V. (Ghost in the machine)
@horrorbatsbite.bsky.social
Sociologist studying the intersections of information, tech, extremism, eschatology, Very Bad Things Colliding Together + effects on society.
One of the cohosts on The Crumbling podcast.
http://thecrumbling.com
Mastodon: @horrorbatsbite@mastodon.social
One of the cohosts on The Crumbling podcast.
http://thecrumbling.com
Mastodon: @horrorbatsbite@mastodon.social
Pinned
So I'd like to make an announcement today! We've officially decided on a new cohost for the Crumbling. Obviously we miss Andrew and would love to have him back at any time, but we need at least three for the conversational flow to be right. One candidate really stuck out with the qualifications and
Cat’s out of the bag: I’ve officially joined The Crumbling as a cohost! 🎉
Could not be more excited to work with these lovely, smart, and incredibly talented people getting to talk about Stuff that I know too much about and getting to do some really cool journalism and advocacy, yay!
Could not be more excited to work with these lovely, smart, and incredibly talented people getting to talk about Stuff that I know too much about and getting to do some really cool journalism and advocacy, yay!
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
To go after a family for no other reason than that their daughter sparked sympathy is appalling. Absolutely appalling. Beyond cruelty into outright sadism.
They are going after that college students' family now. JFC www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/u...
Immigration Agents Target Family of Deported College Student
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
To go after a family for no other reason than that their daughter sparked sympathy is appalling. Absolutely appalling. Beyond cruelty into outright sadism.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
Every facet of generative AI has made my professional life worse, without question, but THIS specific aspect has been driving me NUTS.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
I feel the clients now using GenAI to do stuff and going "good enough" when they used to nitpick at every last detail is due to them finding out all those nit picky changes take time and work they cant be bothered to put in.
December 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Every facet of generative AI has made my professional life worse, without question, but THIS specific aspect has been driving me NUTS.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
I have no idea how sincere MTG is here, but the idea that Trump would be bothered by his comments generating death threats misses the point that he has used terror as as a tool.
Terror is not a byproduct of Trumpism; it is a central feature of how he governs.
Terror is not a byproduct of Trumpism; it is a central feature of how he governs.
Marjorie Taylor Greene claims she shared with Trump death threat she received that he incited, and his response was "extremely unkind"
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
I have no idea how sincere MTG is here, but the idea that Trump would be bothered by his comments generating death threats misses the point that he has used terror as as a tool.
Terror is not a byproduct of Trumpism; it is a central feature of how he governs.
Terror is not a byproduct of Trumpism; it is a central feature of how he governs.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
dem governor of colorado endorses anti-dei shitposter and eugenics twink
how did we get here
how did we get here
it’s been pretty funny to see Polis’ addiction to posting completely end any discussion of him as a potential 2028 candidate
December 8, 2025 at 6:02 AM
dem governor of colorado endorses anti-dei shitposter and eugenics twink
how did we get here
how did we get here
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
They are, as a core ideological tenet, actively hostile to professionalism and institutional standards. That something is wildly immature and trashes civic norms, such as government agencies communicating in meme-speak slop while ganking somebody's IP over their express objection, is reason enough.
Anyone have a theory on the administration's sudden obsession with Franklin the turtle?
December 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM
They are, as a core ideological tenet, actively hostile to professionalism and institutional standards. That something is wildly immature and trashes civic norms, such as government agencies communicating in meme-speak slop while ganking somebody's IP over their express objection, is reason enough.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
3 days ago, Hakeem Jeffries stated that Donald Trump was right on immigration and the border.
December 8, 2025 at 12:58 AM
3 days ago, Hakeem Jeffries stated that Donald Trump was right on immigration and the border.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
got tired of my house smelling like wet dog this time of year
December 5, 2025 at 10:29 PM
got tired of my house smelling like wet dog this time of year
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
goooood morning it is very wet and this was the inaugural loop in the new raincoat and yes, as it turned out: Lucy Loved That Walk
December 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
goooood morning it is very wet and this was the inaugural loop in the new raincoat and yes, as it turned out: Lucy Loved That Walk
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
Chris Van Hollen is in the senate, being exemplary, because he got frustrated waiting for House leadership opportunities to open up. what was left behind were the people willing to wait and work for 'their turn' and these are not leaders
December 7, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Chris Van Hollen is in the senate, being exemplary, because he got frustrated waiting for House leadership opportunities to open up. what was left behind were the people willing to wait and work for 'their turn' and these are not leaders
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
they need to be pushed aside or made to rise to the occasion
December 7, 2025 at 11:55 PM
they need to be pushed aside or made to rise to the occasion
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
the Democratic party's base and insurgent wing has a lot to recommend it, enough that the party is still the most realistic vessel of progressive change in modern American politics.
the people who climbed the ladder behind the geriatrics aren't part of that.
the people who climbed the ladder behind the geriatrics aren't part of that.
this is the Dems' careerist attitudes to politics infecting their understanding of the armed forces, these people don't stand for anything so why should they expect anyone else to do so
December 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
the Democratic party's base and insurgent wing has a lot to recommend it, enough that the party is still the most realistic vessel of progressive change in modern American politics.
the people who climbed the ladder behind the geriatrics aren't part of that.
the people who climbed the ladder behind the geriatrics aren't part of that.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
Himes is made in a lab to appeal to the wealthy CT coastal towns and their donors and the only other political machine does shit like this apnews.com/article/gani...
Connecticut mayor who regained office after corruption conviction wins another primary
A Connecticut mayor who regained his office after serving prison time for corruption has won another Democratic primary, this time defeating a former aide.
apnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Himes is made in a lab to appeal to the wealthy CT coastal towns and their donors and the only other political machine does shit like this apnews.com/article/gani...
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
the problem with Himes' district (CT-04), as a guy who grew up there, is its main Type of Democrats are either financial sector guys like Himes or politicians from Bridgeport, which in addition to being much Blacker than the bedroom communities is also New Jersey levels of corrupt
Hines won his seat from Chris Shays back when Fairfield County was still a swing district and he desperately needs a LW primary challenger
December 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
the problem with Himes' district (CT-04), as a guy who grew up there, is its main Type of Democrats are either financial sector guys like Himes or politicians from Bridgeport, which in addition to being much Blacker than the bedroom communities is also New Jersey levels of corrupt
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
new policy: when you are elected to public office you are banned from social media and especially from twitter
an intern may post campaign videos on your behalf but you personally may not open the app, not once, not until you are out of office
an intern may post campaign videos on your behalf but you personally may not open the app, not once, not until you are out of office
it’s been pretty funny to see Polis’ addiction to posting completely end any discussion of him as a potential 2028 candidate
December 7, 2025 at 11:33 PM
new policy: when you are elected to public office you are banned from social media and especially from twitter
an intern may post campaign videos on your behalf but you personally may not open the app, not once, not until you are out of office
an intern may post campaign videos on your behalf but you personally may not open the app, not once, not until you are out of office
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
They get off to violating the consent of others. Not more complicated than that.
Anyone have a theory on the administration's sudden obsession with Franklin the turtle?
December 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
They get off to violating the consent of others. Not more complicated than that.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
It’s like when they all got obsessed with the Studio Ghibli aesthetic. Regardless of the origin point, playing along with the bit, whatever the current bit is, is a big part of cultural fascism.
Anyone have a theory on the administration's sudden obsession with Franklin the turtle?
December 7, 2025 at 11:42 PM
It’s like when they all got obsessed with the Studio Ghibli aesthetic. Regardless of the origin point, playing along with the bit, whatever the current bit is, is a big part of cultural fascism.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
The US has a longer history of immigration and assimilation.
In the US we're at least seeing some thermostatic backlash towards more pro-immigration positions, but the UK equivalent seems to be a ratchet effect towards "deport them all"
December 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
The US has a longer history of immigration and assimilation.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
*nods enthusiastically in library board VP*
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
*nods enthusiastically in library board VP*
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
Imagine you're overseeing the termination of clinical trials, the destruction of people's livelihoods, the dismantling of scientific research in the US, and you're complaining that Twitter didn't give you a blue check 4 years ago.
December 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Imagine you're overseeing the termination of clinical trials, the destruction of people's livelihoods, the dismantling of scientific research in the US, and you're complaining that Twitter didn't give you a blue check 4 years ago.
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
We need to develop an understanding that climate denial is first and foremost ideological and not driven by the supposed ‘non-ideology’ of rational self-interest/greed
“The Daily Nebraskan found in the leaked spreadsheet that every program eliminated appeared to be profitable…every program that the chancellor proposed eliminating generated more money from tuition dollars than the department costs to run”
December 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
We need to develop an understanding that climate denial is first and foremost ideological and not driven by the supposed ‘non-ideology’ of rational self-interest/greed
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
This is a huge issue as a major stock market crash will plunge a staggering number of people, especially older people, into poverty almost instantly
"Because working people have been shunted into defined contribution, self-funded retirement schemes, their futures are wedded to stock market returns in a way that people in similarly wealthy democracies find unimaginable." Inequality in the US is obscene. My thoughts:
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
The case for a 100% tax bracket for billionaires
I was looking through my photos, stumbled upon this image, and realized that I had to get out a seasonal newsletter today with a wish for 2025. Caption....
buttondown.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This is a huge issue as a major stock market crash will plunge a staggering number of people, especially older people, into poverty almost instantly
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
In fact, it’s not so much politically contested as it is near universally politically abhorred. You can see the bipartisan support around things like KOSA and the TikTok ban, and college “free speech concerns”, as an elaboration of this logic (which intersect with genocide denial as one of the lies)
December 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
In fact, it’s not so much politically contested as it is near universally politically abhorred. You can see the bipartisan support around things like KOSA and the TikTok ban, and college “free speech concerns”, as an elaboration of this logic (which intersect with genocide denial as one of the lies)
Reposted by V. (Ghost in the machine)
One reason that the US (and the UK presumably, I don’t even go there) doesn’t teach children universal critical thinking and critical information literacy skills is that the idea that children should be able to evaluate or dissent from the lies of adults in society is politically contested.
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Teaching when to trust
As fake news accelerates, we need to teach our children how to think critically. Finnish schools are leading the charge
newhumanist.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
One reason that the US (and the UK presumably, I don’t even go there) doesn’t teach children universal critical thinking and critical information literacy skills is that the idea that children should be able to evaluate or dissent from the lies of adults in society is politically contested.