pickwick
@pickwick.bsky.social
just another angry glaswegian leftie
Reposted by pickwick
I've worked on a wide variety of helplines, and still do.
Under 16s use social media to access support, including crisis support. Samaritans, childline, WA etc ALL offer live chat/social media outreach. I'm convinced this will get cut off.
Under 16s use social media to access support, including crisis support. Samaritans, childline, WA etc ALL offer live chat/social media outreach. I'm convinced this will get cut off.
how is 'social media' defined?
when i was a teen i was on usenet groups, irc, message boards.
all of those were social spaces.
how is the government defining this?
when i was a teen i was on usenet groups, irc, message boards.
all of those were social spaces.
how is the government defining this?
February 16, 2026 at 8:07 PM
I've worked on a wide variety of helplines, and still do.
Under 16s use social media to access support, including crisis support. Samaritans, childline, WA etc ALL offer live chat/social media outreach. I'm convinced this will get cut off.
Under 16s use social media to access support, including crisis support. Samaritans, childline, WA etc ALL offer live chat/social media outreach. I'm convinced this will get cut off.
Reposted by pickwick
Please please please. If you are trans, find your trade union and join it. Even if you have an employer that lacks a recognised union, you cannot afford to be trans and not in a trade union. Please please please do it tonight.
📢 ‘Women are more than our appearance’.
Delegates at UNISON’s women’s conference condemned the damaging effects of the EHRC interim guidance, emphasising the need for inclusive workplaces and services that respect all women.
Read more ⬇️
Delegates at UNISON’s women’s conference condemned the damaging effects of the EHRC interim guidance, emphasising the need for inclusive workplaces and services that respect all women.
Read more ⬇️
‘Women are more than our appearance’ - UNISON National
Women’s conference delegates discuss and condemn the ‘damage’ of controversial Equality and Human Rights Commission interim guidance
unsn.uk
February 16, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Please please please. If you are trans, find your trade union and join it. Even if you have an employer that lacks a recognised union, you cannot afford to be trans and not in a trade union. Please please please do it tonight.
Reposted by pickwick
📢 ‘Women are more than our appearance’.
Delegates at UNISON’s women’s conference condemned the damaging effects of the EHRC interim guidance, emphasising the need for inclusive workplaces and services that respect all women.
Read more ⬇️
Delegates at UNISON’s women’s conference condemned the damaging effects of the EHRC interim guidance, emphasising the need for inclusive workplaces and services that respect all women.
Read more ⬇️
‘Women are more than our appearance’ - UNISON National
Women’s conference delegates discuss and condemn the ‘damage’ of controversial Equality and Human Rights Commission interim guidance
unsn.uk
February 16, 2026 at 10:09 AM
📢 ‘Women are more than our appearance’.
Delegates at UNISON’s women’s conference condemned the damaging effects of the EHRC interim guidance, emphasising the need for inclusive workplaces and services that respect all women.
Read more ⬇️
Delegates at UNISON’s women’s conference condemned the damaging effects of the EHRC interim guidance, emphasising the need for inclusive workplaces and services that respect all women.
Read more ⬇️
Reposted by pickwick
HELLO I WAS A QUEER TEEN IN THE 1990s AND THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST SOCIAL TRANSITION NOW ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST "LETTING" US BE (at the time, for me) GAY OR LESBIAN THEN.
They all rest on the belief that it's inherently better to be straight (then)/cis (now) and that's BS.
They all rest on the belief that it's inherently better to be straight (then)/cis (now) and that's BS.
Hilary Cass here arguing for children to be prevented from being known by a preferred name or getting a haircut in case it encourages them to continue later in life to transition.
Hilary Cass acts like gender variant children should have the transness hazed out of them.
Hilary Cass acts like gender variant children should have the transness hazed out of them.
February 16, 2026 at 6:32 PM
HELLO I WAS A QUEER TEEN IN THE 1990s AND THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST SOCIAL TRANSITION NOW ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST "LETTING" US BE (at the time, for me) GAY OR LESBIAN THEN.
They all rest on the belief that it's inherently better to be straight (then)/cis (now) and that's BS.
They all rest on the belief that it's inherently better to be straight (then)/cis (now) and that's BS.
This is so blatant haha
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM
This is so blatant haha
It's more than silly, it perpetuates the issue that's caused a good half of our current problems, where the ruling & media class truly believe it's worse to be a bit rude or sweary than to be a massive racist or homophobe or paedophile
It is legitimately so ridiculous that there is a category called “rude” here where the mods decide which grown ass adults are too rude- it’s so silly
February 16, 2026 at 7:39 PM
It's more than silly, it perpetuates the issue that's caused a good half of our current problems, where the ruling & media class truly believe it's worse to be a bit rude or sweary than to be a massive racist or homophobe or paedophile
That's what the schools and general trans guidance that was released the other day is about - deliberately making it too unsafe for people to come out as trans.
I'm not sure if it'll work much at all in schools - the kids these days are alright.
I'm not sure if it'll work much at all in schools - the kids these days are alright.
This social media ban stuff is designed to try and stop younger people coming out as trans isn’t it
February 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
That's what the schools and general trans guidance that was released the other day is about - deliberately making it too unsafe for people to come out as trans.
I'm not sure if it'll work much at all in schools - the kids these days are alright.
I'm not sure if it'll work much at all in schools - the kids these days are alright.
Reposted by pickwick
This social media ban stuff is designed to try and stop younger people coming out as trans isn’t it
February 16, 2026 at 7:17 PM
This social media ban stuff is designed to try and stop younger people coming out as trans isn’t it
Reposted by pickwick
The UK was declared measles free in 2017.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
“Seven schools and a nursery have reported more than 60 suspected cases of measles in an area of north London, and labs have confirmed 34 cases since January 12. Some children have been treated in hospital.”
archive.md/2026.02.1...
archive.md/2026.02.1...
February 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
The UK was declared measles free in 2017.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
Reposted by pickwick
I’ve picked up on an interesting vibe lately that pro-OSA and child safety groups are sussing that spending five years trying to rewrite the global internet (≠ platforms), whilst labelling anyone who criticised them pro-child abuse shills for Big Tech, achieved nothing.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Starmer pledges crackdown on 'addictive elements' of social media
The government's new plans will mean no online platform will get a
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 6:37 AM
I’ve picked up on an interesting vibe lately that pro-OSA and child safety groups are sussing that spending five years trying to rewrite the global internet (≠ platforms), whilst labelling anyone who criticised them pro-child abuse shills for Big Tech, achieved nothing.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by pickwick
"This is vibes-based policy making, not evidence-based policy making" — me talking on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast just now about the MPs pushing for a social media ban for under 16s.
February 16, 2026 at 8:26 AM
"This is vibes-based policy making, not evidence-based policy making" — me talking on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast just now about the MPs pushing for a social media ban for under 16s.
I was halfway through this and thinking this guy sounds a bit of a grifter when suddenly it drops in that he has guests on his medical podcast who are experts in things like "manifesting"
Deffo sounds like someone we should trust our kids' health to
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Deffo sounds like someone we should trust our kids' health to
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘It’s the most urgent public health issue’: Dr Rangan Chatterjee on screen time, mental health – and banning social media until 18
The hit podcaster, author and former GP says a failure to regulate big tech is ‘failing a generation of children’. He explains why he quit the NHS and why he wants a ban on screen-based homework
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:58 AM
I was halfway through this and thinking this guy sounds a bit of a grifter when suddenly it drops in that he has guests on his medical podcast who are experts in things like "manifesting"
Deffo sounds like someone we should trust our kids' health to
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Deffo sounds like someone we should trust our kids' health to
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
My nibling in P1 had to get various generations of their family to fill in a quiz about their favourite childhood toys, TV shows etc so now I'm demanding my brother send the video of the Dogtanian theme to the teacher
February 15, 2026 at 4:25 PM
My nibling in P1 had to get various generations of their family to fill in a quiz about their favourite childhood toys, TV shows etc so now I'm demanding my brother send the video of the Dogtanian theme to the teacher
"we all have PTSD - give us guns"
What could go wrong?
What could go wrong?
‘Policing is in crisis. The model is broken’
I talk to the Scottish Police Federation chief about the need for reform: from bringing back ‘bobbies in the beat’ and calls for more access to firearms, to the violence officers face and the epidemic of PTSD in the ranks
In @heraldscotland.bsky.social
I talk to the Scottish Police Federation chief about the need for reform: from bringing back ‘bobbies in the beat’ and calls for more access to firearms, to the violence officers face and the epidemic of PTSD in the ranks
In @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'Every single police officer in Scotland will suffer post-traumatic stress disorder'
The Scottish Police Federation is demanding wholesale reform of policing as the Holyrood election approaches. Our Writer at Large speaks exclusively…
www.heraldscotland.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:38 PM
"we all have PTSD - give us guns"
What could go wrong?
What could go wrong?
Reposted by pickwick
This was the first KJ Charles book I read and then I read another 26 in the same calendar year 😊
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is going on sale today! Snap it up for $1.99.
Gentleman/smuggler romance with awkward families, sinister secrets on the marsh, bugs.
It's on sale wide but I'm not going out to the shed in this weather so here's the kobo link
Gentleman/smuggler romance with awkward families, sinister secrets on the marsh, bugs.
It's on sale wide but I'm not going out to the shed in this weather so here's the kobo link
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen ebook by KJ Charles - Rakuten Kobo
Read "The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen" by KJ Charles available from Rakuten Kobo. Gothic scandal meets Bridgerton intrigue in this swashbuckling Regency romance from celebrated author KJ Charles...
www.kobo.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:35 PM
This was the first KJ Charles book I read and then I read another 26 in the same calendar year 😊
When someone puts "evolutionary" before a type of science in their job description you can just about guarantee they're going to tell you why men (usually) shouldn't be blamed for acting like arseholes because evolution made them do it
Are we hard-wired for infidelity?
Are we hard-wired for infidelity?
Monogamy may be held up as an ideal, but evolution has other ideas
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
When someone puts "evolutionary" before a type of science in their job description you can just about guarantee they're going to tell you why men (usually) shouldn't be blamed for acting like arseholes because evolution made them do it
Reposted by pickwick
So glad we have massively restructured transgender care on based on the works of someone who believes absolute nonsense.
February 15, 2026 at 2:47 PM
So glad we have massively restructured transgender care on based on the works of someone who believes absolute nonsense.
Reposted by pickwick
Reposted by pickwick
if this has to be a news story it should be that a qualified and competent doctor has been run out of a struggling NHS simply because she is transgender
The BBC reporting on Beth Upton’s current employment situation is definitely not in the public interest, and it is insane how much the British press freely get away with harassing her for the crime of simply living her life existing as a trans person in the UK.
February 15, 2026 at 1:38 PM
if this has to be a news story it should be that a qualified and competent doctor has been run out of a struggling NHS simply because she is transgender
This is certainly *a* way of summarising the story
February 15, 2026 at 1:39 PM
This is certainly *a* way of summarising the story
Reposted by pickwick
The NHS loses a doctor but gains [checks notes] sorry, gets to keep a nurse who, as well as being transphobic, is a massively racist and homophobic liability to her employers, costing the NHS/taxpayers thousands upon thousands just to pander to her bigotry.
Anas Sarwar and JKR will be delighted.
Anas Sarwar and JKR will be delighted.
The disgustingly trans-hostile UK media are now hounding a trans doctor - who has already had the media spotlight on her as a victim of transphobia - because she’s decided to quit and flee the country to get away from the relentless transphobia! 😣😖
The UK media are BULLIES! 😤
The UK media are BULLIES! 😤
February 15, 2026 at 8:55 AM
The NHS loses a doctor but gains [checks notes] sorry, gets to keep a nurse who, as well as being transphobic, is a massively racist and homophobic liability to her employers, costing the NHS/taxpayers thousands upon thousands just to pander to her bigotry.
Anas Sarwar and JKR will be delighted.
Anas Sarwar and JKR will be delighted.
Reposted by pickwick
The key thing about this story isn’t actually what the PR firm did - awful as it is - it’s that the journalists they smeared *were investigating the undeclared funding that brought Starmer to power*
That’s why Josh Simons commissioned them
To stop reporting on Labour Together breaking election law
That’s why Josh Simons commissioned them
To stop reporting on Labour Together breaking election law
Sunday Times splashing today with story about Labour Together paying for a smear campaign against journalists investigating its undeclared funding
Democracy for Sale broke story 10 days ago and we’ve been reporting on it ever since😊
Now we need proper accountability!
democracyforsale.substack.com
Democracy for Sale broke story 10 days ago and we’ve been reporting on it ever since😊
Now we need proper accountability!
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:01 AM
The key thing about this story isn’t actually what the PR firm did - awful as it is - it’s that the journalists they smeared *were investigating the undeclared funding that brought Starmer to power*
That’s why Josh Simons commissioned them
To stop reporting on Labour Together breaking election law
That’s why Josh Simons commissioned them
To stop reporting on Labour Together breaking election law
Anyone daft enough to sign up to this probably deserves whoever they get
No swiping involved: the AI dating apps promising to find your soulmate
No swiping involved: the AI dating apps promising to find your soulmate
Agentic AI apps first interview you and then give you limited matches selected for ‘similarity and reciprocity of personality’
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Anyone daft enough to sign up to this probably deserves whoever they get