David Howell
@shinydh.bsky.social
#ActuallyAutistic. Hobbyist composer with sensory hypersensitivity who sometimes writes accordingly and sometimes feels too anxious to write the sounds that don't set this off. He/him
Profile pic: an iridescent-winged bat suncatcher
Profile pic: an iridescent-winged bat suncatcher
Pinned
David Howell
@shinydh.bsky.social
· Oct 20
*waves bat wing*
Those who gathered at the birdsite to talk about classical music might remember me. Bat as in "I hear too much, like the dark, have nocturnal tendencies, and flap," all of which are by-products of how being #ActuallyAutistic manifests for me 🦇
Those who gathered at the birdsite to talk about classical music might remember me. Bat as in "I hear too much, like the dark, have nocturnal tendencies, and flap," all of which are by-products of how being #ActuallyAutistic manifests for me 🦇
Reposted by David Howell
I'm an autistic bat and I approve this message
I will forever be baffled by fireworks being just legal to buy and let off whenever you want.
November 9, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I'm an autistic bat and I approve this message
Reposted by David Howell
✨
November 9, 2025 at 12:04 AM
✨
Reposted by David Howell
fun fact this is what "emotional labor" means it is not actually when your loved ones expect you to care about their feelings
also it is very ableist
also it is very ableist
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
fun fact this is what "emotional labor" means it is not actually when your loved ones expect you to care about their feelings
also it is very ableist
also it is very ableist
Reposted by David Howell
This is a point we must not forget when campaigning against this unjust law.
The recent policy change which makes it impossible for young trans people to delay puberty, at great cost to their mental health, has a special caveat to allow cross-sex hormones to be used on intersex children even contrary to their wishes, at great cost to their mental health.
November 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This is a point we must not forget when campaigning against this unjust law.
Reposted by David Howell
Such a mystery, what MASS DISABLING EVENT could have happened after 2019 to cause this?
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
UK ‘sliding into avoidable crisis’, major review into workplace sickness warns
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
www.independent.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Such a mystery, what MASS DISABLING EVENT could have happened after 2019 to cause this?
Reposted by David Howell
This is notable and not good. Teen Vogue was an unexpected avenue of hard hitting journalism and I suspect that will not continue..
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This is notable and not good. Teen Vogue was an unexpected avenue of hard hitting journalism and I suspect that will not continue..
Reposted by David Howell
FYI if you have a Spotify membership, Indivisible is asking people to cancel until they stop running ICE recruitment ads. Instructions on how to do it here: www.youtube.com/shorts/TKp7c...
Tutorial: How to cancel your Spotify subscription
YouTube video by Indivisible
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
FYI if you have a Spotify membership, Indivisible is asking people to cancel until they stop running ICE recruitment ads. Instructions on how to do it here: www.youtube.com/shorts/TKp7c...
Reposted by David Howell
I'm a kitty
in a sealed box I hide
I'm wanted
dead or alive
in a sealed box I hide
I'm wanted
dead or alive
October 24, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I'm a kitty
in a sealed box I hide
I'm wanted
dead or alive
in a sealed box I hide
I'm wanted
dead or alive
Reposted by David Howell
Folks still try to get away with the excuse that they can’t make the move to Bluesky because there are no sports. It’s not true and it hasn’t been true for some time.
A note for sports: Bluesky’s engagement rate was x10 higher than X’s across a sampling of identical posts made on both platforms by @rapsheet.bsky.social (sharing with permission)
Fwiw we see a similar trend across all communities, not just sports. Real people, real conversations.
Fwiw we see a similar trend across all communities, not just sports. Real people, real conversations.
October 21, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Folks still try to get away with the excuse that they can’t make the move to Bluesky because there are no sports. It’s not true and it hasn’t been true for some time.
A very #HappyDiwali to those who celebrate!
I am not religious in any form, but as a secular #ActuallyAutistic magpie I feel inclined to celebrate all of the winter light festivals (and I believe modern Christmas extremely counts as one) collectively as the #ShinySeason...
I am not religious in any form, but as a secular #ActuallyAutistic magpie I feel inclined to celebrate all of the winter light festivals (and I believe modern Christmas extremely counts as one) collectively as the #ShinySeason...
October 20, 2025 at 6:44 AM
A very #HappyDiwali to those who celebrate!
I am not religious in any form, but as a secular #ActuallyAutistic magpie I feel inclined to celebrate all of the winter light festivals (and I believe modern Christmas extremely counts as one) collectively as the #ShinySeason...
I am not religious in any form, but as a secular #ActuallyAutistic magpie I feel inclined to celebrate all of the winter light festivals (and I believe modern Christmas extremely counts as one) collectively as the #ShinySeason...
Reposted by David Howell
A World War II veteran was a contestant on Deal or No Deal
you ever think about those real weird overlaps. like tennessee williams might have listened to the ramones
October 12, 2025 at 12:19 AM
A World War II veteran was a contestant on Deal or No Deal
Reposted by David Howell
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Reposted by David Howell
"Windows update is commited to helping reduce carbon emissions" fucking is it, what about Copilot?
October 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM
"Windows update is commited to helping reduce carbon emissions" fucking is it, what about Copilot?
Reposted by David Howell
I think it's also important to note that meltdowns in black women may look different because it is not *safe* to display signs of your "average" meltdown. Suppression of, avoidance, and isolation during a meltdown is taught/learned.
Autistic meltdowns in Black women ♾️
October 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I think it's also important to note that meltdowns in black women may look different because it is not *safe* to display signs of your "average" meltdown. Suppression of, avoidance, and isolation during a meltdown is taught/learned.
British Broadcasting Conservatives strike again
The Greens requested an interview on the Laura Kuenssberg Show with Zack Polanski when he was elected leader, but were denied, with a promise to interview him during Green conference instead.
This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester
This was then scrapped citing the Manchester synagogue attack. Polanski is both Jewish and from Manchester
BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The new Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM
British Broadcasting Conservatives strike again
A4: For a long time it was a bit "if I had one" and even as I hit adolescence I made most of my friends online at a time (early-mid 00s) when that was still very much seen as weird and/or dangerous. (LJ tags were my portal to interest-based location-agnostic community; once that opened...) #AutChat
Q4: What is/was your social and emotional life like as an autistic/similar youth?
Do you see your boundaries or relationships changing as you grow? #AutChat
Do you see your boundaries or relationships changing as you grow? #AutChat
October 5, 2025 at 9:41 PM
A4: For a long time it was a bit "if I had one" and even as I hit adolescence I made most of my friends online at a time (early-mid 00s) when that was still very much seen as weird and/or dangerous. (LJ tags were my portal to interest-based location-agnostic community; once that opened...) #AutChat
A3: School was simultaneously the place I thrived (as a stereotypical academically-inclined autistic nerd kid) and despised (sensory triggers everywhere). University shifted the balance a bit but lectures were still sometimes a challenge, especially the Absolute Unit first-year classes #AutChat
Q3: What are your experiences around education and learning as a young person?
If you go to school or study independently, what supports and accommodations help you learn?
What tips do you have for other young people who are in school right now? #AutChat
If you go to school or study independently, what supports and accommodations help you learn?
What tips do you have for other young people who are in school right now? #AutChat
October 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
A3: School was simultaneously the place I thrived (as a stereotypical academically-inclined autistic nerd kid) and despised (sensory triggers everywhere). University shifted the balance a bit but lectures were still sometimes a challenge, especially the Absolute Unit first-year classes #AutChat
A2: Notable for being deferred - didn't start university until 20 and at least the second of my "gap years" was unwanted - but immensely fulfilling, outside of some mental health and dietary challenges, once it truly got under way #AutChat
Q2: What is/was “transition age” (~17-22 years old) life like for you? Has your school, work, or living situation changed over this period? If you’re not transition age yet, are there things you are excited about or worried about as you anticipate this life stage? #AutChat
October 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A2: Notable for being deferred - didn't start university until 20 and at least the second of my "gap years" was unwanted - but immensely fulfilling, outside of some mental health and dietary challenges, once it truly got under way #AutChat
A1: Helped a lot by my early diagnosis! But my spiky profile complicated things in that I craved adult company over my peers as a kid, and then struggled to gain autonomy or even know I wanted it until that dam burst, late but quite explosively, at 16 #AutChat
Q1: What is your experience of being an autistic/similar youth? Do/did you experience youth-targeted ageism? Has that interacted with ableism in your life? #AutChat
October 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM
A1: Helped a lot by my early diagnosis! But my spiky profile complicated things in that I craved adult company over my peers as a kid, and then struggled to gain autonomy or even know I wanted it until that dam burst, late but quite explosively, at 16 #AutChat
A0: David, early-diagnosed autistic who may or may not be otherwise neurodivergent 😂 #AutChat
Q0: Introduce yourself! Say anything you like about yourself or your interest in #AutChat or in today's topic, autistic and similarly neurodivergnet youth.
Quick reference for this week's #AutChat questions (please wait till they're posted to answer):
autchat.com/autistic-and...
Quick reference for this week's #AutChat questions (please wait till they're posted to answer):
autchat.com/autistic-and...
Autistic and similarly neurodivergent youth – autchat
Where: Twitter’s #AutChat hashtag. Questions posted by @autchatmod. When:> Sunday September 27, 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT / 8pm GMT / 9pm GMT. Thank you to @GeorgeT_UK and @huffietina for their input during q...
autchat.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A0: David, early-diagnosed autistic who may or may not be otherwise neurodivergent 😂 #AutChat
Reposted by David Howell
It is morally wrong to want a computer to be sentient. If you owned a sentient thing, you would be a slaver. If you want sentient computers to exist, you just want to create a new kind of slavery. The ethics are as simple as that. Sorry if this offends
October 5, 2025 at 12:46 PM
It is morally wrong to want a computer to be sentient. If you owned a sentient thing, you would be a slaver. If you want sentient computers to exist, you just want to create a new kind of slavery. The ethics are as simple as that. Sorry if this offends
Reposted by David Howell
There were two people inside this mosque and comes after a Imam was stabbed in Hounslow last week.
Mosque fire being treated as arson and hate crime www.bbc.com/news/article...
Mosque fire being treated as arson and hate crime www.bbc.com/news/article...
Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as 'hate crime'
Video appears to show two people in balaclavas at the mosque before a large blaze spreads.
www.bbc.com
October 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
There were two people inside this mosque and comes after a Imam was stabbed in Hounslow last week.
Mosque fire being treated as arson and hate crime www.bbc.com/news/article...
Mosque fire being treated as arson and hate crime www.bbc.com/news/article...