Owen Michael
@owenwmichael.bsky.social
Welsh and European. Biromantic Asexual. @UKLabour, @unisontheunion, and @thefabians. Data person and all round geek. He/him/o
Reposted by Owen Michael
Well known third world countries Sweden, Switzerland, and Ireland
December 13, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Well known third world countries Sweden, Switzerland, and Ireland
Reposted by Owen Michael
Ignition interlocks are a *less carceral* option! DUI is a common crime, many drunk drivers are not societal threats in other aspects, and we have a device that notably reduces proclivity to drive drunk without otherwise restricting their liberty.
I think it was a huge mistake to make our society so car-dependent. But man. The Discourse today is a good reminder that when it comes to roadways policy, otherwise progressive anti-car people quickly become some of the most pro-carceral, anti-civil liberties people on the planet.
December 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Ignition interlocks are a *less carceral* option! DUI is a common crime, many drunk drivers are not societal threats in other aspects, and we have a device that notably reduces proclivity to drive drunk without otherwise restricting their liberty.
I am genuinely struggling to think of a thing /more obviously/ life and death that doesn't involve, like, deliberate violence
It's not life and death if I do speed, you're blowing the problem out of proportion to feel artificially safe.
December 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I am genuinely struggling to think of a thing /more obviously/ life and death that doesn't involve, like, deliberate violence
Reposted by Owen Michael
I think it should be possible to hold two ideas in your head at the same time:
a) It should not be easy for a corporation to fire employees without cause; and
b) Cinnabon absolutely had cause, this woman sounds vile and unprofessional.
Not sure why he struggles so hard with it.
a) It should not be easy for a corporation to fire employees without cause; and
b) Cinnabon absolutely had cause, this woman sounds vile and unprofessional.
Not sure why he struggles so hard with it.
December 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I think it should be possible to hold two ideas in your head at the same time:
a) It should not be easy for a corporation to fire employees without cause; and
b) Cinnabon absolutely had cause, this woman sounds vile and unprofessional.
Not sure why he struggles so hard with it.
a) It should not be easy for a corporation to fire employees without cause; and
b) Cinnabon absolutely had cause, this woman sounds vile and unprofessional.
Not sure why he struggles so hard with it.
Reposted by Owen Michael
This is obviously going to be hot garbage but adapting it to the modern day with Napoleon in a Maserati and the farm becoming a petting zoo is kind of inspired sorry
December 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This is obviously going to be hot garbage but adapting it to the modern day with Napoleon in a Maserati and the farm becoming a petting zoo is kind of inspired sorry
Reposted by Owen Michael
The most British thing I’ve ever experienced was in my line management days, when as a white, cultural non-practicing Anglican, I’d be bullied annually by my 2 members of staff (one practicing Hindu, one practicing Sikh) into allowing them to put up the office Christmas decorations in mid-November.
Couldn't the cultural conservatives try something more uplifting like "efforts to cancel Christmas collapse in failure as primary schools across the country hold nativity events"
Even children+parents from all ethnic backgrounds foil those dastardly woke cancellers with Mary, Joseph & the wise men
Even children+parents from all ethnic backgrounds foil those dastardly woke cancellers with Mary, Joseph & the wise men
December 13, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The most British thing I’ve ever experienced was in my line management days, when as a white, cultural non-practicing Anglican, I’d be bullied annually by my 2 members of staff (one practicing Hindu, one practicing Sikh) into allowing them to put up the office Christmas decorations in mid-November.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Deeply disappointed to hear that the BBC has pushed out one of the most brilliant presenters in all of science communication for speaking with integrity and honor in support of human rights and dignity.
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Deeply disappointed to hear that the BBC has pushed out one of the most brilliant presenters in all of science communication for speaking with integrity and honor in support of human rights and dignity.
Reposted by Owen Michael
It is, in fact, life and death if you do speed. Quite literally.
Its the key determinate of whether someone dies if you hit them.
Its the key determinate of whether someone dies if you hit them.
It's not life and death if I do speed, you're blowing the problem out of proportion to feel artificially safe.
December 13, 2025 at 11:52 AM
It is, in fact, life and death if you do speed. Quite literally.
Its the key determinate of whether someone dies if you hit them.
Its the key determinate of whether someone dies if you hit them.
Reposted by Owen Michael
They should also by delighted about the impact of immigration in slowing the decline in Christian religious observance, or by its role in helping the revitalisation of declining town centres through the conversion of disused commercial buildings into evangelical churches.
But I doubt it.
But I doubt it.
December 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM
They should also by delighted about the impact of immigration in slowing the decline in Christian religious observance, or by its role in helping the revitalisation of declining town centres through the conversion of disused commercial buildings into evangelical churches.
But I doubt it.
But I doubt it.
Reposted by Owen Michael
It's only a tiny thing in this, but Peter Serafinowicz isn't his "own brother-in-law", he's his *ex* brother-in-law, and part of Glinner's awfulness is how he seems unwilling to accept that his wife is no longer his wife. It's scary, frankly.
Graham Linehan has such little self-awareness he *really* doesn’t understand how totally unhinged he seems in his ‘woe is me’ batshit crazy ranting! 😬
He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!
He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!
December 13, 2025 at 10:59 AM
It's only a tiny thing in this, but Peter Serafinowicz isn't his "own brother-in-law", he's his *ex* brother-in-law, and part of Glinner's awfulness is how he seems unwilling to accept that his wife is no longer his wife. It's scary, frankly.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Can't wait for Robin Ince to get as many column inches in the national press over his actual establishment silencing due to his stance on lgbt+ rights as phobes get over their former friends not wanting to hang out so much any more
December 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Can't wait for Robin Ince to get as many column inches in the national press over his actual establishment silencing due to his stance on lgbt+ rights as phobes get over their former friends not wanting to hang out so much any more
Reposted by Owen Michael
Halal butchers in Newham are advertising their “festive Halal turkeys”. Tommy Robinson is scared of Newham but it’s most a place that shows what happen when lots of different faiths and cultures live happily alongside each other.
Absolute arsehole. I work in a London school as a teacher where 40 to 50% of the students are Muslim. What happens at Christmas? The classes decorate their rooms, organise secret santas, exchange Christmas cards with all participating. It is very much seen as a community festival for all.
C of E responds to Tommy Robinson’s carols event with ‘Christmas is for all’ message
Release of 43-second video comes as senior church figures speak out against dangers of Christian nationalism
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Halal butchers in Newham are advertising their “festive Halal turkeys”. Tommy Robinson is scared of Newham but it’s most a place that shows what happen when lots of different faiths and cultures live happily alongside each other.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Incredibly brave. Imagine the faceless bores the BBC will have making their programmes if they continue down this path.
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Incredibly brave. Imagine the faceless bores the BBC will have making their programmes if they continue down this path.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
Reposted by Owen Michael
I find it *incomprehensible* that people can claim they are "fighting for the rights of women and girls" and not apparently acknowledge that - at the very least - many many reasonable women and girls *disagree with them about this*.
Graham Linehan has such little self-awareness he *really* doesn’t understand how totally unhinged he seems in his ‘woe is me’ batshit crazy ranting! 😬
He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!
He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!
December 13, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I find it *incomprehensible* that people can claim they are "fighting for the rights of women and girls" and not apparently acknowledge that - at the very least - many many reasonable women and girls *disagree with them about this*.
Reposted by Owen Michael
this is a fantastic point that I hadn’t thought about: when antivaxx was associated with crunchy Marin libs and caused an outbreak at Disneyland what happened? Dems fought back and passed stronger vaccine requirements
now that antivaxxers are republicans they instantly took over the party
now that antivaxxers are republicans they instantly took over the party
![California Senate Bill 277 (SB277) is a California law that removed personal belief as a reason for an exemption from the vaccination requirements for entry to private or public elementary or secondary schools in California, as well as day care centers.
The final version of the bill was enacted by the California Legislature in 2015 (passing the State Assembly on a 46-31 vote!][2] and the California State Senate on a 24-14 vote!?]) and was signed
into law by Governor Jerry Brown on June 30, 2015.
[2][3]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gouysuoxatjdb5bjcqe4sfh7/bafkreiamqzla7yo6azcagbonce4ancole6y4ajcvynllqdmx5o5fxlm44u@jpeg)
December 12, 2025 at 10:34 PM
this is a fantastic point that I hadn’t thought about: when antivaxx was associated with crunchy Marin libs and caused an outbreak at Disneyland what happened? Dems fought back and passed stronger vaccine requirements
now that antivaxxers are republicans they instantly took over the party
now that antivaxxers are republicans they instantly took over the party
Reposted by Owen Michael
i'll say this, though, i think habitual speeding and reckless driving offenses should be treated with the same kind of seriousness that DUI/DWAI offenses are, because, as a pedestrian, i'm far more likely to be hit by someone not paying attention or speeding while stone sober than someone drunk
re: today's discourse, as a person with actual personal experience here, i think the penalties for first-offense DUI/DWAI (it's almost always the latter) are probably about where they need to be, and repeat offenses should probably be punished somewhat more harshly than they are
December 12, 2025 at 9:14 PM
i'll say this, though, i think habitual speeding and reckless driving offenses should be treated with the same kind of seriousness that DUI/DWAI offenses are, because, as a pedestrian, i'm far more likely to be hit by someone not paying attention or speeding while stone sober than someone drunk
Reposted by Owen Michael
Part of the disconnect is that car-brained nonprofit types think they're simply preventing state violence when they oppose commonsense attempts to deter reckless driving. Doesn't occur to them that what they're doing is maintaining the current, very bad society-wide distribution of violence.
for whatever reason, the victims of traffic violence never factor into the calculation. no urgency there. but do something that might affect a suburban lawyer who had a few drinks and then it becomes an “equity” issue
December 12, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Part of the disconnect is that car-brained nonprofit types think they're simply preventing state violence when they oppose commonsense attempts to deter reckless driving. Doesn't occur to them that what they're doing is maintaining the current, very bad society-wide distribution of violence.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Like, Jenkins isn't really considering here that he grew up in a more anti-LGBT, misogynistic and gender-conformist time and so trans people of that generation might have consciously tried to be more low-profile and conforming than younger trans folks.
December 12, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Like, Jenkins isn't really considering here that he grew up in a more anti-LGBT, misogynistic and gender-conformist time and so trans people of that generation might have consciously tried to be more low-profile and conforming than younger trans folks.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Indeed, as with many "culture wars", many well-meaning people who think of themselves as being moderate and compromising on the issue end up advocating what was already the prior status quo b/c they've bought into a moral panic misportrayal.
December 12, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Indeed, as with many "culture wars", many well-meaning people who think of themselves as being moderate and compromising on the issue end up advocating what was already the prior status quo b/c they've bought into a moral panic misportrayal.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Also the most amazing thing happened, Rainbow Rose, the LGBT Labour of Europe has roundly condemned UK Labour’s transphobic action, this is significant in contrast with LGBT Labour’s craven silence.
December 11, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Also the most amazing thing happened, Rainbow Rose, the LGBT Labour of Europe has roundly condemned UK Labour’s transphobic action, this is significant in contrast with LGBT Labour’s craven silence.
Reposted by Owen Michael
It's amazing how all of these people who claimed to be "silenced just for disagreeing" can't accept even the most mild and token disagreement themselves.
Graham Linehan has such little self-awareness he *really* doesn’t understand how totally unhinged he seems in his ‘woe is me’ batshit crazy ranting! 😬
He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!
He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!
December 12, 2025 at 6:31 PM
It's amazing how all of these people who claimed to be "silenced just for disagreeing" can't accept even the most mild and token disagreement themselves.
Reposted by Owen Michael
JK Rowling once said "ignoring racist abuse leaves targets feeling isolated and abuse. Hate loves silence, which it takes for consent." And yet, she is supporting Sandie Peggie, who was revealed in her tribunal to be an horrendous racist, without caveat. That means that Rowling's silence is consent.
December 12, 2025 at 8:32 AM
JK Rowling once said "ignoring racist abuse leaves targets feeling isolated and abuse. Hate loves silence, which it takes for consent." And yet, she is supporting Sandie Peggie, who was revealed in her tribunal to be an horrendous racist, without caveat. That means that Rowling's silence is consent.
Reposted by Owen Michael
I would like to know where the limit to this is supposed to be. should workers be allowed to violently threaten customers? physically assault them? should my barista be allowed to swing his dick around while making my latte?
i also believe in building a better world for workers. i also believe that all people are entitled to respect and dignity and that there ought to be social sanction for those who openly degrade others. you call me a “n*gger” to my face and i am not going to smile and shake your hand.
December 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I would like to know where the limit to this is supposed to be. should workers be allowed to violently threaten customers? physically assault them? should my barista be allowed to swing his dick around while making my latte?
Reposted by Owen Michael
Idk man, I think if I was a local paper, I'd simply not laud a man with multiple convictions for violence, a lifetime ban from a football ground and a Facebook account filled with *the* most vile racism as a "working-class hero"
December 12, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Idk man, I think if I was a local paper, I'd simply not laud a man with multiple convictions for violence, a lifetime ban from a football ground and a Facebook account filled with *the* most vile racism as a "working-class hero"