toughest pips yet, for me. 🥵
15:13
Toughest pips yet, for me. 🥵
Reposted by Alan Mackie
This is an exact encapsulation of why I moved to Bluesky.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
October 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This is an exact encapsulation of why I moved to Bluesky.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
Reposted by Alan Mackie
An actual quote from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
September 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM
An actual quote from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
Munro Bagging at Ben Alder at the weekend and two nights at Scotland’s most haunted bothy. No 👻 sightings and no meteorite finds, either.
September 15, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Munro Bagging at Ben Alder at the weekend and two nights at Scotland’s most haunted bothy. No 👻 sightings and no meteorite finds, either.
Reposted by Alan Mackie
This is a really astute analysis. Read it if you have access.
University crisis is forcing the REF to lower its expectations - Research Professional News
When dauntingly complex plans meet cash-strapped institutions, something’s got to give, says Anna Grey
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:20 AM
This is a really astute analysis. Read it if you have access.
Pips #21 Hard 🔴
2:17
2:17
September 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Pips #21 Hard 🔴
2:17
2:17
Reposted by Alan Mackie
What a shock! What a surprise! To absolutely nobody. Universities' austerity logic will always have the opposite effect of what they intend.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
University efficiency drives may have opposite effect, study finds - Research Professional News
Teaching and research staff say reforms mean more red tape for them, Australian survey reports
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:04 AM
What a shock! What a surprise! To absolutely nobody. Universities' austerity logic will always have the opposite effect of what they intend.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Very, very difficult times at Dundee University. Thoughts with all involved. None of this should ever have happened. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...
EXCLUSIVE: Over 430 Dundee University staff apply for redundancy
Dundee University revealed it had exceeded its target of 300 applications for voluntary severance, with the first staff likely to leave by August 31.
www.thecourier.co.uk
August 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Very, very difficult times at Dundee University. Thoughts with all involved. None of this should ever have happened. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Political trust is at crisis point and the decline of community infrastructure is a big part of the story. As pubs, youth clubs and libraries disappear, loneliness grows, and so does support for the radical right.
Nick Garland, research fellow at IPPR, for LBC 👇 www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Nick Garland, research fellow at IPPR, for LBC 👇 www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
You can’t fight extremism without fixing the high street
A basic, daunting fact of politics today is the shrinking of our common ground.
www.lbc.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Political trust is at crisis point and the decline of community infrastructure is a big part of the story. As pubs, youth clubs and libraries disappear, loneliness grows, and so does support for the radical right.
Nick Garland, research fellow at IPPR, for LBC 👇 www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Nick Garland, research fellow at IPPR, for LBC 👇 www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
‘Rabe’ on the New York Times connections game is a new low.
an older man is making a gesture with his hand and the words not ok are above him
ALT: an older man is making a gesture with his hand and the words not ok are above him
media.tenor.com
July 24, 2025 at 6:41 AM
‘Rabe’ on the New York Times connections game is a new low.
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Very gloomy views around the launch of the Commission for Students in Higher Education report. Basically, in this financial crisis, it's hard to see what can be done better. Students simply can't study while they have to work all hours God sends. You can't do more with less. (1/2)
July 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Very gloomy views around the launch of the Commission for Students in Higher Education report. Basically, in this financial crisis, it's hard to see what can be done better. Students simply can't study while they have to work all hours God sends. You can't do more with less. (1/2)
Reposted by Alan Mackie
We recently published our report 'The Erosion of Trans Rights in the UK'. The report is a human rights analysis of the various rights that are at risk following the UK Supreme Court judgment and proposed EHRC Code of Practice.
You can read the report here: www.equality-network.org/wp-content/u...
You can read the report here: www.equality-network.org/wp-content/u...
July 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
We recently published our report 'The Erosion of Trans Rights in the UK'. The report is a human rights analysis of the various rights that are at risk following the UK Supreme Court judgment and proposed EHRC Code of Practice.
You can read the report here: www.equality-network.org/wp-content/u...
You can read the report here: www.equality-network.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Alan Mackie
After doing several laps we're now on the last editing lap - and getting ready for take-off - in January 2026.
July 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
After doing several laps we're now on the last editing lap - and getting ready for take-off - in January 2026.
A note that Rod Stewart has always been on the wrong side, politically. A reminder of an interview that he once gave in 1970 in support of Enoch Powell. His recent support of Farage is at least consistent, even if his singing ability is less so. #Glastonbury
June 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A note that Rod Stewart has always been on the wrong side, politically. A reminder of an interview that he once gave in 1970 in support of Enoch Powell. His recent support of Farage is at least consistent, even if his singing ability is less so. #Glastonbury
Reposted by Alan Mackie
One from 2015, when we’d just started a family and Glastonbury was suddenly impossible. #glastonbury #comic
![[Title, superimposed over an image of the Glastonbury Pyramid stage, as per an ident from the BBC Glastonbury coverage]:
NOT AT GLASTONBURY 2015.
[Scene change - we are now in a darkened living room. A man called GARY is watching Glastonbury on the TV, while holding a baby, who is occasionally saying "waaah" and slapping his dad in the face. JO WHILEY is also in the living room, as if she is presenting Glastonbury BBC coverage]
JO WHILEY:
Hi I'm Jo Whiley and were coming live from Not At Glastonbury, where Gary Reed is watching Glastonbury on the telly
Gary are you enjoying Not At Glastonbury?
GARY:
Oh it's amazing...
I love everything about it! The tea, the sofa, the cat, the tea... the constant TV coverage of people having more fun than me...
[Baby slaps Gary]: SLAP
GARY:
There's just this incredible atmosphere of my youth being irrevocably lost!
JO WHILEY:
Amazing
JO WHILEY:
So is this your first Not At Glastonbury?
GARY:
No I've been coming to Not At Glastonbury ever since I had this kid.
[SLAP]
BABY:
WAAH
JO WHILEY:
And what's your favourite bit of the festival so far?
GARY:
I really loved it when I realised I hadn't heard of any of the new bands and that I'd become really quite culturally alienated and just that little bit closer to death!
JO WHILEY:
That was a great moment
[SLAP]
JO WHILEY:
And what are you most looking forward to?
GARY:
The rains to come and fill my cold, bitter heart with schadenfreude!
JO WHILEY:
Amazing!
[SLAP SLAP SLAP]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiatocrcydj4x4zdrdypzwioupbqdoate5ffohd2wvawpzvti7qy5y@jpeg)
June 28, 2025 at 2:24 PM
One from 2015, when we’d just started a family and Glastonbury was suddenly impossible. #glastonbury #comic
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Trump administration has ordered US diplomats to scour social media accounts of applicants for student visas and other types of visas. Rubio and other aides aim to bar people critical of the US or Israel from entering. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/u...
April 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Trump administration has ordered US diplomats to scour social media accounts of applicants for student visas and other types of visas. Rubio and other aides aim to bar people critical of the US or Israel from entering. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/u...
Reposted by Alan Mackie
This country is awash with money. The very rich are rich beyond imagination. So when Starmer wants to stay within his arbitrary fiscal rules, who does he decide to take money from? The very rich? No, from people with disabilities who depend on benefits for the bare minimum of a decent life.
March 18, 2025 at 6:36 AM
This country is awash with money. The very rich are rich beyond imagination. So when Starmer wants to stay within his arbitrary fiscal rules, who does he decide to take money from? The very rich? No, from people with disabilities who depend on benefits for the bare minimum of a decent life.
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Interested in school based research in physical activity? Then this exciting opportunity for a part time research assistant role might be for you! 2 days a week for 7 months, starting in March - come and work with us!
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Research Assistant
We present an exciting opportunity to work as a Research Assistant on a project titled “Whole school approaches for maximising movement and learning: co-development of a teacher toolkit”. This is an i...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Interested in school based research in physical activity? Then this exciting opportunity for a part time research assistant role might be for you! 2 days a week for 7 months, starting in March - come and work with us!
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Reposted by Alan Mackie
Feels like all the attention on Elon Musk recently has distracted us from the giant shit which is Mark Zuckerberg. Here’s a timely reminder that Meta is deeply dangerous and arguably has a much larger reach in spreading disinformation and destabilising democracy. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Meta to get rid of factcheckers and recommend more political content
Mark Zuckerberg says company will ‘dramatically reduce censorship’ across Facebook, Instagram and Threads
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Feels like all the attention on Elon Musk recently has distracted us from the giant shit which is Mark Zuckerberg. Here’s a timely reminder that Meta is deeply dangerous and arguably has a much larger reach in spreading disinformation and destabilising democracy. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Hi everyone. Made the move from X a few years ago due to the abuse and toxicity. Happy to give here a shot. Lecturer at Dundee and happy to make new contacts. Peace. ❤️
November 15, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Hi everyone. Made the move from X a few years ago due to the abuse and toxicity. Happy to give here a shot. Lecturer at Dundee and happy to make new contacts. Peace. ❤️