iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Much of the behavior exhibited here is contemptible, so I'm not sure what you expected.

Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Spouting hyperbole like this is degrading our ability to use language effectively and is ultimately disrespectful to the memory of Anne Frank and every other person that was targeted by the Nazi regime, especially the millions who were murdered at extermination camps & those killed in combat.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Am I supposed to care? You all are literally the embodiment of the caricature that is painted about this platform. Which suggests perhaps it isn't a caricature after all.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Again, what's your point? There is absolutely no empiricism to these labels. You choose the lists you follow and you can create one that will label people however you'd like. They're meaningless except to provide you all with the circular reasoning you need to feel good. Kinda like WPATH. 🤡

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Actually, you all quite literally "made it up." That's how profile labels work...

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Trans identities have nothing to do with DSDs. Why are you conflating them? I'm afraid it's you who doesn't understand basic biology.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Undifferentiated ≠ female. Our embryos are phenotypically undifferentiated from most mammals, and certainly other great apes, up until a point after conception. Does that mean we're all the same species until developmental differentiation occurs? No. You all should be embarrassed. 🤡

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

I agree it's necessary. Sadly, there are too many people who don't understand that's how this works, who think that Bluesky (or any app, for that matter) can be this fee-free utopia.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

It's almost like the monetization of a free-access social media platform is inevitable. That "my team" thought Bluesky would be an exception speaks to our collective ignorance of economics and human nature.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

This is a pretty crude & silly measure of things, especially when you consider the high correlation of urban/Dem & rural/GOP control. It's also a bit ironic for the supposed "party of the poor, working class" to be making this point as if to say "how dare you ungrateful peasants not do as we want!"

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

This assumes unchanged current trends, which is highly unlikely. Had growth trends from 1900 continued, NYC would be more than twice the size it is now, Cleveland and Detroit wouldn't have halved in size, and none of the cities listed here would even exist.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

He literally summarized the findings of a peer-reviewed article. Real journalists do this all the time. But you're asking him to do the academic's work when that's his job? I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt & say you're smart enough to know this is a straw man argument. Do better.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

To be clear, I'm not necessarily stating my worldview. I'm simply pointing out that there is nuance to this discussion that is getting lost, nuance which may help illuminate why people aren't seeing each other. Regardless, not sharing worldviews is not a reason to disengage.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Some examples: 1) One does not have to support public transit (progressive economics) to also support gay rights (progressive culture). 2) One does not have to support single-payer health insurance (progressive economics) to also be pro-choice regarding reproductive rights (progressive culture).

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

This is just one example of why it's important to actually listen & talk to, and not wholesale dismiss, people with whom we may partially or mostly disagree. She's clearly not an idiot, however unethical, mal-intended, or misaligned we may think she is.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Note I was careful to say "cultural progressives" not "the left." I don't see them as inherently the same. I'm also careful to use quotations because these are specific interpretations of those terms. Academia may indeed currently be left-leaning but that is due to bias assuming progressive = left.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

The social/cultural aspects of American liberalism that real drive the culture wars and are not necessarily part of the left/right political spectrum. It's also meant to highlight that being culturally "progressive" is not inherent to being economically "progressive."

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Culturally, yes. As an American, I can't wholly speak for a British context, but I can say cultural "progressivism" isn't as neatly packaged between Tories & Labor as it is w/ Repubs & Dems. I would argue that the BBC is culturally captured by "progressivism" & still has an outsized influence.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

💯 And he did so without obligation to quotas or DEI panels. He did so without left/right ideological litmus tests. He did so based on a commitment to Constitutional principles of equality under the law. He did so because it was the right thing to do. Jimmy Carter was one of a kind in so many ways. ❤️

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Totally realistic expectation. Not extreme at all.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Vivek was born in the US.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Many unionized, working-class voters have found themselves in a similar predicament, feeling as though they have stayed true to a set of positions while the world has moved around them w/o their input or control. Cultural progressives do, however, hold power in media, academia, & corporations. 🤷🏼‍♂️

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

And then going the other direction is the American Green Party... 🤡🤡🤡

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

As I already pointed out, that Talia is a "random person" shouldn't be a reason to dismiss her significance within the context of this discussion. A month ago, Luigi was a random person & now he's a "folk hero" to some on the left, who has apparently abandoned its previous stance of "murder is bad."

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I don't think you understand logical fallacies. It is the irrelevant introduction of Trump to the discussion that made your argument fallacious relative to the topic at hand. Despite this, I still conceded Trump is a problem. Despite my concession, you're still harping on it. What's your point?

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

This is how you know ideology is driving policy over science. I find it especially problematic for a "Green" Party to be doing this because their brand benefits from greenwashing which people afford a level of scientific privilege. In reality, they're more akin to an environmentalist religion.

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Reposted by Austin

Present & Correct @presentcorrect.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Winter Glossary. Acedia: a melancholic sluggishness of mind/body Clinomania: a desire to stay in bed Apricity: the warmth of the sun on a cold day Latibulize: to retire into a den, or hole, & lie dormant for the winter Abibliophobia: the fear of running out of reading material

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

And furthermore, isn't the point that Luigi is a "folk hero"? Talia's relative insignificance compared to Trump would be rather significant in the eyes of those who are exalting Luigi, thereby nullifying the argument that we should disregard criticism of Talia & instead focus on Trump.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I don't disagree? But that's ultimately an excellent red herring, whataboutism combo. At no point has my disgust with Trump & most/all of his proposals waned. That being said, it has no bearing upon the acceptability of murder, regardless of a vigilante perp's motivations or sexiness.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

I had to chew on some Tums just watching the trailer. Lol

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

This is only a *slightly* misleading framing. Zepbound has only been cleared as an Rx for people w/ sleep apnea who are also diagnosed as obese. Obviously, most people w/ sleep apnea are overweight or obese but, to be clear, it only indirectly "treats" sleep apnea by helping individuals lose weight.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Or if there wasn't a paywall. 🤷🏼‍♂️

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Totally agree. Even if it's not the mainstream of the Democratic Party, this is the kind of stuff that turns people off of progressive/liberal politics. It's beyond disappointing that we no longer seem to have shared principles like "murder is bad."

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Yep, this tweet will definitely change people's minds about Dems. JFC. 🤦🏼‍♂️

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

If they can't even handle moderate, friendly criticism, there's no use in expecting them to change their minds. I have no time for people like that, even if I generally agree with them.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Yep, I've been blocked too. 😂😂😂

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Ah, yes. Let's double down on the winning strategy of not only insulting & broad-brushing everyone who voted GOP last time, but also those who didn't vote at all. JFC, my "fellow" Dems sure are winners! 🤦🏼‍♂️

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

💯 this. I keep telling my fellow (and I use that term loosely) Dems that repeatedly insulting & broad-brushing everyone who voted GOP isn't a winning strategy. If this is our collective mentality, we should be prepared, and deserve, to be in the political wilderness for a while.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I'm sure @warren.senate.gov will convince Trump to get him to sign that ethics pledge & all will be well! 🫠

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

A major restriction on free speech, so it won't happen. Fixing this will require a spine from politicians & the electorate to craft a serious, legally executable plan to dismantle the existing insurance industry. Platitudes, soapboxing, & vigilantes aren't going to change it.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Corporate personhood is why we're able to sue corporations & hold them accountable. That they have personhood rights is the (however unfortunate) other side of this coin. This has a long history in the U.S. since 1819 & was reaffirmed at least twice between then & Citizens United in 2010.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

If we're serious about effecting change, then get busy electing people to craft & pass legislation to prevent this in the future. Otherwise, we need to stop with the bluster & focus on other things.

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Austin @gayheretic.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Her affair didn't disqualify her from being a prosecutor altogether. It simply removed her from the case against Trump. It also didn't dismiss the charges against Trump. And lastly, it may suck but there aren't any laws preventing a felon from being President of the United States. 🤷🏼‍♂️

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