Not that other guy, that's for sure
@neogliberal.bsky.social
30% academic discourse; 15% games; 3% misc; 52% skeets I wrote but deleted immediately.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
1/ 🎙️ New paper by Dr Aiyana Willard argues it’s time to retire HADD = “we’re hardwired to see agents EVERYWHERE” and replace it with something that *actually* fits the evidence 🪦➡️📚
@brunelpsy.bsky.social
🔗 Read it 👇
@brunelpsy.bsky.social
🔗 Read it 👇
Belief as explanation: a motivation-based theory of agency and anthropomorphism in religious belief
Supernatural agent beliefs are ubiquitous across cultures, yet many theories aimed at explaining this fact have not held up to scrutiny. The most famous of these, the Hyperactive Agency Detection D...
www.tandfonline.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
1/ 🎙️ New paper by Dr Aiyana Willard argues it’s time to retire HADD = “we’re hardwired to see agents EVERYWHERE” and replace it with something that *actually* fits the evidence 🪦➡️📚
@brunelpsy.bsky.social
🔗 Read it 👇
@brunelpsy.bsky.social
🔗 Read it 👇
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
🚨 SynthNet is out 🚨
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
November 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
🚨 SynthNet is out 🚨
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
The pretend University of Austin teaches "Forbidden Courses" with zero pushback even as the real universities are forbidding courses due to political pressure
My friend Jake (that’s Dr. Beck to you!) on the crisis in Texas universities.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Professor: Texas used to have universities
Former Texas Tech professor takes issue with the actions of Texas universities to restrict what topics can be discussed. Doing so makes them something other...
www.dallasnews.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The pretend University of Austin teaches "Forbidden Courses" with zero pushback even as the real universities are forbidding courses due to political pressure
Can we make this a general policy for the social sciences?
SocArXiv announces moratorium on AI-topic papers
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1
/1
November 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Can we make this a general policy for the social sciences?
I'm reviewing the literature to see if CREDs (Henrich, 2009) are applied outside of religious domains.
There's a strange little cluster of work by sociologists on green behaviors (specifically, solar uptake) that use it, but almost no-one else uses it in any other context.
There's a strange little cluster of work by sociologists on green behaviors (specifically, solar uptake) that use it, but almost no-one else uses it in any other context.
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I'm reviewing the literature to see if CREDs (Henrich, 2009) are applied outside of religious domains.
There's a strange little cluster of work by sociologists on green behaviors (specifically, solar uptake) that use it, but almost no-one else uses it in any other context.
There's a strange little cluster of work by sociologists on green behaviors (specifically, solar uptake) that use it, but almost no-one else uses it in any other context.
Every year I teach a class on 'Big Data and Analytics' to MSc level students. This LLM bubble can't burst soon enough.
I've been avoiding teaching it, with the explanation it's too soon to know what impact it will have, but also, everything is so obscured.
Please just go away, corporate-LLMs.
I've been avoiding teaching it, with the explanation it's too soon to know what impact it will have, but also, everything is so obscured.
Please just go away, corporate-LLMs.
November 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Every year I teach a class on 'Big Data and Analytics' to MSc level students. This LLM bubble can't burst soon enough.
I've been avoiding teaching it, with the explanation it's too soon to know what impact it will have, but also, everything is so obscured.
Please just go away, corporate-LLMs.
I've been avoiding teaching it, with the explanation it's too soon to know what impact it will have, but also, everything is so obscured.
Please just go away, corporate-LLMs.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Want to hold a major academic conference in the humanities and social sciences? We offer up to £20k (and sometimes £25k) for a conference on any topic to be held between April 27/March 28. Apply by 29 Jan 2026.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
British Academy Conferences funding for UK-based researchers
An exceptional opportunity for UK-based scholars to run a landmark event featuring leading-edge research as part of the British Academy’s events programme.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Want to hold a major academic conference in the humanities and social sciences? We offer up to £20k (and sometimes £25k) for a conference on any topic to be held between April 27/March 28. Apply by 29 Jan 2026.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
Just had an interaction with a journalist. It's taken like two days. I wanted to write something snarky, but I should try to be gracious about it.
November 26, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Just had an interaction with a journalist. It's taken like two days. I wanted to write something snarky, but I should try to be gracious about it.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Working on some cool project about human evolution? Do not hesitate to submit an abstract for @ehbea2026.bsky.social 🙌
Deadline? December 15th
More info? Below 👇
Deadline? December 15th
More info? Below 👇
📢 Call for abstracts!
🚀 The time has come — abstract submission for #EHBEA2026 is officially OPEN since this week! 🎉
🗓 Submission Nov 1st – Dec 15th
📝 300 words
🧠 Important: Make an OpenReview account before submitting — it takes time!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
🚀 The time has come — abstract submission for #EHBEA2026 is officially OPEN since this week! 🎉
🗓 Submission Nov 1st – Dec 15th
📝 300 words
🧠 Important: Make an OpenReview account before submitting — it takes time!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
Overview | EHBEA2026
www.ehbea2026.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Working on some cool project about human evolution? Do not hesitate to submit an abstract for @ehbea2026.bsky.social 🙌
Deadline? December 15th
More info? Below 👇
Deadline? December 15th
More info? Below 👇
I'm no philosopher, but I'm pretty sure that not all Swans are Grue. Bleen Swans are common in the antipodes.
"Unlike continental nonsense, analytic philosophy is clear and intelligible"
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I'm no philosopher, but I'm pretty sure that not all Swans are Grue. Bleen Swans are common in the antipodes.
Call me 'Rejection', 'Grant Rejection'.
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Call me 'Rejection', 'Grant Rejection'.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Recruiting a PhD student to join us at Univ Canterbury (Christchurch, NZ) to study how people perceive animal minds & how those perceptions shape moral concern, behaviour, & policy. Scholarship info:
www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/abo...
Rolling review starts Dec 2025 • Flexible Feb–July 2026 start
www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/abo...
Rolling review starts Dec 2025 • Flexible Feb–July 2026 start
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Recruiting a PhD student to join us at Univ Canterbury (Christchurch, NZ) to study how people perceive animal minds & how those perceptions shape moral concern, behaviour, & policy. Scholarship info:
www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/abo...
Rolling review starts Dec 2025 • Flexible Feb–July 2026 start
www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/abo...
Rolling review starts Dec 2025 • Flexible Feb–July 2026 start
I'm tucking 'solution-shaped object' away for later use.
"writing code to solve a problem" used to have "understanding the problem" as a prerequisite. but vibecoding allows solution-shaped objects to be produced without any of the hard-won understanding. beware of solution-shaped objects.
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I'm tucking 'solution-shaped object' away for later use.
Feel free to invite me for a talk in your lovely European or SE Asian city at some point between now and July.
Well well well, it isn't every day you get an email from your department saying "You haven't spent this fairly considerable chunk of money, can you please do so in the next 8 months?".
Yes. Yes I can spend that money.
Yes. Yes I can spend that money.
November 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Feel free to invite me for a talk in your lovely European or SE Asian city at some point between now and July.
Well well well, it isn't every day you get an email from your department saying "You haven't spent this fairly considerable chunk of money, can you please do so in the next 8 months?".
Yes. Yes I can spend that money.
Yes. Yes I can spend that money.
November 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Well well well, it isn't every day you get an email from your department saying "You haven't spent this fairly considerable chunk of money, can you please do so in the next 8 months?".
Yes. Yes I can spend that money.
Yes. Yes I can spend that money.
I need a new PC, and I've decided to build. After several hours of research I found a website which publishes theory-builds of PC's at different levels (by one guy, I think). It has a community critiquing, reviewing and revising.
There are echoes of the old internet still.
There are echoes of the old internet still.
November 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I need a new PC, and I've decided to build. After several hours of research I found a website which publishes theory-builds of PC's at different levels (by one guy, I think). It has a community critiquing, reviewing and revising.
There are echoes of the old internet still.
There are echoes of the old internet still.
Woof. It's good to see someone cleaning house on the science end of things.
Mainstream news covered the Jeffrey Epstein emails related to ppl like Trump. Today, I want to take a look at Epstein's correspondence with prominent atheist and physicist Lawrence Krauss, who asked the pedophile's advice on responding to accusations of sexual assault skepchick.org/2025/11/so-i...
So I’m in the Epstein Files
Transcript: Look. I know that on this channel, I often criticize prominent people for actions that I find detestable: accepting dark money and failing to disclose it, producing propaganda for Big O…
skepchick.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Woof. It's good to see someone cleaning house on the science end of things.
Is it just me? This image has a really compelling depth illusion.
the Sky Italia show on Mussolini's rise to power is both excellent and bone-chilling reminder on how buffoons can capture power
November 20, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Is it just me? This image has a really compelling depth illusion.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Finally got round to watching @sskorkowsky.bsky.social's video on the Satanic Panics - really good stuff, and illuminating on key issues and themes. Well worth your time.
Behold! The massive RPG Moral Panic video I've been researching and assembling for years, and why people who call the whole affair the Satanic Panic are wrong.
I'm so damned happy to finally have this beast out of my system.
youtu.be/OpjV-melB-c
I'm so damned happy to finally have this beast out of my system.
youtu.be/OpjV-melB-c
The 3 Waves of the RPG Moral Panic - RPG History
YouTube video by Seth Skorkowsky
youtu.be
November 19, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Finally got round to watching @sskorkowsky.bsky.social's video on the Satanic Panics - really good stuff, and illuminating on key issues and themes. Well worth your time.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
The US wasn't the only country to pin an entire moral panic on tabletop RPGs. We spoke with players in Brazil and Spain about their own bookbound boogeymen.
The Other Satanic Panics
How RPGs become scapegoats for murders across the world.
www.rascal.news
November 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The US wasn't the only country to pin an entire moral panic on tabletop RPGs. We spoke with players in Brazil and Spain about their own bookbound boogeymen.
This is all too much.
Most people aren't frauds. Most frauds are not clever. Decent fraud can be committed already using R.
This is the equivalent of being concerned about 'rising crime' when all evidence points to the contrary.
It's. Not. A. Thing.
Most people aren't frauds. Most frauds are not clever. Decent fraud can be committed already using R.
This is the equivalent of being concerned about 'rising crime' when all evidence points to the contrary.
It's. Not. A. Thing.
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 19, 2025 at 5:33 AM
This is all too much.
Most people aren't frauds. Most frauds are not clever. Decent fraud can be committed already using R.
This is the equivalent of being concerned about 'rising crime' when all evidence points to the contrary.
It's. Not. A. Thing.
Most people aren't frauds. Most frauds are not clever. Decent fraud can be committed already using R.
This is the equivalent of being concerned about 'rising crime' when all evidence points to the contrary.
It's. Not. A. Thing.
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Could you just imagine?! The gnashed teeth. The clutched pearls. It would be the end of knowledge as we know it!
15 years ago @jevinwest.bsky.social and I talked about how we needed a data scientists’ code of ethics like the Hippocratic oath.
We still do.
We still do.
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Could you just imagine?! The gnashed teeth. The clutched pearls. It would be the end of knowledge as we know it!
Reposted by Not that other guy, that's for sure
Hurrah! My article on the Twilight 2000 RPG in the Journal of American Studies is now open access (OA), so anyone who wants to can have a read. OA is important to me, as I want my work on RPG history to go beyond the academy and reach the gaming public.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
When You Say, “Thermonuclear War,” I Think You Mean “the Call to Adventure”! The Twilight: 2000 Tabletop Role-Playing Game and the Postapocalyptic World’s Imaginary Spaces | Journal of American Studie...
When You Say, “Thermonuclear War,” I Think You Mean “the Call to Adventure”! The Twilight: 2000 Tabletop Role-Playing Game and the Postapocalyptic World’s Imaginary Spaces
www.cambridge.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Hurrah! My article on the Twilight 2000 RPG in the Journal of American Studies is now open access (OA), so anyone who wants to can have a read. OA is important to me, as I want my work on RPG history to go beyond the academy and reach the gaming public.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...