Simon Thompson
@thompsonsimon.com
Intranets, user experience, and connected content. Mad for movies, the perfect 3-minute pop song, non-sequiturs and general silliness.
Also never gonna run around in dessert shoes.
London, UK
Also never gonna run around in dessert shoes.
London, UK
Reposted by Simon Thompson
The Sun is a thing. It’s also light. And warmth. When I say “I love the Sun on my face” I don’t mean the actual Sun.
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The Sun is a thing. It’s also light. And warmth. When I say “I love the Sun on my face” I don’t mean the actual Sun.
Reposted by Simon Thompson
When you use all caps you make the content harder to read, people think you're shouting at them, and you end up promising to provide more access to GPS when people really want more GPs
November 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
When you use all caps you make the content harder to read, people think you're shouting at them, and you end up promising to provide more access to GPS when people really want more GPs
Well, this is a good start to Tuesday morning
I recently verified that "Blue" by The Jayhawks is pretty easy to play along with on acoustic guitar.
There's some fun slidey chord things plus several sloppy little finger diddles.
Try it. It'll make you feel good.
Especially now that you're blue from now on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLg9...
There's some fun slidey chord things plus several sloppy little finger diddles.
Try it. It'll make you feel good.
Especially now that you're blue from now on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLg9...
The Jayhawks - Blue - 1995-02-28 [WFA]
YouTube video by steelygray
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Well, this is a good start to Tuesday morning
Reposted by Simon Thompson
I paused, out of breath. The Void had taken all my frustrated screaming and absorbed it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I paused, out of breath. The Void had taken all my frustrated screaming and absorbed it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
Reposted by Simon Thompson
My New Agony Uncle Column.
Question 1 from Paul in Wilmslow: Is it OK to wear a coat in bed?
Answer: Yes it is OK to wear a coat in bed. I have just tried it and it's nice.
#AMA
#AgonyUncle
Question 1 from Paul in Wilmslow: Is it OK to wear a coat in bed?
Answer: Yes it is OK to wear a coat in bed. I have just tried it and it's nice.
#AMA
#AgonyUncle
November 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My New Agony Uncle Column.
Question 1 from Paul in Wilmslow: Is it OK to wear a coat in bed?
Answer: Yes it is OK to wear a coat in bed. I have just tried it and it's nice.
#AMA
#AgonyUncle
Question 1 from Paul in Wilmslow: Is it OK to wear a coat in bed?
Answer: Yes it is OK to wear a coat in bed. I have just tried it and it's nice.
#AMA
#AgonyUncle
"I did not put you here to suffer, I did not put you here to whine..."
November 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"I did not put you here to suffer, I did not put you here to whine..."
And they're only adding all kinds of extra data gathering to find new ways to keep us parting with our money
The modern shopping experience is a game of "Machiavellian whack-a-mole", the consumer is beset on all sides by fawning and deceitful vendors who have turned dark patterns into an art form.
November 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
And they're only adding all kinds of extra data gathering to find new ways to keep us parting with our money
Reposted by Simon Thompson
Ok Bluesky, let’s give this a go: I found this postcard in the back of a photo frame I bought at a London thrift shop.
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
November 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Ok Bluesky, let’s give this a go: I found this postcard in the back of a photo frame I bought at a London thrift shop.
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
These things generate value for communities - as long as they aren’t imposed from above or done out of ego
Good fortune to you Wedge
Good fortune to you Wedge
I want (local) community projects.
I don’t mean tabletop sales and coffee mornings. I want to be involved with building, creating, doing. Projects funded by council, local businesses, and the community. Projects with goals, milestones, budgets.
I don’t mean tabletop sales and coffee mornings. I want to be involved with building, creating, doing. Projects funded by council, local businesses, and the community. Projects with goals, milestones, budgets.
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
These things generate value for communities - as long as they aren’t imposed from above or done out of ego
Good fortune to you Wedge
Good fortune to you Wedge
Reposted by Simon Thompson
AI artwork that's more HP Lovecraft via Grinch than Hallmark happy holidays
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
AI artwork that's more HP Lovecraft via Grinch than Hallmark happy holidays
Finally caught up with this. It’s always good to see internal communication being discussed as part of M365 community activities youtu.be/2c3tSHdf0cg?...
November 19, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Finally caught up with this. It’s always good to see internal communication being discussed as part of M365 community activities youtu.be/2c3tSHdf0cg?...
"We're sorry" is an abusive form of email marketing. It's an abuse of the relationship between customer and seller.
If I see "we're sorry" in an email subject, my expectation is the seller has made a mistake that might require my attention. That breach of trust is an instant unsubscribe.
If I see "we're sorry" in an email subject, my expectation is the seller has made a mistake that might require my attention. That breach of trust is an instant unsubscribe.
I see that it’s a resounding “no” from marketing copywriters across the land.
November 17, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"We're sorry" is an abusive form of email marketing. It's an abuse of the relationship between customer and seller.
If I see "we're sorry" in an email subject, my expectation is the seller has made a mistake that might require my attention. That breach of trust is an instant unsubscribe.
If I see "we're sorry" in an email subject, my expectation is the seller has made a mistake that might require my attention. That breach of trust is an instant unsubscribe.
The second frame!
November 17, 2025 at 9:42 AM
The second frame!
Is that running Pindos?
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 7:18 PM
Is that running Pindos?
Reposted by Simon Thompson
Honestly, I leave lots of space for my characters to think and talk about what's going on in their lives.
People (including fictional people) will always identify patterns in their own experience, even if those patterns can be a mite imaginary.
I let my characters tell me what patterns they're in.
People (including fictional people) will always identify patterns in their own experience, even if those patterns can be a mite imaginary.
I let my characters tell me what patterns they're in.
November 16, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Honestly, I leave lots of space for my characters to think and talk about what's going on in their lives.
People (including fictional people) will always identify patterns in their own experience, even if those patterns can be a mite imaginary.
I let my characters tell me what patterns they're in.
People (including fictional people) will always identify patterns in their own experience, even if those patterns can be a mite imaginary.
I let my characters tell me what patterns they're in.
The thread you need on a Sunday morning
From @ericidle.bsky.social & Neil Innes' brilliant & criminally overlooked/unavailable RUTLAND WEEKEND TELEVISION, here's a truncated glimpse of George Harrison's Christmas 1975 guest appearance runner, where he didn't want to perform a song - He really just wanted to play a pirate...
November 16, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The thread you need on a Sunday morning
Reposted by Simon Thompson
Designers are always inventing new titles. Web designer, UI designer, UX designer, UX/UI designer, Product designer, UX/AI designer (???)
These are all the same!
As long as your work is mediated entirely by Figma and Jira, you are just a production artist. Here's how to get out of that racket.
These are all the same!
As long as your work is mediated entirely by Figma and Jira, you are just a production artist. Here's how to get out of that racket.
Without UX governance, your app turns to "sludge"
Break out of the feature delivery mindset and attend to the architecture and maintenance of the product.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Designers are always inventing new titles. Web designer, UI designer, UX designer, UX/UI designer, Product designer, UX/AI designer (???)
These are all the same!
As long as your work is mediated entirely by Figma and Jira, you are just a production artist. Here's how to get out of that racket.
These are all the same!
As long as your work is mediated entirely by Figma and Jira, you are just a production artist. Here's how to get out of that racket.
Reposted by Simon Thompson
Never mind theology. In these hard times of algorithms, AI, franchises and merch, I would dutifully take scripts notes from His Holiness. In fact, I want him to run a studio.
bsky.app/profile/mark...
bsky.app/profile/mark...
Some inspiring words on cinema in the streaming era from the Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
Yes, THAT Pope.
November 15, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Never mind theology. In these hard times of algorithms, AI, franchises and merch, I would dutifully take scripts notes from His Holiness. In fact, I want him to run a studio.
bsky.app/profile/mark...
bsky.app/profile/mark...
And when you tell kids that was prime-time entertainment in your childhood…
The Shirley Bassey Show (10th November 1979). Les Dawson gives some of his favourite jokes another airing whilst Shirley attempts (and fails) to keep a straight face.
November 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
And when you tell kids that was prime-time entertainment in your childhood…
An arms race ending in “just…one…more…agent…!”
Theory: Sam Altman doesn't want to replace human workers, in fact he couldn't give a shit. He wishes to get to a state of adoption where both sides of a process have to use LLMs to compete adversarially.
November 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
An arms race ending in “just…one…more…agent…!”
Reposted by Simon Thompson
This is a cheap shot, and I can only apologise to everyone outside of the UK staring at this looking confused.
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
This is a cheap shot, and I can only apologise to everyone outside of the UK staring at this looking confused.
Reposted by Simon Thompson
Right. This is serious. 🌼🐝
Help me raise at least £1000 for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust by donating to my campaign to draw 1000+ bumblebees in as short of time as I can (around 3 hours)
If more than £1000 is raised, I'll draw #bees to match the amount.
www.justgiving.com/page/1000bum...
Help me raise at least £1000 for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust by donating to my campaign to draw 1000+ bumblebees in as short of time as I can (around 3 hours)
If more than £1000 is raised, I'll draw #bees to match the amount.
www.justgiving.com/page/1000bum...
August 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Right. This is serious. 🌼🐝
Help me raise at least £1000 for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust by donating to my campaign to draw 1000+ bumblebees in as short of time as I can (around 3 hours)
If more than £1000 is raised, I'll draw #bees to match the amount.
www.justgiving.com/page/1000bum...
Help me raise at least £1000 for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust by donating to my campaign to draw 1000+ bumblebees in as short of time as I can (around 3 hours)
If more than £1000 is raised, I'll draw #bees to match the amount.
www.justgiving.com/page/1000bum...
Reposted by Simon Thompson
Which brings me to the first law of form design:
→ Nobody wants to use your form
Because JIRA, like most digital products, is full of forms.
• Creating a ticket is a form
• Updating a ticket is a form
• Finding a ticket is a form
The truth is:
→ Nobody wants to use your form
Because JIRA, like most digital products, is full of forms.
• Creating a ticket is a form
• Updating a ticket is a form
• Finding a ticket is a form
The truth is:
November 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Which brings me to the first law of form design:
→ Nobody wants to use your form
Because JIRA, like most digital products, is full of forms.
• Creating a ticket is a form
• Updating a ticket is a form
• Finding a ticket is a form
The truth is:
→ Nobody wants to use your form
Because JIRA, like most digital products, is full of forms.
• Creating a ticket is a form
• Updating a ticket is a form
• Finding a ticket is a form
The truth is:
Reposted by Simon Thompson
So the point here is
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
a man in a suit and sunglasses is holding a bunch of money and throwing it in the air .
ALT: a man in a suit and sunglasses is holding a bunch of money and throwing it in the air .
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So the point here is
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
Blue Riband, the choccy biccie of disappointment
Lee, 45 years ago, everyone in nursery turned against you because you 'stole' three boys' toy cars. It was me who took them out of their bags and put them in yours. You shouldn't have poured sand in my hair, stolen my Blue Riband from my lunchbox or called me Blunder Woman.
November 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Blue Riband, the choccy biccie of disappointment