Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist)
@roderickgraham.bsky.social
Gadfly | I post about social science, culture, and progressive politics | Views are my own
https://rodgraham.substack.com/
https://rodgraham.substack.com/
Was Leni Riefenstahl hired to redesign that lectern...or was that eagle always there?
Also has that eagle always been there like that on the LECTERN or is that just him embracing the Nazi thing?
November 19, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Was Leni Riefenstahl hired to redesign that lectern...or was that eagle always there?
Hmm...
I used to cringe at written working class black vernacular. How many black people were singing Old Man "ribber"?
Well twice today I asked Alexa to play my local news channel in Norfolk, I kept getting sent to WHR"B".
The channel was playing Louis Armstrong if that means something.
I used to cringe at written working class black vernacular. How many black people were singing Old Man "ribber"?
Well twice today I asked Alexa to play my local news channel in Norfolk, I kept getting sent to WHR"B".
The channel was playing Louis Armstrong if that means something.
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Hmm...
I used to cringe at written working class black vernacular. How many black people were singing Old Man "ribber"?
Well twice today I asked Alexa to play my local news channel in Norfolk, I kept getting sent to WHR"B".
The channel was playing Louis Armstrong if that means something.
I used to cringe at written working class black vernacular. How many black people were singing Old Man "ribber"?
Well twice today I asked Alexa to play my local news channel in Norfolk, I kept getting sent to WHR"B".
The channel was playing Louis Armstrong if that means something.
"Doesn’t it exhaust you to have to keep twisting yourself into theological pretzels to defend people you’d never let babysit your kids, men who brag about the very behavior you used to warn your youth group girls about in tearful purity talks?"
derekpenwell.substack.com/p/the-jesus-...
derekpenwell.substack.com/p/the-jesus-...
The Jesus You Gave Me
An appeal to the evangelicals who raised me
derekpenwell.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
"Doesn’t it exhaust you to have to keep twisting yourself into theological pretzels to defend people you’d never let babysit your kids, men who brag about the very behavior you used to warn your youth group girls about in tearful purity talks?"
derekpenwell.substack.com/p/the-jesus-...
derekpenwell.substack.com/p/the-jesus-...
“In illustrating the characteristic cadence of AI-generated prose, this sentence deliberately layers abstract qualifiers, cautious transitions, and overly precise clarifications to demonstrate the recognizable texture and rhythm associated with contemporary chat bots.”
November 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
“In illustrating the characteristic cadence of AI-generated prose, this sentence deliberately layers abstract qualifiers, cautious transitions, and overly precise clarifications to demonstrate the recognizable texture and rhythm associated with contemporary chat bots.”
I rarely ask students to cite their use of AI for writing.
There's no original author source. With other reference works, you can follow a trail back to a person. Not with AI.
So who are they citing...Humanity?
Requiring AI citations is surveillance - for the student to tattle on themselves.
There's no original author source. With other reference works, you can follow a trail back to a person. Not with AI.
So who are they citing...Humanity?
Requiring AI citations is surveillance - for the student to tattle on themselves.
November 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I rarely ask students to cite their use of AI for writing.
There's no original author source. With other reference works, you can follow a trail back to a person. Not with AI.
So who are they citing...Humanity?
Requiring AI citations is surveillance - for the student to tattle on themselves.
There's no original author source. With other reference works, you can follow a trail back to a person. Not with AI.
So who are they citing...Humanity?
Requiring AI citations is surveillance - for the student to tattle on themselves.
If you are wondering why you can't get ChatGPT to think for you this morning...
www.itpro.com/infrastructu...
www.itpro.com/infrastructu...
A massive Cloudflare outage has taken down X and OpenAI – and even bricked outage tracker site Downdetector
Web users trying to access X, OpenAI, and creative design platforms have been affected by the Cloudflare outage
www.itpro.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If you are wondering why you can't get ChatGPT to think for you this morning...
www.itpro.com/infrastructu...
www.itpro.com/infrastructu...
If you tell someone "I'll pay you back in 2 weeks" and after 2 weeks you don't pay them back...are you a liar or did you fail to predict the future?
November 18, 2025 at 1:35 AM
If you tell someone "I'll pay you back in 2 weeks" and after 2 weeks you don't pay them back...are you a liar or did you fail to predict the future?
Mookie Betts was the best player on the Dodgers when they won the first of three recent championships.
Now he's slowly morphed into Mr. MLB - these last two championships, a grammy winning podcast, and now hosting the MLB awards.
The Red Sox must still be kicking themselves for that dumb trade.
Now he's slowly morphed into Mr. MLB - these last two championships, a grammy winning podcast, and now hosting the MLB awards.
The Red Sox must still be kicking themselves for that dumb trade.
November 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Mookie Betts was the best player on the Dodgers when they won the first of three recent championships.
Now he's slowly morphed into Mr. MLB - these last two championships, a grammy winning podcast, and now hosting the MLB awards.
The Red Sox must still be kicking themselves for that dumb trade.
Now he's slowly morphed into Mr. MLB - these last two championships, a grammy winning podcast, and now hosting the MLB awards.
The Red Sox must still be kicking themselves for that dumb trade.
Why is this a story?
I do believe people who have exhibited deviant or criminal tendencies still...read, and read things other than "how to be a better criminal."
When this dies down, I would love to discuss the concepts of master status, labeling, and stigma in my class using this very image.
I do believe people who have exhibited deviant or criminal tendencies still...read, and read things other than "how to be a better criminal."
When this dies down, I would love to discuss the concepts of master status, labeling, and stigma in my class using this very image.
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Why is this a story?
I do believe people who have exhibited deviant or criminal tendencies still...read, and read things other than "how to be a better criminal."
When this dies down, I would love to discuss the concepts of master status, labeling, and stigma in my class using this very image.
I do believe people who have exhibited deviant or criminal tendencies still...read, and read things other than "how to be a better criminal."
When this dies down, I would love to discuss the concepts of master status, labeling, and stigma in my class using this very image.
This is profound and ironic.
It suggests a future where our computer masters get learn and create everything, while we are the ones being "trained" to service them.
It suggests a future where our computer masters get learn and create everything, while we are the ones being "trained" to service them.
In applying AI to material science, biology, etc, capitalism is trying to shed science.
The point is to substitute the engineering of a machine that can generate what science has hitherto done, but without having people know things. Knowledge ultimately residing in private property is the dream.
The point is to substitute the engineering of a machine that can generate what science has hitherto done, but without having people know things. Knowledge ultimately residing in private property is the dream.
Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:35 PM
This is profound and ironic.
It suggests a future where our computer masters get learn and create everything, while we are the ones being "trained" to service them.
It suggests a future where our computer masters get learn and create everything, while we are the ones being "trained" to service them.
I agree with this.
But one thing I find interesting, is that we take it as fact (it is) that American's report declining trust in institutions.
But why?
Generally speaking, government is *more* transparent with more qualified people running it (well, except for this admin).
But one thing I find interesting, is that we take it as fact (it is) that American's report declining trust in institutions.
But why?
Generally speaking, government is *more* transparent with more qualified people running it (well, except for this admin).
However, both major parties are vastly unpopular, and trust in established institutions has been declining massively.
America is not experiencing a realignment as much as it is going through a de-alignment of the established order.
America is not experiencing a realignment as much as it is going through a de-alignment of the established order.
November 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I agree with this.
But one thing I find interesting, is that we take it as fact (it is) that American's report declining trust in institutions.
But why?
Generally speaking, government is *more* transparent with more qualified people running it (well, except for this admin).
But one thing I find interesting, is that we take it as fact (it is) that American's report declining trust in institutions.
But why?
Generally speaking, government is *more* transparent with more qualified people running it (well, except for this admin).
No, ChatGPT.
I do not want the tesseract configured. The last time it was configured Loki almost took out the Avengers.
I do not want the tesseract configured. The last time it was configured Loki almost took out the Avengers.
November 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
No, ChatGPT.
I do not want the tesseract configured. The last time it was configured Loki almost took out the Avengers.
I do not want the tesseract configured. The last time it was configured Loki almost took out the Avengers.
This is so mean-spirited.
“And we think the private sector can do a better job...”
Yes, of charging people up the nose to do something they are legally bound to do.
I think all tax filing should be free anyway, for this reason.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
“And we think the private sector can do a better job...”
Yes, of charging people up the nose to do something they are legally bound to do.
I think all tax filing should be free anyway, for this reason.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This is so mean-spirited.
“And we think the private sector can do a better job...”
Yes, of charging people up the nose to do something they are legally bound to do.
I think all tax filing should be free anyway, for this reason.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
“And we think the private sector can do a better job...”
Yes, of charging people up the nose to do something they are legally bound to do.
I think all tax filing should be free anyway, for this reason.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
I kinda figured this narrative would be rewritten.
Who is actually a single mother in the US no longer fits old models of poverty and blackness.
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
Who is actually a single mother in the US no longer fits old models of poverty and blackness.
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
How women over 30 are rewriting the single mom narrative in America
Forty percent of babies in the U.S. are born to unmarried mothers. Increasingly, those moms are over 30, at a time when teen pregnancy has fallen off a cliff and births are declining for younger women...
www.npr.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I kinda figured this narrative would be rewritten.
Who is actually a single mother in the US no longer fits old models of poverty and blackness.
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
Who is actually a single mother in the US no longer fits old models of poverty and blackness.
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
Hard to imagine the power of imagery in pre-industrial times.
Like how powerful is religious iconography?
Some poor peasant sees this and goes home and prays.
Like how powerful is religious iconography?
Some poor peasant sees this and goes home and prays.
November 15, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Hard to imagine the power of imagery in pre-industrial times.
Like how powerful is religious iconography?
Some poor peasant sees this and goes home and prays.
Like how powerful is religious iconography?
Some poor peasant sees this and goes home and prays.
At this point AI is the functional equivalent of the "means of production" from earlier epochs - land,cattle, capital, machines.
And so if you don't own it, you are in line to be exploited by it.
And so if you don't own it, you are in line to be exploited by it.
November 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM
At this point AI is the functional equivalent of the "means of production" from earlier epochs - land,cattle, capital, machines.
And so if you don't own it, you are in line to be exploited by it.
And so if you don't own it, you are in line to be exploited by it.
It's just simply not accurate to say that IQ is inherently racist and ableist.
It's like saying height or weight is inherently racist or ableist.
But it is true that for whatever reason that particular measurement of a human attribute is always used to justify the mistreatment of people.
It's like saying height or weight is inherently racist or ableist.
But it is true that for whatever reason that particular measurement of a human attribute is always used to justify the mistreatment of people.
November 15, 2025 at 2:09 AM
It's just simply not accurate to say that IQ is inherently racist and ableist.
It's like saying height or weight is inherently racist or ableist.
But it is true that for whatever reason that particular measurement of a human attribute is always used to justify the mistreatment of people.
It's like saying height or weight is inherently racist or ableist.
But it is true that for whatever reason that particular measurement of a human attribute is always used to justify the mistreatment of people.
The reason computer systems will *always* devalue humans is because in order to make sense of the complexity of human beings they must, by definition, reduce us to something less than human.
November 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The reason computer systems will *always* devalue humans is because in order to make sense of the complexity of human beings they must, by definition, reduce us to something less than human.
Out of this era, a great sociologist will arise, diagnosing our human condition with the same rolling urgency as Karl Marx did 150 years ago.
November 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Out of this era, a great sociologist will arise, diagnosing our human condition with the same rolling urgency as Karl Marx did 150 years ago.
You have to be some kinda screw up to get a purple screen of death on an Ubuntu computer.
I should leave the tech stuff to the professionals.
I should leave the tech stuff to the professionals.
November 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
You have to be some kinda screw up to get a purple screen of death on an Ubuntu computer.
I should leave the tech stuff to the professionals.
I should leave the tech stuff to the professionals.
Because capitalism is a stratified system designed to create "losers" and "winners", there will always be a cohort in every generation not able to afford what is offered to the mass of others.
It's by design and inevitable.
Because I'm aware of this, not having a safety net is immoral to me.
It's by design and inevitable.
Because I'm aware of this, not having a safety net is immoral to me.
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Because capitalism is a stratified system designed to create "losers" and "winners", there will always be a cohort in every generation not able to afford what is offered to the mass of others.
It's by design and inevitable.
Because I'm aware of this, not having a safety net is immoral to me.
It's by design and inevitable.
Because I'm aware of this, not having a safety net is immoral to me.
I am old enough to remember when "literally" did not mean something akin to "very much so".
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I am old enough to remember when "literally" did not mean something akin to "very much so".
Publicly available sources to aid open-source investigations can be a tool for all journalists, writes @johannawild.bsky.social of @bellingcat.com ⬇️
niemanreports.org/osint-open-s...
niemanreports.org/osint-open-s...
Lessons from Building an Online Toolkit to Aid Open-Source Investigations - Nieman Reports
Publicly available sources can be a tool for all journalists, writes Johanna Wild, an open source researcher for Bellingcat.
niemanreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM
If extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, then what makes a claim extraordinary?
Because to refute the claim something is *impossible* you only need one data point.
Because to refute the claim something is *impossible* you only need one data point.
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 AM
If extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, then what makes a claim extraordinary?
Because to refute the claim something is *impossible* you only need one data point.
Because to refute the claim something is *impossible* you only need one data point.
Reposted by Rod Graham (The Neighborhood Sociologist)
"God is an anti-vaxxer, and he needs you to speak up." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Emboldened, Kennedy Allies Embrace a Label They Once Rejected: ‘Anti-Vax’
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"God is an anti-vaxxer, and he needs you to speak up." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...