Bess Hamilton
@besshamilton.bsky.social
Writer. Canadian. May I be a star in the dark time. She/her. My opinions & views are mine alone. Am guaranteed AI-free.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
one of the deepest sicknesses in the world are the people who feel personally attacked over other people getting the same rights as them
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says marriage equality turned US “against religious liberty” - buff.ly/srirzs6
October 6, 2026 at 6:36 PM
one of the deepest sicknesses in the world are the people who feel personally attacked over other people getting the same rights as them
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
The "Is AI alive" conversation is 100% this, too. If you can be conned by a chatbot, I fear for your general safety. You are the guy at the stripclub who think the dancers really like you.
We used to call this stupidity. There were smart people and stupid people and we let the smart people do the things they were good at and the stupid people were taken care of and didn't need to worry about what the smart people were doing. But now we let the stupid people think they're smart.
Greg Gutfeld says he doesn't understand how vaccines work as “a community preventative thing”
September 26, 2026 at 7:16 PM
The "Is AI alive" conversation is 100% this, too. If you can be conned by a chatbot, I fear for your general safety. You are the guy at the stripclub who think the dancers really like you.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
Even in a reality where it was all public domain, and artist were compensated, generative AI is a net negative for creative spaces and fields and only serves to weaken the value of human work. There's no world where generative AI is good even if it is ethical. (Which I do not think it can be.)
This is your occasional reminder that generative "AI" in particular could have been developed on public domain materials and/or licensed and compensated works but the major players intentionally, methodically and systemically chose to steal labor from working creative folks instead
October 6, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Even in a reality where it was all public domain, and artist were compensated, generative AI is a net negative for creative spaces and fields and only serves to weaken the value of human work. There's no world where generative AI is good even if it is ethical. (Which I do not think it can be.)
My dad apparently accidentally tried on a pair of super skinny jeans at a thrift store. I would've paid money to see that.
"They were leggings! They were so tight but stretchy. Leggings! Who wears these?"
He wouldn't let my mom see him in them because "she'd just make fun of me."
"They were leggings! They were so tight but stretchy. Leggings! Who wears these?"
He wouldn't let my mom see him in them because "she'd just make fun of me."
October 6, 2026 at 7:23 PM
My dad apparently accidentally tried on a pair of super skinny jeans at a thrift store. I would've paid money to see that.
"They were leggings! They were so tight but stretchy. Leggings! Who wears these?"
He wouldn't let my mom see him in them because "she'd just make fun of me."
"They were leggings! They were so tight but stretchy. Leggings! Who wears these?"
He wouldn't let my mom see him in them because "she'd just make fun of me."
It adds a layer of depression that these accounts use women characters that look like a horrifying amalgamation of the mom from the Incredibles and a Bratz doll. Yet despite the physically impossible anatomical proportions, many viewers probably can't tell these aren't real women.
This is a good illustration of how so much of AI theft isn't indirect (ie, data sucked into a model to train the chatbot) - it's actually **direct** copying, but *enabled* by GenAI.
Of course it is: chatbots absolutely suck at creating good, new stuff.
Of course it is: chatbots absolutely suck at creating good, new stuff.
October 6, 2026 at 7:08 PM
It adds a layer of depression that these accounts use women characters that look like a horrifying amalgamation of the mom from the Incredibles and a Bratz doll. Yet despite the physically impossible anatomical proportions, many viewers probably can't tell these aren't real women.
I've got bronchitis & I'm really struggling with resting enough.
I'm not doing much but I also feel stressed & guilty about it.
When I do try to do anything more involved than dicking around on my phone, I tire out quickly. If I try to do anything physical, I have coughing fits.
So annoying.
I'm not doing much but I also feel stressed & guilty about it.
When I do try to do anything more involved than dicking around on my phone, I tire out quickly. If I try to do anything physical, I have coughing fits.
So annoying.
October 6, 2026 at 6:59 PM
I've got bronchitis & I'm really struggling with resting enough.
I'm not doing much but I also feel stressed & guilty about it.
When I do try to do anything more involved than dicking around on my phone, I tire out quickly. If I try to do anything physical, I have coughing fits.
So annoying.
I'm not doing much but I also feel stressed & guilty about it.
When I do try to do anything more involved than dicking around on my phone, I tire out quickly. If I try to do anything physical, I have coughing fits.
So annoying.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
As an experiment I'm letting the paid tier of Gemini assist me in running my fantasy baseball team this year and based on my experience with this so far, the idea that LLMs are ready to take anyone's job is insane.
April 14, 2026 at 6:05 AM
As an experiment I'm letting the paid tier of Gemini assist me in running my fantasy baseball team this year and based on my experience with this so far, the idea that LLMs are ready to take anyone's job is insane.
One year, I came in third in my dad's work's fantasy hockey pool simply by selecting players based on how fun their names were to say or how much their names sounded like stereotypical hockey names.
Why would I let AI rob me of that kind of fun (or surprise couple hundred bucks)?
Why would I let AI rob me of that kind of fun (or surprise couple hundred bucks)?
Just saw someone say their AI runs their fantasy football team and I can’t stop laughing. Like, I’m sure everyone’s doing it or something but it’s very funny to me that pretending to be a team manager was so hard that you needed to pretend to pretend to be a team manager
October 6, 2026 at 6:54 PM
One year, I came in third in my dad's work's fantasy hockey pool simply by selecting players based on how fun their names were to say or how much their names sounded like stereotypical hockey names.
Why would I let AI rob me of that kind of fun (or surprise couple hundred bucks)?
Why would I let AI rob me of that kind of fun (or surprise couple hundred bucks)?
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
Whenever someone says 'agents make me more productive' I quickly realize that I'm talking to someone who aspires to be middle management, in charge of a bunch of Digital Jenny McCarthys, and I feel like their soul must have left their body years ago and left behind an empty, joyless void.
can’t think of a better example of AI being mostly a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist
also it can’t help when this is your user base
also it can’t help when this is your user base
October 6, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Whenever someone says 'agents make me more productive' I quickly realize that I'm talking to someone who aspires to be middle management, in charge of a bunch of Digital Jenny McCarthys, and I feel like their soul must have left their body years ago and left behind an empty, joyless void.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
Who could have imagined that the exact same sort of trumped up anti-science attacks on gender affirming care could be used against doctors and parents for vaccinating kids?
Oh right, me.
Oh right, me.
Paxton is threatening Texas pediatricians who are just trying to do their jobs and keep kids healthy, accusing them of “misleading or deceptive acts regarding incentives associated with the administration of childhood vaccines”
Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate, has alleged a sprawling profit-driven conspiracy. Pediatricians say the accusations are an attempt at intimidation.
www.nytimes.com
October 5, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Who could have imagined that the exact same sort of trumped up anti-science attacks on gender affirming care could be used against doctors and parents for vaccinating kids?
Oh right, me.
Oh right, me.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
To celebrate Anti-Prime Day, why not consider supporting artists, writers, creators? Buy a book, purchase an indie video game, commission an art piece, gift someone a Patreon. Your support means everything.
October 6, 2026 at 5:03 PM
To celebrate Anti-Prime Day, why not consider supporting artists, writers, creators? Buy a book, purchase an indie video game, commission an art piece, gift someone a Patreon. Your support means everything.
I drive a 2015 Toyota Yaris and I plan to run that car into the ground. It has an early touch screen for the radio, but also has knobs. It only has a basic level of software in it for various sensors to function. It still has an actual key!
[car dealership waiting room]
Me: [chanting] knobs, knobs-
Other car buyers: knobs, KNOBS
Car salesman: [pounding desk] KNOBS, KNOBS, KNOBS!
Me: [chanting] knobs, knobs-
Other car buyers: knobs, KNOBS
Car salesman: [pounding desk] KNOBS, KNOBS, KNOBS!
Knobs Returning To Some Automakers’ Vehicles, To The Relief Of Many
Auto companies are listening to the complaints of consumers, who want their knobs and buttons back.
www.forbes.com
October 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM
I drive a 2015 Toyota Yaris and I plan to run that car into the ground. It has an early touch screen for the radio, but also has knobs. It only has a basic level of software in it for various sensors to function. It still has an actual key!
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
That's right
Fun fact: Tesla went with a giant touchscreen instead of knobs for the Model 3 purely to save time and money. Knobs would have required spinning up a whole supply chain. The company spun it as a luxury feature and much of the industry followed suit. But it was always an inferior substitute.
[car dealership waiting room]
Me: [chanting] knobs, knobs-
Other car buyers: knobs, KNOBS
Car salesman: [pounding desk] KNOBS, KNOBS, KNOBS!
Me: [chanting] knobs, knobs-
Other car buyers: knobs, KNOBS
Car salesman: [pounding desk] KNOBS, KNOBS, KNOBS!
October 6, 2026 at 6:44 PM
That's right
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
Touchscreens are cheap but look futuristic, car makers were hoping you didn't notice but you did and that's awesome. Fixing a problem that didn't exist because you're a cheap ass mf is gonna be real expensive for a lot of folks.
[car dealership waiting room]
Me: [chanting] knobs, knobs-
Other car buyers: knobs, KNOBS
Car salesman: [pounding desk] KNOBS, KNOBS, KNOBS!
Me: [chanting] knobs, knobs-
Other car buyers: knobs, KNOBS
Car salesman: [pounding desk] KNOBS, KNOBS, KNOBS!
Knobs Returning To Some Automakers’ Vehicles, To The Relief Of Many
Auto companies are listening to the complaints of consumers, who want their knobs and buttons back.
www.forbes.com
October 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Touchscreens are cheap but look futuristic, car makers were hoping you didn't notice but you did and that's awesome. Fixing a problem that didn't exist because you're a cheap ass mf is gonna be real expensive for a lot of folks.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
It doesn't help that there are tons of people, especially in very high places, screaming that they *need* this stuff, that they can't do their work without it, work they had been doing for decades without LLMs.
October 5, 2026 at 8:10 PM
It doesn't help that there are tons of people, especially in very high places, screaming that they *need* this stuff, that they can't do their work without it, work they had been doing for decades without LLMs.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
"But if it was limited only to public domain it couldn't function like it does!" I mean:
a) That's why I noted "licensed and compensated works"
b) It doesn't excuse IP theft or materially argue for the value of a tech apparently only possible through IP theft
c) It's not too late to compensate!
a) That's why I noted "licensed and compensated works"
b) It doesn't excuse IP theft or materially argue for the value of a tech apparently only possible through IP theft
c) It's not too late to compensate!
October 5, 2026 at 7:38 PM
"But if it was limited only to public domain it couldn't function like it does!" I mean:
a) That's why I noted "licensed and compensated works"
b) It doesn't excuse IP theft or materially argue for the value of a tech apparently only possible through IP theft
c) It's not too late to compensate!
a) That's why I noted "licensed and compensated works"
b) It doesn't excuse IP theft or materially argue for the value of a tech apparently only possible through IP theft
c) It's not too late to compensate!
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
This is your occasional reminder that generative "AI" in particular could have been developed on public domain materials and/or licensed and compensated works but the major players intentionally, methodically and systemically chose to steal labor from working creative folks instead
October 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
This is your occasional reminder that generative "AI" in particular could have been developed on public domain materials and/or licensed and compensated works but the major players intentionally, methodically and systemically chose to steal labor from working creative folks instead
I'm a weirdo. I love the Kerr's molasses kisses.
A Canadian Halloween tradition that most people hate.
When I was 13, I pulled the anchor for my braces off my back molar thanks to one of these candies. My mom was so mad!
A Canadian Halloween tradition that most people hate.
When I was 13, I pulled the anchor for my braces off my back molar thanks to one of these candies. My mom was so mad!
October 6, 2026 at 6:28 PM
I'm a weirdo. I love the Kerr's molasses kisses.
A Canadian Halloween tradition that most people hate.
When I was 13, I pulled the anchor for my braces off my back molar thanks to one of these candies. My mom was so mad!
A Canadian Halloween tradition that most people hate.
When I was 13, I pulled the anchor for my braces off my back molar thanks to one of these candies. My mom was so mad!
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
The thing about Halloween is that Coffee Crisp is actually the best chocolate bar and as a fun-sized bar it's ever better
October 6, 2026 at 6:11 PM
The thing about Halloween is that Coffee Crisp is actually the best chocolate bar and as a fun-sized bar it's ever better
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
I pitched my Katy Perry Killed Sister Catherine Rose story to SO MANY PLACES who either didn't believe me or said there was no audience for that and yes it happened and people would read the hell out of it. Katy ran to Canada to hide from Jesus but he sees all Katy Justin can't save you
wait katy perry tried to buy a convent but it became a property dispute with the nuns who were trying to buy it back as well and it became a years-long legal dispute and one of the nuns (in the courtroom), one who had begged katy to “please stop” (i am unsure of when) JUST DIED IN THE COURT???
October 6, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I pitched my Katy Perry Killed Sister Catherine Rose story to SO MANY PLACES who either didn't believe me or said there was no audience for that and yes it happened and people would read the hell out of it. Katy ran to Canada to hide from Jesus but he sees all Katy Justin can't save you
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
kinda breathtaking to watch the U.S. media establishment lose its shit about one maybe-plague death in a Russian backwater town with 3,887 confirmed measles cases reported in the United States, SO FAR, in 2026
October 6, 2026 at 5:45 PM
kinda breathtaking to watch the U.S. media establishment lose its shit about one maybe-plague death in a Russian backwater town with 3,887 confirmed measles cases reported in the United States, SO FAR, in 2026
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
Ghost Writer.
Built from scratch, by hand, by me.
Built from scratch, by hand, by me.
October 6, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Ghost Writer.
Built from scratch, by hand, by me.
Built from scratch, by hand, by me.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
This will be a thread of essays I recommend to students in my creative nonfiction workshop:
September 30, 2026 at 4:12 PM
This will be a thread of essays I recommend to students in my creative nonfiction workshop:
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
"The social and psychological benefits of work" are freely available to anyone without having an employer. UBI just gives people a choice about what to work on.
Is UBI the answer to AI-driven job displacement?
Sir Christopher Pissarides and Kirsten Sehnbruch suggest not: “the social and psychological benefits of work should not be underestimated and cannot be replaced by income benefits”
#LSEInequalitiesBlog buff.ly/4U6YrXT
Sir Christopher Pissarides and Kirsten Sehnbruch suggest not: “the social and psychological benefits of work should not be underestimated and cannot be replaced by income benefits”
#LSEInequalitiesBlog buff.ly/4U6YrXT
AI and labour market inequalities: Three starting points for discussion
AI-driven disruptions demand a total rethink of public policies to deal with very sizeable labour market inequalities. Where to start in thinking this through?
buff.ly
October 3, 2026 at 11:28 AM
"The social and psychological benefits of work" are freely available to anyone without having an employer. UBI just gives people a choice about what to work on.
Reposted by Bess Hamilton
THAT IS NOT THE ONLY THING EDUCATION IS FOR! IT ISN’T EVEN THE MAIN THING!
'Amanda Spielman, who previously led education watchdog Ofsted from 2017 to 2023, warned too many people are being misled by the allure of university courses that fail to result in improved economic and life outcomes.'
Ofsted has such a sterling reputation.
Ofsted has such a sterling reputation.
Bad degrees ‘eating up’ young people’s lives – shadow minister
Students left underoccupied and ‘kicking their heels’ at university, according to former Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman
www.timeshighereducation.com
October 6, 2026 at 3:45 PM
THAT IS NOT THE ONLY THING EDUCATION IS FOR! IT ISN’T EVEN THE MAIN THING!