Simon Farley
@sighmonger.bsky.social
Historian, among other things | Usual disclaimers | My pronouns are ze/zir or they/them
Pinned
Simon Farley
@sighmonger.bsky.social
· Jan 27
‘Their beneficial effect upon a people’: settlers, songbirds and civilisation in nineteenth-century Victoria
Through the figure of journalist and philanthropist Edward Wilson (1813–1878), this article explores the settler-colonial dimensions of the mid-nineteenth century acclimatisation movement in Austra...
www.tandfonline.com
Super stoked to say my new article for Settler Colonial Studies has been published online! If you want to know the deep reasons why Australia is full of mynas, blackbirds, sparrows, starlings, spotted doves and other Eurasian birds, then look no further. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Simon Farley
Every "population crisis" article in western media is just "WHERE ARE THE WHITE BABIES" in disguise and we absolutely do not have to give any credence to any of them
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Every "population crisis" article in western media is just "WHERE ARE THE WHITE BABIES" in disguise and we absolutely do not have to give any credence to any of them
Reposted by Simon Farley
Reposted by Simon Farley
This is such a hack answer, but reading Infinite Jest really exploded my understanding of and empathy around the issues of depression and addiction! It legitimately made me a better person!
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 12, 2025 at 3:36 AM
This is such a hack answer, but reading Infinite Jest really exploded my understanding of and empathy around the issues of depression and addiction! It legitimately made me a better person!
This is true, but why think so small? Democrats are ripe to start organising heavily armed insurrectionary cells.
Even more true today: Democrats are ripe for a base revolt like the GOP in 2015 when Trump went down the escalator.
November 10, 2025 at 6:27 AM
This is true, but why think so small? Democrats are ripe to start organising heavily armed insurrectionary cells.
The first Midnight Oil album just sounds like angry Skyhooks
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 AM
The first Midnight Oil album just sounds like angry Skyhooks
Some of you may be interested in this symposium on 'truth-telling' (in its many guises) being held at the University of Melbourne this week. Students and mob can attend for free, Unimelb staff get a 20% discount, and unwaged scholars get a 75% discount. I will be there for some of Friday's sessions!
November 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Some of you may be interested in this symposium on 'truth-telling' (in its many guises) being held at the University of Melbourne this week. Students and mob can attend for free, Unimelb staff get a 20% discount, and unwaged scholars get a 75% discount. I will be there for some of Friday's sessions!
It's increasingly astounding to me that normal American citizens haven't just started popping ICE agents in the street
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It's increasingly astounding to me that normal American citizens haven't just started popping ICE agents in the street
He was a vain, dishonest fool, too sexist and racist even for the likes of E.O. Wilson. Like many 'great' 20th-century scientists, his credulous and craven colleagues repeatedly forgave him for his shitty personality and vile opinions, all because he was associated with a much overblown 'discovery'.
November 8, 2025 at 4:51 AM
He was a vain, dishonest fool, too sexist and racist even for the likes of E.O. Wilson. Like many 'great' 20th-century scientists, his credulous and craven colleagues repeatedly forgave him for his shitty personality and vile opinions, all because he was associated with a much overblown 'discovery'.
Reposted by Simon Farley
OVER A MILLION USERS
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
I fully believe in the corporate death penalty and believe we would be a better world if OpenAI lost its corporate charter and was forcibly dissolved.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 10:59 PM
OVER A MILLION USERS
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
Reposted by Simon Farley
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by Simon Farley
Dingoes ARE NOT domestic dogs, multiple lines of evidence demonstrate this.
Dingoes ARE NOT ideal pets, they require extensive and special care.
Dingoes ARE very important to First Nations peoples, and Australia's ecosystems.
This proposed change is a very bad idea www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Dingoes ARE NOT ideal pets, they require extensive and special care.
Dingoes ARE very important to First Nations peoples, and Australia's ecosystems.
This proposed change is a very bad idea www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Queensland considers changes that could see dingoes in dog parks
People could be allowed to keep dingoes as pets in Queensland under proposed changes to biosecurity regulations, but experts say the native animal is fundamentally different to domestic dogs.
www.abc.net.au
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Dingoes ARE NOT domestic dogs, multiple lines of evidence demonstrate this.
Dingoes ARE NOT ideal pets, they require extensive and special care.
Dingoes ARE very important to First Nations peoples, and Australia's ecosystems.
This proposed change is a very bad idea www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Dingoes ARE NOT ideal pets, they require extensive and special care.
Dingoes ARE very important to First Nations peoples, and Australia's ecosystems.
This proposed change is a very bad idea www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
I need to get woker
November 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I need to get woker
Reposted by Simon Farley
Probably because the ban has absolutely nothing to do with child safety whatsoever, it is about limiting and controlling access to information for young people, as well as slowly forcing everyone to adopt a digital ID. The whole thing is an absurd farce that’s going to fail in spectacular fashion.
This story by Sarah Martin has generated huge interest today all around the world. A question it poses for Aus - why is Roblox not in the government's social media ban?
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
My chilling week on Roblox: sexually assaulted and shat on as a child avatar roaming the online world
In seven days my young alter ego is cyberbullied and attacked while exploring clubs, casinos and horror games, all with parental controls in place. Is the platform safe for children – or an ‘X-rated p...
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Probably because the ban has absolutely nothing to do with child safety whatsoever, it is about limiting and controlling access to information for young people, as well as slowly forcing everyone to adopt a digital ID. The whole thing is an absurd farce that’s going to fail in spectacular fashion.
Reposted by Simon Farley
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Simon Farley
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎
November 5, 2025 at 5:22 AM
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎
Today is full of genuinely good news???
📢 In the biggest reforms since the 1980s, intelligence agencies such as ASIO will have their functions increasingly scrutinised.
New government powers to keep ASIO, AFP in check as intelligence agencies expand
www.sbs.com.au
November 5, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Today is full of genuinely good news???
Reposted by Simon Farley
Dick Cheney passing on the same day as a Muslim socialist wins NYC is definitely evidence of a higher power.
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Dick Cheney passing on the same day as a Muslim socialist wins NYC is definitely evidence of a higher power.
Is High Street, Northcote, painfully white? Well, that all depends on if you count the deliver riders
November 5, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Is High Street, Northcote, painfully white? Well, that all depends on if you count the deliver riders
Have any historians watched The Idea of Australia on SBS yet? Any hot takes? Anyone think they might have a review up their sleeve? 👀 www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-...
Watch The Idea Of Australia
Watch The Idea Of Australia for free with SBS On Demand, your ultimate destination for diverse entertainment. Stream now!
www.sbs.com.au
November 4, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Have any historians watched The Idea of Australia on SBS yet? Any hot takes? Anyone think they might have a review up their sleeve? 👀 www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-...
Reposted by Simon Farley
A plausible theory for the muted media/public reception to this historic legislation on the latest episode of Lamestream here: open.spotify.com/episode/6BdW...
The Controversy Every Journalist is Talking About, Epstein Brings Down a Royal, and Australia's First Treaty
open.spotify.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:40 AM
A plausible theory for the muted media/public reception to this historic legislation on the latest episode of Lamestream here: open.spotify.com/episode/6BdW...
Would love to read some opinion/analysis on the passing of the Victorian Treaty - feels like a huge historic moment that's passing by without much public discussion
November 2, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Would love to read some opinion/analysis on the passing of the Victorian Treaty - feels like a huge historic moment that's passing by without much public discussion
Reposted by Simon Farley
City of Glass - Paul Auster. As brilliant as all the hype around Auster would suggest - a beautiful balance between hard-boiled noir and meta-fictional mind-games, only tipping a little too far towards the latter right at the end. Prose as limpid as the titular glass.
November 1, 2025 at 12:03 AM
City of Glass - Paul Auster. As brilliant as all the hype around Auster would suggest - a beautiful balance between hard-boiled noir and meta-fictional mind-games, only tipping a little too far towards the latter right at the end. Prose as limpid as the titular glass.
Reposted by Simon Farley
Odd One Out - Monica McInerney. A sweet and at times genuinely funny love letter to Melbourne. Is this what they used to call 'chick lit'? It was a little strange, however, to read a deeply Australian novel where all the characters talk like Irish people.
November 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Odd One Out - Monica McInerney. A sweet and at times genuinely funny love letter to Melbourne. Is this what they used to call 'chick lit'? It was a little strange, however, to read a deeply Australian novel where all the characters talk like Irish people.
Reposted by Simon Farley
The Swoop! - P.G. Wodehouse. Not a patch on the best Jeeves/Wooster novels but an entertaining little parody of invasion literature nonetheless. Some of the pop culture references were, of course, impenetrable, but that's part of the fun, isn't it?
November 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The Swoop! - P.G. Wodehouse. Not a patch on the best Jeeves/Wooster novels but an entertaining little parody of invasion literature nonetheless. Some of the pop culture references were, of course, impenetrable, but that's part of the fun, isn't it?