Hughstergeist

Hughstergeist

@hughster.bsky.social

Keyboard warrior with an opinion on everything (and a presence on far too many social media platforms). 🇬🇧

1.7K followers1K following16.4K posts

Hughstergeist reposted

Rose Schmits
@roseschmits.bsky.social

Yissss

Rose Schmits@roseschmits.bsky.social

I know absolutely nothing about Lula except that i saw someone share a clip on insta of him in celebration kissing a trans woman politician on the cheek and oh my god is that a radical act for a politician in 2026 so lets fucking go

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

No pressure, France

Anne Applebaum@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu

In one day, two politicians - Bolsonaro in Brazil and Vucic in Serbia - with ties to Trump have lost surprise elections thanks to high turnout. The rise of the international far-right is not inevitable.

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

There must be a way for phones to detect when the user is in an enclosed public space or public transportation and display an on-screen warning about considering others, recommending headphones and/or setting a low volume level before playing any audio

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

"In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming … If such items are not removed…a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding…edits” Does anyone know if UC guests ever have lapel pins visible?

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. * * *
Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

"In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming … If such items are not removed…a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding…edits” Does anyone know if UC guests ever have lapel pins visible?

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. * * *
Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

These people still fascinate me. You admit you don't worry about money, life is great by all accounts, and you probably don't live anywhere with many immigrants. But you spend your time on Facebook reading far right ragebait slop about scary immigrants and that becomes all you care about in politics

British Voter@britishvoter.bsky.social

I'm a White English non-religious man from South Dorset, in my thirties. My top issue is immigration. In 2024 I voted Conservative. Today I'd vote Reform UK.

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

You're living in a comfortable bubble, not needing politics to help you, not caring about anyone else less fortunate than you and not caring about what politics could do for them, only caring about imaginary dangers posed by "undesirables" strangers have told you about. A truly miserable existence

Hughstergeist reposted

Chaminda Jayanetti
@cjayanetti.bsky.social

ok we're letting this guy off cos he's a BBC reporter who's at least posting on here rather than the Nazi site. help the man out

Joe Tidy BBC News@joetidy.bsky.social

📢 Journo request! Looking to speak to Sysadmins etc who have been - or are still - dealing with the PHP mayhem. Are you personally on the coalface of this? Have you been patching/ taking sites offline/ handling calls from customers? Can be anonymous if needs be. Please DM/ Signal me!

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

It's corny but one thing it does show is that Reform know their market: rightwing Facebook 40+ers who post such corny memes moaning about taxes and prices

Hughstergeist@hughster.bsky.social

It's a kind of Facebook meme at the moment; lots of people are editing and reposting it with their own names and profile pics. There are also adapted versions for the Home Office and similar depts. The illustrated exchange didn't actually happen but he posted the image as a meme in another post:

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Given 1. sales figures are showing audiobooks starting to outsell written versions and 2. most books still aren't available as audiobooks, perhaps it's time to have a conversation about bridging the gap, whether it's publishers using AI voice models or allowing devices to use text-to-voice on ebooks

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Personally I much prefer ebooks nowadays as 1. I rarely want to buy physical books and have to cart them around, 2. reading ebooks on my phone is too prone to distractions and 3. listening instead means I can be time-efficient by reading in "dead time" when I'm exercising, driving or doing housework

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

This is true—not one mainstream UK outlet has reported this. But then they didn't report our ILGA rating dropping, they didn't report the CoE's warnings about the SC judgement, or pretty much anything else that'd tell us we're becoming internationally abnormal. Institutional transphobia

Natacha@natacha.bsky.social

As predicted no UK mainstream media has mentioned the overturning of the New Zealand puberty-blocker ban, despite it being covered by Reuters.

reuters.comNew Zealand court strikes down puberty blocker banNew Zealand's High Court has struck down regulations banning new prescriptions of puberty blockers for adolescents with ​gender dysphoria, ruling that the measures were made ‌unlawfully and amounted t...

Hughstergeist reposted

Katie Martin
@katie0martin.ft.com

Obviously it would be really childish if loads of Oxford students booked out this event and then didn't attend it. I might ping my kids to see if they have friends at Oxford who would agree with that sentiment. It's important not to be childish, even though it's a form of free speech.

Adam Rutherford@adamrutherford.bsky.social

Offered without comment. www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...

eventbrite.comAn Evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI Undermining Higher Education?Nathan Cofnas will discuss DEI and its impact on higher education and academic freedom.

Hughstergeist reposted

Phil Tinline
@philtinline.bsky.social

"Why do the racists insist on joining our party?" weeps Reform UK, as Reform UK hosts a noted racist

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social

Reform UK Oxford will host a talk in November criticising "DEI" by the Nathan Cofnas, who describes his belief in + commitment to biological racism as "race realism", writing "in a meritocracy, blacks would disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment”.

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Just don't get how they keep getting away with this indiscriminate bigotry. Thousands and thousands of their own supporters will have relatives or children with Down Syndrome. Are they just choosing not to hear? Or choosing to believe it isn't aimed at them?

Anthony Michael Kreis@anthonymkreis.bsky.social

The White House official accounts are posting Down Syndrome slurs to attack journalists. These people are disgusting and morally depraved.

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

We'll never bring back such consequences until social media is forced to start deleting shitty content again. People see it online, it's not taken down, it's got loads of likes and shares, they think it's now fine to behave in the same way

Micah@rincewind.run

we gotta bring back shame, man society doesn’t work real well without consequences for being an enormous piece of shit in public

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

The BBC continuing to remove older content from iPlayer and Sounds is so utterly self-defeating. If it wants any hope of a future as a paid subscription service to rival the likes of Netflix et al it will need to offer everything it's ever done to make the subscription as attractive as possible

Ian Martin@ianmartin.bsky.social

Also, the stuff on Radio4 Extra will NOT remain on Sounds when the service is scrapped. A repeat of my audio drama on the station remained for just 30 days on Sounds, as it had when broadcast on R4. It's not available anywhere now cough. www.mixcloud.com/espeee/the-h...

mixcloud.comThe Hartlepool Spy By Ian Martin - 25th December 2018
Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

So much of these losses might be avoided if the BBC faced reality and switched to a paid subscription model for its core services, with the government only needing to fund all its culturally important but unprofitable services through taxation

Scott Bryan@scottygb.bsky.social

BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra linear channels to go deadline.com/2026/10/bbc-...

deadline.comBBC Confirms Network Closures; BBC Three Switched Off For Second TimeThe BBC is pulling the plug on BBC Three for the second time after the broadcaster confirmed network closures as part of plans to save £500 million.
Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

I pay Netflix every month even if I don't end up watching anything on it that month. Unlike almost everything else I consider it a core service so let it tick over to have it available when needed. I'd do the same for the BBC in a heartbeat and I'm sure most others would too

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Hey EU, if you want a nice new regulatory idea, why not let it be forcing YouTube to allow users to hide all the slop videos already flagged as AI

Hughstergeist reposted

Joel S.
@joelhs.bsky.social

There’s no such thing as “biological Polishness,” and it’s actually bad that some left-wing anti-Zionists have talked themselves into “blood and soil nationalism, but leftishly.” You really can oppose the existence of the state of Israel in its current form without this nonsense.

Notorious VOG@notoriousvog.bsky.social

I RESPECT your point—BUT it doesn't matter what racists call you—biologically & legally, they're Polish & Russian. I REFUSE to entertain fake distinction between anti-Zionism & antisemitism ANYMORE, especially since 'antisemitism' has been completely weaponized to shield genocide. Name the truth!

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

This is precisely it. There should not be a 24/7 pipeline of hatred into our eyes and ears and shutting it off is going to have to become a national priority

Hugo Gordon@hugogordon.bsky.social

This is fucked. Really bleak how entrenched this is becoming.

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

An infuriating watch. Kumar is such a bully. Smirking and staring down women on the panel, shamelessly mainsplaining to the only Jew on the panel that he knows better what Zionism means than they do, ackshyually

Rachel Cunliffe@rmcunliffe.bsky.social

I don’t normally post media appearances, but this feels like an exception. On Politics Live today I’d planned to discuss Green Party infighting after the Zionism motion, entryism, Labour’s response. That kinda thing. It ended up with… well, you’ll see. Final segment. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

bbc.co.ukPolitics Live - How to get young people into work?Andy Burnham says youth unemployment is an 'economic catastrophe' and 'moral failure'.
Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Again, Europe is going to have to realise that American social media giants are not neutral free speech marketplaces but vehicles advancing US government political interference and that we need our own domestic alternatives

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social

We are sensing a pattern

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Yankfash get fucked

AFP News Agency@en.afp.com

Canada's province of Alberta has rejected a plan to hold a binding independence referendum, results show, a setback for separatists backed by allies of US President Donald Trump u.afp.com/SCah

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

I share the mirth at Rajan's ridiculously priced package deals and self-aggrandisement. But at the same time I have to admire any successful attempt to persuade wealthy fools to hand over their money

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

Europe must never forget what the US has done to us. Not just the betrayal of Ukraine but how it's forced its far right politics down our throats and actively helped all the worst elements in our societies to the point of them being poised to take over governments

Olga Nesterova@onestpress.onestnetwork.com

Tuberville: "Zelensky will play hardball, but you know what? He's not even a player in the game. Putin, President Trump, and the people on our side will make the final decision about Ukraine's future."

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

5-min grace period: v. welcome. ParkingEye et al fining people for mistakenly driving in or not finding a space has forced our council to issue warnings about a number of local car parks in recent years Not so fussed about the 10-min leaving time. People should know to leave before time expires

Politics UK@politicsuk.com

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham has announced changes to car parking fines - Drivers will have a 5-minute grace period to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after a parking session ends - A £20 maximum charge on appeal for minor mistakes, such as entering the wrong number plate

Hughstergeist
@hughster.bsky.social

lol, lmao even

Jim Waterson@jim.londoncentric.media

It feels like something from a different age now but The Canary drove certain people insane in the 2010s. (I wrote about them lots, I don't think they liked me, but they were very open in their 'well if the right are twisting facts in an online fight-to-the-death we might as well join in' attitude.)