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
Look, it's all very well having experience, and evidence, and scientific studies, and whatnot, but how can that possibly compare to the thrill of confidently reposting the assertion that there's One Weird Trick To Defeating Teargas?
Thread. 🧵 (1/x)
On the superiority of water as the primary decontaminant for tear gas and peppery spray on skin and eyes.
To make it clear to people, this is a thread. Some of you are not clear on the concept. I will reply this with another post and mark it with a number in (x). And so forth. (1)
On the superiority of water as the primary decontaminant for tear gas and peppery spray on skin and eyes.
To make it clear to people, this is a thread. Some of you are not clear on the concept. I will reply this with another post and mark it with a number in (x). And so forth. (1)
February 10, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Look, it's all very well having experience, and evidence, and scientific studies, and whatnot, but how can that possibly compare to the thrill of confidently reposting the assertion that there's One Weird Trick To Defeating Teargas?
I do love @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social.
A genuinely nice man, who also knows when and how to be brutal, in the gentlest possible way.
www.facebook.com/633167224/po...
A genuinely nice man, who also knows when and how to be brutal, in the gentlest possible way.
www.facebook.com/633167224/po...
February 10, 2026 at 9:24 AM
I do love @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social.
A genuinely nice man, who also knows when and how to be brutal, in the gentlest possible way.
www.facebook.com/633167224/po...
A genuinely nice man, who also knows when and how to be brutal, in the gentlest possible way.
www.facebook.com/633167224/po...
Diane Abbott reading my mind here
(Or rather, reading the country and drawing the same conclusions)
(Or rather, reading the country and drawing the same conclusions)
@hackneyabbott.bsky.social : "I can't see [Starmer] lasting beyond Mays election"
"Why are they waiting until May?"
"Because they're going to be catastrophic elections, and I think the idea is, let him stay there & take responsibility"
"Why are they waiting until May?"
"Because they're going to be catastrophic elections, and I think the idea is, let him stay there & take responsibility"
February 10, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Diane Abbott reading my mind here
(Or rather, reading the country and drawing the same conclusions)
(Or rather, reading the country and drawing the same conclusions)
Tragically, almost everything this government has done has undermined what Ed Miliband thinks is the whole purpose of the government.
Ed Miliband says the decision to appoint Mandelson undermined the whole purpose of the govt, which is to stand up for the powerless against the powerful & wealthy.
Except your record is going after the disabled & scapegoating refugees while refusing to tax the super rich more.
Except your record is going after the disabled & scapegoating refugees while refusing to tax the super rich more.
February 10, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Tragically, almost everything this government has done has undermined what Ed Miliband thinks is the whole purpose of the government.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Govt to spend £5bn to pay off 90% of the English councils debts for supporting children & young people with special educational needs.
The real problem is privatisation and profiteering by corporations, huge wealth transfer from public to private
How long before the write-off needs to be repeated?
The real problem is privatisation and profiteering by corporations, huge wealth transfer from public to private
How long before the write-off needs to be repeated?
£5bn council SEND debts to be paid off by government
It comes days after the Local Government Association warned that eight in 10 English councils would face bankruptcy, if they had to honour deficits.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Govt to spend £5bn to pay off 90% of the English councils debts for supporting children & young people with special educational needs.
The real problem is privatisation and profiteering by corporations, huge wealth transfer from public to private
How long before the write-off needs to be repeated?
The real problem is privatisation and profiteering by corporations, huge wealth transfer from public to private
How long before the write-off needs to be repeated?
Reposted by Fergus Murray
• A doc sued for prescribing a debunked autism therapy
• A man who says vaccines are “poisoning children”
• A woman boosting autism "treatments" using stem cells from rabbits
This is not a QAnon conference line-up, it is the people now guiding US autism research
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
• A man who says vaccines are “poisoning children”
• A woman boosting autism "treatments" using stem cells from rabbits
This is not a QAnon conference line-up, it is the people now guiding US autism research
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
RFK Jr.’s Picks for a Key Autism Panel Include Advocates for Bizarre Theories
Among those Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently named to a federal autism committee are people who tout dangerous treatments and say vaccine manufacturers are “poisoning children.”
www.wired.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:26 PM
• A doc sued for prescribing a debunked autism therapy
• A man who says vaccines are “poisoning children”
• A woman boosting autism "treatments" using stem cells from rabbits
This is not a QAnon conference line-up, it is the people now guiding US autism research
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
• A man who says vaccines are “poisoning children”
• A woman boosting autism "treatments" using stem cells from rabbits
This is not a QAnon conference line-up, it is the people now guiding US autism research
www.wired.com/story/rfk-jr...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
It’s practically a work of art that he thinks we’re all that stupid.
February 9, 2026 at 10:09 PM
It’s practically a work of art that he thinks we’re all that stupid.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
When they ask you
how you can be
so concerned about Covid
given all of the terrible things
that are currently happening,
kindly but firmly tell them
that Covid
is one of those terrible things
that is currently happening.
*
The 308th week:
librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/p...
how you can be
so concerned about Covid
given all of the terrible things
that are currently happening,
kindly but firmly tell them
that Covid
is one of those terrible things
that is currently happening.
*
The 308th week:
librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/p...
Plague Poems – The Three-Hundred-and-Eighth Week
Will the world as you know it end this week? Well, it is possible the world as you know it will end this week. But as of now it is Monday and you are probably just at work. * Please note: it is dan…
librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:10 PM
When they ask you
how you can be
so concerned about Covid
given all of the terrible things
that are currently happening,
kindly but firmly tell them
that Covid
is one of those terrible things
that is currently happening.
*
The 308th week:
librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/p...
how you can be
so concerned about Covid
given all of the terrible things
that are currently happening,
kindly but firmly tell them
that Covid
is one of those terrible things
that is currently happening.
*
The 308th week:
librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/p...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Once again - if you are defending Starmer as a “decent” man, you are defending adopting and otherwise normalising right wing policies as “sensible” and “necessary”.
You are defending transphobia, ableism, racism, and xenophobia as acceptable policies.
Don’t fucking deny it, own up to it.
You are defending transphobia, ableism, racism, and xenophobia as acceptable policies.
Don’t fucking deny it, own up to it.
February 9, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Once again - if you are defending Starmer as a “decent” man, you are defending adopting and otherwise normalising right wing policies as “sensible” and “necessary”.
You are defending transphobia, ableism, racism, and xenophobia as acceptable policies.
Don’t fucking deny it, own up to it.
You are defending transphobia, ableism, racism, and xenophobia as acceptable policies.
Don’t fucking deny it, own up to it.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Anas Sarwar is about to call for Starmer to resign for his appalling judgement when it came to Peter Mandelson.
The same Anas Sarwar who proudly posed with his 'old friend' years after everyone knew that Mandelson stuck with Epstein despite his conviction for child sex offences.
The same Anas Sarwar who proudly posed with his 'old friend' years after everyone knew that Mandelson stuck with Epstein despite his conviction for child sex offences.
February 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Anas Sarwar is about to call for Starmer to resign for his appalling judgement when it came to Peter Mandelson.
The same Anas Sarwar who proudly posed with his 'old friend' years after everyone knew that Mandelson stuck with Epstein despite his conviction for child sex offences.
The same Anas Sarwar who proudly posed with his 'old friend' years after everyone knew that Mandelson stuck with Epstein despite his conviction for child sex offences.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Hold on, this Anas Sarwar? Surely not.
February 9, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Hold on, this Anas Sarwar? Surely not.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Maybe Anas Sarwar should now call on Anas Sarwar to resign.
Hold on, this Anas Sarwar? Surely not.
February 9, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Maybe Anas Sarwar should now call on Anas Sarwar to resign.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Since Jacqui Smith was doing the media round this morning, heres one from the archives
"I don't think people who have been disgraced should go to the Lords"
"Would you include yourself as somebody who's been disgraced?"
"Yes..."
In 2024 Smith accepted a seat in the Lords.
"I don't think people who have been disgraced should go to the Lords"
"Would you include yourself as somebody who's been disgraced?"
"Yes..."
In 2024 Smith accepted a seat in the Lords.
February 9, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Since Jacqui Smith was doing the media round this morning, heres one from the archives
"I don't think people who have been disgraced should go to the Lords"
"Would you include yourself as somebody who's been disgraced?"
"Yes..."
In 2024 Smith accepted a seat in the Lords.
"I don't think people who have been disgraced should go to the Lords"
"Would you include yourself as somebody who's been disgraced?"
"Yes..."
In 2024 Smith accepted a seat in the Lords.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Absolutely wild that these fuckers who have been in the Labour inner circle for 20+ years are all acting like Mandelson being associated with a notorious sex trafficking nonce and just generally being a massively dodgy slimy corrupt individual is Brand New Information.
Baroness Jacqui Smith says its easy with hindsight to condemn the decision to appoint Mandelson.
Everybody knew that Mandelson had stayed at the mansion of a convicted paedophile. I guess Smith doesn't have a problem with that.
Everybody knew that Mandelson had stayed at the mansion of a convicted paedophile. I guess Smith doesn't have a problem with that.
February 9, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Absolutely wild that these fuckers who have been in the Labour inner circle for 20+ years are all acting like Mandelson being associated with a notorious sex trafficking nonce and just generally being a massively dodgy slimy corrupt individual is Brand New Information.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Woah!! What an utterly incredible perspective of coral 😍 🧪🦑🌿
Looks like alien art, but it's a very real and intimate view of Cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya) looking up from its base towards its fractal tips.
Australian Geographic 2025 photo competition Winner 🎉
📷 Ross Gudgeon
Looks like alien art, but it's a very real and intimate view of Cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya) looking up from its base towards its fractal tips.
Australian Geographic 2025 photo competition Winner 🎉
📷 Ross Gudgeon
August 28, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Woah!! What an utterly incredible perspective of coral 😍 🧪🦑🌿
Looks like alien art, but it's a very real and intimate view of Cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya) looking up from its base towards its fractal tips.
Australian Geographic 2025 photo competition Winner 🎉
📷 Ross Gudgeon
Looks like alien art, but it's a very real and intimate view of Cauliflower soft coral (Dendronephthya) looking up from its base towards its fractal tips.
Australian Geographic 2025 photo competition Winner 🎉
📷 Ross Gudgeon
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Really surprised not to see working with YP interest/motivation mentioned in support strategies.
Super important for #neurodivergent & #monotropic learners with/without so-called ‘SEND’.
Here’s why ✨
autisticrealms.com/neuro-affirm...
Super important for #neurodivergent & #monotropic learners with/without so-called ‘SEND’.
Here’s why ✨
autisticrealms.com/neuro-affirm...
Neuro-Affirming Research in Practice: Supporting Autistic Students, Embracing Monotropism In The Classroom And Beyond | Autistic Realms
Written by Tanya Adkin and Helen Edgar, based on the presentation we delivered to the National Autistic Society Professionals’ Conference in March, 2025. Sh ...
autisticrealms.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Really surprised not to see working with YP interest/motivation mentioned in support strategies.
Super important for #neurodivergent & #monotropic learners with/without so-called ‘SEND’.
Here’s why ✨
autisticrealms.com/neuro-affirm...
Super important for #neurodivergent & #monotropic learners with/without so-called ‘SEND’.
Here’s why ✨
autisticrealms.com/neuro-affirm...
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Green to red?
The inside story of how the Green Party embraced ecosocialism.
#VoteGreen 💚❤️
theecologist.org/2026/feb/06/...
The inside story of how the Green Party embraced ecosocialism.
#VoteGreen 💚❤️
theecologist.org/2026/feb/06/...
Green to red?
The inside story of how the Green Party embraced ecosocialism.
theecologist.org
February 8, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Green to red?
The inside story of how the Green Party embraced ecosocialism.
#VoteGreen 💚❤️
theecologist.org/2026/feb/06/...
The inside story of how the Green Party embraced ecosocialism.
#VoteGreen 💚❤️
theecologist.org/2026/feb/06/...
The Complete Books of Earthsea (Charles Vess illustrated edition) by Ursula K. Le Guin is on sale for £1 as an ebook!
Not sure if this is only on @kobobooks.bsky.social, probably not though.
Not sure if this is only on @kobobooks.bsky.social, probably not though.
February 8, 2026 at 9:04 PM
The Complete Books of Earthsea (Charles Vess illustrated edition) by Ursula K. Le Guin is on sale for £1 as an ebook!
Not sure if this is only on @kobobooks.bsky.social, probably not though.
Not sure if this is only on @kobobooks.bsky.social, probably not though.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
ethics professor here, can confirm
"should the government kidnap 5 year olds and deport them? We asked seventeen ethics professors and they all just screamed"
February 8, 2026 at 5:59 PM
ethics professor here, can confirm
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Contrast @zackpolanski.bsky.social’s clear, calm and consistent message with the absolute panic in Labour.
Impressive.
Impressive.
Necessary but not sufficient.
He knew. And still appointed him.
Starmer needs to go.
He knew. And still appointed him.
Starmer needs to go.
February 8, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Contrast @zackpolanski.bsky.social’s clear, calm and consistent message with the absolute panic in Labour.
Impressive.
Impressive.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
like this a lot, just adding alt for accessibility, text search and such
January 22, 2026 at 9:52 AM
like this a lot, just adding alt for accessibility, text search and such
Reposted by Fergus Murray
I have so much to say about this, but sharing without further comments...
🤬🤬🤬🤬
🤬🤬🤬🤬
"The United States is quietly deporting Palestinians arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the occupied West Bank by private jet, with two such flights taking place in coordination with the Israeli authorities since the beginning of this year"
U.S. secretly deporting Palestinians to West Bank in coordination with Israel
Palestinians arrested by ICE are being flown, bound and shackled, on private jet belonging to Israeli-American tycoon close to Trump, investigation reveals.
www.972mag.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM
I have so much to say about this, but sharing without further comments...
🤬🤬🤬🤬
🤬🤬🤬🤬
Reposted by Fergus Murray
Right, but just to clarify, you did not appoint Peter Mandelson, because you were not Prime Minister.
NEW: PM’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney resigns
“After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.”
“After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government. The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.”
February 8, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Right, but just to clarify, you did not appoint Peter Mandelson, because you were not Prime Minister.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
The good news is Starmer is so used to following McSweeney that he'll probably resign out of habit tomorrow.
February 8, 2026 at 2:27 PM
The good news is Starmer is so used to following McSweeney that he'll probably resign out of habit tomorrow.
Reposted by Fergus Murray
"The truth is we probably can’t even imagine half the problems that will come up when we try to create a democratic society; still, we’re confident that, human ingenuity being what it is, such problems can always be solved..."
In the end, Graeber and I almost always agree on the fundamentals 🌞
In the end, Graeber and I almost always agree on the fundamentals 🌞
February 8, 2026 at 2:56 PM
"The truth is we probably can’t even imagine half the problems that will come up when we try to create a democratic society; still, we’re confident that, human ingenuity being what it is, such problems can always be solved..."
In the end, Graeber and I almost always agree on the fundamentals 🌞
In the end, Graeber and I almost always agree on the fundamentals 🌞