iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I almost started the 1st sentence as "this is an experiment"...but an experiment contends the existence of randomly assigned treatment and control groups, neither of which are feasilble for this exercise. That would have been awkward.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is a test to see if I can still find my academic people and if they can find me. I met a number of people I still deeply treasure from #SIPS in Rotterdam (2019) or virtually (2020-2021). Since Twitter became unreckognizable, I've wanted to rebuild my network.

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A data center in New Jersey spilled 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel into a local creek, putting the area’s entire river system at risk. Is it any wonder nearly 70 percent of Americans don’t want a data center in their community?

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I'm sure that if anyone asks me what the purpose of writing my book is, I will probably try to do a credible version of Bill Murray giving this deadpan look while saying as Steve Zissou (from that awesome Wes Anderson film, "The Life Acquatic"), "Revenge."

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I take cold comfort from figuring out that the significant portion of the document that was original was done by me (I saved the drafts, so again, receipts). Ultimately the buck stopped with me, and the process was mercifully swift. As anyone who breaks something valuable, I will carry that with me.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Again, I have the receipts. While I am no hero in that particular narrative (not a villain either, but not a hero), let's just say my jaw dropped. I save and back up all emails. Always have. Always will. It occasionally comes in handy. Again, this has no relevance to anyone but a select few.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The relevant faculty members in that email chain were upset he listed them as an affilate. He was contracted to sit in on the occasional dissertation and do a seminar or two on meta-analysis, but not considered faculty. He had repeatedly been asked not to list them on papers. He didn't listen.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

After the self-plagiarism scandal of 2018, while he was guilt-tripping me, he unwittingly forwarded a whole email chain on the matter at a Dutch university. Turns out he was affilated with one US university but since he had contract work with a Dutch university, just listed it as an affiliate.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I asked him why he didn't do it I (which in this world implies having a grad research assistant do it) and he admitted he had no subscription for the software. That implied that any data set I sent him was never actually looked at by him. Given the profile of the main project we worked on, yikes!

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Bushman is arguably less of a fraud than that guy, but definitely a fabulist, and I do have receipts. One involves finding out that he had no subscription to some meta-analytic software I was using for a project, which I later found out about when he asked me to transfer a colleague's data to Excel.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Part of my research is a trip down memory lane. If you know the name Brad Bushman, you will know that I was a co-author with him for a few brief and painful years. You know about the plagiarist who just offed himself recently once it became obvious his whole life is a fraud?

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

To put things in perspective, I am writing a book. The topic is arcane and would bore folks here only for publicity or to solicit campaign contributions. But the people who might be interested completely miss out on what I have in mind. I see a problem with that. If you don't, I just dunno.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

We'll see, I suppose. I know this thread comes across a bit bitter, and it is. It is also honest and heartfelt. I came here for the conversations I had at the time on the bird site pre-Musk. That's clearly missing. If I cannot have that, I simply don't see the point. /end

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I'm also not comfortable with echo chambers. I think we have too many of those already. At the end of the day, I really wanted to reconnect with my Psychology Reform crew (think SIPS and the like). So eventually I'll figure out how to simplify enough to maybe get back to what I originally wanted? /6

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I thought the starter pack idea was well-intentioned but not well-executed. Having the following I have now was not really my intention, and being an introvert just seems exhausting. Any DMs have largely centered on what someone wants out of me (usually $$) and not out of any shared interests. /5

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

One possibility is to unfollow literally everyone I don't personally know. That will be an undertaking, and one I won't even want to think about until I get through this next semester. But I think maybe I'd find some semblance of balance again. This may be better than Twitter, but not what I wanted.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

That was late last year. That proved to be an abysmal failure. So that account has been deactivated and the next time I log on, it will be to delete said account. It did not serve its purpose as hoped. I'm mostly back to Mastodon now. I'll keep this account and figure out what to do with it /3

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

In the process, I ended up with a feed that is quite frankly a bit of a mess and where I miss out on the content that matters to me. That was an unforced error on my part. I tried creating a second account strictly as an academic account, but I fear the damage was already done. /2

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Okay. When I started this account, it was mainly confined to other academic psychologists who had migrated from Twitter. Then I allowed myself to get too excited by the hype surrounding starter packs (I am a political progressive and that had been part of the mix at the bird site) /1

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The 70s Guy @stevenw888.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

9th August 1978, Blues legend Muddy Waters, who heavily influenced 1970s pop and rock icons, performed a historic set at a White House picnic at the request of President Jimmy Carter. #MuddyWaters

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South Carolina Department of Propaganda @southcarolinadop.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Socialism for the rich but not We the People

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 14/07/2026

Ossoff: "We understand the president may be threatening to declare sitting senators illegitimate. If that's the course of action he pursues, he's calling GA voters illegitimate...he was humiliated as a committed lifelong racist that it was Black voters in Georgia who were instrumental in his defeat"

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jimmycraig42.bsky.social @jimmycraig42.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Americans didnt take a stand when their government oppressed and killed foreigners Now their government is doing it to them,and they have no idea how to stand against it

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Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

This is what winning looks like

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Elias Law Group has defeated DOJ lawsuits to access state voter files in: California Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan New Hampshire New York Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Wisconsin DOJ has not won a single case. It is 0-12.

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Mark Bechtel @markymark757.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

"Any Senator who votes to confirm Todd Blanche for AG next week will be complicit in the Epstein file coverup" Rep James Walkinshaw, MSNOW

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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 09/07/2026

📣 A reminder that if you donated to the Graham Platner campaign via ActBlue within the past 90 days, here's the instructions on how to request a refund: help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/art...

help.actblue.com

Can I get a refund for a donation I made through ActBlue?

Learn how to request a refund for unintended or accidental donations.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

So it's not hopeless, just tougher for the eventual Democratic candidate against Collins. That will have to be enough.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

voting for a Democratic candidate that year, but denied the choice by the guy who promised to run a campaign but who dropped out instead. Thankfully Mainers won't have that problem. Maine also benefits from a pretty decent bench of Democratic politicians, which I cannot say of my state.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

get tough. Committing to the vanishing act was probably the smartest thing Mahoney did. Even after all these years, I'm not sure he'd be all that welcome in these parts. In 2020 I ended up voting for Cotton's Libertarian opponent - at least that provided me with a protest vote. I would've preferred

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

What I do know and do care about was that I was presented with someone with no real government experience and minimal experience mounting any significant campaigns had acted as if he could make it at least an interesting contest and then selfishly vanished the moment the going looked like it might

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

thin air. You can read about in the Arkansas press - I tend to recommend Arkansas Times coverage. It appeared that Mahoney had caught wind of what Cotton's team was about to dish about him and he bolted. I have no idea what skeletons were in Mahoney's closet, and frankly, I'm not sure I really care.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

came across as relatable, and certainly charmed most of my county's Democratic Party members, and I recall shaking his hand at a county party meeting. Then a couple hours after the filing period ended in Nov. 2019, Mahoney dropped out, citing some vague "family emergency" and then simply vanished in

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

uphill battle now, but at least there is a chance. As someone who remembers the run-up to the 2020 Senate race in Arkansas, I wish I had a chance to vote for a Democratic candidate against Tom Cotton. The one person who filed, Joshua Mahoney, came across like someone who understood Arkansas voters,

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Platner ended his campaign in an ugly manner. I'm not surprised, but it's the best case scenario for Maine's voters given the circumstances. If nothing else, it looks like a process is being put in place to select a candidate who can replace him. Whoever runs against Collins probably has more of an

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Low Quality Facts @lowqualityfacts.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Wow, I somehow never knew this.

Johnny Cash's real name is Jonathon Dollars.

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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 08/07/2026

"Postliberalism" is an old, tried and tested idea. Tried, tested, and failed over and over again.

lnk.thebulwark.com

JD Vance’s Ideas Will Never Work

Postliberalism has been tried before, to ruinous results.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

When it comes to higher education, FL Gov. DeSantis has had a bad week. Good. Knowing that the core of his "anti-woke" legislation (also from 2023) was struck down as well is a relief. As Florida goes, Arkansas eventually goes these days, so I especially am relieved.

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Kathy Mortensen 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦🇺🇸 💙 @kathyswords.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Good morning those in support of democracy with a foundation in all created equal. Spread this. Let it go viral. Epstein survivor website sharing their story! #proudblue #pinks survivorsisters.org?fbclid=IwZnR...

survivorsisters.org

Survivor Sisters

Survivor Sisters of Epstein & Maxwell

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

@grahamformaine.bsky.social Time to step down and let someone who might actually stand a chance of having a shot at ending Susan Collins' "reign of concern" step up. Mainers deserve better. And the reality is that Platner's campaign is dead in the water no matter what.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

It really is too much, and there were so many red flags even before the latest rape allegation. Enough is enough.

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Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

We’re sleepwalking into authoritarianism. The signs are staring us in the face, yet the denial remains absolute.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Dude, you're toast. Deny all the rape allegations you wish, but at the end of the day, it won't matter. You will not be able to get support to fund a viable campaign. Still care about toppling the oligarchy? Drop out so that someone w/o your baggage can have a shot at denying Collins another term.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Drop out now before you make even more of an ass out of yourself.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

This jackass should drop out now for the good of his state. He claims the allegations are false? Fine. He can defend himself in court. In the meantime, Mainers need a viable alternative to the always "concerned" Susan Collins.

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James Benjamin @ajbenjaminjr.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

That moment when I realize I have been a Bill Murray fan for 50 years.

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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

It kinda got lost in the madness, but the federal conspiracy case against anti-ICE activists in Minnesota - the Minneapolis 15 - is a big deal It's not just the 1st Amendment abuse. It's part of their plan to crush dissent ahead of a stolen election My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

inquirer.com

The Minneapolis 15 ICE-protester indictments are meant to shut you up | Will Bunch

An outrageous federal conspiracy case against 15 anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota really seeks to silence all dissent.

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