Eric Wolever
@ewolever.bsky.social
Erstwhile medievalist (York, Kassel) living in Leipzig (🇩🇪). Interest in twelfth century geography, history-writing and Latin literature.
he/him 🇨🇦
he/him 🇨🇦
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Well, that explains it! lol
November 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Well, that explains it! lol
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Because what we do involves reading things, thinking very hard about them, and then writing those thoughts down, there’s this odd perception that anyone who can do that is/can be a historian, and doesn’t (usually) need to have gone through the requisite training to be one.
November 1, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Because what we do involves reading things, thinking very hard about them, and then writing those thoughts down, there’s this odd perception that anyone who can do that is/can be a historian, and doesn’t (usually) need to have gone through the requisite training to be one.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
It frustrates me that fields such as history are increasingly becoming something of a free-for-all. Imagine the reverse, in which a bona fide history professor publishes a polemic book claiming to ‘lift the veil on secrets’ of, say, structural engineering. It’d be considered absurd, and rightly so.
November 1, 2025 at 7:48 AM
It frustrates me that fields such as history are increasingly becoming something of a free-for-all. Imagine the reverse, in which a bona fide history professor publishes a polemic book claiming to ‘lift the veil on secrets’ of, say, structural engineering. It’d be considered absurd, and rightly so.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
A common trope here is that AI-written material is easy to spot for everyone. Please, please, dissuade yourselves of this notion. Material written entirely by AI is getting through: in BA and MA theses, in job applications, in journal articles. Probably in PhD theses. And this should trouble us all.
October 28, 2025 at 8:48 AM
A common trope here is that AI-written material is easy to spot for everyone. Please, please, dissuade yourselves of this notion. Material written entirely by AI is getting through: in BA and MA theses, in job applications, in journal articles. Probably in PhD theses. And this should trouble us all.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
the best use of digital resources in medieval studies, by far, has been the simplest, namely the widespread digitisation of and free internet access to manuscripts in large numbers
October 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
the best use of digital resources in medieval studies, by far, has been the simplest, namely the widespread digitisation of and free internet access to manuscripts in large numbers
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Here's an interesting student question: in the game Pentiment [spoiler alert!], the player gets this message after a character dies in a burning building. It strikes me as anachronistic in several points, but I'm also not an expert in late medieval/early modern German law or contracts:
October 13, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Here's an interesting student question: in the game Pentiment [spoiler alert!], the player gets this message after a character dies in a burning building. It strikes me as anachronistic in several points, but I'm also not an expert in late medieval/early modern German law or contracts:
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Recently gave a colleague feedback on a paper that was partly written with ChatGPT. What did I learn from this and how should we deal with cases like this? Here are some thoughts 🧵(1/x)
October 10, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Recently gave a colleague feedback on a paper that was partly written with ChatGPT. What did I learn from this and how should we deal with cases like this? Here are some thoughts 🧵(1/x)
Reposted by Eric Wolever
This is an excellent thread on the issue of using generative AI in research. One very important point is that evaluating research & research-based arguments requires work done by human agency. A machine cannot change its mind, because a machine has no mind.
Recently gave a colleague feedback on a paper that was partly written with ChatGPT. What did I learn from this and how should we deal with cases like this? Here are some thoughts 🧵(1/x)
October 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM
This is an excellent thread on the issue of using generative AI in research. One very important point is that evaluating research & research-based arguments requires work done by human agency. A machine cannot change its mind, because a machine has no mind.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
My splendid translator in France, Mikael Cabon, asked me to support an urgent campaign, launching today, opposing AI being used instead of people. I do so willingly, and feel same on behalf of audiobook readers and bookworld artists. I hope readers worldwide will show their agreement.
September 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
My splendid translator in France, Mikael Cabon, asked me to support an urgent campaign, launching today, opposing AI being used instead of people. I do so willingly, and feel same on behalf of audiobook readers and bookworld artists. I hope readers worldwide will show their agreement.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
I want to send *both* books to someone who'd find my work useful! (PP in paperback, GR in hardback—note it's also available as a free PDF! library.oapen.org/handle/20.50...) If that's you, just *quote-post* this thread, and I'll pick a recipient next week 😊 (To share without entering, just repost!)
September 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
I want to send *both* books to someone who'd find my work useful! (PP in paperback, GR in hardback—note it's also available as a free PDF! library.oapen.org/handle/20.50...) If that's you, just *quote-post* this thread, and I'll pick a recipient next week 😊 (To share without entering, just repost!)
Reposted by Eric Wolever
"Can I call you back? I'm stuck in an O at the moment."
St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 711; Abbreviatio Decreti "Quoniam egestas"; second half of the 12th century; p.18 (e-codices.ch/en/list/one/...)
St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 711; Abbreviatio Decreti "Quoniam egestas"; second half of the 12th century; p.18 (e-codices.ch/en/list/one/...)
September 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
"Can I call you back? I'm stuck in an O at the moment."
St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 711; Abbreviatio Decreti "Quoniam egestas"; second half of the 12th century; p.18 (e-codices.ch/en/list/one/...)
St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 711; Abbreviatio Decreti "Quoniam egestas"; second half of the 12th century; p.18 (e-codices.ch/en/list/one/...)
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Dear Pew Research,
Please ask if people believe in the Parousia. They’ll all say No because they don’t know that word but it’s a better question and the results will be funny.
Sincerely,
The CTSA
Please ask if people believe in the Parousia. They’ll all say No because they don’t know that word but it’s a better question and the results will be funny.
Sincerely,
The CTSA
fwiw “do you think Jesus will come back to Earth” is so ambiguously phrased that I’d probably say “No” at least half the time depending on what they meant by “to Earth.”
September 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Dear Pew Research,
Please ask if people believe in the Parousia. They’ll all say No because they don’t know that word but it’s a better question and the results will be funny.
Sincerely,
The CTSA
Please ask if people believe in the Parousia. They’ll all say No because they don’t know that word but it’s a better question and the results will be funny.
Sincerely,
The CTSA
Reposted by Eric Wolever
This is a problem.
September 26, 2025 at 5:59 AM
This is a problem.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose???
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
September 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose???
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
'sickos' vocitantur, de eo quod per fenestram ridentes, 'ha ha ha... sic!' clamant -Isidorus Hispalensis
September 16, 2025 at 5:20 AM
'sickos' vocitantur, de eo quod per fenestram ridentes, 'ha ha ha... sic!' clamant -Isidorus Hispalensis
Reposted by Eric Wolever
While this is interestin, it seems a bit much to go from "metal production continued in one former urban centre" to (as is being suggested here) "there was no major economic shock after Roman rule," in the face of all the other archaeological evidence suggesting that there was, of whatever rapidity.
NEW Britain's economy did not collapse after the #Romans left
A new, unbroken timeline of British metal production from the 5th century AD to the present day questions the idea of a post-Roman 'Dark Age'.
Strap in for an industrious #AntiquityThread 1/12 🧵
🏺 #Archaeology
A new, unbroken timeline of British metal production from the 5th century AD to the present day questions the idea of a post-Roman 'Dark Age'.
Strap in for an industrious #AntiquityThread 1/12 🧵
🏺 #Archaeology
September 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM
While this is interestin, it seems a bit much to go from "metal production continued in one former urban centre" to (as is being suggested here) "there was no major economic shock after Roman rule," in the face of all the other archaeological evidence suggesting that there was, of whatever rapidity.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
One thing I wish would come up in common discourse on justifying why it's good to learn ancient languages is it gets you used to the idea that a dictionary entry is a repertory of a lot of meanings which are defined by lots of contexts and we often don't know exactly what all or any of them mean
September 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
One thing I wish would come up in common discourse on justifying why it's good to learn ancient languages is it gets you used to the idea that a dictionary entry is a repertory of a lot of meanings which are defined by lots of contexts and we often don't know exactly what all or any of them mean
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Absolute nightmare. Please do not let this happen @mark-carney.bsky.social As a Canadian citizen I am absolutely horrified by this proposal. This is not Canada is about 🇨🇦
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/....
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/....
'Major risk' of bias against some groups with Canadian AI border screening, expert warns | CBC News
The technology will help identify compliant travellers faster and free them up to focus on unknown and higher-risk travellers, according to the CBSA. It's expected to launch at land ports of entry by ...
www.cbc.ca
September 4, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Absolute nightmare. Please do not let this happen @mark-carney.bsky.social As a Canadian citizen I am absolutely horrified by this proposal. This is not Canada is about 🇨🇦
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/....
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/....
Reposted by Eric Wolever
New Wyclif polemic discovered! Only 250 words long, but not obviously detached from a larger work. It isn’t ascribed to him in the manuscript (no titulus or colophon) but the style is recognizably his. I’m posting it here because the content is eerily topical. #medievalLatin #medievalSky #genAI
August 27, 2025 at 10:54 AM
New Wyclif polemic discovered! Only 250 words long, but not obviously detached from a larger work. It isn’t ascribed to him in the manuscript (no titulus or colophon) but the style is recognizably his. I’m posting it here because the content is eerily topical. #medievalLatin #medievalSky #genAI
Reposted by Eric Wolever
I finally got my author copies. I'm building a nice little collection in my office.
August 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I finally got my author copies. I'm building a nice little collection in my office.
Reposted by Eric Wolever
INDO-EUROPEAN #1: *h₁ey, *knh₃ck *knh₃ck
INDO-EUROPEAN #2: *kʷo's *thh₂re?
IE 1: *Larry
IE 2: *Larry *kʷo?
IE 1: Laryngeal! 😁
IE 2: ...
IE 1: *gh₂ddit? 🤣
IE 2: that was so bad I think we need to all get in our chariots and head out in all directions just to get as far away as we can from you
INDO-EUROPEAN #2: *kʷo's *thh₂re?
IE 1: *Larry
IE 2: *Larry *kʷo?
IE 1: Laryngeal! 😁
IE 2: ...
IE 1: *gh₂ddit? 🤣
IE 2: that was so bad I think we need to all get in our chariots and head out in all directions just to get as far away as we can from you
August 25, 2025 at 5:40 AM
INDO-EUROPEAN #1: *h₁ey, *knh₃ck *knh₃ck
INDO-EUROPEAN #2: *kʷo's *thh₂re?
IE 1: *Larry
IE 2: *Larry *kʷo?
IE 1: Laryngeal! 😁
IE 2: ...
IE 1: *gh₂ddit? 🤣
IE 2: that was so bad I think we need to all get in our chariots and head out in all directions just to get as far away as we can from you
INDO-EUROPEAN #2: *kʷo's *thh₂re?
IE 1: *Larry
IE 2: *Larry *kʷo?
IE 1: Laryngeal! 😁
IE 2: ...
IE 1: *gh₂ddit? 🤣
IE 2: that was so bad I think we need to all get in our chariots and head out in all directions just to get as far away as we can from you
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Divination may seem silly but it's been done throughout history! There are several forms:
Sortes Biblicae, opening the Bible at random
Sortes Vergilianae, opening the Aeneid at random
Sortes AI, asking a regurgitated pile of slop whether you should add sulfuric acid to your chili for an extra kick
Sortes Biblicae, opening the Bible at random
Sortes Vergilianae, opening the Aeneid at random
Sortes AI, asking a regurgitated pile of slop whether you should add sulfuric acid to your chili for an extra kick
August 23, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Divination may seem silly but it's been done throughout history! There are several forms:
Sortes Biblicae, opening the Bible at random
Sortes Vergilianae, opening the Aeneid at random
Sortes AI, asking a regurgitated pile of slop whether you should add sulfuric acid to your chili for an extra kick
Sortes Biblicae, opening the Bible at random
Sortes Vergilianae, opening the Aeneid at random
Sortes AI, asking a regurgitated pile of slop whether you should add sulfuric acid to your chili for an extra kick
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Dismayed to see the imminent demise of Digizeitschriften (like JSTOR for German-language journals). Anyone know the backstory? www.digizeitschriften.de/page/faq
Digizeitschriften
www.digizeitschriften.de
August 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Dismayed to see the imminent demise of Digizeitschriften (like JSTOR for German-language journals). Anyone know the backstory? www.digizeitschriften.de/page/faq
Reposted by Eric Wolever
Been rather a long time in the making, but finally have proofs!
August 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Been rather a long time in the making, but finally have proofs!