Mark McCormack

Mark McCormack

@markmccormack.bsky.social

Sociologist. Professor. Focus on sexualities, transgressive leisure and society. Editor-in-Chief of Sexuality & Culture. Posts are in a personal capacity. I volunteer with The Loop, read and play badminton.

1K followers811 following399 posts

Mark McCormack reposted

American Historical Association
@historians.org

Do you need to know what you think before you start writing? Not necessarily, argues historian Lynn Hunt. In a 2010 #AHAPerspectives essay, Hunt explores how the act of writing itself generates new ideas and why getting words on the page is essential to the thinking process.

historians.orgHow Writing Leads to Thinking (and Not the Other Way Around) – AHAWriting is stressful. Sitting in my computer chair my neck and shoulder muscles almost immediately tense up as I dig around in my brain for the best phrase or even any coherent string of words.

Mark McCormack reposted

TAHK0
@tahk0.bsky.social

Guillermo Del Toro dropping another one liner that’s exactly how I feel about AI slop, the “punishment” is built in

Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Oof

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. * * *
Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Further good news - all references to sexuality after the watershed are moderately acceptable! No need for clear and strong justification for any homophobic slur!

Tom Roberts@tpgroberts.bsky.social

TERF now a slur somewhere between cis and batty boy, for those keeping up at home.

Mark McCormack reposted

Tiffany C. Li
@tiffanycli.bsky.social

“Some researchers are now seeing the models more as competitors than tools—and the use of them as a betrayal.”

Jennifer Ouellette@jenlucpiquant.bsky.social

Scientists worry AI is stealing their ideas www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...

scientificamerican.comScientists worry AI is stealing their ideasResearchers are using AI as a sounding board throughout their work. But concerns are growing that companies may present users’ ideas as those of their models

Mark McCormack reposted

Leonardo Carella
@leonardocarella.bsky.social

In other words, a 10 percent contraction in one of Britain’s most successful exports. If it were steel or fish or other infinitely less profitable sectors, people would be having a meltdown.

Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social

Visa applications to study in the UK fell by 10.3 per cent for the key recruitment month of September, new Home Office figures show. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #highered #visas #internationalstudents #edusky https://ow.ly/3LSs50ZVPAE

Mark McCormack reposted

HJA Civil Liberties
@hjacivillibs.bsky.social

An AI tool used to speed up the processing of thousands of asylum cases, which the Home Office rolled out to summarise interview transcripts with asylum seekers, is failing basic accuracy tests www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

independent.co.ukAI tool used in thousands of asylum claims failing basic accuracy testsExclusive: MPs, charities and rights group warn that accuracy should not be sacrificed for speed in ‘life and death’ asylum decisions

Mark McCormack reposted

Christopher Julian
@chrisajulian.bsky.social

I reanalyzed the CDC data behind the LGB “free fall” headline. It rests on a change in bisexual identification among one grade, in one wave, of one survey. Gay or lesbian identification did not change significantly. Calling it a "free fall" is sensational and just gives bad actors talking points.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

Young teenagers are less likely to identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual than a few years ago, according to a new analysis. “It really does look like a free fall,” Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology, said. “But what’s causing it is unclear.”

washingtonpost.comNumber of teens who identify themselves as gay or bisexual is in ‘free fall’Conservatives have trumpeted the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but researchers say the reasons for the decline are unclear.
Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

My university has rolled out co-pilot across our accounts. One amazing benefit of this is my calendar now suggests I "prepare" ahead of upcoming meetings. Great idea! Money well spent.

Mark McCormack reposted

Rachel Parris
@rachelparris.bsky.social

Hey folks. In total honesty my tour is NOT selling well. I’ve sold 30 tickets in a 400 seater in Birmingham, and not much more elsewhere. If you like musical comedy, if you like standup, then please come see my show! And spread the word! The Rachel Parris Songbook tour starts in Nov! Link in bio! 🎶

Mark McCormack reposted

Onni Gust
@onnigust.bsky.social

41% staffing cuts in the Faculty of Arts at UoN. We're entering a wilderness of creativity and critical thinking.

Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

I'm seeing increasing number of submissions with paragraphs neither indented nor with a line gap between. I see it with manuscripts I don't believe are AI... but why am I seeing it happen a lot more...?

Mark McCormack reposted

Margot Finn
@eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social

Brian Cox: research system ‘cannot be used to engineer growth’. Labour 2026: Star physicist warns UKRI’s economic remit is causing “serious problems”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

researchprofessionalnews.comBrian Cox: research system ‘cannot be used to engineer growth’ - Research Professional NewsLabour 2026: Star physicist warns UKRI’s economic remit is causing “serious problems”
Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Absolutely loved this when it came out. I remember a motorbike killing scene which was amazingly done

BrokenBanker@brokenbanker.bsky.social

in the interest of recripocal tips, this is the best thing I've seen this century: masterful plotting, perfectly cast and executed. the episode mainly featuring Stephen Rea and Anthony Sher is outstanding:

Mark McCormack reposted

Tom Roberts
@tpgroberts.bsky.social

Fundamentally, the median voter has had a tax cut since 2010 and the result is that nothing works.

Nick Garland@npjgarland.bsky.social

Kind of grimly fascinating as always, coming from the former director of strategy to a Labour PM. There just isn't a future for a centre-left politics that is this hostile to pretty basic progressive values.

Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Shocking - and not really disclosed in the call.

John Stott@jpsastro.bsky.social

Had a UKRI funded grant proposal rejected at the "AI triage stage". "This AI-based triage was used only to identify approximately 50% of the strongest proposals to take forward to full human review." 🧪 #academicsky

Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

EVs all the way. They are also now just great to drive.

Doug Parr@dougparr.bsky.social

Fuel cost of running an electric vehicle vs petrol was always significant, now factor of 9 for diesel New EVs inevitably flow into second-hand market where ££ savings are made by all societal segments UK Govt plans to dilute the mandate for EVs will stop that www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-evs...

Mark McCormack reposted

Tom Roberts
@tpgroberts.bsky.social

Not to harp on this, but one man has now coordinated the disruption of a port, two separate attacks on the RNLI, and interference with the border force and the police have no further questions? And the Home Secretary has not noticed?

This post is unavailable.
Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Good grief

Mic Wright@brokenbottleboy.bsky.social

Evan Davis on PM asked if ‘Danny Tommo’ “had any kind of point” by puncturing a dinghy with a knife because “the [authorities] should be doing that themselves”. He went on to describe it as “vigilante action”.

Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Good grief

Jane@localnotail.bsky.social

Daniel Thomas / Danny Tommo has today marched his private army of blackshorts to Daily Mail HQ to demand a new house for his mum within 48 hrs, after they doorstepped her for a feature on him. Apparently he plans to blockade them + cry at them until they do Bet those lads are glad of the balaclavas

Mark McCormack reposted

Sam Freedman
@samfr.bsky.social

It might be a good idea for a senior politician to talk about the AI alignment risk at some point given I suspect the vast majority of the population have no idea it exists, except maybe in a jokey sci-fi sort of way.

Mark McCormack reposted

Andy Scollick
@andyscollick.bsky.social

On whose orders are Kent Police NOT questioning the organisers of the fascist paramilitary 'storm' action in Dover? 🤔 Can a police force really be this incompetent? Or is there some kind of operational reason for not questioning threats to national security? Or, indeed, is there a conspiracy? 🤨

bbc.comKent Police yet to speak to Dover protest organisersThe Kent force is inviting those behind Saturday's protest at the Port of Dover to get in touch.

Mark McCormack reposted

Andy Scollick
@andyscollick.bsky.social

I'm not going to reproduce the proipaganda photo of the three white ladies here because that's what the fascists want. But it's all over facebook (just search for 'Dover'). Then follow the trail to find that these 'ladies' are Far Right sympathisers if not active supporters.

Mic Wright@brokenbottleboy.bsky.social

The Times has run a story this morning about how ‘polite’ the masked men in Dover were to three white ladies on a train. Propaganda in its clumsiest form.

Mark McCormack reposted

Will Jennings📉🗳️
@drjennings.bsky.social

"in a stand-off with the RNLI"... the RNLI!

Emma Yeomans@yeomans.bsky.social

Extreme right-wing protesters are in a stand-off with the RNLI in Portsmouth. The group, led by Danny Tommo, are waist-deep in the sea and threatening to go "under the water" if police try to arrest them. Six lifeboats monitoring. Volunteer rescuers giving up their evening for this.

Mark McCormack reposted

Patrick Dunleavy
@patrickdunleavy.bsky.social

Disgraceful police behaviour here. Do they sympathasize with fascists? Is this what their inaction and blatant mistruths are designed to signal? If so, they are sowing a whirlwind that will come to haunt them, and us, as it did in Weimar. news.sky.com/story/police...

news.sky.comPolice response to Dover protests set to come under scrutiny, as Tommy Robinson associate appears to claim creditCampaign group Hope Not Hate linked the action to the Patriot Platform, a group recently launched by Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo.

Mark McCormack reposted

Andy Scollick
@andyscollick.bsky.social

Another compilation video from yesterday's fascist paramilitary 'storm' action in #Dover town and at the Port of Dover. #FarRight Some national security-related observations below.

Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Extraordinary report well worth watching in full

Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social

Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation. www.channel4.com/news/exclusi...

channel4.comExclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donationsUndercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.
Mark McCormack
@markmccormack.bsky.social

Seems big.

Channel 4 News@channel4news.bsky.social

Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation. 🔗 Read the exclusive story on Substack:

channel4news.substack.comExclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donationsUndercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.

Mark McCormack reposted

Eoghan Daltun 🌍
@irishrainforest.bsky.social

THE most impactful thing you can do as an individual, right now, to help stop the mass nature die-off humanity is driving? Reduce or stop consumption of beef and other animal-based foods.

Our World in Data@ourworldindata.org

📝 New article on Our World in Data: Beef production in Brazil has been the largest driver of global deforestation in recent decades. The largest driver of deforestation globally is the expansion of agricultural land.

Mark McCormack reposted

Bo Thompson
@gaudipern.bsky.social

(1/3) With Dolly Parton's passing, I want to put good words on the wind for her. Feel free to quote reply with your own. Dolly became the single largest donor for the Moderna COVID vaccine because of a chance encounter and friendship with a Vanderbilt researcher Dr. Naji Abumrad years earlier. She

Mark McCormack reposted

Natalie Bennett
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social

Powerful and important letter about artificial so-called intelligence from Sheila Hayman from Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge, in the FT today