Karen Davis
@karendavisphd.bsky.social
Assistant professor of philosophy. I care about hermeneutics, ethics, prison arts & education, pedagogy, writing. She/her.
Formerly @asilversun on Twitter.
Formerly @asilversun on Twitter.
We're studying Jenny Odell's How to Do Nothing, and today I sent my students outside to find an unfamiliar place and do nothing but notice, with all of their senses, for 25 minutes. They returned to talk about roly-polies, budding trees, the smell of wet, their fear of unfamiliar places, (1/2)
April 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
We're studying Jenny Odell's How to Do Nothing, and today I sent my students outside to find an unfamiliar place and do nothing but notice, with all of their senses, for 25 minutes. They returned to talk about roly-polies, budding trees, the smell of wet, their fear of unfamiliar places, (1/2)
Reposted by Karen Davis
Holy shit. Video posted by President Bukele’s team on X shows the moments before his press conference with Trump in which Trump tells him: “We want to do homegrown criminals next. You gotta build about five more places.”
(h/t @titonka.bsky.social @michelekelemen.bsky.social)
(h/t @titonka.bsky.social @michelekelemen.bsky.social)
April 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Holy shit. Video posted by President Bukele’s team on X shows the moments before his press conference with Trump in which Trump tells him: “We want to do homegrown criminals next. You gotta build about five more places.”
(h/t @titonka.bsky.social @michelekelemen.bsky.social)
(h/t @titonka.bsky.social @michelekelemen.bsky.social)
Reposted by Karen Davis
This is horrifying and should, in any reasonable world, lead to immediate impeachment. On a hot mic, before the media arrived, starting around 7:15 on the time index, Trump tells Bukele he is going to start sending "homegrown criminals" to El Salvadoran gulags. This is fascism.
Before press came in — but while live feed was running on Bukele’s feed — Trump said to him: “home-growns are next. … You’re gonna need to build about 5 more places.”
x.com/nayibbukele/...
x.com/nayibbukele/...
x.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
This is horrifying and should, in any reasonable world, lead to immediate impeachment. On a hot mic, before the media arrived, starting around 7:15 on the time index, Trump tells Bukele he is going to start sending "homegrown criminals" to El Salvadoran gulags. This is fascism.
#AcademicSky Who's got research on reading/interacting with text on paper v. digitally?
(This old philosopher wants to resist forced paperlessness in the classroom but might just be grouchy, not right.)
(This old philosopher wants to resist forced paperlessness in the classroom but might just be grouchy, not right.)
February 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
#AcademicSky Who's got research on reading/interacting with text on paper v. digitally?
(This old philosopher wants to resist forced paperlessness in the classroom but might just be grouchy, not right.)
(This old philosopher wants to resist forced paperlessness in the classroom but might just be grouchy, not right.)
Reposted by Karen Davis
If you're trying to find your way in these times and want to take action, don't forget that @prisonculture.bsky.social and I wrote a book for you. ❤️
February 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM
If you're trying to find your way in these times and want to take action, don't forget that @prisonculture.bsky.social and I wrote a book for you. ❤️
It's cool, not stressed, just sent an email demanding "copier for the paper." I'm definitely not hanging on so tenuously these little things are sending me. Not me. 😅
February 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
It's cool, not stressed, just sent an email demanding "copier for the paper." I'm definitely not hanging on so tenuously these little things are sending me. Not me. 😅
(Disclaimer: I KNOW they're having a worse day.) But it is not a great day when I have to email some truly great candidates to tell them they won't be moving on to an on-campus interview. I would like to hire them all, please.
February 12, 2025 at 10:09 PM
(Disclaimer: I KNOW they're having a worse day.) But it is not a great day when I have to email some truly great candidates to tell them they won't be moving on to an on-campus interview. I would like to hire them all, please.
Reposted by Karen Davis
Gov. Abbott: "College professors have increasingly pushed woke agendas,” Abbott said. “They have too much influence over who is hired to educate our kids. We need legislation that prohibits professors from having any say over employment decisions.” 😳
Texas lawmakers may ban certain lessons at state colleges under expanded DEI crackdown
Texas lawmakers may ban certain lessons at state colleges under expanded DEI crackdown
Legislators are expected to take up a $360 million proposal that would change the landscape of financial aid in the state.
www.texastribune.org
February 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Gov. Abbott: "College professors have increasingly pushed woke agendas,” Abbott said. “They have too much influence over who is hired to educate our kids. We need legislation that prohibits professors from having any say over employment decisions.” 😳
I didn't think I had that ADHD thing of trying new things with reckless confidence, but then my therapist pointed out I'm teaching two classes this semester I've never taught before. Their syllabi include 4 books I've never read and 4 I haven't read since undergrad. So that feels like it counts. 😬
February 5, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I didn't think I had that ADHD thing of trying new things with reckless confidence, but then my therapist pointed out I'm teaching two classes this semester I've never taught before. Their syllabi include 4 books I've never read and 4 I haven't read since undergrad. So that feels like it counts. 😬
I have a wackadoo (lovingly) student who calls me "Wizard Davis" (addresses emails this way too!), and I've taken to signing my emails to them "Best, The Wizard." 😜
Anyway, something about invoking that fraud (-- of Oz, of course) feels appropriate to my level of imposter syndrome.
Anyway, something about invoking that fraud (-- of Oz, of course) feels appropriate to my level of imposter syndrome.
February 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I have a wackadoo (lovingly) student who calls me "Wizard Davis" (addresses emails this way too!), and I've taken to signing my emails to them "Best, The Wizard." 😜
Anyway, something about invoking that fraud (-- of Oz, of course) feels appropriate to my level of imposter syndrome.
Anyway, something about invoking that fraud (-- of Oz, of course) feels appropriate to my level of imposter syndrome.
Reposted by Karen Davis
hey everyone -- mr. musk says the arm of the executive branch dedicated to spending the money CONGRESS HAS SAID BY LAW NEEDS TO BE SPENT is "criminal"
this is how you say "i'm doing a coup." you call everything lawful criminal in a bid for establishing legitimacy around yourself
this is how you say "i'm doing a coup." you call everything lawful criminal in a bid for establishing legitimacy around yourself
February 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
hey everyone -- mr. musk says the arm of the executive branch dedicated to spending the money CONGRESS HAS SAID BY LAW NEEDS TO BE SPENT is "criminal"
this is how you say "i'm doing a coup." you call everything lawful criminal in a bid for establishing legitimacy around yourself
this is how you say "i'm doing a coup." you call everything lawful criminal in a bid for establishing legitimacy around yourself
Reposted by Karen Davis
It's so important to know how batshit this is.
The neoliberal American right has spent 35 years enthusiastically devolving public services to contracted social service agencies. We have consistently been told that these private services are better and more efficient.
The neoliberal American right has spent 35 years enthusiastically devolving public services to contracted social service agencies. We have consistently been told that these private services are better and more efficient.
Elon Musk and DOGE are now publicly targeting Lutheran groups for cuts.
Among those listed: Global Refuge (formerly LIRS), one of 6 faith-based groups that have long helped the govt resettle refugees.
Not clear why Musk contends this funding, which is longstanding and well known, is "illegal."
Among those listed: Global Refuge (formerly LIRS), one of 6 faith-based groups that have long helped the govt resettle refugees.
Not clear why Musk contends this funding, which is longstanding and well known, is "illegal."
February 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
It's so important to know how batshit this is.
The neoliberal American right has spent 35 years enthusiastically devolving public services to contracted social service agencies. We have consistently been told that these private services are better and more efficient.
The neoliberal American right has spent 35 years enthusiastically devolving public services to contracted social service agencies. We have consistently been told that these private services are better and more efficient.
RT to save for use in my Philosophy of Law course...
"Natural law" is in this concept a rightwing Christian concept that holds that by observing how things are we can know how God intended them. Ferguson is saying that attempts to achieve diversity violate God's plan, that things as they are--white domination--is the natural order.
Trump's FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson issues statement claiming that DEI "violates natural law."
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
January 23, 2025 at 6:48 AM
RT to save for use in my Philosophy of Law course...
Reposted by Karen Davis
Police contact of any kind is not innocuous: most police killings start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/12/19/policing_survey_2022/
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/12/19/policing_survey_2022/
January 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Police contact of any kind is not innocuous: most police killings start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/12/19/policing_survey_2022/
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/12/19/policing_survey_2022/
What if Sartre's café waiter is just Autistic.
December 14, 2024 at 8:19 PM
What if Sartre's café waiter is just Autistic.
Ah yes. It's Six Separate Emails from the Same Student Since 11pm Last Night season.
December 12, 2024 at 9:15 PM
Ah yes. It's Six Separate Emails from the Same Student Since 11pm Last Night season.
Christmas party season at a Catholic university is intense. But this whole semester has been intense. 😫 So I welcome having three days this week (3!!) when I'm expected to knock off early and drink wine at work.
December 2, 2024 at 6:46 PM
Christmas party season at a Catholic university is intense. But this whole semester has been intense. 😫 So I welcome having three days this week (3!!) when I'm expected to knock off early and drink wine at work.
Academics! If your uni or dept has a standardized maximum percentage of a final grade that can be determined by attendance/participation, I want to hear about it. Thanks!
November 25, 2024 at 3:07 PM
Academics! If your uni or dept has a standardized maximum percentage of a final grade that can be determined by attendance/participation, I want to hear about it. Thanks!
Oo!!
a conversation between me and robin wall kimmerer about her new book, the serviceberry: abundance and reciprocity in the natural world
orionmagazine.org/article/gift...
orionmagazine.org/article/gift...
Gift Thinking - Orion Magazine
The relationships, abundance, and reciprocity of nature’s economy
orionmagazine.org
November 21, 2024 at 4:03 AM
Oo!!
Reading Jenny Odell's _How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy_ in my Philosophy for Self Care class. Today's the day I sent them outside to just listen and notice. One of my favorite teaching days.
November 21, 2024 at 4:00 AM
Reading Jenny Odell's _How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy_ in my Philosophy for Self Care class. Today's the day I sent them outside to just listen and notice. One of my favorite teaching days.
Reposted by Karen Davis
Fun fact: If someone quotes a post of yours in a way that is unwelcome (as is commonplace on Twitter/X) there is a tool to combat the unwanted attention. Simply click the three dot menu on the quote post & click "Detach quote". This removes your post from their quote post. Useful to know, do share!
November 12, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Fun fact: If someone quotes a post of yours in a way that is unwelcome (as is commonplace on Twitter/X) there is a tool to combat the unwanted attention. Simply click the three dot menu on the quote post & click "Detach quote". This removes your post from their quote post. Useful to know, do share!
Experienced my first Ethics Bowl this weekend, as a judge. I'm surprised at how thoughtful & collaborative it turned out to be. I feared it would be reductive& debate-y. Nope. Good structure. I wouldn't mind getting more involved. Well done, Ethics Bowl peeps. (You already knew. Now I've caught up.)
November 18, 2024 at 7:39 PM
Experienced my first Ethics Bowl this weekend, as a judge. I'm surprised at how thoughtful & collaborative it turned out to be. I feared it would be reductive& debate-y. Nope. Good structure. I wouldn't mind getting more involved. Well done, Ethics Bowl peeps. (You already knew. Now I've caught up.)
It was a real hit at my dept meeting today, so I'll repeat it here... Advice I got my first year teaching that I still use on the reg: Most students are not like you. Remind yourself often.
November 14, 2024 at 2:16 AM
It was a real hit at my dept meeting today, so I'll repeat it here... Advice I got my first year teaching that I still use on the reg: Most students are not like you. Remind yourself often.
Rude.
going to sleep early will make you feel better than doomscrolling
November 9, 2024 at 5:28 AM
Rude.
Had some dental work done this morning.
1) That is sensory hell for someone who's neurodivergent. All 5 senses FLIPPING OUT.
2) I didn't mind that for an hour, the numbness and feeling like it was difficult to breathe had physical causes rather than political/emotional ones. 🫠
1) That is sensory hell for someone who's neurodivergent. All 5 senses FLIPPING OUT.
2) I didn't mind that for an hour, the numbness and feeling like it was difficult to breathe had physical causes rather than political/emotional ones. 🫠
November 7, 2024 at 2:20 AM
Had some dental work done this morning.
1) That is sensory hell for someone who's neurodivergent. All 5 senses FLIPPING OUT.
2) I didn't mind that for an hour, the numbness and feeling like it was difficult to breathe had physical causes rather than political/emotional ones. 🫠
1) That is sensory hell for someone who's neurodivergent. All 5 senses FLIPPING OUT.
2) I didn't mind that for an hour, the numbness and feeling like it was difficult to breathe had physical causes rather than political/emotional ones. 🫠