Adrien Sabathier
@adriensabathier.bsky.social
PhD researcher, teaching assistant | University of Geneva | Exploring local alternative social media and the (digital) public sphere.
Based in Geneva (CH), often in Burlington (VT). adriensabathier.com
Pinned
A Slice of Democratic Life
1877 map of Burlington, with City Hall in yellow (Edited by me)The night is cold in Burlington. The wind is blowing from the lake, making the Christmas lights dance in the trees that line Church Stree...
www.adriensabathier.com
I went to a Neighborhood Planning Assembly and I loved it. Read about it here: www.adriensabathier.com/post/a-slice...
It was rainy this weekend, which was a perfect excuse to spend 12 hours watching Ken Burns’ new documentary. The Revolutionary War told through the words of those who lived it, patriots, loyalists, enslaved people, and Native peoples. The fight for liberty in all its glory and contradictions.
The American Revolution | All Episodes Now Streaming | Ken Burns | PBS
Thirteen colonies unite in rebellion, win their independence, and found the United States. Stream the full documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt.
www.pbs.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It was rainy this weekend, which was a perfect excuse to spend 12 hours watching Ken Burns’ new documentary. The Revolutionary War told through the words of those who lived it, patriots, loyalists, enslaved people, and Native peoples. The fight for liberty in all its glory and contradictions.
Vermont: the Silicon Valley of a new organic, non-GMO and friendly internet ? 🙃
Athletes with disabilities across the country are using The Active Project to find adaptive sports events, fellow athletes, tutorial videos and equipment grants.
Adaptive athletes across the country are connecting using this Vermont-made website
The Active Project was created by the Kelly Brush Foundation, a nonprofit in Burlington, and offers an adaptive sports event calendar, a grant finder and more.
www.vermontpublic.org
April 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Vermont: the Silicon Valley of a new organic, non-GMO and friendly internet ? 🙃
Reposted by Adrien Sabathier
Vermonters weren’t particularly concerned when President Jefferson signed the Embargo Act into law in December 1807. They assumed the new law, which was bound to have a chilling effect on the nation’s economy, wouldn’t affect them.
Then Again: The embargo with Canada, and its many local smugglers - VTDigger
The most serious clash occurred when a revenue cutter cornered the smuggling vessel the Black Snake near the mouth of the Winooski River in Burlington. A smuggler and a local teenaged boy shot at the ...
vtdigger.org
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Vermonters weren’t particularly concerned when President Jefferson signed the Embargo Act into law in December 1807. They assumed the new law, which was bound to have a chilling effect on the nation’s economy, wouldn’t affect them.
Reposted by Adrien Sabathier
While Vermont was its own republic between 1777 and 1791, it minted its own currency. Here's one example of a "Vermont Copper", which was produced in 1785.
March 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
While Vermont was its own republic between 1777 and 1791, it minted its own currency. Here's one example of a "Vermont Copper", which was produced in 1785.
Such a great episode. Zach’s dad has drifted away from his family because of his increasingly extreme beliefs in various conspiracies. They both make a bet that if by the end of 2024, his father’s predictions don’t materialize, he’ll admit he’s wrong —and will give Zach $10k —>
Ten Things I Don't Want to Hate About You
Épisode de l’émission · This American Life · 23/02/2025 · 58 min
podcasts.apple.com
March 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Such a great episode. Zach’s dad has drifted away from his family because of his increasingly extreme beliefs in various conspiracies. They both make a bet that if by the end of 2024, his father’s predictions don’t materialize, he’ll admit he’s wrong —and will give Zach $10k —>
I spend a concerning amount of time on Google maps. Earlier this week, while I was out on one of my many digital adventures, I stumbled upon these weird looking hills in Nebraska :
February 27, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I spend a concerning amount of time on Google maps. Earlier this week, while I was out on one of my many digital adventures, I stumbled upon these weird looking hills in Nebraska :
FPF is in @lemonde.fr! So proud to be included in this great analysis of my favorite corner of the internet! Many thanks to @fafamiro.bsky.social :)
Dans le Vermont, le réseau social ultralocal aussi populaire que Facebook
Dans le Vermont, le réseau social ultralocal aussi populaire que Facebook
Dans cet Etat rural et très progressiste du nord-est des Etats-Unis, un réseau social local baptisé Front Porch Forum parvient à rivaliser avec Facebook et Instagram. Une solution de substitution « low-tech », dépourvue d’algorithme et centrée sur le…
www.lemonde.fr
February 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
FPF is in @lemonde.fr! So proud to be included in this great analysis of my favorite corner of the internet! Many thanks to @fafamiro.bsky.social :)
Reposted by Adrien Sabathier
Colorado PBS reporter Chase McCleary digs into how local Facebook Groups are filling a void as traditional local journalism disappears. 😑
Reposting vs. reporting: How Facebook groups are replacing shuttered rural newsrooms | Rocky Mountain PBS
As small newsrooms close in rural Colorado, citizen journalists are gathering together to keep the flow of local news and information alive.
www.rmpbs.org
February 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Colorado PBS reporter Chase McCleary digs into how local Facebook Groups are filling a void as traditional local journalism disappears. 😑
Quite happy with this one! Here's a sneak peek at the syllabus for my BA seminar on social media and the public sphere. Excited to see what alternative social media platform designs my students come up with in their final paper!
February 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Quite happy with this one! Here's a sneak peek at the syllabus for my BA seminar on social media and the public sphere. Excited to see what alternative social media platform designs my students come up with in their final paper!
I am preparing my BA seminar on social media and I am having a lot of fun digging through the 1990s literature on BBS (Bulletin Board System).
Felsenstein, L. (1993) The commons of infor-mation. Dr. Dobb’s Journal, May: 18–24.
Felsenstein, L. (1993) The commons of infor-mation. Dr. Dobb’s Journal, May: 18–24.
January 26, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I am preparing my BA seminar on social media and I am having a lot of fun digging through the 1990s literature on BBS (Bulletin Board System).
Felsenstein, L. (1993) The commons of infor-mation. Dr. Dobb’s Journal, May: 18–24.
Felsenstein, L. (1993) The commons of infor-mation. Dr. Dobb’s Journal, May: 18–24.
Reposted by Adrien Sabathier
"Hate does not grow well in the rocky soil of Vermont" was first used in '82 on a banner at an anti-KKK rally in Wilmington VT. Still true today. No place for hatred in VT
Selling posters (greenmountainbhoys.printful.me) with 100% of the profits going to Migrant Justice (migrantjustice.net)
January 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"Hate does not grow well in the rocky soil of Vermont" was first used in '82 on a banner at an anti-KKK rally in Wilmington VT. Still true today. No place for hatred in VT
Selling posters (greenmountainbhoys.printful.me) with 100% of the profits going to Migrant Justice (migrantjustice.net)
Back in Geneva :)
January 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Back in Geneva :)
What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do for American Politics?
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do for American Politics?
An Oregon county is looking for solutions to youth homelessness—so it convened a random selection of residents to come up with ideas.
www.newyorker.com
January 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do for American Politics?
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
Reposted by Adrien Sabathier
For our fifth annual Reimagining the Internet Holiday Special, we're putting on our Santa hat and giving gifts!
publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/108-...
publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/108-...
108. Internet of Gifts: The 5th Annual Reimagining Holiday Special - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst
Ho ho ho, five years of Reimagining the Internet holiday specials! For this year's edition we're spreading holiday cheer by showering our dear listeners with gifts. From good Wikipedia rabbit holes to...
publicinfrastructure.org
December 19, 2024 at 5:09 PM
For our fifth annual Reimagining the Internet Holiday Special, we're putting on our Santa hat and giving gifts!
publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/108-...
publicinfrastructure.org/podcast/108-...
I went to a Neighborhood Planning Assembly and I loved it. Read about it here: www.adriensabathier.com/post/a-slice...
A Slice of Democratic Life
1877 map of Burlington, with City Hall in yellow (Edited by me)The night is cold in Burlington. The wind is blowing from the lake, making the Christmas lights dance in the trees that line Church Stree...
www.adriensabathier.com
December 10, 2024 at 4:30 AM
I went to a Neighborhood Planning Assembly and I loved it. Read about it here: www.adriensabathier.com/post/a-slice...
Always cool to see people talk about Front Porch Forum!
An excellent Boston Globe piece on Front Porch Forum features some great photos of Williamstown MA and a great discussion of what makes a local social network work: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/05/b... (I’m a little homesick!)
Move over, Bluesky: Front Porch Forum is Vermont’s most popular social network - The Boston Globe
The website's popularity has been fueled, counterintuitively, by its strict content moderation rules.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 6, 2024 at 2:07 PM
Always cool to see people talk about Front Porch Forum!
Really cool project mapping civic health across the U.S., proud of Chittenden county, VT for being one of the most civic counties in New England and the country!
public.tableau.com/shared/GDGPK...
public.tableau.com/shared/GDGPK...
December 4, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Really cool project mapping civic health across the U.S., proud of Chittenden county, VT for being one of the most civic counties in New England and the country!
public.tableau.com/shared/GDGPK...
public.tableau.com/shared/GDGPK...
My favorite piece about the 2024 election so far
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
Republican Victory and the Ambience of Information
For years, Democrats have sought to win elections by micro-targeting communities with detailed facts. What if the secret is big, sloppy notions seeded nationwide?
www.newyorker.com
November 17, 2024 at 6:23 PM
My favorite piece about the 2024 election so far
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
I have always loved the idea of thinking of digital spaces as physical places. I think this ad sums up why X is going in the wrong direction. A town square cannot acomodate the entire 'world' and it should definitely not be something you have to pay for. Unless you want segregated chaos of course.
September 3, 2024 at 4:11 PM
I have always loved the idea of thinking of digital spaces as physical places. I think this ad sums up why X is going in the wrong direction. A town square cannot acomodate the entire 'world' and it should definitely not be something you have to pay for. Unless you want segregated chaos of course.
