Derek Sweetman
@dsweet.bsky.social
Autistic. Feral peace researcher. Teaching conflict, peace, human rights, justice. Interested in too many things. I have a day job so I can afford to teach. Carter School, Schar School, Integrative Studies @ GMU. PACS @ CU.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
Sale for the weekenddddd! herborealarts.com
Sharing is caring 😘
Sharing is caring 😘
November 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Sale for the weekenddddd! herborealarts.com
Sharing is caring 😘
Sharing is caring 😘
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
This is terrifying.
We have a “poverty trap” and it’s driving the destruction of social cohesion.
The “poverty line” is’t 35,000, it’s $150,000, and making more than one, and less than the other is worse than being “poor”.
Which is why the rage.
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
The “poverty line” is’t 35,000, it’s $150,000, and making more than one, and less than the other is worse than being “poor”.
Which is why the rage.
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Part 1: My Life Is a Lie
How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America
www.yesigiveafig.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:17 PM
This is terrifying.
When did "Welcome in" become the default retail greeting? I am just noticing it while we are in Colorado, but my daughter says that's what people say back in Virginia, too.
November 26, 2025 at 11:27 PM
When did "Welcome in" become the default retail greeting? I am just noticing it while we are in Colorado, but my daughter says that's what people say back in Virginia, too.
A thousand times, yes
Tl;dr many ND people develop systems to cope with their challenges, and when the systems work they don't notice the challenges anymore, but maintaining the systems can be exhausting and when they break down the functions they were supporting break down too.
November 26, 2025 at 4:21 AM
A thousand times, yes
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
I'm so tired of people telling me to have students critique LLM outputs. I'm just going to print this on little cards and hand them out
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
November 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I'm so tired of people telling me to have students critique LLM outputs. I'm just going to print this on little cards and hand them out
We're visiting family in Colorado and I came across the rigging from the Bounty? I'm a little dubious.
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
We're visiting family in Colorado and I came across the rigging from the Bounty? I'm a little dubious.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
Asking a chatbot isn't better than nothing -- it's worse than nothing. Unless the goal isn't learning but rather "turning in assignments".
November 24, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Asking a chatbot isn't better than nothing -- it's worse than nothing. Unless the goal isn't learning but rather "turning in assignments".
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
recognize that I'm mostly preaching to the choir here, but: if you care about music at all, it's almost impossible to find a better thing to support, for extremely reasonable rates
We recently passed 13,000 paid Patreon sign-ups!
Join today, support the podcast and gain access to an entire backlog of exclusive episodes.
www.patreon.com/AndrewHickey
Join today, support the podcast and gain access to an entire backlog of exclusive episodes.
www.patreon.com/AndrewHickey
Get more from Andrew Hickey on Patreon
Creating Writing and Podcasts
www.patreon.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
recognize that I'm mostly preaching to the choir here, but: if you care about music at all, it's almost impossible to find a better thing to support, for extremely reasonable rates
I have to say that if this was Christian music, things might be a lot different. A lot of churches really missed out on rave outreach.
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 21, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I have to say that if this was Christian music, things might be a lot different. A lot of churches really missed out on rave outreach.
To think, we could have been resolving violent conflict by making to do lists, like "A comprehensive and comprehensive [sic] non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled." See, it's easy
Read the full text of Trump’s 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
Proposed deal would limit size of Ukrainian forces and calls on Kyiv to withdraw troops from eastern Donetsk
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM
To think, we could have been resolving violent conflict by making to do lists, like "A comprehensive and comprehensive [sic] non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled." See, it's easy
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
The very idea that Larry Summers is disgraced enough to step back from "public life" but not from teaching is sending me through the roof today. Get that predator OUT.
November 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The very idea that Larry Summers is disgraced enough to step back from "public life" but not from teaching is sending me through the roof today. Get that predator OUT.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean reparations leaders in ‘historic’ first UK visit to press for justice
CRC mission will seek to deepen public understanding of Britain’s colonial legacy and its lasting impact
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
A few weeks ago I was talking politics with a local, highly straight, bartender.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
November 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
A few weeks ago I was talking politics with a local, highly straight, bartender.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
For those learning about the devastating loss of Alice Wong or those newly discovering this fierce disability activist, you can get to know her through her own words here, (via @emilybeitiks.bsky.social) disabilityvisibilityproject.com/author/alwon...
Alice Wong
Read all of the posts by Alice Wong on Disability Visibility Project
disabilityvisibilityproject.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:12 AM
For those learning about the devastating loss of Alice Wong or those newly discovering this fierce disability activist, you can get to know her through her own words here, (via @emilybeitiks.bsky.social) disabilityvisibilityproject.com/author/alwon...
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
It's a great cosmic joke that neurodivergence both runs in families and gets diagnosed based on parent reports. I was diagnosed at 30 because a man who has eaten potatoes every day for 57 years and a woman who collects loose buttons decided I was a perfectly normal child.
November 15, 2025 at 5:10 AM
It's a great cosmic joke that neurodivergence both runs in families and gets diagnosed based on parent reports. I was diagnosed at 30 because a man who has eaten potatoes every day for 57 years and a woman who collects loose buttons decided I was a perfectly normal child.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
this is a far more explicit death threat from people with the actual means to carry it out
November 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
this is a far more explicit death threat from people with the actual means to carry it out
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
it's neat that university boards are saying "actually our classes will not teach you to think bc we know that's very scary, so from now on our degrees are meaningless bc we will let students come here and decide to give us money so they can choose not to learn shit, this is a good longterm plan" 🫠
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
it's neat that university boards are saying "actually our classes will not teach you to think bc we know that's very scary, so from now on our degrees are meaningless bc we will let students come here and decide to give us money so they can choose not to learn shit, this is a good longterm plan" 🫠
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
Socialism isn't going to work if y'all stay racist. It's not gonna work if y'all stay sexist. It's not gonna work if y'all stay transphobic. It's not gonna work if y'all stay ableist. Everyone needs to constantly work on that for these systems to work.
And we SHOULD because we want EVERYONE to eat.
And we SHOULD because we want EVERYONE to eat.
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Socialism isn't going to work if y'all stay racist. It's not gonna work if y'all stay sexist. It's not gonna work if y'all stay transphobic. It's not gonna work if y'all stay ableist. Everyone needs to constantly work on that for these systems to work.
And we SHOULD because we want EVERYONE to eat.
And we SHOULD because we want EVERYONE to eat.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
I probably could do a better job of catching myself when I do this too but at this point talking like google is usable sounds like telling a job seeker to simply walk into the building with a resume and a firm handshake or pay for college by selling books door to door
December 29, 2024 at 12:27 AM
I probably could do a better job of catching myself when I do this too but at this point talking like google is usable sounds like telling a job seeker to simply walk into the building with a resume and a firm handshake or pay for college by selling books door to door
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
The study, entitled “Why are they like that?”, seeks to investigate the causes of autism as conjectured by the highly opinionated loved ones and colleagues of autistic people, whose hot takes are infinitely more valuable than anything autistic people have to say.
First autism study to take place without any autistic people called a “bloody relief” by researchers
A groundbreaking new autism study has reportedly taken place without any autistic people involved at all - to the relief of its researchers. The study, entitled "Why are they like that?", seeks to…
thedailytism.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The study, entitled “Why are they like that?”, seeks to investigate the causes of autism as conjectured by the highly opinionated loved ones and colleagues of autistic people, whose hot takes are infinitely more valuable than anything autistic people have to say.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
I do think this is a real distinction
Part of the issue is that Good at Words people are generally inclined to accept that people are all different ways and to think that’s just fine. Good at Math people have been allowed too much room to think that only they have the thoughts that matter.
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I do think this is a real distinction
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
some years, Circulatory System Walking Through the Kitchen Day just completely sneaks up on you
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
some years, Circulatory System Walking Through the Kitchen Day just completely sneaks up on you
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
"In the real world no one will accommodate you" is trauma talking. It's true that people aren't falling over themselves to help me but my adult life is way more accommodating than my childhood was, because adults get to make choices. I'm accommodating myself.
stop telling your neurodivergent child that in "the real world" people won't accommodate them, so they should suck it up. this is the real world and you shouldn't be your child's first bully
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"In the real world no one will accommodate you" is trauma talking. It's true that people aren't falling over themselves to help me but my adult life is way more accommodating than my childhood was, because adults get to make choices. I'm accommodating myself.
Reposted by Derek Sweetman
A thing about AI in higher ed right now is that half of us are scrambling to deal with the implosion of our information environment that broke reading/writing/source verification, while the other half is trying to achieve a massive institutional buy-in of the very thing that's causing the implosion
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A thing about AI in higher ed right now is that half of us are scrambling to deal with the implosion of our information environment that broke reading/writing/source verification, while the other half is trying to achieve a massive institutional buy-in of the very thing that's causing the implosion