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...
Oh, that's very funny.
'Labour, sort your rubbish out! Here's another 1.5 million pounds.'
'Labour, sort your rubbish out! Here's another 1.5 million pounds.'
February 12, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Oh, that's very funny.
'Labour, sort your rubbish out! Here's another 1.5 million pounds.'
'Labour, sort your rubbish out! Here's another 1.5 million pounds.'
"Next year, Unite’s conference will consider our current affiliation to the Labour Party; the mood music right now is to depart. The questions being asked are: what is Labour for and who is it for?"
@unitetheunion.bsky.social are reeeeeeeallly taking their time over this
archive.ph/2026.02.12-1...
@unitetheunion.bsky.social are reeeeeeeallly taking their time over this
archive.ph/2026.02.12-1...
archive.ph
February 12, 2026 at 11:08 AM
"Next year, Unite’s conference will consider our current affiliation to the Labour Party; the mood music right now is to depart. The questions being asked are: what is Labour for and who is it for?"
@unitetheunion.bsky.social are reeeeeeeallly taking their time over this
archive.ph/2026.02.12-1...
@unitetheunion.bsky.social are reeeeeeeallly taking their time over this
archive.ph/2026.02.12-1...
It's very reassuring that so many NHS professionals in England will have had the Oliver McGowan training by now, however flawed it might be.
Actually quite exciting to see the ongoing development of Autism Central, commissioned by NHS England. A lot of good stuff!
autismcentral.org.uk
Actually quite exciting to see the ongoing development of Autism Central, commissioned by NHS England. A lot of good stuff!
autismcentral.org.uk
Autism Central - England's Peer Education Programme | Autism Central
Autism Central offers a wealth of resources for parents, carers and personal assistants of autistic people in England – from articles and learning materials to signposting you to services and support ...
autismcentral.org.uk
February 12, 2026 at 10:52 AM
It's very reassuring that so many NHS professionals in England will have had the Oliver McGowan training by now, however flawed it might be.
Actually quite exciting to see the ongoing development of Autism Central, commissioned by NHS England. A lot of good stuff!
autismcentral.org.uk
Actually quite exciting to see the ongoing development of Autism Central, commissioned by NHS England. A lot of good stuff!
autismcentral.org.uk
I once met a couple of nurses, friends of friends, at a pub, who were *totally* convinced I was on class A drugs, and would not listen when I told them I definitely wasn't, or to my friends backing me up.
Awkward, but I sometimes think how much worse it could have been in a healthcare environment.
Awkward, but I sometimes think how much worse it could have been in a healthcare environment.
February 12, 2026 at 10:50 AM
I once met a couple of nurses, friends of friends, at a pub, who were *totally* convinced I was on class A drugs, and would not listen when I told them I definitely wasn't, or to my friends backing me up.
Awkward, but I sometimes think how much worse it could have been in a healthcare environment.
Awkward, but I sometimes think how much worse it could have been in a healthcare environment.
More recently it's mostly full of people expressing they're weird and they've come to terms with it, which is obviously a huge part of what Weird Pride is about. Often the 'weirdness' is tied up with some inherent part of their identity that's stigmatised and often suppressed.
It's largely mundane!
It's largely mundane!
February 12, 2026 at 10:48 AM
More recently it's mostly full of people expressing they're weird and they've come to terms with it, which is obviously a huge part of what Weird Pride is about. Often the 'weirdness' is tied up with some inherent part of their identity that's stigmatised and often suppressed.
It's largely mundane!
It's largely mundane!
Incidentally, one of the things that made me think a theme of Weird Pride in a Hostile World was such a good idea when @neurohubcommunity.org suggested it was that the Weird Pride feed here in recent months has regularly been filled with weirdness as a tool of resistance...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
February 12, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Incidentally, one of the things that made me think a theme of Weird Pride in a Hostile World was such a good idea when @neurohubcommunity.org suggested it was that the Weird Pride feed here in recent months has regularly been filled with weirdness as a tool of resistance...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
One of the great ironies of the mainstream discourse over trans rights is the way the anti-trans side repeatedly gets basic biology wrong.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
February 12, 2026 at 10:19 AM
One of the great ironies of the mainstream discourse over trans rights is the way the anti-trans side repeatedly gets basic biology wrong.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Farage want to end homeworking?I work for an integrated care board that manages the NHS in my area. We decide what services are needed and try and ensure they are run properly.
The Tories cut our budget by 30%. Now we can't afford offices.
Will Reform increase spending to provide us with offices?
The Tories cut our budget by 30%. Now we can't afford offices.
Will Reform increase spending to provide us with offices?
February 12, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Farage want to end homeworking?I work for an integrated care board that manages the NHS in my area. We decide what services are needed and try and ensure they are run properly.
The Tories cut our budget by 30%. Now we can't afford offices.
Will Reform increase spending to provide us with offices?
The Tories cut our budget by 30%. Now we can't afford offices.
Will Reform increase spending to provide us with offices?
What is this "walk" of which you speak?
February 12, 2026 at 9:51 AM
What is this "walk" of which you speak?
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Luke Pollard fielded questions (fobbed off MPs) about the awarding of Palantir contracts yesterday. Is he the right person to comment on vested interests?
Luke's accepted free tickets and a free lunch from arms firm Babcock and a member of his family is a consultant at the firm. 🥀
Luke's accepted free tickets and a free lunch from arms firm Babcock and a member of his family is a consultant at the firm. 🥀
February 11, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Luke Pollard fielded questions (fobbed off MPs) about the awarding of Palantir contracts yesterday. Is he the right person to comment on vested interests?
Luke's accepted free tickets and a free lunch from arms firm Babcock and a member of his family is a consultant at the firm. 🥀
Luke's accepted free tickets and a free lunch from arms firm Babcock and a member of his family is a consultant at the firm. 🥀
Ha! That is a very good point.
Leaving FPTP in place in the circumstances is like having elections by roulette wheel.
Leaving FPTP in place in the circumstances is like having elections by roulette wheel.
February 12, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Ha! That is a very good point.
Leaving FPTP in place in the circumstances is like having elections by roulette wheel.
Leaving FPTP in place in the circumstances is like having elections by roulette wheel.
So many people coming at me in this one group I'm in, insisting that without a CEC to make a list, dual membership is allowed, or it's at least a matter of interpretation.
I keep asking them to tell me what rule out amendment they're basing this on, because I literally can't find any ambiguity. 😐
I keep asking them to tell me what rule out amendment they're basing this on, because I literally can't find any ambiguity. 😐
February 11, 2026 at 10:58 PM
So many people coming at me in this one group I'm in, insisting that without a CEC to make a list, dual membership is allowed, or it's at least a matter of interpretation.
I keep asking them to tell me what rule out amendment they're basing this on, because I literally can't find any ambiguity. 😐
I keep asking them to tell me what rule out amendment they're basing this on, because I literally can't find any ambiguity. 😐
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The entire Tavistock scandal was over 8 complaints. They've fucked the entirety of trans and non binary peoples, because of 8 complaints, all of which have not materialised into anything as far as I can tell.
The real Tavistock Clinic scandal: 1,000 court cases that never materialised | A FoI request for the data behind the media hysteria over the Tavistock Clinic presents quite a different picture | Marie Shrewsbury
The real Tavistock Clinic scandal: 1,000 court cases that never materialised
A FoI request for the data behind the media hysteria over the Tavistock Clinic presents quite a different picture
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 1:48 PM
The entire Tavistock scandal was over 8 complaints. They've fucked the entirety of trans and non binary peoples, because of 8 complaints, all of which have not materialised into anything as far as I can tell.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
February 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
Reposted by Fergus Murray
🚨Do. not. use. individual's. actions to. attack. whole. groups.🚨
Not unless you want to take the blame for every person in your social demographic.
Bad people exist in every group. That's not an excuse to use the actions of individuals to target those groups, particularly already marginalised groups
Not unless you want to take the blame for every person in your social demographic.
Bad people exist in every group. That's not an excuse to use the actions of individuals to target those groups, particularly already marginalised groups
February 11, 2026 at 9:45 PM
🚨Do. not. use. individual's. actions to. attack. whole. groups.🚨
Not unless you want to take the blame for every person in your social demographic.
Bad people exist in every group. That's not an excuse to use the actions of individuals to target those groups, particularly already marginalised groups
Not unless you want to take the blame for every person in your social demographic.
Bad people exist in every group. That's not an excuse to use the actions of individuals to target those groups, particularly already marginalised groups
I think Kifl may have a concern.
#relatable
#relatable
February 11, 2026 at 10:20 PM
I think Kifl may have a concern.
#relatable
#relatable
Something about people's readiness to interpret rules based on vibes, rather than what they actually say, when it suits their pre-existing preferences, maybe?
I don't know. Feels like that one has much wider relevance right now, anyway...
I don't know. Feels like that one has much wider relevance right now, anyway...
February 11, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Something about people's readiness to interpret rules based on vibes, rather than what they actually say, when it suits their pre-existing preferences, maybe?
I don't know. Feels like that one has much wider relevance right now, anyway...
I don't know. Feels like that one has much wider relevance right now, anyway...
Who gets to approve parties? The CEC. Which doesn't exist yet.
People are outraged that this means someone can't stand *for election to the CEC* if they're currently in another party.
Or, indeed, be in both parties, prior to the CEC existing.
I feel like there must be a lesson in here somewhere.
People are outraged that this means someone can't stand *for election to the CEC* if they're currently in another party.
Or, indeed, be in both parties, prior to the CEC existing.
I feel like there must be a lesson in here somewhere.
February 11, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Who gets to approve parties? The CEC. Which doesn't exist yet.
People are outraged that this means someone can't stand *for election to the CEC* if they're currently in another party.
Or, indeed, be in both parties, prior to the CEC existing.
I feel like there must be a lesson in here somewhere.
People are outraged that this means someone can't stand *for election to the CEC* if they're currently in another party.
Or, indeed, be in both parties, prior to the CEC existing.
I feel like there must be a lesson in here somewhere.
*Should* they be allowed to be in more than one party? I don't know! I'm really not that bothered, although I'll be sad if the SWP gets in there.
*Are* they allowed to be in another party? No! It's always been banned!
But their conference voted to allow dual membership…
*Of approved parties*. 🤦🏼♀️
*Are* they allowed to be in another party? No! It's always been banned!
But their conference voted to allow dual membership…
*Of approved parties*. 🤦🏼♀️
February 11, 2026 at 9:49 PM
*Should* they be allowed to be in more than one party? I don't know! I'm really not that bothered, although I'll be sad if the SWP gets in there.
*Are* they allowed to be in another party? No! It's always been banned!
But their conference voted to allow dual membership…
*Of approved parties*. 🤦🏼♀️
*Are* they allowed to be in another party? No! It's always been banned!
But their conference voted to allow dual membership…
*Of approved parties*. 🤦🏼♀️
My latest extended argument with people who are Wrong On The Internet is with Your Party members who have convinced themselves that it's unfair for people to be ejected from the party just because they're a member of another party as well.
I don't actually care, but they're unambiguously wrong so…
I don't actually care, but they're unambiguously wrong so…
February 11, 2026 at 9:45 PM
My latest extended argument with people who are Wrong On The Internet is with Your Party members who have convinced themselves that it's unfair for people to be ejected from the party just because they're a member of another party as well.
I don't actually care, but they're unambiguously wrong so…
I don't actually care, but they're unambiguously wrong so…
Reposted by Fergus Murray
James Van Der Beek spent the last year of his life fundraising for cancer treatment.
He auctioned off Dawson’s Creek memorabilia.
Costars launched Cameos to raise money for his care.
A serious diagnosis in the US can financially destroy you.
Universal healthcare saves lives.
He auctioned off Dawson’s Creek memorabilia.
Costars launched Cameos to raise money for his care.
A serious diagnosis in the US can financially destroy you.
Universal healthcare saves lives.
James Van Der Beek Auctions Dawson's Creek, Varsity Blues Memorabilia (Exclusive)
James Van Der Beek is partnering with Propstore to auction memorabilia from "Dawson's Creek" and "Varisty Blues" as he faces the mounting costs of battling cancer.
people.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:11 PM
James Van Der Beek spent the last year of his life fundraising for cancer treatment.
He auctioned off Dawson’s Creek memorabilia.
Costars launched Cameos to raise money for his care.
A serious diagnosis in the US can financially destroy you.
Universal healthcare saves lives.
He auctioned off Dawson’s Creek memorabilia.
Costars launched Cameos to raise money for his care.
A serious diagnosis in the US can financially destroy you.
Universal healthcare saves lives.
Ah, one of those!
I hope you've also both had the chance to learn from autistic people (other than your son) about autism - historically we've often been excluded, and our insights ignored, in training about autism, although that happens a lot less than it used to.
I hope you've also both had the chance to learn from autistic people (other than your son) about autism - historically we've often been excluded, and our insights ignored, in training about autism, although that happens a lot less than it used to.
February 11, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Ah, one of those!
I hope you've also both had the chance to learn from autistic people (other than your son) about autism - historically we've often been excluded, and our insights ignored, in training about autism, although that happens a lot less than it used to.
I hope you've also both had the chance to learn from autistic people (other than your son) about autism - historically we've often been excluded, and our insights ignored, in training about autism, although that happens a lot less than it used to.
Is she in education?
February 11, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Is she in education?
Reposted by Fergus Murray
🧵I am co-leading the Writing for Liberation program at @empowermentave.bsky.social, an organization that supports incarcerated journalists, essayists, and poets in publishing their work. Our writers have been published everywhere from the Dallas Morning News and Prism to Rolling Stone and Cosmo.
February 11, 2026 at 7:54 PM
🧵I am co-leading the Writing for Liberation program at @empowermentave.bsky.social, an organization that supports incarcerated journalists, essayists, and poets in publishing their work. Our writers have been published everywhere from the Dallas Morning News and Prism to Rolling Stone and Cosmo.
I'm enjoying Upper Middle Bogan quite a lot, but are they living in an alternative universe where insulin manufacturing hasn't been invented?
Is it normal for diabetic Australians to act like it hasn't been?
Is it normal for diabetic Australians to act like it hasn't been?
February 11, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I'm enjoying Upper Middle Bogan quite a lot, but are they living in an alternative universe where insulin manufacturing hasn't been invented?
Is it normal for diabetic Australians to act like it hasn't been?
Is it normal for diabetic Australians to act like it hasn't been?