Simon

Simon

@bitginger.bsky.social

Life is made of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. (he/him)

341 followers604 following2.8K posts

Simon reposted

Shellraiser B Woke - Living Saint of Purity🏳️‍⚧️🖤💜🤍 💛
@shelleybwoke.bsky.social

"Being trans in the U.K. means constantly being aware of the chance encounters that could, temporarily or permanently, ruin your life."

eel, i@eliacugini.bsky.social

wrote about how the new hospital wards policy in the NHS entrenches mistreatment, & concentrates anti-trans power in places where trans people are trapped or incapacitated xtramagazine.com/power/politi...

xtramagazine.comNew NHS rules disguise deliberate mistreatment as common sense | Xtra MagazineEscalating anti-trans policies don’t stop trans life happening—they make it precarious

Simon reposted

George Monbiot
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

The lessons from Brazil and Serbia? Don't concede one inch of ground to the far right. Don't appease. Don't triangulate. Don't grovel. Don't say they have "legitimate concerns". Mobilise your base, and fight them with all the democratic means at your disposal.

Simon reposted

Alex Andreou
@sturdyalex.bsky.social

BBC News just interrupted its coverage to go, live, to Nigel Farage - a man with no contitutional standing in our setup - responding to the budget - a document which nobody has seen yet. WHY

Simon reposted

Mark Grimshaw
@markgrimshawtism.bsky.social

If you thought the Conversion Practices Bill is already bad thanks to all the loopholes and allowances it provides, then don’t worry - it’s about to get worse. The Government are hearing “evidence” from anti-trans campaigners Helen Joyce, Dennis Kavanagh and the LGB Alliance this week.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Would be really good if all the critics of this thread could agree. Is it wrong because the Dems are the good guys and are obviously going to reinstate all the lost rights without a fight or is it wrong because *of course* you have to fight to get what you want and thinking otherwise is fantasyland?

Evan Urquhart@evanurquhart.bsky.social

This post in particular is really telling. It's saying - don't expect Democrats to simply right the wrongs. What Republicans take away in 4 years you must expect to spend 20 years to restore, fighting Democrats the whole way.

Simon reposted

Jake Kanter
@jakekanter.bsky.social

A longer read on BBC cuts: -BBC not halfway to £500m goal -More radical savings required -BBC Sounds under threat? -Bosses mulled axing CBBC -1,200 of 2k layoffs confirmed -Industrial action threat lingers -Concern at charter talks urgency deadline.com/2026/10/insi...

deadline.comInside BBC Cuts: Painful Service Closures Begin, But Worse Is To ComeBBC boss Matt Brittin is grappling with a financial crisis that is precipitating some of the most painful cuts in the BBC's history.

Simon reposted

Evan Urquhart
@evanurquhart.bsky.social

Replying to @evanurquhart.bsky.social

"How dare you accurately describe the struggle I want you to engage in to get your rights back!!!!" Yeah, man. Sorry about that. I didn't know that was a sacred cow for you. I'll try to remember to pretend we'll be fighting evil Republicans who are stopping the Democrats from doing the right thing.

Simon reposted

Ciaran Martin
@ciaranm.bsky.social

A month ago, Sir Jim Ratcliffe lectured the Prime Minister, telling him he should run Britain in the same way he runs Manchester United

Simon reposted

Andrew Beasley
@andrewbeasleyfootball.com

Brighton are the best team Liverpool have played this season and it’s not even close. So that’s an excellent three points. Brighton had the first big chance of the game but that was their lot on that front. Eight wins in the last 10 in all comps. Up the Reds.

Simon reposted

Chris Bertram
@crookedfootball.bsky.social

Ludicrous. Europe's centrists have (especially in France) pursued an active policy of bashing and blaming the left while simultaneously adopting large parts of the far-right's programme and ditching key liberal principles. You've been in power for years: the social and economic malaise is on you.

ft.comEurope’s moderates must stop treating politics as a spectator sportWhile centrists have retreated to myriad bubbles, extremists turn up, join up and organise
Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Brilliant covering from Trey but also really intelligent defending by Ron. Doesn’t get sucked it when it’s 2 on 1 and forces a the attacker to make a decision.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Would be just Coventry’s luck that they could end up being the only opponent against whom James Maddison plays 60+ minutes this season.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

It’s genuinely galling to see how close and yet how far the commentariat are from realising that the welfare costs that they are so bothered about are largely the result of decades of underfunding of health and social care.

Dean Hochlaf@dhochlaf.bsky.social

It would be cheaper, but the NHS and wider health system were systemically underfunded for a decade, which eroded the capacity of healthcare just before a major pandemic, and now capacity has been so heavily eroded it is failing to keep up with existing demand and requires major investment to fix

Simon reposted

ændra.
@aendra.com

Imagine feeling like your country's newsmedia could at any time turn its back and begin this level of hate campaign against you, to the point that they harass you and everyone you love to the literal ends of the earth, mining you for content until your death and even after. How would you live life?

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Another one here where the British press just smashed fuck out of a member of the public’s life for no good reason, just because they wanted to and nobody will stop them doing at. And they’re still going, even now.

Simon reposted

Billie Jean Sweeney
@billiejsweeney.bsky.social

Replying to @evanurquhart.bsky.social

Rowling *never* writes about women’s rights, workplace discrimination or the threats to women from predatory men. I tracked her posts for five months: Well over 200 hateful transphobic smears. Not a single post about women’s actual concerns or needs None

Simon reposted

Billie Jean Sweeney
@billiejsweeney.bsky.social

I’ve been on X the past couple days, posting a few things about Rowling, which drew “interest” from her fans. A few quick observations:

Billie Jean Sweeney@billiejsweeney.bsky.social

Rowling *never* writes about women’s rights, workplace discrimination or the threats to women from predatory men. I tracked her posts for five months: Well over 200 hateful transphobic smears. Not a single post about women’s actual concerns or needs None

Simon reposted

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

It’s so telling that Robin Ince has used the word ‘openly’ here. Any time I write a piece in the Scottish press that’s supportive of trans folk it unleashes a tidal wave of hate and threats that lasts for days. It is a deliberate exercise in silencing support and further isolating trans people.

This post is unavailable.
Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

A lot of the commentary around Palmer losing his shit is exaggerated by the people having mistaken him being able to stay calm under pressure when (say) taking a penalty for him having a generally cool temperament. The truth is that he’s quite often petulant when things aren’t going his way.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

I don’t know who was doing the co commentary on the Coventry Fulham game for Sky but I think maybe it was a bit much them doing it in full Fulham kit.

Simon reposted

Kieron Gillen
@kierongillen.bsky.social

My mind is just collapsing at the "we have far-right entryist groups offering themselves as middle-men to hook you up with professional hitmen, but our big priority is covering up pride pins" of the present BBC.

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

I do think it would be a good idea if people who are vociferous online about national and international politics were more active in their local area. But this take is, honestly, utter bullshit.

Anon Opin@anonopin.bsky.social

It's sad that a lot of people seem to care more about US politics than their own local politics. Donald Trump has much less effect on your life than you think he does.

Simon reposted

Mark Grimshaw
@markgrimshawtism.bsky.social

For an organisation so desperate to save money, the BBC seems to have an unusually large visual effects budget to spend on covering or removing queer flags and slogans.

Simon reposted

Andrew Beasley
@andrewbeasleyfootball.com

I read a good article in The Guardian today. It was Xabi Alonso talking about how Chelsea no longer get daft red cards and how Penders is the new Courtois.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Ditto Morgan Rogers.

Simon@bitginger.bsky.social

Cole Palmer with another addition to the pantheon of what inexplicably does not constitute violent conduct in top level English football.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Now if I understand how this works from that time Virgil got sent off, Palmer gets extra games added to his suspension for arguing the point and not leaving the pitch, right?

Simon reposted

RM
@stuck-in.bsky.social

Replying to @stuck-in.bsky.social

Ref saw Palmer’s hairline and thought he’s having a bad enough day as it is

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Cole Palmer with another addition to the pantheon of what inexplicably does not constitute violent conduct in top level English football.

Simon
@bitginger.bsky.social

Not only do not I recognise this trope. I can’t think of a single sci-fi or fantasy movie that it applies to. Which makes me think it’s just a fantasy of the person making this submission.

Anon Opin@anonopin.bsky.social

That trope often found in sci-fi and fantasy where an old man takes a young girl away from her home on an adventure, sometimes never to return, is barely disguised kidnap/paedophilia fantasy.