Tanja Bueltmann
@tanjabueltmann.net
Professor @ University of Strathclyde | migration and diaspora history | history of collective action | citizens' rights | commentator | immigrant | trans inclusive feminist | she•her | my views | https://tanjabueltmann.net
I clearly expressed that poorly: did not mean that at all—there never is such a point in my view, we can always find a point of return. Sorry about that. Deleted the thread to avoid further confusion.
November 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I clearly expressed that poorly: did not mean that at all—there never is such a point in my view, we can always find a point of return. Sorry about that. Deleted the thread to avoid further confusion.
And that really is it for the moment as need to deal with other things over coming weeks/month. If you’re not bored yet and would like some more thought, check out my earlier thread if you’ve not seen that yet.
a young boy wearing sunglasses and a red vest is making a funny face and says ta ta for now .
Alt: A woman wearing sunglasses and a red vest is making a funny face and says ta ta for now, wavin goodbye.
media.tenor.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
And that really is it for the moment as need to deal with other things over coming weeks/month. If you’re not bored yet and would like some more thought, check out my earlier thread if you’ve not seen that yet.
Especially as we do not share the things that maybe could make a difference because maybe they are long and a bit boring or, as noted, a bit uncomfortable.
So now I have said it all, really. See you sometime.
/end to the addition
So now I have said it all, really. See you sometime.
/end to the addition
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Especially as we do not share the things that maybe could make a difference because maybe they are long and a bit boring or, as noted, a bit uncomfortable.
So now I have said it all, really. See you sometime.
/end to the addition
So now I have said it all, really. See you sometime.
/end to the addition
But that outrage did 0 for any action around the actual problem. So basicllay: anger and outrage do not help in the long term, esp if they become the main response to issues.
But so much of our collective activism is built on outrage—that’s also why we are where we are. Another uncomfortable truth.
But so much of our collective activism is built on outrage—that’s also why we are where we are. Another uncomfortable truth.
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
But that outrage did 0 for any action around the actual problem. So basicllay: anger and outrage do not help in the long term, esp if they become the main response to issues.
But so much of our collective activism is built on outrage—that’s also why we are where we are. Another uncomfortable truth.
But so much of our collective activism is built on outrage—that’s also why we are where we are. Another uncomfortable truth.
Of course I didn’t know whether it would work, but it did. There were very early reports of denied votes shortly after 7am or so and the # was picked up pretty much immediately. Tweets became more angry as the day went on, understandably so! It was in the news like all day. That did serve a purpose.
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Of course I didn’t know whether it would work, but it did. There were very early reports of denied votes shortly after 7am or so and the # was picked up pretty much immediately. Tweets became more angry as the day went on, understandably so! It was in the news like all day. That did serve a purpose.
Outraged fuels people.
You may remember the #DeniedMyVote # on Twitter during the last UK EU election. It was my #: I posted that # in the night before anyone had even voted because I knew we would need an “outrage hook” the next day because it was obvious that 1000s would be denied their vote.
You may remember the #DeniedMyVote # on Twitter during the last UK EU election. It was my #: I posted that # in the night before anyone had even voted because I knew we would need an “outrage hook” the next day because it was obvious that 1000s would be denied their vote.
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Outraged fuels people.
You may remember the #DeniedMyVote # on Twitter during the last UK EU election. It was my #: I posted that # in the night before anyone had even voted because I knew we would need an “outrage hook” the next day because it was obvious that 1000s would be denied their vote.
You may remember the #DeniedMyVote # on Twitter during the last UK EU election. It was my #: I posted that # in the night before anyone had even voted because I knew we would need an “outrage hook” the next day because it was obvious that 1000s would be denied their vote.
… know exactly how to do that because it’s needed sometimes and can occasionally help—this would be shared 100s of times.
That’s how I got a number of things trending on Twitter, for example. That’s not an attempt to praise myself, it’s simply telling you that I really understand how this works.
That’s how I got a number of things trending on Twitter, for example. That’s not an attempt to praise myself, it’s simply telling you that I really understand how this works.
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
… know exactly how to do that because it’s needed sometimes and can occasionally help—this would be shared 100s of times.
That’s how I got a number of things trending on Twitter, for example. That’s not an attempt to praise myself, it’s simply telling you that I really understand how this works.
That’s how I got a number of things trending on Twitter, for example. That’s not an attempt to praise myself, it’s simply telling you that I really understand how this works.
… they can actually drown out solutions or reflection on potential solutions.
On a personal level that has always meant that time spent on ideas for enabling real change was *always* wasted time. Like the time spent on this thread, it seems.
Had I written something hooked on outrage—and I do …
On a personal level that has always meant that time spent on ideas for enabling real change was *always* wasted time. Like the time spent on this thread, it seems.
Had I written something hooked on outrage—and I do …
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
… they can actually drown out solutions or reflection on potential solutions.
On a personal level that has always meant that time spent on ideas for enabling real change was *always* wasted time. Like the time spent on this thread, it seems.
Had I written something hooked on outrage—and I do …
On a personal level that has always meant that time spent on ideas for enabling real change was *always* wasted time. Like the time spent on this thread, it seems.
Had I written something hooked on outrage—and I do …
But - unfortunately in my view though sometimes it is needed - outrage works for dissemination.
Actual ideas that might make a difference? They do not.
That’s how it’s always been. I could give you literally 100s of examples from Brexit campaign times.
The danger of anger and outrage is that …
Actual ideas that might make a difference? They do not.
That’s how it’s always been. I could give you literally 100s of examples from Brexit campaign times.
The danger of anger and outrage is that …
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
But - unfortunately in my view though sometimes it is needed - outrage works for dissemination.
Actual ideas that might make a difference? They do not.
That’s how it’s always been. I could give you literally 100s of examples from Brexit campaign times.
The danger of anger and outrage is that …
Actual ideas that might make a difference? They do not.
That’s how it’s always been. I could give you literally 100s of examples from Brexit campaign times.
The danger of anger and outrage is that …
Managed to forget a key point, but the thread itself - or rather the fact that’s it’s been shared only little (so far anyway) - reminded me:
The key reason anger is no good is because it only delivers outrage.
And outrage simply doesn’t do a single thing to help address actual issues.
The key reason anger is no good is because it only delivers outrage.
And outrage simply doesn’t do a single thing to help address actual issues.
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Managed to forget a key point, but the thread itself - or rather the fact that’s it’s been shared only little (so far anyway) - reminded me:
The key reason anger is no good is because it only delivers outrage.
And outrage simply doesn’t do a single thing to help address actual issues.
The key reason anger is no good is because it only delivers outrage.
And outrage simply doesn’t do a single thing to help address actual issues.
... where they can influence Govt / parties will have an infinitely stronger base for enabling real change.
There is a reason populists rely on sowing division by pitting communities against each other. Undermining the effectiveness of that is where we all can make a difference.
Please try.
/end
There is a reason populists rely on sowing division by pitting communities against each other. Undermining the effectiveness of that is where we all can make a difference.
Please try.
/end
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
... where they can influence Govt / parties will have an infinitely stronger base for enabling real change.
There is a reason populists rely on sowing division by pitting communities against each other. Undermining the effectiveness of that is where we all can make a difference.
Please try.
/end
There is a reason populists rely on sowing division by pitting communities against each other. Undermining the effectiveness of that is where we all can make a difference.
Please try.
/end
The time to stop that full stop was actually a decade ago, I am sorry to say. But as with climate breakdown, the longer we wait the worse it *will* get.
So find your community; find the mechanism for you to build more strenght in it. And then those with more relative privilege and in positions ...
So find your community; find the mechanism for you to build more strenght in it. And then those with more relative privilege and in positions ...
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The time to stop that full stop was actually a decade ago, I am sorry to say. But as with climate breakdown, the longer we wait the worse it *will* get.
So find your community; find the mechanism for you to build more strenght in it. And then those with more relative privilege and in positions ...
So find your community; find the mechanism for you to build more strenght in it. And then those with more relative privilege and in positions ...
There are no easy answers here at all, recognising that helps. But at no point before has it been so clear that we are really heading to a very dark place in which the rights of most of us will be limited, prospects diminished, and communities pit against each other in ways we have not seen before.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
There are no easy answers here at all, recognising that helps. But at no point before has it been so clear that we are really heading to a very dark place in which the rights of most of us will be limited, prospects diminished, and communities pit against each other in ways we have not seen before.
But it's not just a numbers question, it is also a persistence question. No movement has ever been successful through sporadic opposition. All of it needs to become more vocal - and in the ways that really set out the risks - and essentially constant so it is harder to just ignore.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
But it's not just a numbers question, it is also a persistence question. No movement has ever been successful through sporadic opposition. All of it needs to become more vocal - and in the ways that really set out the risks - and essentially constant so it is harder to just ignore.
Because in many ways this isn't actually about immigration: it's about that constant overload of awful that seems never-ending, trapping far too many in cycles of despair. We can play a role in breaking some of that up. But more of us need to choose to do so.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Because in many ways this isn't actually about immigration: it's about that constant overload of awful that seems never-ending, trapping far too many in cycles of despair. We can play a role in breaking some of that up. But more of us need to choose to do so.
... this focus on our communities is currently the most viable route. That's partly a scale point: think of all of us as agents in community - there would be so many if we all did just a little bit more for community-building. For that you don't even have to mention immigration once.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
... this focus on our communities is currently the most viable route. That's partly a scale point: think of all of us as agents in community - there would be so many if we all did just a little bit more for community-building. For that you don't even have to mention immigration once.
... break it down for us: we cannot change the general direction on our own - that knowledge is one reason why all of it is so overwhelming. But we all can do things in our communities. And that really does not need much. I know this sounds a bit like pink fluffy clouds, but I am certain that ...
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
... break it down for us: we cannot change the general direction on our own - that knowledge is one reason why all of it is so overwhelming. But we all can do things in our communities. And that really does not need much. I know this sounds a bit like pink fluffy clouds, but I am certain that ...
... make a more active difference. As some have argued in the context of climate breakdown, this could start with something as small as talking to your neighbours more. As a historian of collective action I certainly know that community is the key to change. What that focus also helps with is ...
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
... make a more active difference. As some have argued in the context of climate breakdown, this could start with something as small as talking to your neighbours more. As a historian of collective action I certainly know that community is the key to change. What that focus also helps with is ...
The best hope lies in our agency. We can see that in the growing support for the Greens, for example. But on its own that won't be enough. So as I return to social media hiatus for a number of reasons, I hope that this thread will at least inspire some of you to use energies in a way that might ...
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The best hope lies in our agency. We can see that in the growing support for the Greens, for example. But on its own that won't be enough. So as I return to social media hiatus for a number of reasons, I hope that this thread will at least inspire some of you to use energies in a way that might ...
But this will again be dismissed as shrill by too many. Honestly, I'd wish nothing more than to just be that nutty professor who makes shrill statements - I want nothing more than to be wrong. But no indicators in our historical and current knowledge suggests that to me.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
But this will again be dismissed as shrill by too many. Honestly, I'd wish nothing more than to just be that nutty professor who makes shrill statements - I want nothing more than to be wrong. But no indicators in our historical and current knowledge suggests that to me.
The thing is: you don't actually need to understand these life worlds at all. All you need to understand is this:
Stripping rights from one specific group today can only enable a system that endangers all our rights tomorrow.
Because when first they come for one group that is never where it ends.
Stripping rights from one specific group today can only enable a system that endangers all our rights tomorrow.
Because when first they come for one group that is never where it ends.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The thing is: you don't actually need to understand these life worlds at all. All you need to understand is this:
Stripping rights from one specific group today can only enable a system that endangers all our rights tomorrow.
Because when first they come for one group that is never where it ends.
Stripping rights from one specific group today can only enable a system that endangers all our rights tomorrow.
Because when first they come for one group that is never where it ends.
... others. If people cannot relate to a community, they're quite happy not to fight for them. Refugees are the target currently, but so is the trans community, for instance. All communities easily cast as 'others' because their life worlds are very removed from the experiences of most.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
... others. If people cannot relate to a community, they're quite happy not to fight for them. Refugees are the target currently, but so is the trans community, for instance. All communities easily cast as 'others' because their life worlds are very removed from the experiences of most.
But they don't. That's partly because of the overload I spoke of before, but also partly because - and here's another uncomfortable reality for you - too many of us simply do not care about the rights of others. And populist actors know that. It's why they always begin we communities 'alien' to ...
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
But they don't. That's partly because of the overload I spoke of before, but also partly because - and here's another uncomfortable reality for you - too many of us simply do not care about the rights of others. And populist actors know that. It's why they always begin we communities 'alien' to ...
... attack on rights for more people to see that. This is where the roots of my anger lie: our historical and current data-driven knowledge tells us this is the trajectory.
But it really does not have to be. We can choose to reject it. But that requires many, many more people to understand this.
But it really does not have to be. We can choose to reject it. But that requires many, many more people to understand this.
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
... attack on rights for more people to see that. This is where the roots of my anger lie: our historical and current data-driven knowledge tells us this is the trajectory.
But it really does not have to be. We can choose to reject it. But that requires many, many more people to understand this.
But it really does not have to be. We can choose to reject it. But that requires many, many more people to understand this.