Ry Terran
@hereticmasked.bsky.social
Exvangelical, atheist, DiY religious studies, cult studies, failed-apocalypse cringe-posting, weird shit, counter-extremism
School of Making Poor Life Choices
Only Slightly Doomed
She/They/bad at gender
My apologies for continuing to be relevant
School of Making Poor Life Choices
Only Slightly Doomed
She/They/bad at gender
My apologies for continuing to be relevant
Pinned
Ry Terran
@hereticmasked.bsky.social
· Feb 9
Phoebe did an absolutely incredible job understanding and communicating our research, even as the latest tragic events were unfolding. Give her article a read for a better understanding of the online subcultures that can drive children to violence.
I’d been speaking w/ these researchers since the night of the Madison attack. That day, they quickly located the shooter in the online network they were tracking. We were writing THAT story this week. Then Nashville happened, and the researchers realized: another one.
Thread here with articles about my personal work tracking hybrid threat networks that blend occult aesthetics with mass casualty violence
Reposted by Ry Terran
last night at a bar I learned that they improved pinball by making machines that are entirely computers and they’re much better than what we had before
November 16, 2025 at 6:43 PM
last night at a bar I learned that they improved pinball by making machines that are entirely computers and they’re much better than what we had before
Reposted by Ry Terran
Seriously, what is wrong with these people?
November 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Seriously, what is wrong with these people?
Reposted by Ry Terran
A 17-year-old accused of bombing a Jakarta school mosque left nearly 100 injured, carrying a rifle covered in neo-Nazi slogans. TikTok posts tied to him point to online communities that celebrate extremist violence, highlighting how these digital subcultures are shaping real-world attacks.
Alleged Jakarta Bomber Leaves Behind Digital Trail Worshiping Past Racist Attackers
A 17-year-old student accused of bombing a Jakarta school mosque on November 7, injuring nearly 100 people, left behind a digital trail glorifying white supremacist killers and neo-Nazi symbols. His r...
globalextremism.org
November 16, 2025 at 1:19 AM
A 17-year-old accused of bombing a Jakarta school mosque left nearly 100 injured, carrying a rifle covered in neo-Nazi slogans. TikTok posts tied to him point to online communities that celebrate extremist violence, highlighting how these digital subcultures are shaping real-world attacks.
Evangelicals read this as an instruction manual
“Obedience is not enough. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.” George Orwell -- 1984
November 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Evangelicals read this as an instruction manual
Reposted by Ry Terran
Nothing is safe trom Trump:
The Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas will be removed to comply with a directive from the Trump regime to rid the public roadways of any political messages or artwork.
The Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas will be removed to comply with a directive from the Trump regime to rid the public roadways of any political messages or artwork.
Buddy Holly crosswalk in his Texas hometown to be removed following order on road safety
“It’s such a tasteful cross section and people like it. But what do you do?” City Council Member Christy Martinez-Garcia said of the crosswalk that depicts Holly's iconic glasses.
www.nbcnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Nothing is safe trom Trump:
The Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas will be removed to comply with a directive from the Trump regime to rid the public roadways of any political messages or artwork.
The Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas will be removed to comply with a directive from the Trump regime to rid the public roadways of any political messages or artwork.
Reposted by Ry Terran
Reposted by Ry Terran
everywhere RFK goes he should be confronted with so many duck noises that he develops a case of this
November 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
everywhere RFK goes he should be confronted with so many duck noises that he develops a case of this
Reposted by Ry Terran
this entire ideology is predicated on the idea that people would rather die violently than live in prison. that being shot or hanged or gassed is *less* abusive than being confined to prison.
we have evidence that this is not the case, that given the choice, people prefer imprisonment to execution!
we have evidence that this is not the case, that given the choice, people prefer imprisonment to execution!
"What about [form of abuse that is mostly de facto decriminalised right now anyway]?"
I didn't say abolish bullets, did I?
I didn't say abolish bullets, did I?
November 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
this entire ideology is predicated on the idea that people would rather die violently than live in prison. that being shot or hanged or gassed is *less* abusive than being confined to prison.
we have evidence that this is not the case, that given the choice, people prefer imprisonment to execution!
we have evidence that this is not the case, that given the choice, people prefer imprisonment to execution!
Reposted by Ry Terran
Looked it up. Donohue, the author here, is the president of the Catholic League, & also an adjunct scholar with the Heritage Foundation. It has been his life’s mission to defend sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and he is using Kelly’s statements as a further justification in his argument.
November 15, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Looked it up. Donohue, the author here, is the president of the Catholic League, & also an adjunct scholar with the Heritage Foundation. It has been his life’s mission to defend sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and he is using Kelly’s statements as a further justification in his argument.
Reposted by Ry Terran
I think a lot of the norms that allow society to function have utterly rotted away and I don’t know how you fix that long term but in the short term we start by destroying the sports betting industry.
The Athletic polled hundreds of players from across the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL about their opinions surrounding how sports betting impacts players — the responses were haunting.
November 15, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I think a lot of the norms that allow society to function have utterly rotted away and I don’t know how you fix that long term but in the short term we start by destroying the sports betting industry.
Speaking of Johnny Cash, how did I not know that Live did a cover of "I Walk the Line"?
Beautiful
Beautiful
November 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Speaking of Johnny Cash, how did I not know that Live did a cover of "I Walk the Line"?
Beautiful
Beautiful
Reposted by Ry Terran
“Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation ever studied.”
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Voters Is That They’re Pretty Great
Stop panicking: They are the most progressive generation ever, especially on race. If that surprises you, you’ve been listening to the wrong story.
newrepublic.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
“Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation ever studied.”
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Reposted by Ry Terran
Trump and Hegseth's "Department of War" rebranding is more than just a name. It signals their vision of a force that disdains legality, as if whoever commits the most war crimes wins.
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
Most Americans oppose the ’Department of War’ rebranding
Even 42% of Republicans are no fans of the change.
goodauthority.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Trump and Hegseth's "Department of War" rebranding is more than just a name. It signals their vision of a force that disdains legality, as if whoever commits the most war crimes wins.
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
Reposted by Ry Terran
NEWS: President Trump has issued a *second* pardon for Jan. 6 defendant Dan Wilson.
Wilson, a militia member, remained in prison on a firearms conviction unrelated to the Capitol attack. But Trump's new pardon explicitly covers the gun charges. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Wilson, a militia member, remained in prison on a firearms conviction unrelated to the Capitol attack. But Trump's new pardon explicitly covers the gun charges. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
NEWS: President Trump has issued a *second* pardon for Jan. 6 defendant Dan Wilson.
Wilson, a militia member, remained in prison on a firearms conviction unrelated to the Capitol attack. But Trump's new pardon explicitly covers the gun charges. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Wilson, a militia member, remained in prison on a firearms conviction unrelated to the Capitol attack. But Trump's new pardon explicitly covers the gun charges. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Ry Terran
NEW: Trump likes to claim that his pardons are about undoing supposed Biden DOJ overreach, but @propublica.org found at least a dozen instances where Trump has granted clemency in criminal cases that originated during the first Trump term.
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
A Tale of Two Terms: How Powerful Figures Were Prosecuted in Trump’s First Term, Then Pardoned in His Second
We found that Donald Trump has granted clemency in at least a dozen criminal cases that originated during his first term. No other president has used clemency to erase his own appointees’ actions on s...
www.propublica.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:23 PM
NEW: Trump likes to claim that his pardons are about undoing supposed Biden DOJ overreach, but @propublica.org found at least a dozen instances where Trump has granted clemency in criminal cases that originated during the first Trump term.
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
Reposted by Ry Terran
Friends, I knew it was wrong, but I felt a great temptation to pay to text with Satan on the Text With Jesus app. Thankfully, there was someone nearby who could talk me back from the ledge of sin. 🙏
November 15, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Friends, I knew it was wrong, but I felt a great temptation to pay to text with Satan on the Text With Jesus app. Thankfully, there was someone nearby who could talk me back from the ledge of sin. 🙏
Reposted by Ry Terran
Carman would have loved this app and would have gotten a lifetime premium sub.
Hold up
November 15, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Carman would have loved this app and would have gotten a lifetime premium sub.
Reposted by Ry Terran
Silicon Valley, 1990s: Free and open access to all the world’s knowledge will usher a new utopian age of information!
Silicon Valley, 2025:
Silicon Valley, 2025:
![Enable chats with Satan [enabled]
Premium subscription required](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xk7r4kbdqfmrrzj3664ig4mt/bafkreielrwmwsrdoobdypob2kgwvma7g2yt56kcmn27mubosfpon7iziim@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Silicon Valley, 1990s: Free and open access to all the world’s knowledge will usher a new utopian age of information!
Silicon Valley, 2025:
Silicon Valley, 2025:
Reposted by Ry Terran
I’ve been disturbed ongoingly by how many people seem to express glee every time a case of sexual violence or exploitation is in the news, as if it’s a gotcha of the bad guys to feel superior about. We have to be able to face and address this violence not play it for clicks…and I donno…
November 15, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I’ve been disturbed ongoingly by how many people seem to express glee every time a case of sexual violence or exploitation is in the news, as if it’s a gotcha of the bad guys to feel superior about. We have to be able to face and address this violence not play it for clicks…and I donno…
Reposted by Ry Terran
So many vulnerable people were hurt, harassed and raped by these ghouls and now—I’m worried—it’s gonna become hehe haha lurid internet circus instead of a long overdue moral reckoning. I’m scared of who we all are becoming. That man has brought us ALL low.
November 15, 2025 at 12:02 AM
So many vulnerable people were hurt, harassed and raped by these ghouls and now—I’m worried—it’s gonna become hehe haha lurid internet circus instead of a long overdue moral reckoning. I’m scared of who we all are becoming. That man has brought us ALL low.
Not surprising, a lot of these AI interactions have cult-like features (love-bombing, mystical-sounding texts) and often people leave their partners in those situations (happened to me and reading these conversations feels very similar)
AI infidelity is reshaping family law
“More and more, courts are beginning to see clients cite emotional bonds with AI companions as reasons for marital strain or dissolution.”
my latest for @wired.com www.wired.com/story/ai-rel...
“More and more, courts are beginning to see clients cite emotional bonds with AI companions as reasons for marital strain or dissolution.”
my latest for @wired.com www.wired.com/story/ai-rel...
AI Relationships Are on the Rise. A Divorce Boom Could Be Next
Secret chatbot flings are creating new legal challenges for married couples when it comes to infidelity.
www.wired.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Not surprising, a lot of these AI interactions have cult-like features (love-bombing, mystical-sounding texts) and often people leave their partners in those situations (happened to me and reading these conversations feels very similar)
Reposted by Ry Terran
everything obviously wrong with this is obvious, of course, but I’m also struck by like ….. the terror of the silence of your own mind?? humans have prayed, contemplated, meditated in the search for wisdom (whether inner or divine) for our whole history. an app can’t meditate FOR you!
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
everything obviously wrong with this is obvious, of course, but I’m also struck by like ….. the terror of the silence of your own mind?? humans have prayed, contemplated, meditated in the search for wisdom (whether inner or divine) for our whole history. an app can’t meditate FOR you!
Reposted by Ry Terran
Friends! Here is the first episode of a new podcast i'm hosting. I'm thinking of it as a way of trying to have more of the conversations I have w/ smart ppl about the internet/politics/broken attention economy in public. first guest is the great @hankgreen.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=A492...
Hank Green: It’s Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better | Galaxy Brain
YouTube video by The Atlantic
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Friends! Here is the first episode of a new podcast i'm hosting. I'm thinking of it as a way of trying to have more of the conversations I have w/ smart ppl about the internet/politics/broken attention economy in public. first guest is the great @hankgreen.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=A492...
Reposted by Ry Terran
With the new release by Congress of Epstein emails regarding Trump, there's been some discussion & invoking of QAnon with regards to it.
Well, this is a matter of fact how some of the conspiracy theory's supporters are reacting to those emails.
Well, this is a matter of fact how some of the conspiracy theory's supporters are reacting to those emails.
QAnon influencers have baselessly suggested that newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails show Trump was an “informant” against Epstein.
It comes as the QAnon community has for months tried to rationalize Trump opposing the Epstein files’ release.
My latest:
It comes as the QAnon community has for months tried to rationalize Trump opposing the Epstein files’ release.
My latest:
QAnon influencers baselessly suggest newly released Epstein emails show Trump was an “informant” against Epstein
Multiple online influencers affiliated with the QAnon conspiracy theory — which falsely asserts that a secret satanic pedophile cabal that included Jeffrey Epstein runs the world — are baselessly sugg...
www.mediamatters.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
With the new release by Congress of Epstein emails regarding Trump, there's been some discussion & invoking of QAnon with regards to it.
Well, this is a matter of fact how some of the conspiracy theory's supporters are reacting to those emails.
Well, this is a matter of fact how some of the conspiracy theory's supporters are reacting to those emails.
Reposted by Ry Terran
"One of the features of living under chaotic authoritarianism is that the pressures are what I think of as “fractal" ... The same mix of incompetence, malice and corruption impact our lives at the smallest level — like access to the blueberries my son eats — and at the biggest — killing people."
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
"One of the features of living under chaotic authoritarianism is that the pressures are what I think of as “fractal" ... The same mix of incompetence, malice and corruption impact our lives at the smallest level — like access to the blueberries my son eats — and at the biggest — killing people."