Esther Inglis-Arkell
@estherhyphen.bsky.social
I'm watching companies do damage control through ads.
TikTok: "We're not just a place where people bully your children!"
Uber: "It's not just awful exploitation!"
Sephora: "We're not the most awful, intimidating, expensive place in the world to try to buy tinted lip gloss!"
TikTok: "We're not just a place where people bully your children!"
Uber: "It's not just awful exploitation!"
Sephora: "We're not the most awful, intimidating, expensive place in the world to try to buy tinted lip gloss!"
December 5, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I'm watching companies do damage control through ads.
TikTok: "We're not just a place where people bully your children!"
Uber: "It's not just awful exploitation!"
Sephora: "We're not the most awful, intimidating, expensive place in the world to try to buy tinted lip gloss!"
TikTok: "We're not just a place where people bully your children!"
Uber: "It's not just awful exploitation!"
Sephora: "We're not the most awful, intimidating, expensive place in the world to try to buy tinted lip gloss!"
The fact that I am finally going to have to learn what all the different dashes are called is a small, but real, part of the horror of AI.
November 22, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The fact that I am finally going to have to learn what all the different dashes are called is a small, but real, part of the horror of AI.
I will never believe a phone is “smart” unless, between the dates of October 15 to December 15th, it knows to automatically focus on leaves whenever you take a photo.
November 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I will never believe a phone is “smart” unless, between the dates of October 15 to December 15th, it knows to automatically focus on leaves whenever you take a photo.
I'm not a great judge of movies.
But in the last few years, I've suddenly come to notice how often beautiful and genuinely talented stars get acted off the screen by those in smaller parts.
I'm getting some of the cynicism people feel about both Hollywood and human nature.
But in the last few years, I've suddenly come to notice how often beautiful and genuinely talented stars get acted off the screen by those in smaller parts.
I'm getting some of the cynicism people feel about both Hollywood and human nature.
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I'm not a great judge of movies.
But in the last few years, I've suddenly come to notice how often beautiful and genuinely talented stars get acted off the screen by those in smaller parts.
I'm getting some of the cynicism people feel about both Hollywood and human nature.
But in the last few years, I've suddenly come to notice how often beautiful and genuinely talented stars get acted off the screen by those in smaller parts.
I'm getting some of the cynicism people feel about both Hollywood and human nature.
Eating sugar cookies is the grown up version of being the kid in class who ate paste.
They're paste! They just added sugar to paste! You're eating someones sweetened paper-mache fixings!
They're paste! They just added sugar to paste! You're eating someones sweetened paper-mache fixings!
a gingerbread man is laying on a pan with the words " you 're a monster "
ALT: a gingerbread man is laying on a pan with the words " you 're a monster "
media.tenor.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Eating sugar cookies is the grown up version of being the kid in class who ate paste.
They're paste! They just added sugar to paste! You're eating someones sweetened paper-mache fixings!
They're paste! They just added sugar to paste! You're eating someones sweetened paper-mache fixings!
The problem with daylight savings is thinking you're hungry or tired because of the time shift and then crunching the numbers and realizing that you, in fact, just want to sleep and eat all the time.
November 3, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The problem with daylight savings is thinking you're hungry or tired because of the time shift and then crunching the numbers and realizing that you, in fact, just want to sleep and eat all the time.
It's genuinely scary watching ads targeted to men these days.
"Wearing layers in the winter? What are you, a CHILD?"
"Smelling like citrus? What are you, a WOMAN?"
"Introducing soaps, clothes, and shoes that are perfectly normal but marketed as of they're going to Marines who play bluegrass music."
"Wearing layers in the winter? What are you, a CHILD?"
"Smelling like citrus? What are you, a WOMAN?"
"Introducing soaps, clothes, and shoes that are perfectly normal but marketed as of they're going to Marines who play bluegrass music."
October 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It's genuinely scary watching ads targeted to men these days.
"Wearing layers in the winter? What are you, a CHILD?"
"Smelling like citrus? What are you, a WOMAN?"
"Introducing soaps, clothes, and shoes that are perfectly normal but marketed as of they're going to Marines who play bluegrass music."
"Wearing layers in the winter? What are you, a CHILD?"
"Smelling like citrus? What are you, a WOMAN?"
"Introducing soaps, clothes, and shoes that are perfectly normal but marketed as of they're going to Marines who play bluegrass music."
My Defense of AI: It will lie to you quickly.
We did kind of foul the nest before AI came around.
If you google 'chocolate chip cookie recipe' and you get six pages of exposition, seventeen ads, three pop ups, and tiny recipe at the bottom of a page that auto-refreshes, an AI summary looks okay.
We did kind of foul the nest before AI came around.
If you google 'chocolate chip cookie recipe' and you get six pages of exposition, seventeen ads, three pop ups, and tiny recipe at the bottom of a page that auto-refreshes, an AI summary looks okay.
October 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
My Defense of AI: It will lie to you quickly.
We did kind of foul the nest before AI came around.
If you google 'chocolate chip cookie recipe' and you get six pages of exposition, seventeen ads, three pop ups, and tiny recipe at the bottom of a page that auto-refreshes, an AI summary looks okay.
We did kind of foul the nest before AI came around.
If you google 'chocolate chip cookie recipe' and you get six pages of exposition, seventeen ads, three pop ups, and tiny recipe at the bottom of a page that auto-refreshes, an AI summary looks okay.
My ex Mormon mother told me there’s a new head of the Mormon church. He’s 93. He replaced the last one who died at 101.
The Mormons are looking at Pope Leo, wondering why the Catholic church is lead by an infant.
Btw, my aunt went to school with his daughter. She was nice,apparently.
The Mormons are looking at Pope Leo, wondering why the Catholic church is lead by an infant.
Btw, my aunt went to school with his daughter. She was nice,apparently.
October 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
My ex Mormon mother told me there’s a new head of the Mormon church. He’s 93. He replaced the last one who died at 101.
The Mormons are looking at Pope Leo, wondering why the Catholic church is lead by an infant.
Btw, my aunt went to school with his daughter. She was nice,apparently.
The Mormons are looking at Pope Leo, wondering why the Catholic church is lead by an infant.
Btw, my aunt went to school with his daughter. She was nice,apparently.
I genuinely do not understand people who use online-only banks.
If the world's economy goes down and I lose every singe penny I have, I want to be able to throw a flaming trash can through some institution's window.
Fair's fair.
If the world's economy goes down and I lose every singe penny I have, I want to be able to throw a flaming trash can through some institution's window.
Fair's fair.
October 15, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I genuinely do not understand people who use online-only banks.
If the world's economy goes down and I lose every singe penny I have, I want to be able to throw a flaming trash can through some institution's window.
Fair's fair.
If the world's economy goes down and I lose every singe penny I have, I want to be able to throw a flaming trash can through some institution's window.
Fair's fair.
We need to figure out how often an anti-virus program can run "scans" of your computer, at the end of which it tells you it will only "fix" your computer for money, before it becomes a virus.
Not a single thing on my computer pops up asking me for money as much as my anti-virus programs.
Not a single thing on my computer pops up asking me for money as much as my anti-virus programs.
October 15, 2025 at 1:33 PM
We need to figure out how often an anti-virus program can run "scans" of your computer, at the end of which it tells you it will only "fix" your computer for money, before it becomes a virus.
Not a single thing on my computer pops up asking me for money as much as my anti-virus programs.
Not a single thing on my computer pops up asking me for money as much as my anti-virus programs.
It appears I am going to a Smashing Pumpkins event at a chocolate factory.
www.vosgeschocolate.com/pages/smashi...
www.vosgeschocolate.com/pages/smashi...
Coming Soon: The Smashing Pumpkins x Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Travel the world through exotic chocolate with our luxury chocolate, gourmet chocolate bars & gourmet chocolate gifts. Taste chocolate from around the world!
www.vosgeschocolate.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
It appears I am going to a Smashing Pumpkins event at a chocolate factory.
www.vosgeschocolate.com/pages/smashi...
www.vosgeschocolate.com/pages/smashi...
Hulu has an absolute lock on beating the interest for a show out of me through relentless, unchanging commercials.
I feel like if I actually encounter this show in the wild my throat will close up like someone who suddenly becomes allergic to bee stings.
I feel like if I actually encounter this show in the wild my throat will close up like someone who suddenly becomes allergic to bee stings.
September 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Hulu has an absolute lock on beating the interest for a show out of me through relentless, unchanging commercials.
I feel like if I actually encounter this show in the wild my throat will close up like someone who suddenly becomes allergic to bee stings.
I feel like if I actually encounter this show in the wild my throat will close up like someone who suddenly becomes allergic to bee stings.
*flash of light in the corner of my eye*
Me: "Oh no. Are these the things optometrists warned me about? Am I going blind? Should I be going to the emergency ro-"
*ENORMOUS, EARTH SHAKING THUNDERCLAP*
Me: "I may die, but I will die with intact retinas."
Me: "Oh no. Are these the things optometrists warned me about? Am I going blind? Should I be going to the emergency ro-"
*ENORMOUS, EARTH SHAKING THUNDERCLAP*
Me: "I may die, but I will die with intact retinas."
September 13, 2025 at 2:13 PM
*flash of light in the corner of my eye*
Me: "Oh no. Are these the things optometrists warned me about? Am I going blind? Should I be going to the emergency ro-"
*ENORMOUS, EARTH SHAKING THUNDERCLAP*
Me: "I may die, but I will die with intact retinas."
Me: "Oh no. Are these the things optometrists warned me about? Am I going blind? Should I be going to the emergency ro-"
*ENORMOUS, EARTH SHAKING THUNDERCLAP*
Me: "I may die, but I will die with intact retinas."
A bunch of online services have sent me emails saying their terms of service have been updated.
What’s going on?
What’s going on?
September 3, 2025 at 3:04 AM
A bunch of online services have sent me emails saying their terms of service have been updated.
What’s going on?
What’s going on?
What Social Media Could Be: "My friend said something silly but funny. My aunt posted a picture of her new kitten. Two groups in my immediate area are having get togethers."
What It Is: "A thousand people I barely know with high follower counts post stuff that makes me sad or mad. Kiss Cam Meme."
What It Is: "A thousand people I barely know with high follower counts post stuff that makes me sad or mad. Kiss Cam Meme."
August 21, 2025 at 2:05 PM
What Social Media Could Be: "My friend said something silly but funny. My aunt posted a picture of her new kitten. Two groups in my immediate area are having get togethers."
What It Is: "A thousand people I barely know with high follower counts post stuff that makes me sad or mad. Kiss Cam Meme."
What It Is: "A thousand people I barely know with high follower counts post stuff that makes me sad or mad. Kiss Cam Meme."
Please let this go viral:
It drives me up the wall that people increasingly use the word "ambivalent" to mean "indifferent", when in fact it means having contradictory feelings.
We have a word for "indifferent"!
Have we learned nothing from Vanessa Redgrave?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvNA...
It drives me up the wall that people increasingly use the word "ambivalent" to mean "indifferent", when in fact it means having contradictory feelings.
We have a word for "indifferent"!
Have we learned nothing from Vanessa Redgrave?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvNA...
Girl, Interrupted (1999) - Ambivalent Scene (6/10) | Movieclips
YouTube video by Movieclips
www.youtube.com
August 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Please let this go viral:
It drives me up the wall that people increasingly use the word "ambivalent" to mean "indifferent", when in fact it means having contradictory feelings.
We have a word for "indifferent"!
Have we learned nothing from Vanessa Redgrave?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvNA...
It drives me up the wall that people increasingly use the word "ambivalent" to mean "indifferent", when in fact it means having contradictory feelings.
We have a word for "indifferent"!
Have we learned nothing from Vanessa Redgrave?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvNA...
Shutter Island is Martin Scorsese's White Girls. It is an enormous amount of talent sunk into a ludicrous and unworkable concept.
First. Post. Of. Four.
First. Post. Of. Four.
a woman in a pink suit is holding a dog carrier while another woman holds a purse
ALT: a woman in a pink suit is holding a dog carrier while another woman holds a purse
media.tenor.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Shutter Island is Martin Scorsese's White Girls. It is an enormous amount of talent sunk into a ludicrous and unworkable concept.
First. Post. Of. Four.
First. Post. Of. Four.
Tried to find a matinee for Weapons.
Found an AMC with the right time and date.
Saw a notice. "Films begin 25-30 minutes after showtime."
Hell no. I'm not paying for a film so you can show me a half hour of ads.
Honestly, I don't think I'll even see the movie in theaters if this is the case.
Found an AMC with the right time and date.
Saw a notice. "Films begin 25-30 minutes after showtime."
Hell no. I'm not paying for a film so you can show me a half hour of ads.
Honestly, I don't think I'll even see the movie in theaters if this is the case.
August 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Tried to find a matinee for Weapons.
Found an AMC with the right time and date.
Saw a notice. "Films begin 25-30 minutes after showtime."
Hell no. I'm not paying for a film so you can show me a half hour of ads.
Honestly, I don't think I'll even see the movie in theaters if this is the case.
Found an AMC with the right time and date.
Saw a notice. "Films begin 25-30 minutes after showtime."
Hell no. I'm not paying for a film so you can show me a half hour of ads.
Honestly, I don't think I'll even see the movie in theaters if this is the case.
Dear Internet,
Liking "Stomp Clap Hey" music is not a character flaw or a societal ill.
You don't have to negotiate which bands are part of it like you're at the Treaty of Versailles.
It's fine if people think a song you like is cringe.
Sincerely,
Esther "Mumford and Sons is Charming" Arkell
Liking "Stomp Clap Hey" music is not a character flaw or a societal ill.
You don't have to negotiate which bands are part of it like you're at the Treaty of Versailles.
It's fine if people think a song you like is cringe.
Sincerely,
Esther "Mumford and Sons is Charming" Arkell
August 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Dear Internet,
Liking "Stomp Clap Hey" music is not a character flaw or a societal ill.
You don't have to negotiate which bands are part of it like you're at the Treaty of Versailles.
It's fine if people think a song you like is cringe.
Sincerely,
Esther "Mumford and Sons is Charming" Arkell
Liking "Stomp Clap Hey" music is not a character flaw or a societal ill.
You don't have to negotiate which bands are part of it like you're at the Treaty of Versailles.
It's fine if people think a song you like is cringe.
Sincerely,
Esther "Mumford and Sons is Charming" Arkell
Those videos of people "debating" strangers on the street and the strangers always sounding stupid bothers me.
Put aside the idea of editing.
There's a reason why even experts do hours of debate prep. Having the facts, arguments, and talking points on hand to debate someone requires preparation.
Put aside the idea of editing.
There's a reason why even experts do hours of debate prep. Having the facts, arguments, and talking points on hand to debate someone requires preparation.
July 31, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Those videos of people "debating" strangers on the street and the strangers always sounding stupid bothers me.
Put aside the idea of editing.
There's a reason why even experts do hours of debate prep. Having the facts, arguments, and talking points on hand to debate someone requires preparation.
Put aside the idea of editing.
There's a reason why even experts do hours of debate prep. Having the facts, arguments, and talking points on hand to debate someone requires preparation.
If I were to come up with an “AI” that does nothing except, when I get your payment information, takes $100 from your account and puts it into mine, I wonder if I could market it to someone.
July 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM
If I were to come up with an “AI” that does nothing except, when I get your payment information, takes $100 from your account and puts it into mine, I wonder if I could market it to someone.
It's interesting to see how stuff my young childhood is rebranding itself.
"We are an electrolyte supplement."
"You are Crystal Light."
"We are a nutritionally balanced meal delivery service."
"You are TV dinners."
"We are wheat powder supplement for protein shakes."
"You are metamucil."
"We are an electrolyte supplement."
"You are Crystal Light."
"We are a nutritionally balanced meal delivery service."
"You are TV dinners."
"We are wheat powder supplement for protein shakes."
"You are metamucil."
July 20, 2025 at 9:37 PM
It's interesting to see how stuff my young childhood is rebranding itself.
"We are an electrolyte supplement."
"You are Crystal Light."
"We are a nutritionally balanced meal delivery service."
"You are TV dinners."
"We are wheat powder supplement for protein shakes."
"You are metamucil."
"We are an electrolyte supplement."
"You are Crystal Light."
"We are a nutritionally balanced meal delivery service."
"You are TV dinners."
"We are wheat powder supplement for protein shakes."
"You are metamucil."
A few weeks ago I noticed a neighbor put out little packets full of cookies on a stand marked “free”.
I hesitated, but why not? They listed all the ingredients. Why not enjoy the neighborhood and the cookies?
A week later I saw the stand and cookies again.
With a sign marked “dog treats”.
I hesitated, but why not? They listed all the ingredients. Why not enjoy the neighborhood and the cookies?
A week later I saw the stand and cookies again.
With a sign marked “dog treats”.
July 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
A few weeks ago I noticed a neighbor put out little packets full of cookies on a stand marked “free”.
I hesitated, but why not? They listed all the ingredients. Why not enjoy the neighborhood and the cookies?
A week later I saw the stand and cookies again.
With a sign marked “dog treats”.
I hesitated, but why not? They listed all the ingredients. Why not enjoy the neighborhood and the cookies?
A week later I saw the stand and cookies again.
With a sign marked “dog treats”.
Sometimes I wonder what being a baby is like.
Every week, for 14 months, something happens that is the weirdest thing to ever happen in your life, and it opens up an entire new world.
"Parents! I have learned that things I don't see don't disappear. They still exist in some parallel dimension!"
Every week, for 14 months, something happens that is the weirdest thing to ever happen in your life, and it opens up an entire new world.
"Parents! I have learned that things I don't see don't disappear. They still exist in some parallel dimension!"
July 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Sometimes I wonder what being a baby is like.
Every week, for 14 months, something happens that is the weirdest thing to ever happen in your life, and it opens up an entire new world.
"Parents! I have learned that things I don't see don't disappear. They still exist in some parallel dimension!"
Every week, for 14 months, something happens that is the weirdest thing to ever happen in your life, and it opens up an entire new world.
"Parents! I have learned that things I don't see don't disappear. They still exist in some parallel dimension!"