Kevin Marks
@kevinmarks.com
Reading your thoughts, as long as you tell me where you're writing them first this week. https://xoxo.zone/@kevinmarks
Sheffield, UK - Don't try direct messaging as I am blocked by daft UK legislation unless I'm on a VPN.
Sheffield, UK - Don't try direct messaging as I am blocked by daft UK legislation unless I'm on a VPN.
This is a brilliant thread by rahaeli against the simple, obvious and wrong demand for identity. Moderation needs something different, and it is a skill.
Previously: epeus.blogspot.com/2011/08/goog...
Previously: epeus.blogspot.com/2011/08/goog...
November 15, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This is a brilliant thread by rahaeli against the simple, obvious and wrong demand for identity. Moderation needs something different, and it is a skill.
Previously: epeus.blogspot.com/2011/08/goog...
Previously: epeus.blogspot.com/2011/08/goog...
Reposted by Kevin Marks
it not only is absolutely and completely technically, socially, legally, and practically impossible to achieve both of "verified personhood credentials" and "strong protections for anonymity" (and no, whatever complex cryptographic system you're designing in your head is not a viable solution),
November 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
it not only is absolutely and completely technically, socially, legally, and practically impossible to achieve both of "verified personhood credentials" and "strong protections for anonymity" (and no, whatever complex cryptographic system you're designing in your head is not a viable solution),
Reposted by Kevin Marks
oh god I knew you were going to pivot to the real names/verified identities thing eventually because it's fucking inevitable. Allow me to repeat the actual facts for the millionth time: It does not fucking work.
November 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
oh god I knew you were going to pivot to the real names/verified identities thing eventually because it's fucking inevitable. Allow me to repeat the actual facts for the millionth time: It does not fucking work.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
The classic example: people always suggest that a site can reduce abuse by requiring everyone to register with or use their "real names" and that would mean a far more civil environment. In reality, "real names" is the option that produces the *most* abuse.
November 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The classic example: people always suggest that a site can reduce abuse by requiring everyone to register with or use their "real names" and that would mean a far more civil environment. In reality, "real names" is the option that produces the *most* abuse.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
It's a hard job with a million tradeoffs, and people who have never done it think there are simple and obvious solutions that a site is just refusing to implement because, I dunno, they're evil or something. When in reality, those simple and obvious solutions don't work. Or make things worse.
November 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
It's a hard job with a million tradeoffs, and people who have never done it think there are simple and obvious solutions that a site is just refusing to implement because, I dunno, they're evil or something. When in reality, those simple and obvious solutions don't work. Or make things worse.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
There is no universe in which "having to take a 72-hour break from a niche microblogging site with an obsession with the theoretical penis of an 80s sitcom muppet" is within several thousand degrees of severity of "being murdered by cops for walking while Black."
November 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM
There is no universe in which "having to take a 72-hour break from a niche microblogging site with an obsession with the theoretical penis of an 80s sitcom muppet" is within several thousand degrees of severity of "being murdered by cops for walking while Black."
November 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Cycling into Middlesbrough along Linthorpe Road, and because they've ripped up the bike lane I have to take primary position in the remaining single lane to avoid getting doored by the cars parked where the bike lane used to be.
I'm sure it helps traffic calming though.
I'm sure it helps traffic calming though.
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Cycling into Middlesbrough along Linthorpe Road, and because they've ripped up the bike lane I have to take primary position in the remaining single lane to avoid getting doored by the cars parked where the bike lane used to be.
I'm sure it helps traffic calming though.
I'm sure it helps traffic calming though.
Early #CargoBikes at Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum
November 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Early #CargoBikes at Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum
November 15, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Randall Munroe, welcome to The War on Cars.
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Randall Munroe, welcome to The War on Cars.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Kevin Marks
This
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This
Reposted by Kevin Marks
November 13, 2025 at 7:34 PM
“I always feel the need to remind people that neither robots nor AI are coming for our jobs. But management probably is. […]
I think it matters that AI—so utterly opaque in its algorithmic predictions… —is the ultimate unaccountability machine.”
2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-obs...
I think it matters that AI—so utterly opaque in its algorithmic predictions… —is the ultimate unaccountability machine.”
2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-obs...
AI Grief Observed
These remarks were delivered this evening at the Creatively Critical Tech Speaker Series at Illinois State University.
"There is no good way to say this."
These are the opening words of Yiyun Li’s l...
2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
“I always feel the need to remind people that neither robots nor AI are coming for our jobs. But management probably is. […]
I think it matters that AI—so utterly opaque in its algorithmic predictions… —is the ultimate unaccountability machine.”
2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-obs...
I think it matters that AI—so utterly opaque in its algorithmic predictions… —is the ultimate unaccountability machine.”
2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-obs...
Reposted by Kevin Marks
“AI Grief Observed”
https://2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-observed/
> AI is the symptom of a broken world. AI is the symptom; and AI is the disease.
I just can’t summarise this essay in a few short and witty words. Just read it. You won’t regret it
https://2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-observed/
> AI is the symptom of a broken world. AI is the symptom; and AI is the disease.
I just can’t summarise this essay in a few short and witty words. Just read it. You won’t regret it
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
“AI Grief Observed”
https://2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-observed/
> AI is the symptom of a broken world. AI is the symptom; and AI is the disease.
I just can’t summarise this essay in a few short and witty words. Just read it. You won’t regret it
https://2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com/ai-grief-observed/
> AI is the symptom of a broken world. AI is the symptom; and AI is the disease.
I just can’t summarise this essay in a few short and witty words. Just read it. You won’t regret it
Reposted by Kevin Marks
The clever thing about going for stuff like the cycle for work scheme is it’s really noticeable, affects people with lots of media access and platforms, annoys green groups, and raises almost no revenue at the same time. Real win/win/win there.
November 13, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The clever thing about going for stuff like the cycle for work scheme is it’s really noticeable, affects people with lots of media access and platforms, annoys green groups, and raises almost no revenue at the same time. Real win/win/win there.
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Reposted by Kevin Marks
I need to be clear about this, we're no longer being 'warned' about this, we're in the midst of a generational crisis caused by this.
You don't get Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Yoon Suk-yeol, Marc Andreesen and countless others in their reactionary incarnations without social media addiction. Period.
You don't get Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Yoon Suk-yeol, Marc Andreesen and countless others in their reactionary incarnations without social media addiction. Period.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I need to be clear about this, we're no longer being 'warned' about this, we're in the midst of a generational crisis caused by this.
You don't get Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Yoon Suk-yeol, Marc Andreesen and countless others in their reactionary incarnations without social media addiction. Period.
You don't get Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Yoon Suk-yeol, Marc Andreesen and countless others in their reactionary incarnations without social media addiction. Period.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
If you want to read more about how BBC Newsnight actively worked as agents of anti-trans propaganda - platforming misinformation and working as a lobby platform to influence anti-trans policies - you can read more from the excellent @simonwhitten.bsky.social here:
👉 archive.is/Z8deW
👉 archive.is/Z8deW
November 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
If you want to read more about how BBC Newsnight actively worked as agents of anti-trans propaganda - platforming misinformation and working as a lobby platform to influence anti-trans policies - you can read more from the excellent @simonwhitten.bsky.social here:
👉 archive.is/Z8deW
👉 archive.is/Z8deW
Reposted by Kevin Marks
I can safely say that taking the phones away from genitally-obsessed bigots would make queer kids 100 percent safer than locking up kids phones during school hours.
November 12, 2025 at 11:40 AM
I can safely say that taking the phones away from genitally-obsessed bigots would make queer kids 100 percent safer than locking up kids phones during school hours.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Sadly missed it but absolute credit to @lb-southwark.bsky.social running a 'Guided Cycle Consultation' where Officers actually got out & cycled with residents to consult changes. People saying it was the best consultation they've ever seen. FANTASTIC progress that every Council should copy.
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Sadly missed it but absolute credit to @lb-southwark.bsky.social running a 'Guided Cycle Consultation' where Officers actually got out & cycled with residents to consult changes. People saying it was the best consultation they've ever seen. FANTASTIC progress that every Council should copy.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
🚨UPDATE WITH COMMENT FROM THE BBC: Byline Times can confirm that of the four-person BBC panel that interviewed Prescott and made the decision to appoint him as an advisor, three of them had longstanding Conservative Party ties. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
🚨UPDATE WITH COMMENT FROM THE BBC: Byline Times can confirm that of the four-person BBC panel that interviewed Prescott and made the decision to appoint him as an advisor, three of them had longstanding Conservative Party ties. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Reinstate Sarah Kendzior
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Reinstate Sarah Kendzior