Deborah (Dee) Brooks
@whoisdee.bsky.social
Systemic Designer mildly obsessed with enabling coordinated action at scale and co-creation of futures that don’t suck. Queer & trans. She/they.
I’d agree they’re more likely to hold pro-fascist political perspectives, but I’m less persuaded that they’d support the US in a conflict with Canada. The whole “elbows up” thing was instructive. But if some asshat breaks through in Canadian politics on a fascist platform, we’ll be in trouble.
January 21, 2026 at 3:04 AM
I’d agree they’re more likely to hold pro-fascist political perspectives, but I’m less persuaded that they’d support the US in a conflict with Canada. The whole “elbows up” thing was instructive. But if some asshat breaks through in Canadian politics on a fascist platform, we’ll be in trouble.
Exactly. I do get wistful, thinking about what might have been had I been born when, where, and among whom she was, but then again my struggle is part of the foundation her healthy joyful girlhood rests on. Her biggest threat is the hatred shitstorm. Fuck any trans person contributing to that.
August 18, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Exactly. I do get wistful, thinking about what might have been had I been born when, where, and among whom she was, but then again my struggle is part of the foundation her healthy joyful girlhood rests on. Her biggest threat is the hatred shitstorm. Fuck any trans person contributing to that.
We already have a treatment. It’s called affirming care. I’m sure it can be further improved, but honestly it’s not hard to see that it’s already effective, especially for those of us who know what the alternatives are like.
August 18, 2025 at 12:38 AM
We already have a treatment. It’s called affirming care. I’m sure it can be further improved, but honestly it’s not hard to see that it’s already effective, especially for those of us who know what the alternatives are like.
I am quite close to a 7 yo trans girl whose parents and community are almost perfectly affirming. She came out when she was 4, and has never looked back. As someone who survived the shattering misery and trauma of growing up trans in the 80s, watching this kid unselfconsciously thrive is amazing.
August 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I am quite close to a 7 yo trans girl whose parents and community are almost perfectly affirming. She came out when she was 4, and has never looked back. As someone who survived the shattering misery and trauma of growing up trans in the 80s, watching this kid unselfconsciously thrive is amazing.
Vampire Long Weekend
August 14, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Vampire Long Weekend
When everyone around you shares that dream, it starts to take on the ring of truth. And if you’re an investor in AI, that narrative cloak is an incredibly valuable marketing tool.
August 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
When everyone around you shares that dream, it starts to take on the ring of truth. And if you’re an investor in AI, that narrative cloak is an incredibly valuable marketing tool.
Calling it AI despite a lack of actual intelligence is at the root. The concept of AI is permeated with science fiction. When you’ve read enough SF, and you’re at the forefront of computing, it’s pleasing to dream of your supercomputer waking up, befriending you, and ushering in a glorious new age.
August 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Calling it AI despite a lack of actual intelligence is at the root. The concept of AI is permeated with science fiction. When you’ve read enough SF, and you’re at the forefront of computing, it’s pleasing to dream of your supercomputer waking up, befriending you, and ushering in a glorious new age.
No, I’m not agreeing with that. I continue to think that young men is a cumbersomely large catch-all group, and I also don’t think “among the most vulnerable” is important.
Why is it important that I agree to your terms? Isn’t it enough that I agree there are real issues and cause for concern?
Why is it important that I agree to your terms? Isn’t it enough that I agree there are real issues and cause for concern?
May 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
No, I’m not agreeing with that. I continue to think that young men is a cumbersomely large catch-all group, and I also don’t think “among the most vulnerable” is important.
Why is it important that I agree to your terms? Isn’t it enough that I agree there are real issues and cause for concern?
Why is it important that I agree to your terms? Isn’t it enough that I agree there are real issues and cause for concern?
Honestly thought we were having a misunderstanding. The way you’re proposing “picking intersections” doesn’t accord with my understanding of intersectional analysis. Anyway, no intent to offend.
May 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Honestly thought we were having a misunderstanding. The way you’re proposing “picking intersections” doesn’t accord with my understanding of intersectional analysis. Anyway, no intent to offend.
When I refer to intersectional analysis, I am not talking about segmenting data. Segmenting can facilitate intersectional analysis, but they’re not the same. I am convinced that you are concerned about young men. I celebrate that. Signing off now.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interse...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interse...
Intersectionality - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
When I refer to intersectional analysis, I am not talking about segmenting data. Segmenting can facilitate intersectional analysis, but they’re not the same. I am convinced that you are concerned about young men. I celebrate that. Signing off now.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interse...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interse...
Honestly—we don’t need to agree on all this.
IMO, if the systemic inequities are visible in your categories, it’s only in the broadest of brush strokes. And for me, the same is true of the interventions you propose.
I think that’s ok. There are a multitude of ways to help build a better world.
IMO, if the systemic inequities are visible in your categories, it’s only in the broadest of brush strokes. And for me, the same is true of the interventions you propose.
I think that’s ok. There are a multitude of ways to help build a better world.
May 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Honestly—we don’t need to agree on all this.
IMO, if the systemic inequities are visible in your categories, it’s only in the broadest of brush strokes. And for me, the same is true of the interventions you propose.
I think that’s ok. There are a multitude of ways to help build a better world.
IMO, if the systemic inequities are visible in your categories, it’s only in the broadest of brush strokes. And for me, the same is true of the interventions you propose.
I think that’s ok. There are a multitude of ways to help build a better world.
I see your point, and my answer on VAWG is both yes, and no. Population level analysis may allow us to make broad statements, but it ignores intersectionality. When we ignore that, we risk reproducing/reinforcing systemic inequities in any interventions we design and pursue.
May 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I see your point, and my answer on VAWG is both yes, and no. Population level analysis may allow us to make broad statements, but it ignores intersectionality. When we ignore that, we risk reproducing/reinforcing systemic inequities in any interventions we design and pursue.
Because obscuring race and class makes little sense to me.
There’s little to be learned from analyzing at a population level. It tells us next to nothing in my view. Young men are a huge group. The spectrum of needs, issues, abilities, etc within a whole population demographic is vast.
There’s little to be learned from analyzing at a population level. It tells us next to nothing in my view. Young men are a huge group. The spectrum of needs, issues, abilities, etc within a whole population demographic is vast.
May 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Because obscuring race and class makes little sense to me.
There’s little to be learned from analyzing at a population level. It tells us next to nothing in my view. Young men are a huge group. The spectrum of needs, issues, abilities, etc within a whole population demographic is vast.
There’s little to be learned from analyzing at a population level. It tells us next to nothing in my view. Young men are a huge group. The spectrum of needs, issues, abilities, etc within a whole population demographic is vast.
Could the demographic perspective be clouding the picture? How do the CJS & violence numbers break when segmented by race or socioeconomic status? I’m not ready to put young men at the top of my “people needing protection” list. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t significant cause for concern.
May 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Could the demographic perspective be clouding the picture? How do the CJS & violence numbers break when segmented by race or socioeconomic status? I’m not ready to put young men at the top of my “people needing protection” list. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t significant cause for concern.
I don’t think they’re among the most vulnerable, but I do think they’ll play a huge role in shaping our future. It’s a very big group. When we treat them as a monolith, i think we contribute to alienating more of them. As you say, it’s counterproductive. I think it helps perpetuate the violence.
May 5, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I don’t think they’re among the most vulnerable, but I do think they’ll play a huge role in shaping our future. It’s a very big group. When we treat them as a monolith, i think we contribute to alienating more of them. As you say, it’s counterproductive. I think it helps perpetuate the violence.
True. Never said otherwise. As a queer trans woman, I’m pretty familiar.
I get the impulse to pull out the 🎻 when someone says white/cis/het men have real problems too. Via my kid, I have a conduit to young men. I think your 🎻 is a stick, but I see us holding no carrot. Ben Shapiro’s got a carrot.
I get the impulse to pull out the 🎻 when someone says white/cis/het men have real problems too. Via my kid, I have a conduit to young men. I think your 🎻 is a stick, but I see us holding no carrot. Ben Shapiro’s got a carrot.
May 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM
True. Never said otherwise. As a queer trans woman, I’m pretty familiar.
I get the impulse to pull out the 🎻 when someone says white/cis/het men have real problems too. Via my kid, I have a conduit to young men. I think your 🎻 is a stick, but I see us holding no carrot. Ben Shapiro’s got a carrot.
I get the impulse to pull out the 🎻 when someone says white/cis/het men have real problems too. Via my kid, I have a conduit to young men. I think your 🎻 is a stick, but I see us holding no carrot. Ben Shapiro’s got a carrot.
Yes to your quibble. Character limit had me short cutting around nuance. What I want would be better described as a new model of masculinity and an end to presumed complicity. I’m glad there are programs. My kid seems to have it figured out well, and that has led to others asking me what to do.
May 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Yes to your quibble. Character limit had me short cutting around nuance. What I want would be better described as a new model of masculinity and an end to presumed complicity. I’m glad there are programs. My kid seems to have it figured out well, and that has led to others asking me what to do.
It’s bizarre to hold individuals responsible for systemic oppression, but it happens a lot. IMO, we shouldn’t be surprised when some young men, feeling unwelcome in progressive circles, respond by radicalizing rightward.
I’m all for calling out behaviour, but we need to offer a path to redemption.
I’m all for calling out behaviour, but we need to offer a path to redemption.
May 4, 2025 at 10:13 PM
It’s bizarre to hold individuals responsible for systemic oppression, but it happens a lot. IMO, we shouldn’t be surprised when some young men, feeling unwelcome in progressive circles, respond by radicalizing rightward.
I’m all for calling out behaviour, but we need to offer a path to redemption.
I’m all for calling out behaviour, but we need to offer a path to redemption.
Men having to reflect on how to nonviolently express masculinity is a good thing, but it can feel impossible and unfair.
For example, I’m told that young men get shouted down online simply for being white/cis/het, and told that their thoughts aren’t welcome because of the history of male violence.
For example, I’m told that young men get shouted down online simply for being white/cis/het, and told that their thoughts aren’t welcome because of the history of male violence.
May 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Men having to reflect on how to nonviolently express masculinity is a good thing, but it can feel impossible and unfair.
For example, I’m told that young men get shouted down online simply for being white/cis/het, and told that their thoughts aren’t welcome because of the history of male violence.
For example, I’m told that young men get shouted down online simply for being white/cis/het, and told that their thoughts aren’t welcome because of the history of male violence.
I’ve seen some of this. My son (22) and I have an ongoing dialogue about the challenges of claiming identity as a young man today. It can be difficult for careful and thoughtful young men to know who to look up to, or to understand how to exist while avoiding accusations of complicity in violence
May 4, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I’ve seen some of this. My son (22) and I have an ongoing dialogue about the challenges of claiming identity as a young man today. It can be difficult for careful and thoughtful young men to know who to look up to, or to understand how to exist while avoiding accusations of complicity in violence
You’re welcome! I can’t think of a non-fiction book that offered me more value per page.
I do wonder how readily it translates to communicating with people who are locked in self-reinforcing conspiracy bubbles. It seems like we’re stuck in a post-dialogue universe with no access to common ground.
I do wonder how readily it translates to communicating with people who are locked in self-reinforcing conspiracy bubbles. It seems like we’re stuck in a post-dialogue universe with no access to common ground.
May 4, 2025 at 7:39 PM
You’re welcome! I can’t think of a non-fiction book that offered me more value per page.
I do wonder how readily it translates to communicating with people who are locked in self-reinforcing conspiracy bubbles. It seems like we’re stuck in a post-dialogue universe with no access to common ground.
I do wonder how readily it translates to communicating with people who are locked in self-reinforcing conspiracy bubbles. It seems like we’re stuck in a post-dialogue universe with no access to common ground.
I like a lot of what you’re saying. Totally agree: appeal to emotion and carefully select language, but using conservative language can be a trap. George Lakoff’s chestnut “Don’t Think of an Elephant” taught me lots about the perils of reinforcing their framing. www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-...
The ALL NEW Don’t Think of an Elephant! | Chelsea Green Publishing
Know Your Values and Frame the Debate
www.chelseagreen.com
May 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I like a lot of what you’re saying. Totally agree: appeal to emotion and carefully select language, but using conservative language can be a trap. George Lakoff’s chestnut “Don’t Think of an Elephant” taught me lots about the perils of reinforcing their framing. www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-...
The issue of rightward editorial creep and plutocratic capture of major news orgs is revolting and concerning as well, but I tend to think that the role of news media in shaping opinions has declined heavily since 2010 or so.
May 4, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The issue of rightward editorial creep and plutocratic capture of major news orgs is revolting and concerning as well, but I tend to think that the role of news media in shaping opinions has declined heavily since 2010 or so.
I think this is a big piece of it. Over the past decade, more and more people placing more trust in anecdotes from people they “know” over social media than in—for example—fact-checked media has been a key trend. Social media has fragmented discourse and exacerbated polarization.
May 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I think this is a big piece of it. Over the past decade, more and more people placing more trust in anecdotes from people they “know” over social media than in—for example—fact-checked media has been a key trend. Social media has fragmented discourse and exacerbated polarization.
Attempts to de-platform or shame people for their repugnant views risk driving them beyond the reach of dialogue. This is a tactic that undermines any hope of strategy for a better future. And these people and their inheritors will share our future.
May 3, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Attempts to de-platform or shame people for their repugnant views risk driving them beyond the reach of dialogue. This is a tactic that undermines any hope of strategy for a better future. And these people and their inheritors will share our future.