On Ontology: A Report into the Human Impact of the University Death Spiral “Over the past thirty years, capitalist realism has successfully installed a ‘business ontology’ in which it is simply obvious that everything in society, including healthcare and education, should…

On Ontology: A report into the human impact of the university death spiral

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2026/03/29/o...

I have written this in response to the Uta Frith article in TES - I was going to send it just from me but if anyone else wants to share and add their name before I do feel free: forms.office.com/e/Vh3BuvkepA

subtypes Simon Baron Cohen writing in the Financial Times supposedly about the politicising of Autism, as a means of pushing for more subcategorising – itself a politicised position, if only he could …

Blog post on Simon Baron Cohen's recent call for more categorisation re autism

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/s...

Reform UK’s Richard Tice says children wearing ear defenders in school is ‘insane’ Tice was outlining Reform’s Doge (Department of government efficiency) unit’s progress

Ear defenders are inexpensive and dont inconvenience anyone. The only reason to go after people using them like this is if you are in principle against inclusion and desegregation. Reform is a fascist party and disabled people are one of fheir key targets.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

Rest is Resistance ‘You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, t…

'You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. ’
– Tricia Hersey

Today marks day 7 of 12 in the planned strike action by UCU members at Sheffield Hallam University.

Strike blog: Rest is Resistance

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/11/20/r...
#ucu #ucuhallam

When Universities Cut Staff, Disabled Students Pay the Highest Price ‘You can’t keep waiting for progress But I’m not willing to accept it all’  – Idlewild, ‘These Wooden Ideas’  Placards, 19.11.25 A really cold pi…

When Universities Cut Staff, Disabled Students Pay the Highest Price

Today's strike blog post:

'When a university reduces its workforce, these cuts inevitably have a disproportionate impact on disabled students...' #ucu #ucuhallam

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/11/19/w...

Reasons to strike ‘…. it’s still unfashionable to believe in principles’ Manic Street Preachers, ‘South Yorkshire Mass Murderer’ Great picket today that felt quite animated, in sp…

Today's strike post re @ucuhallam.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk action in Sheffield

Reasons to Strike

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r... #ucu #ucuhallam

Heartbroken to be on strike (again) - never an easy decision 👍 We cannot accept a university in which staff jobs, student education, and research progress are under threat by major (and financially unnecessary) change management processes. @sheffielducu.bsky.social #Sheffield #DigitalPicket

Striking as social justice work “What we do is more important than what we say we believe.” — bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress (1994) This week sees coordinated UCU strike action  by both Sheffield Hallam University and th…

Joint @ucuhallam.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk action today at a rally in Sheffield.

I wrote this blog post about striking as social justice work.

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/s...

Sheffield Hallam: UCU State of the University Report 2025

or.... why we are on strike... again...

Very detailed report plus a summary version available here:

ucuhallam.org/sheffield-ha...

Much love and solidarity to all

Collective Action “The decline of the unions is probably the biggest factor in the rise of capitalist realism for ordinary people … The effect is that discontent can be widespread, but without such an agent it will …

'Collective Action' - a short blog post about picketing while on strike at Sheffield Hallam @ucuhallam.bsky.social

“The decline of the unions is probably the biggest factor in the rise of capitalist realism for ordinary people... ”
— Mark Fisher

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/c...

Collective Action “The decline of the unions is probably the biggest factor in the rise of capitalist realism for ordinary people … The effect is that discontent can be widespread, but without such an agent it will …

'Collective Action' - a short blog post about picketing while on strike at Sheffield Hallam @ucuhallam.bsky.social

“The decline of the unions is probably the biggest factor in the rise of capitalist realism for ordinary people... ”
— Mark Fisher

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/c...

Placard reading 'academic freedom is not for sale'

Placard reading 'on strike today. UCU and proud'

At Sheffield Hallam University we are on strike.

In short we are fighting for our jobs, and the future of the university.

More info here: ucuhallam.org

Feeling with Theory | The University of Sheffield Player Explore music, neurodiversity & queer identity—join the Ruling Passions session and create your own Queer the Landscape lyrics.

Neuroqueering music event in Sheffield on Thurs, 2pm @ showroom

player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/feeli...

Feeling with theory / Neuroqueer music events David Shannon and I are organising two events in Sheffield, both called Feeling with Theory: Exploring the Meaning of Music around Neuroqueer identities. More info on the respective links below, bu…

Take a look at these events in Sheffield next month co-organsied by a friend.
thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/09/26/f...

Thanks Robert!

Another share for this - new Ruling Passions Podcast episode. Podcast explores the intersection between ND and being interested in stuff.

A Conversation with Esma Ruling Passions · Episode

New Epsiode of the Ruling Passions Podcast today - talking to philosophy student Esma about philosophy, video games and the problems with artificial intelligence.

Up on spotify now, and apple podcasts shortly.

open.spotify.com/episode/2Oyt...

A Conversation with Esma Ruling Passions · Episode

New Epsiode of the Ruling Passions Podcast today - talking to philosophy student Esma about philosophy, video games and the problems with artificial intelligence.

Up on spotify now, and apple podcasts shortly.

open.spotify.com/episode/2Oyt...

Kent council bans transgender books in children’s library section KCC says the move came after a

this seems bad
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Acid Queen, with Susannah Cahalan Podcast Episode · Weird Studies · 21/05/2025 · 1h 28m

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w.... Brilliant episode of a great podcast. Includes discussion about the political necessity of changing consciousness and the awfulness of the academic project.

On Mad[]Neurodiverse Literary Possibilities Critical Neurodiversity Studies takeover: Natasha Downs calls for literary scholars within Mad Studies and Neurodiversity Studies to engage with one another, exploring the possibilities of and just…

On Day 6 of the Critical Neurodiversity Studies takeover @tasha-tasha.bsky.social calls for literary scholars within Mad Studies & Neurodiversity Studies to engage with one another, exploring the possibilities of and justifications for a ‘Mad[]Neurodiverse’ literary analysis.
tinyurl.com/mr3dr8kc

The Roots of 'Gender-Critical' Fascism: White Supremacy, Reactionary Feminism, and the Far Right Podcast Episode · Acid Horizon · 29/06/2025 · 1h 7m

Acid Horizon has consistenly been my favourite podcast for years. Latest episode on gender critical feminism and fascism (not yet listened to it, but know it'll defo be worth a listen).

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

'The policing of hands has in fact long played a particularly significant role in the enforcement of neuronormative embodiment.' - Nick Walker

Lenticular series - analogue film - exploring movement

Congrats. That minimalist cover is also super cool

‘NORMAL CHILDREN MAY SHOW SOME OF THE BEHAVIOUR SEEN IN THIS FILM’ Last year, I made a series of short films by splicing together archive footage, music, and quotes from various cultural theorists. We often think with theory, but this was more of an exercise in fe…

New blog post that includes the video I shared in my presentation at the Critical Neurodiversity conference @durhamimh.bsky.social

It's titled 'Normal children may show some of the behaviour seen in this film'

C/w for pathologising language

thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2025/06/26/n...

Alt text for graphic: Image is on purple white blue and white background On purple background image of a red megaphone with black lines to represent speaking. In white text it says Write to your MP to Vote NO to concessions and NO to the PIP & UC Bill om 1st July white exclamation mark On white back ground is image of an envelope with black outlined in black text says we need everyone to email their MP Now! On blue background is black and white image of houses of parliament in white text says we can’t give up pressure now MPs near to hear from you flood their inboxes tell them to support parliament amendment No concessions and vote the bill down

WelfareReformBill
#WelfareNotWarfare

📢❌Tell Your MP to support the amendment no matter the colour of the rosette support the amendment
📢❌Tell your MP not to support any concessions
📢❌Vote NO to PIP & UC Bill

📢❌Contact your MP today Keep piling pressure on

There was so much going on! No pressure to catch up, but much appreciated! Hope you're ok!

Ooh thanks for this, flat is my current feeling yes!

Starmer offers ‘massive concessions’ on welfare bill to Labour rebels Exclusive: Leading rebels say they have been promised significant changes to planned cuts which could help bill avoid defeat

Unless the 'massive concessions' involve scrapping the entire thing I doubt it's enough to make the bill even close to acceptable

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...