O.D. Smith

O.D. Smith

@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Writer of things, snarker at a much greater number of things. https://linktr.ee/ODSmithWriter

516 followers246 following1K posts

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

I'm sure in about a decade's time it might be possible to discuss the misery that was supporting Tottenham last season without somebody barging in to bellow how Thomas Frank is responsible for everything, and definitely not the board having a terminal case of the Genovese effect for half a season.

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

I am a grown man. I must resist the ads for the chonky rat plush. So I'll be getting the LED fridge magnet that looks like a Family Mart sign instead. Obviously.

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

"What was your biggest impact on the Internet?" For at least eighteen months, the Wikipedia page for Croydon said it was twinned with Prypiat. That was me.

Sarah Z@sarahz.bsky.social

"What was your biggest impact on the Internet?" Well unfortunately,

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Well this aged surprisingly badly. #COYS

O.D. Smith@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Looking out of the window at the cold, damp and grey morning beyond, I wonder what could possibly make today more grim and unpleasant. And then I remember that Spurs are visiting Stamford Pit later.

O.D. Smith 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. * * *
O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Looking out of the window at the cold, damp and grey morning beyond, I wonder what could possibly make today more grim and unpleasant. And then I remember that Spurs are visiting Stamford Pit later.

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

-Password sign-in isn't available. Try another method. -(Texting a code to your phone) isn't working right now. Please try another way to verify it's you. -We'll send a code to an account you can't log into because password sign-in and text message verification aren't working. Bugger off, Outlook.

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

"James told me there's an old saying here on earth: 'May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.' Not sure if Turian heaven is the same as yours but, if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there...meet me at the bar. I'm buying." - Garrus Vakarian

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Bit of a double whammy here: not only is a known scammer paying for ads on Youtube, but when I tried to report the ad (due to it being a scam) I was impolitely but firmly told my report has not gone through because of something on their end. And, of course, no option was given to block the scammer.

O.D. Smith reposted

spooky cannoli
@boner.ink

fortnite doesn't even seem like a game to me, feels more like a 3D asset aggregator and glorified chat room where your avatar can be any character from any IP in the history of creation. i cant even begin to imagine there's actual gameplay

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

I worked at a script consultancy run by an obvious scammer for 11 days. He didn't pay staff (thought the ad said he would), expected us to pay to see his weekly seminars, and routinely shouted and screamed at any staff and clients who disagreed with his wrong opinion(s). Can't think why I quit...

This post is unavailable.
O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

How much of a scammer? One day in the office, somebody who won a contest a few months prior offering a free script consultancy, a one-year Cineworld membership and something I've forgotten called asking where their prize was. The response? "Tell him to fuck off" bellowed through the office.

O.D. Smith reposted

Sarah Kendzior
@sarahkendzior.bsky.social

I picked chestnuts from my neighbors’ trees and then tried to sell them to my neighbors, including the neighbors from whom I stole. I was six years old. Realizing now this is the same business model as AI.

This post is unavailable.
O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

For comparison, the shortest amount of time I've ever lasted in a job was eleven days. A job I quit due to the boss doing a 180 on the whole "paying people" thing compared to the job ad, plus their approach to leadership was shouting and screaming at his unpaid employees until they agreed with him.

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social

BREAKING NYT: Trump's new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired Friday, after less than a week on the job, according to three people familiar with the matter.

nytimes.comKatie Zacharia, Trump’s New Press Secretary, Is Fired After 5 DaysThe ouster came as Ms. Zacharia was shadowed by questions about how she had presented her legal career and handled her first press briefing.
O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Can't wait until the Croydon Tramlink is out of action for 8-10 weeks because some berk in their Tesla wanted to do a sick flip at a pedestrian crossing.

O.D. Smith reposted

Phil McDuff
@mcduff.bsky.social

Indeed the question isn't why these journalists found racists in Reform, it's why all the journalists who hang out with them all day and have their phone numbers and invite them on their TV shows can't find any.

Athena Kugblenu@athenakugblenu.bsky.social

the joke is you don't need to go undercover. Frank Drebin could find racists in Reform lol

O.D. Smith reposted

Patrick Ness
@patricknessbooks.bsky.social

The BBC announcing a two part doc on JK Rowling the same week as erasing a “protect the dolls” t-shirt is a pretty clear choice. They’re just full on promoting another network’s show now as long as it’s trans people who pay the price. Good to know, Beeb.

O.D. Smith reposted

Kieron Gillen
@kierongillen.bsky.social

Found myself thinking about AI folks talking about customised music and the universe when The DJ Plays Your Song and no-one else knows it so you're alone on the dancefloor, and that's meant to be a good thing. Bizarre.

O.D. Smith
@odsmithwriter.bsky.social

Oh I love online Tottenham discourse. After three seasons of sticking the claim Giovani Lo Celso was never fit for Spurs but was for the Argentina team onto Cristian Romero regardless of evidence, I've already seen attempts to move the "hothead" label from Romero onto Rodrigo Bentancur this season.