Deborah Pearson
@performingquiet.substack.com
Theatre and live art person. London based, Canadian born.
FKA shysecretagent on the platform whose name we dare not speak.
FKA shysecretagent on the platform whose name we dare not speak.
Wrote a little thing on my substack about Mary Beard and Roman Emperors and AI.
performingquiet.substack.com/p/what-the-r...
performingquiet.substack.com/p/what-the-r...
What the Roman Empire tells us about AI
GABBO, Vespasian and other instances of Manufactured Demand
performingquiet.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Wrote a little thing on my substack about Mary Beard and Roman Emperors and AI.
performingquiet.substack.com/p/what-the-r...
performingquiet.substack.com/p/what-the-r...
Wrote about John Berger and The Future Show on my (kind of) brand new substack... open.substack.com/pub/performi...
What would John Berger do?
In June I made a score for an audience-generated version of The Future Show at the John Berger conference at the University of Potsdam.
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Wrote about John Berger and The Future Show on my (kind of) brand new substack... open.substack.com/pub/performi...
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
Who’s been putting off filling in that government consultation on AI then? Because you took one look and realised that fucking thing was designed SPECIFICALLY to put you off?
Don’t worry, there are three online guides to help you:
The Association of Illustrators
theaoi.com/news/the-cop...
Don’t worry, there are three online guides to help you:
The Association of Illustrators
theaoi.com/news/the-cop...
The Copyright and AI consultation - how to respond as an illustrator – The AOI
The Copyright and Artificial Intelligence consultation was published by in December 2024, and we are encouraging illustrators to submit a response to the consultation to demonstrate the negative affec...
theaoi.com
February 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Who’s been putting off filling in that government consultation on AI then? Because you took one look and realised that fucking thing was designed SPECIFICALLY to put you off?
Don’t worry, there are three online guides to help you:
The Association of Illustrators
theaoi.com/news/the-cop...
Don’t worry, there are three online guides to help you:
The Association of Illustrators
theaoi.com/news/the-cop...
You’ve got the next hour to fill this in if you can. The questions are definitely phrased in a way to discourage you from finishing the survey, but finish it anyway. Our human voices should be heard, not stolen.
Today is the last day to voice your opinion on the Copyright and AI consultation in the UK.
As companies like Microsoft are slowing down their investments in datacenters, one should ask: is this a sustainable industry basket to put all our eggs in? 🥚
As companies like Microsoft are slowing down their investments in datacenters, one should ask: is this a sustainable industry basket to put all our eggs in? 🥚
www.gov.uk/government/c...
If you live in the UK, setting aside 30 minutes to write your opinion on this issue can have massive impact.
They are pursuing massive exemptions to Copyright to allow AI companies to scrape the web. Opt-Out is unworkable.
Demand they must License artists work to use it.
If you live in the UK, setting aside 30 minutes to write your opinion on this issue can have massive impact.
They are pursuing massive exemptions to Copyright to allow AI companies to scrape the web. Opt-Out is unworkable.
Demand they must License artists work to use it.
February 24, 2025 at 10:52 PM
You’ve got the next hour to fill this in if you can. The questions are definitely phrased in a way to discourage you from finishing the survey, but finish it anyway. Our human voices should be heard, not stolen.
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
Last chance to respond to the government’s consultation on AI’s threat to creatives and copyright. Here’s a handy guide to filling it in from @writersguildgb.bsky.social.
2/ Respond to the Government consultation by midnight tomorrow - we have produced a guide to make it easy for you (and pls share with colleagues and friends!)
writersguild.org.uk/fight-back-a...
writersguild.org.uk/fight-back-a...
Fight back against Government plans on copyright and AI - The Writers' Guild of Great Britain
On 17 December the Government launched a consultation on AI and copyright. The Government’s proposed plans on AI and copyright will weaken your copyright protections and allow AI companies to use …
writersguild.org.uk
February 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Last chance to respond to the government’s consultation on AI’s threat to creatives and copyright. Here’s a handy guide to filling it in from @writersguildgb.bsky.social.
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
As promised, here are the slides I shared with students to convince them to NOT use chatGPT and other artificial stupidity.
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
February 23, 2025 at 1:45 PM
As promised, here are the slides I shared with students to convince them to NOT use chatGPT and other artificial stupidity.
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄
“I use antlers in all of my decorating.” Is there any better lyric in film?
February 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
“I use antlers in all of my decorating.” Is there any better lyric in film?
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
An important piece in today’s Observer from Katie Hims on why cuts to audio drama are so damaging - to writers, audiences and the wider cultural ecosystem in the UK
We continue to campaign to Save Audio Drama at the BBC #SADatTheBBC
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
We continue to campaign to Save Audio Drama at the BBC #SADatTheBBC
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
BBC radio drama is in grave danger. Without it we may lose the next generation of writing talent
Hundreds of hours of original plays have been cut from the corporation’s programming in recent years. If the trend continues, a valuable training ground for writers will be lost
www.theguardian.com
February 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
An important piece in today’s Observer from Katie Hims on why cuts to audio drama are so damaging - to writers, audiences and the wider cultural ecosystem in the UK
We continue to campaign to Save Audio Drama at the BBC #SADatTheBBC
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
We continue to campaign to Save Audio Drama at the BBC #SADatTheBBC
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Incredibly honest moment: one of the most useful cookbooks I have ever bought is Tim Anderson’s Microwave Cooking. Not necessarily for the recipes but for the paradigm shift it offers a cook in terms of how they think of their microwave. It isn’t just for reheating, it’s a tool.
February 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Incredibly honest moment: one of the most useful cookbooks I have ever bought is Tim Anderson’s Microwave Cooking. Not necessarily for the recipes but for the paradigm shift it offers a cook in terms of how they think of their microwave. It isn’t just for reheating, it’s a tool.
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
Not exaggerating when I say I would like a personal, handwritten apology from every pundit who barfed out a dozen "the left wants to change the way you talk!" op-eds based on non-mandatory guidelines in obscure PDFs.
2. A memo distributed by NSA leadership to its staff says that on February 10, all NSA websites and internal network pages that contain banned words will be deleted.
This is the list of 27 banned words distributed to NSA staff:
This is the list of 27 banned words distributed to NSA staff:
February 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Not exaggerating when I say I would like a personal, handwritten apology from every pundit who barfed out a dozen "the left wants to change the way you talk!" op-eds based on non-mandatory guidelines in obscure PDFs.
Anyone else feel like “Feed the Birds” in Mary Poppins is the moment you realise your nanny is a radical anarchist who wants to take down capitalism with her cool chimney sweep artist f-buddy? And does the beauty of that realisation make anyone else cry?
February 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Anyone else feel like “Feed the Birds” in Mary Poppins is the moment you realise your nanny is a radical anarchist who wants to take down capitalism with her cool chimney sweep artist f-buddy? And does the beauty of that realisation make anyone else cry?
Let’s not trade wisdom for knowledge.
February 6, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Let’s not trade wisdom for knowledge.
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
There could be a future where algorithms chatting with eachother about all the things the humans used to do is the only intelligent life left in the universe.
January 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There could be a future where algorithms chatting with eachother about all the things the humans used to do is the only intelligent life left in the universe.
“Dreyfuss once wrote from Devil’s Island that he would see the most glorious birds. Many years later in Brittany he realised they had only been seagulls. For me, they will always be glorious birds.”
- Maude
- Maude
January 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
“Dreyfuss once wrote from Devil’s Island that he would see the most glorious birds. Many years later in Brittany he realised they had only been seagulls. For me, they will always be glorious birds.”
- Maude
- Maude
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
Today, honor a King, not a Felon. #mlkday2025
January 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Today, honor a King, not a Felon. #mlkday2025
Anyone truly interested in elegance must admire the inimitable creature that is the cat.
January 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Anyone truly interested in elegance must admire the inimitable creature that is the cat.
After almost 20 years living in the U.K., my North American accent sounds like I left yesterday. But the place where I’ve “gone British” is in emails. I have never signed one “Cheerio” but that could be next
January 14, 2025 at 10:41 AM
After almost 20 years living in the U.K., my North American accent sounds like I left yesterday. But the place where I’ve “gone British” is in emails. I have never signed one “Cheerio” but that could be next
So the Labour government clearly does not give a sh*t about climate change. Carbon emissions from even relatively simple AI use are enormous.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Mainlined into UK’s veins’: Labour announces huge public rollout of AI
Plans to make UK world leader in AI sector include opening access to NHS and other public data
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2025 at 11:42 AM
So the Labour government clearly does not give a sh*t about climate change. Carbon emissions from even relatively simple AI use are enormous.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
There is a lot of irony in this headline reading “over 40” when every actress referenced in the article is over 50. Why pretend they are 10 years younger? Isn’t it cooler that these women are over 50?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Demi, Jodie and Nicole: is Hollywood finally ready to recognise complex female characters over 40? | Natasha Ginnivan
At the Golden Globes, the spotlight was on women playing multilayered, courageous and middle-aged lead roles
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
There is a lot of irony in this headline reading “over 40” when every actress referenced in the article is over 50. Why pretend they are 10 years younger? Isn’t it cooler that these women are over 50?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Deborah Pearson
I am a climate scientist and this is correct ⬇️
Occasional reminder that there’s no, “it’s too late, its over” for anthropogenic climate change. Every molecule of CO2 that doesn’t go into the atmosphere makes a difference. Preventing 0.1 degree of warming makes a difference. Every bit of climate resilience we build together makes a difference.
January 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
I am a climate scientist and this is correct ⬇️
Some people make life bigger and more beautiful.
And some people make life smaller and worse.
And some people make life smaller and worse.
January 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Some people make life bigger and more beautiful.
And some people make life smaller and worse.
And some people make life smaller and worse.
Master of the cute sulk.
December 22, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Master of the cute sulk.