TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
@tcparker.bsky.social
(Neuro)queer Luddite
1/2 of Nefarious Bat Press. Writer: TRADWIFE, SALTBLOOD, HUMMINGBIRD
PhD in media & politics. Work in social/cultural semiotics, CDA, material culture, storytelling. Rage as deep as the abyss
Fiction at: https://tinyurl.com/mr2rd9bj
1/2 of Nefarious Bat Press. Writer: TRADWIFE, SALTBLOOD, HUMMINGBIRD
PhD in media & politics. Work in social/cultural semiotics, CDA, material culture, storytelling. Rage as deep as the abyss
Fiction at: https://tinyurl.com/mr2rd9bj
I'd rather eat my own feet
Wasn't Wired doing proper journalism a minute or so back, instead of whatever this is?
Wasn't Wired doing proper journalism a minute or so back, instead of whatever this is?
November 12, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'd rather eat my own feet
Wasn't Wired doing proper journalism a minute or so back, instead of whatever this is?
Wasn't Wired doing proper journalism a minute or so back, instead of whatever this is?
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
Agreed. It's often said that one becomes more right wing with age. I seem to have run that tape backwards. The longer I live, the more cruelty, bigotry, & injustice I see; and the more pissed off I become.
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Agreed. It's often said that one becomes more right wing with age. I seem to have run that tape backwards. The longer I live, the more cruelty, bigotry, & injustice I see; and the more pissed off I become.
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
And today it's the turn of The Times to try and patronise us all.
Every single day the right wing establishment tries to close ranks.
And every day we are growing.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Every single day the right wing establishment tries to close ranks.
And every day we are growing.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 8:33 AM
And today it's the turn of The Times to try and patronise us all.
Every single day the right wing establishment tries to close ranks.
And every day we are growing.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Every single day the right wing establishment tries to close ranks.
And every day we are growing.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
What's the name of that cognitive bias that makes you look at the way [x], [y] and [z] demographics are treated by governments and institutional apparatus and think: nah, never going to happen to me?
Asking for a country
Asking for a country
November 11, 2025 at 9:27 PM
What's the name of that cognitive bias that makes you look at the way [x], [y] and [z] demographics are treated by governments and institutional apparatus and think: nah, never going to happen to me?
Asking for a country
Asking for a country
I did my PhD at Notts with Mike, in the American Studies dept (despite writing on British media/politics) - in what was the most incredibly supportive & intellectually challenging environment imaginable
The destruction of UK HE is a loss for everyone. Sign the petition & help mitigate the damage
The destruction of UK HE is a loss for everyone. Sign the petition & help mitigate the damage
Sign the Petition
SAVE AMERICAN STUDIES TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
www.change.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I did my PhD at Notts with Mike, in the American Studies dept (despite writing on British media/politics) - in what was the most incredibly supportive & intellectually challenging environment imaginable
The destruction of UK HE is a loss for everyone. Sign the petition & help mitigate the damage
The destruction of UK HE is a loss for everyone. Sign the petition & help mitigate the damage
Not to brag, but the Carry On Cinematic Universe had a brief cameo in one of my shorts only this year...
(Mandragora, in the Good For Her antho)
The Carry On *Extended* Universe is only logical next destination
(Mandragora, in the Good For Her antho)
The Carry On *Extended* Universe is only logical next destination
November 11, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Not to brag, but the Carry On Cinematic Universe had a brief cameo in one of my shorts only this year...
(Mandragora, in the Good For Her antho)
The Carry On *Extended* Universe is only logical next destination
(Mandragora, in the Good For Her antho)
The Carry On *Extended* Universe is only logical next destination
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
Convincing you to read my novel with the first sentence:
Here's Hummingbird
www.amazon.com/Hummingbird-...
QT and share yours if you fancy it!
Here's Hummingbird
www.amazon.com/Hummingbird-...
QT and share yours if you fancy it!
November 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Convincing you to read my novel with the first sentence:
Here's Hummingbird
www.amazon.com/Hummingbird-...
QT and share yours if you fancy it!
Here's Hummingbird
www.amazon.com/Hummingbird-...
QT and share yours if you fancy it!
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
Because THE DEAD MAN is out in exactly one week, let's go for the first sentence of that.
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want!
books2read.com/thedeadman
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want!
books2read.com/thedeadman
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Because THE DEAD MAN is out in exactly one week, let's go for the first sentence of that.
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want!
books2read.com/thedeadman
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want!
books2read.com/thedeadman
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
If you're dreaming of a weird ecohorror Christmas*, preorder The Writhing, Verdant End, which comes out next month. Featuring horrific animal amalgams, plant apocalypses, and extinct birds born again!
*Does not contain actual Christmas stories
www.cursedmorselspress.com/product/the-...
*Does not contain actual Christmas stories
www.cursedmorselspress.com/product/the-...
November 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If you're dreaming of a weird ecohorror Christmas*, preorder The Writhing, Verdant End, which comes out next month. Featuring horrific animal amalgams, plant apocalypses, and extinct birds born again!
*Does not contain actual Christmas stories
www.cursedmorselspress.com/product/the-...
*Does not contain actual Christmas stories
www.cursedmorselspress.com/product/the-...
Listened to Cat Burns' How To Be Human on my run this morning, and nearly burst into tears
I cannot tell you what a record like this, and an artist like her, would've meant to me as a weird, queer, autistic-but-didn't-know-it teenager/young adult
(As it was, I just had Gene's Olympian on repeat)
I cannot tell you what a record like this, and an artist like her, would've meant to me as a weird, queer, autistic-but-didn't-know-it teenager/young adult
(As it was, I just had Gene's Olympian on repeat)
Cat Burns - How To Be Human (Official Visualiser)
YouTube video by CatBurnsVEVO
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Listened to Cat Burns' How To Be Human on my run this morning, and nearly burst into tears
I cannot tell you what a record like this, and an artist like her, would've meant to me as a weird, queer, autistic-but-didn't-know-it teenager/young adult
(As it was, I just had Gene's Olympian on repeat)
I cannot tell you what a record like this, and an artist like her, would've meant to me as a weird, queer, autistic-but-didn't-know-it teenager/young adult
(As it was, I just had Gene's Olympian on repeat)
I'd agree with this. I've spent a long time defending the existence of the BBC, because I genuinely believe in PSB. But I'm no longer convinced at all that BBC News, or the BBC as a whole, is performing any sort of public service (1/2)
Personally I'd be pleased to see BBC News disappear entirely. To argue, as many do, that British politics or our news environment would be so much worse without the BBC you have to explain why British politics and news environment is so very bad with the BBC.
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I'd agree with this. I've spent a long time defending the existence of the BBC, because I genuinely believe in PSB. But I'm no longer convinced at all that BBC News, or the BBC as a whole, is performing any sort of public service (1/2)
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
The BBC withdrew from the Stonewall workplace scheme in 2021. Absolute lies
The language is word-for-word from gender-critical campaigning…
“Captured by Stonewall.”
“Trans agenda.”
“Biological sex, not gender identity.”
This isn’t media ethics, it’s an op-ed straight from the ‘Sex Matters’ / Transgender Trend’ playbook! 😖
“Captured by Stonewall.”
“Trans agenda.”
“Biological sex, not gender identity.”
This isn’t media ethics, it’s an op-ed straight from the ‘Sex Matters’ / Transgender Trend’ playbook! 😖
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The BBC withdrew from the Stonewall workplace scheme in 2021. Absolute lies
Moving house is horribly stressful - but there's no better person to do it with than @shaunamceleney.bsky.social (who has gone above & beyond the last week, & deserves a very large gin)
Happy to report: keys are returned, I have a bellyful of paneer roti... & hope to never meet another estate agent
Happy to report: keys are returned, I have a bellyful of paneer roti... & hope to never meet another estate agent
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Moving house is horribly stressful - but there's no better person to do it with than @shaunamceleney.bsky.social (who has gone above & beyond the last week, & deserves a very large gin)
Happy to report: keys are returned, I have a bellyful of paneer roti... & hope to never meet another estate agent
Happy to report: keys are returned, I have a bellyful of paneer roti... & hope to never meet another estate agent
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
In which Womble gives my story a specific call-out and blows my mind
On the blog this week - folk horror awaits in Hiding Under The Leaves edited by Donna Scott www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/11...
Hiding Under The Leaves edited by Donna Scott — Runalong The Shelves
I would like to thank The Slab Press for an advance copy of this collection in exchange for a fair and honest review Publisher - The Slab Press Published - 5/11 Price - £18.99 paperback £5....
www.runalongtheshelves.net
November 9, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In which Womble gives my story a specific call-out and blows my mind
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
I honestly don’t get the value of this company. They hoover up energy and water. Their product constantly gets things wrong and, in extreme cases, coaches people into suicide.
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I honestly don’t get the value of this company. They hoover up energy and water. Their product constantly gets things wrong and, in extreme cases, coaches people into suicide.
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
I'm not sure why anyone who actually knows how LLMs work would use ChatGPT - or any stochastic parrot
If I wanted plausible-seeming bullshit whispered at me in a sycophantic way, I'm confident I could find it without stealing anyone's work or poisoning their water supply
If I wanted plausible-seeming bullshit whispered at me in a sycophantic way, I'm confident I could find it without stealing anyone's work or poisoning their water supply
Hands up if you've never used Chat GPT ✋
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
(I feel like Dozer and Tank in The Matrix right now - at first I didn't use it because, rather ironically, I'm lazy and stubborn (peak Taurus energy there) - literally no, don't make me use the new thing I don't wanna. Now I'm glad I didn't 😅)
Probably a good way to tell right now if the job you’re applying for is run by absolute dumbfucks is to ask if they’re using AI.
November 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I'm not sure why anyone who actually knows how LLMs work would use ChatGPT - or any stochastic parrot
If I wanted plausible-seeming bullshit whispered at me in a sycophantic way, I'm confident I could find it without stealing anyone's work or poisoning their water supply
If I wanted plausible-seeming bullshit whispered at me in a sycophantic way, I'm confident I could find it without stealing anyone's work or poisoning their water supply
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
"I don't normally share AI things..."
So fucking DON'T. Stop normalising the theft and bullshit machine.
So fucking DON'T. Stop normalising the theft and bullshit machine.
November 9, 2025 at 7:54 AM
"I don't normally share AI things..."
So fucking DON'T. Stop normalising the theft and bullshit machine.
So fucking DON'T. Stop normalising the theft and bullshit machine.
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
Freyja Stokes goes deep into the historical connections between European witchcraft and sex work, and draws out how #Pratchett uses these in the person of Mrs Palm. It's got history AND sexy puns...
This one's very reasonably-priced - it's free!
Read it now: www.speculativeinsight.com
This one's very reasonably-priced - it's free!
Read it now: www.speculativeinsight.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Freyja Stokes goes deep into the historical connections between European witchcraft and sex work, and draws out how #Pratchett uses these in the person of Mrs Palm. It's got history AND sexy puns...
This one's very reasonably-priced - it's free!
Read it now: www.speculativeinsight.com
This one's very reasonably-priced - it's free!
Read it now: www.speculativeinsight.com
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
One encouraging parallel to our “second Gilded Age” is that the first one ended partly because the corporations controlling critical infrastructure overextended themselves, investing heavily in technology they were certain would produce future profits, and then collapsed and enraged everyone
November 8, 2025 at 8:05 AM
One encouraging parallel to our “second Gilded Age” is that the first one ended partly because the corporations controlling critical infrastructure overextended themselves, investing heavily in technology they were certain would produce future profits, and then collapsed and enraged everyone
I love how, in a 20 year timeframe, we've "transitioned to a knowledge economy" - but somehow also unilaterally decided that knowing stuff is so fundamentally worthless, it can be outsourced to a Magic 8 Ball stuffed with pages from a thesaurus by a handful of sociopaths six thousand miles away
November 8, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I love how, in a 20 year timeframe, we've "transitioned to a knowledge economy" - but somehow also unilaterally decided that knowing stuff is so fundamentally worthless, it can be outsourced to a Magic 8 Ball stuffed with pages from a thesaurus by a handful of sociopaths six thousand miles away
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
Good morning! AI is being force-fed to you by a handful of billionaires who will lose a bunch of money if they fail to convince you that you need it. You do not need it 🫶
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Good morning! AI is being force-fed to you by a handful of billionaires who will lose a bunch of money if they fail to convince you that you need it. You do not need it 🫶
I know I keep saying this, but I'm SO EXCITED about this course...
I've been doing (and teaching) semiotic analysis for a living for the last 15 years - so to finally be able to apply it in a fiction writing context is sort of a dream come true...
I've been doing (and teaching) semiotic analysis for a living for the last 15 years - so to finally be able to apply it in a fiction writing context is sort of a dream come true...
A brand-new course coming up next year, with SEMIOTICS FOR STORYTELLING led by @tcparker.bsky.social kicking off in January! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/semiotics-... #storytelling #writing #writers #fiction #authors #stories #semiotics #course #courses
Semiotics for Storytelling with Dr Nat Edwards
A three-week course exploring the world of semiotics and the impact it can have on your storytelling.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I know I keep saying this, but I'm SO EXCITED about this course...
I've been doing (and teaching) semiotic analysis for a living for the last 15 years - so to finally be able to apply it in a fiction writing context is sort of a dream come true...
I've been doing (and teaching) semiotic analysis for a living for the last 15 years - so to finally be able to apply it in a fiction writing context is sort of a dream come true...
Reposted by TC Parker/Dr Nat Edwards (she/her)
Thanks, Gabino!
My coming-of-age folk horror, The Haunting of Wounded Birds, releases in 5 days! If you love dark forests, black birds, old rituals, and haunted boys, this one's for you.
mybook.to/woundedbirds (I only need one more preorder to get me to my goal)
My coming-of-age folk horror, The Haunting of Wounded Birds, releases in 5 days! If you love dark forests, black birds, old rituals, and haunted boys, this one's for you.
mybook.to/woundedbirds (I only need one more preorder to get me to my goal)
November 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Thanks, Gabino!
My coming-of-age folk horror, The Haunting of Wounded Birds, releases in 5 days! If you love dark forests, black birds, old rituals, and haunted boys, this one's for you.
mybook.to/woundedbirds (I only need one more preorder to get me to my goal)
My coming-of-age folk horror, The Haunting of Wounded Birds, releases in 5 days! If you love dark forests, black birds, old rituals, and haunted boys, this one's for you.
mybook.to/woundedbirds (I only need one more preorder to get me to my goal)
I'm sure there must be bigger red flags than this, and lord knows it's been a while since I dipped a toe in the M/F dating pool. But to the man-loving ladies out there, I say:
If your Tinder match describes himself as an "Evolutionary Psychologist," upper case or otherwise...
Run.
If your Tinder match describes himself as an "Evolutionary Psychologist," upper case or otherwise...
Run.
This is the abstract of "Evolutionary Psychology and the Crisis of Empirical Rigor in Feminist Studies," from the forthcoming November 2025 issue of SEXUALITY & CULTURE.
You will hate this abstract more and more as every word passes through your brain. Trust me: the article is worse.
You will hate this abstract more and more as every word passes through your brain. Trust me: the article is worse.
November 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I'm sure there must be bigger red flags than this, and lord knows it's been a while since I dipped a toe in the M/F dating pool. But to the man-loving ladies out there, I say:
If your Tinder match describes himself as an "Evolutionary Psychologist," upper case or otherwise...
Run.
If your Tinder match describes himself as an "Evolutionary Psychologist," upper case or otherwise...
Run.