Sign in

Gav Maclean

@gavmaclean.bsky.social
677 followers 409 following 5.9K posts

Small time sociologist. He/him

PostsRepliesMedia
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 2h
Heinz warns that they're months away from 58 varieties, news media credulously report.
theguardian.com
AI in your oven? Anthropic warns models ‘months away’ from self-replication on smart devices
Researchers say ‘AI worms’ could soon infiltrate internet-connected devices amid calls for increased guardrails
010
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 3h
really makes you question things when this stuff keeps happening to the good people
121
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 6h
Yup. Seems like we work in this bizarre afterlife of it now.
010
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 8h
When I cover technofeminism it'll be easy to give an example of what happens when people who look like me build the internet.
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 8h
Typical I use the work computer to Google "lesbian films" to try and remember a film title for my lecture on sexuality and culture...then outraged when everyone says "what did you expect?"
100
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 8h
"where did my world class research and innovation sector go? It was here a minute ago"
static.klipy.com
Confused John Travolta Meme
Alt: Confused John Travolta Meme
130
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 8h
Still wondering when government will notice the drastic downsizing of research capacity in this country. Even the research funding administrator is at it.
2113
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Esheru @esherukweku.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
15 outlets published 249 articles about Jason Arday, but there appears to be a partial media blackout regarding Dr Lola Salem, Michael Gove's ex-girlfriend, who has been suspended from Oxford University after being charged with possessing indecent images of children. jamradio.uk/news/2026/10...
jamradio.uk
Lola Salem denies indecent-image charges | Jam Radio
Oxford academic Dr Lola Salem denies indecent-image charges. Her recently reported separation from Michael Gove is a separate matter.
44860484
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · 11h
Mark Zuckerberg is a monster.
At least one AI company is thinking about monetizing its users' mortality. Last year, Meta was granted a patent for an AI system that could keep a user account active well after death. In the words of the patent, "the language model may be used for simulating the user when the user is absent from the social networking system, for example, when the user takes a long break or if the user is deceased". It's a depressing thought, the idea of posting for ever. It's also potentially lucrative for Meta, as the company could continue to train its model through these zombie accounts.
22516206
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 11h
Nature is healing
120
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Andy @andykp.bsky.social · 14h
The mask really does slip when it’s actually about women’s rights and safety, eh?
317928
Reposted by Gav Maclean
🎃Autopsy of Ashley Lynch 🔪🎞️ @ashleylynch.bsky.social · 16h
We're speedrunning toward a future where news orgs are forced to use AI to create photos that are no longer available from archives, and if I have to explain to you why that's bad then you're already too broken to be part of society.
31145434
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Ireland against Fascism @irlagainstfascism.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Chants of 'Don't protect the women, we can fight. We don't need your fascist shite' rang out in Glasgow tonight. As anti-fascists, women's rights groups and trade unionists protested against 'patriot platform' and their supporters pushing their racist agenda in the city. Things you love to see ✊
5155501409
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 14h
Lol at how much dynamic pricing tried to screw me for AEW Dynasty tickets. No thanks.
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
I like to say "nonce stan" when talking about Noam Chomsky.
010
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
hearing max caster might be a free agent. TK needs to get him signed to AEW asap
010
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Don't get me wrong, he sure could act and I enjoyed plenty of his films...but once Avengers came out he definitely retired from acting
110
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
I have less than zero interest in seeing Tom Cruise try give us the Robert Downey Jr return to "serious acting" thing
110
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Ah well, turns out Tom Cruise saving cinema was just an advance
theguardian.com
Digger on course for $245m loss after box office collapse
Estimates suggest the eco satire starring Tom Cruise could join the list of top turkeys, including Cutthroat Island and The Marvels
100
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
wonder who runs the feds
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Given the effectiveness of the atmosphere at Anfield, I don't think they'll mind
theguardian.com
Virgil van Dijk warns Manchester City players to get used to hostile atmospheres
Virgil van Dijk has suggested Manchester City’s treatment at the hands of the Liverpool crowd on Sunday was a sign of things to come
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Jacobin doing their thing as per
010
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
This summer: Thousands of deaths from extreme weather. This weekend in the media: What's the point of the Green Party? This morning from the Labour party 👇
Ministers preparing to slash heat pump subsidies to fund defence spending
741576573
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
when Thatcher said there is no alternative... She meant there are no refunds too. I do feel the increasing lack of toilets in trains is pretty scary for a lot of disabled folk but they seem to get away with it...
040
Reposted by Gav Maclean
It's Pipes, Mum! Pipes is here! @scriblit.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
well done lads, it's 2026 & you've managed to allow the fucking Sun to position itself as slightly less hostile to people who support LGBT+ rights than The Big Supposedly Gay Dancing Show
15619157
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
If you wondered what Starmer with good oratory looked like
030
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
resigned fucking sigh.
theguardian.com
Ministers preparing to slash heat pump subsidies to fund defence spending
Exclusive: Some of £2bn savings needed from energy budget expected to come from boiler upgrade scheme, sources say
1142
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Nate O @nateo.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
‘Development Partner’ at Verduin, the fascist bookstore in London heavily connected to Nina Power
722477
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Prof Gavin Yamey MD MPH @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Holy shit FOUR members of the ethics committee in Denmark that gave the green light to allow the widely-condemned RFK Jr-funded trial to proceed in Guinea-Bissau have now resigned in protest This quote is 🔥 Great reporting by @melodyschreiber.com www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Stig Børsen Hansen, a founding member who was one of two reviewers who presented the study to the Danish committee, resigned from the group in protest on Friday, citing major ethical issues with the study.

“You are now enrolling newborns in a lottery to test a hypothesis,” Hansen said. The children who are randomly selected not to receive the birth dose of the vaccine, those who “lost the lottery”, face in their earliest days the risk of contracting hepatitis B, which can cause irreversible lifelong damage. “They contract hepatitis B in the context of being part of a research project,” Hansen said, which made their infection happen, in effect, “by design”.

Three other members of the committee have also resigned in protest.
301273629
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Natasha Devon @natashadevon.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
You know those ‘spot the difference’ puzzles? I’m thinking of launching a ‘spot every racism in this political cartoon’ alternative….
49659114
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Labour/capital, skills and who gets to know are grounds enough.
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
(not disagreeing with the post I've rudely quote tweeted here!)
100
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I mean, yes, there are a lot of bad things about AI undoubtedly at a cognitive level I'm sure - but I'm always loathe for us to rely on "magic bullet theories" that we spent decades in media theory rejecting even if they are helpful to our arguments against.
120
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Was he ever on
100
Reposted by Gav Maclean
James Butler @piercepenniless.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
It can sometimes seem like stating the obvious that the Trump regime does things that are evil, but this is evil. There's not another word for it. It is so corrosive and degrading that it will permanently disfigure the society which permits it. It is sheer barbarism.
14213
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Guess I shouldn't be hard on the Tickell's of this world, I too am critical for money at the end of the day.
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Also... Tickell must also meaning social sciences too?!
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I'll get back to Bluesky in 4 weeks with my more considered post for peer review then
010
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
(maybe this is one of those reaction economy things? Even on Bluesky I'm compelled to offer a take in digestible form... Without reading the report! So much for my social scientific training)
100
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Probably more focused on the BBC's role here. I think when the author is doing media saying Streeting is completely wrong on overdiagnosis while the BBC headlines saying there is a risk of overdiagnosis and has a live feed on it... It's playing to particular frame
210
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Of course the BBC would have a live feed on this...
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Truly the living embodiment of that disenchantment of anything by blunt (faulty) economic logic. (I appreciate this is a Twitter circa 2016 point and not anything new, plus ca change, plus ca change, etc)
200
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
What really pisses me off about these careerists is how they become key citations in critical fields that reviewers will ask you to engage with...but as they increasingly sell out that critical writing, they should be treated as they crap fanfic writers they are.
110
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Adam Tickell: can I surprise you? Neoliberalism, good actually!
111
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Just makes more more angry about The Guardian's treatment of Dawn Foster for calling it like it is with him
040
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Vengeance on Varos was a satire not a blueprint sigh
021
Reposted by Gav Maclean
Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Editors of journals published by Taylor & Francis - hi! - may be alarmed to learn there is an emerging view T&F will get bought by private equity after Informa announced it's dropping it. And we know what private equity does to its acquisitions. Guts them. As if academic publishing wasn't bad enough
23428
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
You could privatise the Today show on Radio 4 and bailout so much public interest programming.
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Would be really, really funny this week if the Greens won tonight. Wouldn't say there's much hope but it would be incredibly funny imagining the struggle the political commentariat would have tomorrow morning.
000
Gav Maclean @gavmaclean.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I thought bald Ringo
100