Joelle Maslak
@jmaslak.bsky.social
Just another neurodivergent techie. Expect to see me talk about computer networks, feminism, human rights, and autism--and how they are connected. Delcared un-American by the US government.
One of my least favorite art genres is "autism awareness" art. So much of this is just incredibly ugly.
December 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
One of my least favorite art genres is "autism awareness" art. So much of this is just incredibly ugly.
Be careful hero worshiping Renée Richards. Namely, her current, shitty, opinion on trans people in sports is:
"I believe that having gone through male puberty disqualifies transgender women from the female category in sports."
www.si.com/tennis/renee...
"I believe that having gone through male puberty disqualifies transgender women from the female category in sports."
www.si.com/tennis/renee...
Renée Richards Shares Her Position on Gender Policy in Tennis
The groundbreaking tennis player offered her thoughts on transgender participation in the sport to the WTA in April 2024.
www.si.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Be careful hero worshiping Renée Richards. Namely, her current, shitty, opinion on trans people in sports is:
"I believe that having gone through male puberty disqualifies transgender women from the female category in sports."
www.si.com/tennis/renee...
"I believe that having gone through male puberty disqualifies transgender women from the female category in sports."
www.si.com/tennis/renee...
Reminder about these "OMG, people are faking disability!" stories.
They really are "I don't think ADHD is real" stories because that, along with pain and long COVID, are not readily apparent to ableists.
ADHD is real. So is chronic pain. So is long COVID.
They really are "I don't think ADHD is real" stories because that, along with pain and long COVID, are not readily apparent to ableists.
ADHD is real. So is chronic pain. So is long COVID.
December 4, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Reminder about these "OMG, people are faking disability!" stories.
They really are "I don't think ADHD is real" stories because that, along with pain and long COVID, are not readily apparent to ableists.
ADHD is real. So is chronic pain. So is long COVID.
They really are "I don't think ADHD is real" stories because that, along with pain and long COVID, are not readily apparent to ableists.
ADHD is real. So is chronic pain. So is long COVID.
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
Pete Hegseth risked our servicemembers’ lives by sharing classified information on unsecured systems.
He needs to resign or be fired.
He needs to resign or be fired.
December 4, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Pete Hegseth risked our servicemembers’ lives by sharing classified information on unsecured systems.
He needs to resign or be fired.
He needs to resign or be fired.
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
Not trying to dunk too hard on you but coming from the perspective of disabled guy on benefits: I don't know a single person faking their disability to get monthly checks but I DO know a few objectively disabled folks that cannot get on benefits because of gatekeeping.
Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.
December 3, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Not trying to dunk too hard on you but coming from the perspective of disabled guy on benefits: I don't know a single person faking their disability to get monthly checks but I DO know a few objectively disabled folks that cannot get on benefits because of gatekeeping.
Since we're talking shopping for healthcare, usually price isn't my main concern. Instead, it's:
1) Transphobic?
2) Do what I need?
3) In-network?
4) See new patients?
5) Appointment before 2035?
6) If I'm lucky, I might then filter for distance, like within 100 miles.
1) Transphobic?
2) Do what I need?
3) In-network?
4) See new patients?
5) Appointment before 2035?
6) If I'm lucky, I might then filter for distance, like within 100 miles.
December 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Since we're talking shopping for healthcare, usually price isn't my main concern. Instead, it's:
1) Transphobic?
2) Do what I need?
3) In-network?
4) See new patients?
5) Appointment before 2035?
6) If I'm lucky, I might then filter for distance, like within 100 miles.
1) Transphobic?
2) Do what I need?
3) In-network?
4) See new patients?
5) Appointment before 2035?
6) If I'm lucky, I might then filter for distance, like within 100 miles.
Anti-trans politics in the Dems is basically the thing that Democrats use to show they aren't "radical" and are willing to go against their party.
It's vice signalling.
It's vice signalling.
December 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Anti-trans politics in the Dems is basically the thing that Democrats use to show they aren't "radical" and are willing to go against their party.
It's vice signalling.
It's vice signalling.
The Women's Institute in UK's bullshit along the lines of "trans women were gracious when we told them" isn't the message of respect for trans women they seem to think it is, when they fail to account for what happens to trans women who express anger. We're not allowed anger.
December 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The Women's Institute in UK's bullshit along the lines of "trans women were gracious when we told them" isn't the message of respect for trans women they seem to think it is, when they fail to account for what happens to trans women who express anger. We're not allowed anger.
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
The truth is that there are many good people in good institutions regretfully making the choice to sacrifice trans people because they fear for their own survival and their institution's survival...
...and it is incumbent on us to show them that their choice is not without consequence.
...and it is incumbent on us to show them that their choice is not without consequence.
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The truth is that there are many good people in good institutions regretfully making the choice to sacrifice trans people because they fear for their own survival and their institution's survival...
...and it is incumbent on us to show them that their choice is not without consequence.
...and it is incumbent on us to show them that their choice is not without consequence.
Every trans person who is on a knife edge. On one side is employment for another day. On the other is whether a random transphobe posts "Ick, gross, trans person" with your picture and employer name, and it goes viral. You will get fired, from pretty much any company, if that happens to you.
When writing this piece, I kept thinking back to this Instagram post I saw from a trans woman the other day. This is what I'm talking about. Watch this:
December 3, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Every trans person who is on a knife edge. On one side is employment for another day. On the other is whether a random transphobe posts "Ick, gross, trans person" with your picture and employer name, and it goes viral. You will get fired, from pretty much any company, if that happens to you.
Pet peeve in autism research: Assuming that autistic trans men had the childhood experience of autistic girls and that autistic trans women had the childhood experience of autistic boys.
It's an extraordinary claim that should include evidence.
It's an extraordinary claim that should include evidence.
December 3, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Pet peeve in autism research: Assuming that autistic trans men had the childhood experience of autistic girls and that autistic trans women had the childhood experience of autistic boys.
It's an extraordinary claim that should include evidence.
It's an extraordinary claim that should include evidence.
Also, if you are worried about "too many" people needing accommodations in a class you teach, perhaps you need to re-examine your pedagogy. A timed test is not the only way to measure mastery (and indeed often *doesn't* measure mastery). Build accessibility for all into your course.
December 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Also, if you are worried about "too many" people needing accommodations in a class you teach, perhaps you need to re-examine your pedagogy. A timed test is not the only way to measure mastery (and indeed often *doesn't* measure mastery). Build accessibility for all into your course.
The panic over people getting disability accommodations they "don't need" is exactly the same as the panic over people not having enough gatekeeping to be able to live as their gender in society.
It's a fascist idea that conformity needs to be enforced except (maybe) for extremely rare exceptions.
It's a fascist idea that conformity needs to be enforced except (maybe) for extremely rare exceptions.
December 2, 2025 at 11:32 PM
The panic over people getting disability accommodations they "don't need" is exactly the same as the panic over people not having enough gatekeeping to be able to live as their gender in society.
It's a fascist idea that conformity needs to be enforced except (maybe) for extremely rare exceptions.
It's a fascist idea that conformity needs to be enforced except (maybe) for extremely rare exceptions.
So, accommodations are apparently too easy to get in university? I'm going to comment on a few accommodations that could benefit a lot of people, to see if anyone actually ever got them...
December 2, 2025 at 11:28 PM
So, accommodations are apparently too easy to get in university? I'm going to comment on a few accommodations that could benefit a lot of people, to see if anyone actually ever got them...
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
We should all be grateful to Nextdoor for definitively proving that real name and geofencing policies do absolutely nothing to mitigate harassment and toxicity.
people still trying to make "the internet would be a CIVIL and RESPECTFUL PLACE if everyone used their LEGAL NAME to post" happen when we all can clearly see what facebook, linkedin, and nextdoor are like
December 2, 2025 at 5:55 PM
We should all be grateful to Nextdoor for definitively proving that real name and geofencing policies do absolutely nothing to mitigate harassment and toxicity.
I expect my stack of long form articles on trans people that I came across when *not* looking for trans articles to be taller than me by the end of March, if the current rate continues. I imagine the current rate won't continue, and it'll be taller than me before March because of state legislatures.
December 2, 2025 at 3:58 AM
I expect my stack of long form articles on trans people that I came across when *not* looking for trans articles to be taller than me by the end of March, if the current rate continues. I imagine the current rate won't continue, and it'll be taller than me before March because of state legislatures.
Four months of printing every long form article about trans people that comes my way without me looking for it.
The pile goes from the floor to above my waist. Some of that is the part that is the "pile of joy" part of the project. But the vast majority is the pile of sadness.
The pile goes from the floor to above my waist. Some of that is the part that is the "pile of joy" part of the project. But the vast majority is the pile of sadness.
December 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Four months of printing every long form article about trans people that comes my way without me looking for it.
The pile goes from the floor to above my waist. Some of that is the part that is the "pile of joy" part of the project. But the vast majority is the pile of sadness.
The pile goes from the floor to above my waist. Some of that is the part that is the "pile of joy" part of the project. But the vast majority is the pile of sadness.
She's a politician from South Dakota, a state with 9 different indian reservations. I imagine they would have thoughts about this, rightly.
December 2, 2025 at 3:33 AM
She's a politician from South Dakota, a state with 9 different indian reservations. I imagine they would have thoughts about this, rightly.
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
One of my fundamental beliefs is that I should not have to talk to people who have been cruel to me. You might be surprised to learn how often -- and vociferously -- people disagree with me about that.
December 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
One of my fundamental beliefs is that I should not have to talk to people who have been cruel to me. You might be surprised to learn how often -- and vociferously -- people disagree with me about that.
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
i’m genuinely so convinced all of this has been a planned operation by the student and her mother (who is commenting on this publicly, and associated closely with the republican party), and big far right propaganda account going all in on it. this is designed to oust trans people from public life
December 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
i’m genuinely so convinced all of this has been a planned operation by the student and her mother (who is commenting on this publicly, and associated closely with the republican party), and big far right propaganda account going all in on it. this is designed to oust trans people from public life
It is amazing how many research papers on autism go like this:
1. Researchers find strength of autistic people
2. Researchers say that strength is evidence of autistic deficit
(I know autism isn't just strengths, but I do want our strengths acknowleged in research *as strengths*)
1. Researchers find strength of autistic people
2. Researchers say that strength is evidence of autistic deficit
(I know autism isn't just strengths, but I do want our strengths acknowleged in research *as strengths*)
December 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
It is amazing how many research papers on autism go like this:
1. Researchers find strength of autistic people
2. Researchers say that strength is evidence of autistic deficit
(I know autism isn't just strengths, but I do want our strengths acknowleged in research *as strengths*)
1. Researchers find strength of autistic people
2. Researchers say that strength is evidence of autistic deficit
(I know autism isn't just strengths, but I do want our strengths acknowleged in research *as strengths*)
Reposted by Joelle Maslak
People catastrophizing about a precedent where no one can mark anything down anymore for being wrong when the real precedent is trans people not being able to do literally any job without an army of bigots launching a harassment campaign against their employer.
a lot of people debating the merits of that dogshit essay meanwhile the girl’s mom is retweeting demands to ban all trans people from teaching at any level. it’s forest for the trees shit
December 1, 2025 at 1:39 PM
People catastrophizing about a precedent where no one can mark anything down anymore for being wrong when the real precedent is trans people not being able to do literally any job without an army of bigots launching a harassment campaign against their employer.
Are we really going to do the ableist bullshit around brain MRIs again?
FWIW, here's mine.
Disabled people are watching how we're talked about when you think you're just talking about Trump.
FWIW, here's mine.
Disabled people are watching how we're talked about when you think you're just talking about Trump.
December 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Are we really going to do the ableist bullshit around brain MRIs again?
FWIW, here's mine.
Disabled people are watching how we're talked about when you think you're just talking about Trump.
FWIW, here's mine.
Disabled people are watching how we're talked about when you think you're just talking about Trump.
The Good Place - Janet and the Cactuses
YouTube video by Nick Armstrong
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM