Fergus Murray
@fergus.oolong.co.uk
Monotropic writer, science tutor, Autistic community organiser and independent researcher. Based in Edinburgh.
they/them.
https://linktr.ee/0olong
they/them.
https://linktr.ee/0olong
Pinned
Fergus Murray
@fergus.oolong.co.uk
· Jan 24
Hi everyone!
I'm Fergus Murray. I'm a science person, writer of nonfiction, and #Autistic community organiser (Chair of @amasedin.bsky.social). Also #ADHD, but I often just say I'm monotropic.
I'm here to post and learn more about #neurodiversity, politics, science, language and other things.
I'm Fergus Murray. I'm a science person, writer of nonfiction, and #Autistic community organiser (Chair of @amasedin.bsky.social). Also #ADHD, but I often just say I'm monotropic.
I'm here to post and learn more about #neurodiversity, politics, science, language and other things.
I thought I might make a pinned thread of my threads here (some of which are effectively photo albums) starting with this long Introductory thread:
bsky.app/profile/ferg...
bsky.app/profile/ferg...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The US Supreme Court rules on the Constitution and its meaning
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
Angeliki Stogia (Labour). Angeliki broadly performed well, but she felt very hemmed in by her government's record. When questioned about trans rights, for instance, she stated that the Labour Party would always stand against transphobia and that they couldn't just change the supreme court decision
February 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM
The US Supreme Court rules on the Constitution and its meaning
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
The gov can only amend the con under extreme circumstances
The UK SC rules on interpretation of specific legislation
IT IS THE JOB OF A UK GOVERNMENT TO PASS / CHANGE LEGISLATION JESUS CHRIST LABOUR PRETENDING THEY'RE POWERLESS
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The transphobic press have no incentive to give Labour credit for their transphobia and every incentive to push them to go further. Labour gain nothing by caving to them, and yet cave to them they will, out of a potent combination of hatred for trans people and political ineptitude.
You all saw the guidance that went out yesterday for trans kids in schools. Absolutely horrific stuff.
This is how the right wing papers are covering that news. Times, Mail and Telegraph all have it on their front page, the first two as their main story of the day.
Guardian's coverage included
This is how the right wing papers are covering that news. Times, Mail and Telegraph all have it on their front page, the first two as their main story of the day.
Guardian's coverage included
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
The transphobic press have no incentive to give Labour credit for their transphobia and every incentive to push them to go further. Labour gain nothing by caving to them, and yet cave to them they will, out of a potent combination of hatred for trans people and political ineptitude.
The one consultation I've completed that seems to have had an impact was on the Scottish Government's proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodiversity Bill.
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
I have now done maybe a hundred consultations. Every one ignored. Zero impact.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
I wrote this blog 18 months ago:
growinguptransgender.com/2024/10/14/i...
This is exactly the same.
Pls don't focus on the plan that consultations are how we fight back. It does not work. It wastes our time.
Is this an abusive relationship?
(or why I won’t be responding to another government consultation on trans healthcare). Just weeks after having submitted an invited response (invited as an academic expert) to a government consulta…
growinguptransgender.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:23 AM
The one consultation I've completed that seems to have had an impact was on the Scottish Government's proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism & Neurodiversity Bill.
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
They didn't get the answers they were looking for, so decided it would be too hard to bring legislation forward in this parliament. 🤦🏼♀️
An interesting bit of history in this article. Mandelson's job has, for decades, been undermining democracy to the benefit of big business.
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Mandelson’s Fifth Column
The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.
www.monbiot.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:14 AM
An interesting bit of history in this article. Mandelson's job has, for decades, been undermining democracy to the benefit of big business.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The fact Wes Streeting was warned by his own officials that the toxicity of Palantir made the contract less likely to succeed raises, yet again, the question why Government granted it the contract in the first place?
NHS deal with AI firm Palantir called into question after officials’ concerns revealed
Exclusive: in 2025 briefing to Wes Streeting, officials warned reputation of tech firm behind US ICE operations would hinder rollout of data system in UK
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:29 AM
The fact Wes Streeting was warned by his own officials that the toxicity of Palantir made the contract less likely to succeed raises, yet again, the question why Government granted it the contract in the first place?
Lately I'm seeing a lot of people picking up the idea that anti-Zionism isn't antisemitism, and running quite a lot further with it than I'm comfortable with.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
February 12, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Lately I'm seeing a lot of people picking up the idea that anti-Zionism isn't antisemitism, and running quite a lot further with it than I'm comfortable with.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
Just... Putting that out there. Cautiously.
Wondering if other people have been noticing this.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Here are some nice mushrooms
February 12, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Here are some nice mushrooms
Reposted by Fergus Murray
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:19 PM
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
If folks are responding, please also emphasis that Scottish schools have a responsibility to trans children under the UNCRC. Myself and @notrightruth.bsky.social have written about this in a peer reviewed article, summarised here:
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
Upholding trans children’s rights
Trans children have rights under international and domestic law, and we can be more assertive both in calling attention to rights violations, and in demanding institutions uphold these rights in po…
growinguptransgender.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:22 PM
If folks are responding, please also emphasis that Scottish schools have a responsibility to trans children under the UNCRC. Myself and @notrightruth.bsky.social have written about this in a peer reviewed article, summarised here:
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
growinguptransgender.com/2026/01/30/u...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
When any pupil goes to school they should be able to do so safely, have appropriate toilet and changing facilities they can use, and be listened to and have their identity respected: www.scottishtrans.org/protect-trans-pupils
February 10, 2026 at 2:18 PM
When any pupil goes to school they should be able to do so safely, have appropriate toilet and changing facilities they can use, and be listened to and have their identity respected: www.scottishtrans.org/protect-trans-pupils
Reposted by Fergus Murray
... and that's very much euphemistic for conversion therapy.
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
... and that's very much euphemistic for conversion therapy.
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
Cass literally believes social transition *causes* people to *become permanently trans* (which is a baseless claim) and she also frames that outcome as being abnormal and undersireable outcome (which is grossly biogted).
Reposted by Fergus Murray
This draft guidance reproduces Cass insisting that clinicians must be involved in decisions about *social transition* which actually should be none of their damn business
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
February 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
This draft guidance reproduces Cass insisting that clinicians must be involved in decisions about *social transition* which actually should be none of their damn business
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
They take the line that this "non-directive" intervention should force things to be "keeping options open and flexible"...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
So, it looks like the new DfE guidance on trans students in schools incorporates recommendations from the Cass report. Suffice to say that is an *incredibly awful* decision.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
In Chapter 12, Cass considers social transition.
As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
February 12, 2026 at 3:56 PM
So, it looks like the new DfE guidance on trans students in schools incorporates recommendations from the Cass report. Suffice to say that is an *incredibly awful* decision.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
This feels deeply dystopian and also so ridiculous you can’t even satirize it.
Waymo, Google’s autonomous vehicle company, and DoorDash have launched a pilot program that pays delivery workers, at least in one case, around $10 to travel to a parked Waymo and close its door that a previous passenger left open, according to a joint statement from the company given to 404 Media.
Waymo Is Getting DoorDashers to Close Doors on Self Driving Cars
The companies have launched a pilot program in Atlanta, where “during the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get ...
www.404media.co
February 12, 2026 at 8:18 PM
This feels deeply dystopian and also so ridiculous you can’t even satirize it.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
It's worth noting that this was also a pretext to open up new services designed and run by people who push an unproven pseudoscientific "Gender Exploratory Therapy" model that has been likened to conversion therapy by international experts.
In a functional country, this would be a scandal. A service suffering only from chronic underfunding was ripped apart because the media created a myth of 1000s of complaints of malpractice. The truth - as in my family’s experience - was very different.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:17 PM
It's worth noting that this was also a pretext to open up new services designed and run by people who push an unproven pseudoscientific "Gender Exploratory Therapy" model that has been likened to conversion therapy by international experts.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
A difficult things in covering trans science week after week is that the situation most resembles climate change propaganda from oil companies or obfuscation by tobacco companies in whether smoking causes cancer, but major science desks are invested in pretending it's a real scientific debate.
Much of the playbook used by the Hart Group to subvert NHS COVID policy was basically deployed by SEGM in an identical way, with the difference being that because only a tiny sub set of the population was negatively affected, journalism outlets who uncovered Hart turned a blind eye when alerted.
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 PM
A difficult things in covering trans science week after week is that the situation most resembles climate change propaganda from oil companies or obfuscation by tobacco companies in whether smoking causes cancer, but major science desks are invested in pretending it's a real scientific debate.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Jolly good news! Merlin Entertainments has dropped its plans to restrict its access pass from "Difficulty with crowds"-only pass holders over half-term. (An access pass which involves a lot of forward planning and is not a "turn up and go".) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Alton Towers U-turns on plan to restrict disability pass for people with ADHD and autism
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Jolly good news! Merlin Entertainments has dropped its plans to restrict its access pass from "Difficulty with crowds"-only pass holders over half-term. (An access pass which involves a lot of forward planning and is not a "turn up and go".) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Even if I discounted every other shitty thing they've done, Labour's treatment of trans people alone is enough for me to want to see them destroyed so they never come close to power again. What sort of people demand that organisations be bigoted towards a 6 year old? They're just utter rancid scum.
Reading how the UK Girl Guides has treated a 6 year old child is beyond heartbreaking. This story should be published everywhere except we know the mainstream news would never dare.
medium.com/@ParentofaTr...
medium.com/@ParentofaTr...
🌈 She Just Wanted to Wear the Uniform — How a Six-Year-Old Trans Girl Was Left Behind
An impact story of a 6 year old trans girl.
medium.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Even if I discounted every other shitty thing they've done, Labour's treatment of trans people alone is enough for me to want to see them destroyed so they never come close to power again. What sort of people demand that organisations be bigoted towards a 6 year old? They're just utter rancid scum.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
It's hard to overstate the degree to which the general public is being lied to about trans people
Alex Massie trumped up a fake campaign in the times to claim hundreds of rape convictions for women in the justice system were actually trans women despite the numbers covering several hundred more convictions than there are trans women in prison for any crime.
To understand how much Alex Massie actually cares about women's safety: when I called out his transphobe-in-arms Nick Cohen for multiple acts of sexual misconduct against cis women, which eventually got him sacked, Massie went berserk at me.
Transphobia is a men's rights movement in drag.
Transphobia is a men's rights movement in drag.
February 8, 2026 at 10:14 AM
It's hard to overstate the degree to which the general public is being lied to about trans people
A while back I tried editing the page for the slave trader Edward Colston, whose statue had been torn down and thrown into the river Severn, to remove the word "philanthropist".
Philanthropy: a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life".
Philanthropy: a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life".
Philanthropy has always been a scam. Since the days of Robber Barons, the rich selectively distribute a pittance of what they stole to launder their reputations and make you think they're being good samaritans, so that you don't give them what they deserve. Foundations operate like corporations.
Jeffrey Epstein Met Privately with Bill Gates and Peter Thiel to 'Rebuild His Reputation' Through Philanthropy
To 'rebuild' his reputation, Epstein proposed a global philanthropic framework for Gates at the convicted child sex offender's Manhattan home during a meeting attended by Palantir co-founder Peter Thi...
bylinetimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:57 PM
A while back I tried editing the page for the slave trader Edward Colston, whose statue had been torn down and thrown into the river Severn, to remove the word "philanthropist".
Philanthropy: a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life".
Philanthropy: a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life".
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Anyway, pleased to confirm that: yes!
oldie but a goldie
February 12, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Anyway, pleased to confirm that: yes!
Reposted by Fergus Murray
ICE broke off into smaller teams. instead of flooding 1 zone, they broke up into packs. my friends across Chicago reported spotting small teams of 2 - 5 people popping up all over the city. sometimes 10 different spots in 1 day. they ran our spotters ragged.
Encouraging our Chicago allies who survived Operation Midway Blitz to please post here about that post-”drawdown.” IIRC heat died down but ICE is back doing same shady shit only shadier. Celebrate the win (when it actually happens, not just a liar‘s words) but know this is a strategic retreat.
February 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM
ICE broke off into smaller teams. instead of flooding 1 zone, they broke up into packs. my friends across Chicago reported spotting small teams of 2 - 5 people popping up all over the city. sometimes 10 different spots in 1 day. they ran our spotters ragged.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The entire British media fabricated a "scandal" at Tavistock and there were only 8 complaints over an entire decade. Yet the most actual common issues were about access to care and waiting lists.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
NHS closed Tavistock over care complaints – there were only eight
An eye-opening FOI report has revealed that just eight people complained about the Tavistock gender clinic's care provision in 10 years.
www.thepinknews.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:21 PM
The entire British media fabricated a "scandal" at Tavistock and there were only 8 complaints over an entire decade. Yet the most actual common issues were about access to care and waiting lists.
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
“Electricity prices tumbling by 30 per cent in a year and sometimes going negative.”
South Australia is living in the future we will all get to eventually. The only question is: How long will the rest of us stay off course, doubling down on more expensive and polluting forms of energy?
South Australia is living in the future we will all get to eventually. The only question is: How long will the rest of us stay off course, doubling down on more expensive and polluting forms of energy?
It was less than 10 years ago that this was considered impossible. And from what I read there wasn't much dissent. Everyone accepted this was the reality. Time to update some assumptions.
This state’s power prices are plummeting as it nears 100% renewables
South Australia is proving to the world that relying largely on wind and solar energy with battery back-up is incredibly cheap, with electricity prices tumbling by 30 per cent in a year and sometimes ...
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:07 PM
“Electricity prices tumbling by 30 per cent in a year and sometimes going negative.”
South Australia is living in the future we will all get to eventually. The only question is: How long will the rest of us stay off course, doubling down on more expensive and polluting forms of energy?
South Australia is living in the future we will all get to eventually. The only question is: How long will the rest of us stay off course, doubling down on more expensive and polluting forms of energy?
Reposted by Fergus Murray
I just… what the fuck is the British government doing? (don’t answer, rhetorical question)
There’s oversight of the British Library to add to your non list… www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:09 PM
I just… what the fuck is the British government doing? (don’t answer, rhetorical question)