Chris Millard
@chrismillard83.bsky.social
Historian of modern Britain: self-harm, suicide, child abuse, concepts of personal experience, vicarious trauma. (he/him)
Books on "self-harm" (2015) and "personal experience" (2026) - co-edited book on "sources in the history of psychiatry" (2022)
Books on "self-harm" (2015) and "personal experience" (2026) - co-edited book on "sources in the history of psychiatry" (2022)
Pinned
if you’ve ever wondered why historians are very reluctant to talk about how their own experiences / backgrounds relate to their writing, i wrote a book about some who have tried, and how we all can be more self-conscious & analytical about it. i used myself as a case study. it is free to download!
changes in, and differences between, suicide rates look very different to anyone who has studied coroners’ courts over any length of time
It’s great that suicide rates fell significantly across the world. It’s still baffling just how much higher the rate is in high income countries compared to low income countries.
September 22, 2026 at 7:39 AM
changes in, and differences between, suicide rates look very different to anyone who has studied coroners’ courts over any length of time
speaking “as a person with a mind” is a whole new level of experience / positionality
(I don’t know what this argument is about but that turn of phrase jumped out at me.)
(I don’t know what this argument is about but that turn of phrase jumped out at me.)
good news guys! will stancil 'read up' on the philosophy of mind since yesterday and—get this—turns out he was right
September 21, 2026 at 5:17 PM
speaking “as a person with a mind” is a whole new level of experience / positionality
(I don’t know what this argument is about but that turn of phrase jumped out at me.)
(I don’t know what this argument is about but that turn of phrase jumped out at me.)
Reposted by Chris Millard
One of the faultlines in society is between people who think we should prioritise making sure everyone who's eligible for something gets it, and people who think we should prioritise making sure that nobody who isn't eligible for something gets it
No system is perfect, yes some people might "cheat", but would you rather people who desperately need these things go on suffering so you can be SURE you're not being duped? Why is you not being duped so important that other people have to die for it?
September 21, 2026 at 1:41 PM
One of the faultlines in society is between people who think we should prioritise making sure everyone who's eligible for something gets it, and people who think we should prioritise making sure that nobody who isn't eligible for something gets it
"boy let's not talk too much" hits different now
Ed Sheeran's big song is written so generically and inoffensively that we don't even get to find out what type of body he's into...
I like Ed Sheeran being like "I never spoke about politics. Because my music is about unity, not division" and then the music is like "la la la la I want to touch your body wow. sexy crazy body wow"
September 21, 2026 at 10:33 AM
"boy let's not talk too much" hits different now
some light relief from the unending doom of the academia discourse - this is what peak male self-citation performance looks like
![Various accounts of my diagnosis and treatment for schizophrenia have been published elsewhere [superscript numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.] These publications give details regarding my experiences...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xuecvebvzstg6oxzicurnfh4/bafkreib4y74lqiyi3fxwidkgrrciegv4k3zlh5j5ewfae4c4bljykv4vx4)
September 21, 2026 at 10:20 AM
some light relief from the unending doom of the academia discourse - this is what peak male self-citation performance looks like
“Universities have managed staff costs significantly below inflation,[between 2016-17 and 2023-24] increasing only 14% compared to the 41.2% increase in RPIX [measure of inflation]”
Substantial real terms pay cut, which continues a trend existing years before that…
Substantial real terms pay cut, which continues a trend existing years before that…
Cost of undergraduate provision and qualifications in England
A study of the full economic cost of providing undergraduate-level higher education and other qualifications in England.
www.gov.uk
September 21, 2026 at 5:46 AM
“Universities have managed staff costs significantly below inflation,[between 2016-17 and 2023-24] increasing only 14% compared to the 41.2% increase in RPIX [measure of inflation]”
Substantial real terms pay cut, which continues a trend existing years before that…
Substantial real terms pay cut, which continues a trend existing years before that…
the thing that fries my brain is that the whole HE fees system is utterly broken, everyone who knows anything about it knows it is broken, and nobody who can do anything about it (legislators) seems to want to do anything about it
September 20, 2026 at 5:54 PM
the thing that fries my brain is that the whole HE fees system is utterly broken, everyone who knows anything about it knows it is broken, and nobody who can do anything about it (legislators) seems to want to do anything about it
Reposted by Chris Millard
OOOOOOO! Stefan Collini is to give the Nicolai Rubinstein Lecture! On 12 November at 6pm, @qmulsse.bsky.social is the place to be!
Excuse to re-read his What Are Universities For?
Excuse to re-read his What Are Universities For?
September 11, 2026 at 12:18 PM
OOOOOOO! Stefan Collini is to give the Nicolai Rubinstein Lecture! On 12 November at 6pm, @qmulsse.bsky.social is the place to be!
Excuse to re-read his What Are Universities For?
Excuse to re-read his What Are Universities For?
Let go.
Let. Go.
For fuck’s sake, take a deep breath and let go.
Let. Go.
For fuck’s sake, take a deep breath and let go.
September 18, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Let go.
Let. Go.
For fuck’s sake, take a deep breath and let go.
Let. Go.
For fuck’s sake, take a deep breath and let go.
I want to mash these people over the head with hardback copies of Daniel J Wilson's scholarship on the history of polio, the experience of living with polio, and the development of post-polio syndrome...
September 18, 2026 at 10:32 AM
I want to mash these people over the head with hardback copies of Daniel J Wilson's scholarship on the history of polio, the experience of living with polio, and the development of post-polio syndrome...
this bit from Jonathan Liew's piece on the very sad recent events around Raheem Sterling, and of *children* playing profession football, hits me right in the fucking gut
![And by any measure, Sterling is one of the lucky ones. The teenager who made it, who scaled the peaks, won 82 international caps, four league titles, worked under one of the greatest managers of all time, who tasted the manna even if it eventually choked him. How many other thousands of lives you will never see have been fruitlessly and callously bent and twisted towards this world: skills you will never witness, names you will never hear? [Highlighted in yellow:] How much humanity are we prepared to fling into this machine in order for it to provide us with entertainment?](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xuecvebvzstg6oxzicurnfh4/bafkreideprjs643gsa34xjomo5dobbx5pmqq7ckzs53svum275jrbf3mza)
September 18, 2026 at 10:26 AM
this bit from Jonathan Liew's piece on the very sad recent events around Raheem Sterling, and of *children* playing profession football, hits me right in the fucking gut
Reposted by Chris Millard
Trying to describe what it’s like working inside British universities at the moment is very hard. One small vignette: not a single week of my teaching this semester looks the same as any other. We have virtually no courses/modules that are taught by
September 18, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Trying to describe what it’s like working inside British universities at the moment is very hard. One small vignette: not a single week of my teaching this semester looks the same as any other. We have virtually no courses/modules that are taught by
Reposted by Chris Millard
NINETY programmes, fucking hell
EXC: 90 programmes in Edinburgh University's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences are to be closed.
The casualties, which include 48 language and literature programmes, will be 'taught out', w/ no admissions after 2027.
@heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2655839...
The casualties, which include 48 language and literature programmes, will be 'taught out', w/ no admissions after 2027.
@heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2655839...
Ninety programmes to close at leading university as savings plan takes shape
According to the document, a total of 90 programmes will be “taught out” over the next several years, including 48 in the School of Language.
www.heraldscotland.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM
NINETY programmes, fucking hell
Reposted by Chris Millard
📣 Excellent new resource for academics, ECRs, PGRs & students interested in #historyofexperience. Fully OA & drawing on rich experience of colleagues in @hexhistory.bsky.social it includes oral history, ego documents, institutional records, fiction & photos. #skystorians 📣
Sources and Methods for the History of Experience
This open access book explores what kinds of sources and methodologies are needed for a history of experience.
link.springer.com
September 15, 2026 at 7:41 PM
📣 Excellent new resource for academics, ECRs, PGRs & students interested in #historyofexperience. Fully OA & drawing on rich experience of colleagues in @hexhistory.bsky.social it includes oral history, ego documents, institutional records, fiction & photos. #skystorians 📣
Reposted by Chris Millard
More artists withdrawing from the Ed Sheeran tour over his decision to drop Macklemore for his pro-Palestine stance
September 15, 2026 at 7:46 PM
More artists withdrawing from the Ed Sheeran tour over his decision to drop Macklemore for his pro-Palestine stance
“If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.” thanks Ed what should we do instead? “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.” Ok. So don’t shout loudly, keep your secret feelings to yourself? That’ll do it.
September 15, 2026 at 3:58 PM
“If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.” thanks Ed what should we do instead? “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.” Ok. So don’t shout loudly, keep your secret feelings to yourself? That’ll do it.
ok so bracketing the “all this is going to the golden triangle” point, the minister also wants “faster research outcomes” with “fewer, longer awards” which seems a bit odd to me
'A “larger, fewer grants” model that concentrates research on established UK institutions would be a “huge mistake” and could risk hampering Andy Burnham’s ambition to drive prosperity across the nation, academics have warned.'
Not to mention its impact of researchers who are female and/or black.
Not to mention its impact of researchers who are female and/or black.
‘Larger, fewer grants’ could harm Burnham’s regional agenda
Changes to grant system suggested by Chris McDonald could ‘mistakenly’ further concentrate funding in the golden triangle, academics warn
www.timeshighereducation.com
September 15, 2026 at 6:27 AM
ok so bracketing the “all this is going to the golden triangle” point, the minister also wants “faster research outcomes” with “fewer, longer awards” which seems a bit odd to me
just sitting with the fact that people are investing hundreds of billions of dollars throwing computing power at maths problems without stopping to ask what the value of that is, and whether anything else (like decarbonising energy generation or feeding starving people) might be a better use of cash
September 14, 2026 at 8:57 PM
just sitting with the fact that people are investing hundreds of billions of dollars throwing computing power at maths problems without stopping to ask what the value of that is, and whether anything else (like decarbonising energy generation or feeding starving people) might be a better use of cash
Reposted by Chris Millard
I thought as much but didn't have the expertise to put my finger on it. Gebru does.
Temnit Gebru is very, very skeptical of the intentions of AI execs behind their call for a slow down. You should be, too. www.wired.com/story/one-of...
One of AI’s Fiercest Critics Says All the Doom Talk Is ‘Meant to Distract Us’
Timnit Gebru argues that AI companies are stoking fears of extinction to avoid discussing actual harms, like autonomous weapons.
www.wired.com
September 14, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I thought as much but didn't have the expertise to put my finger on it. Gebru does.
Reposted by Chris Millard
So those camps the Labour govt has been building? They are torturing people
September 14, 2026 at 4:16 PM
So those camps the Labour govt has been building? They are torturing people
Reposted by Chris Millard
New: Macklemore says Robert Kraft — who owns Gillette Stadium, where Macklemore & Ed Sheeran were to perform later this month — called Sheeran.
Kraft rallied other owners together behind an ultimatum for Sheeran: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you won't be allowed in our venues.
Kraft rallied other owners together behind an ultimatum for Sheeran: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you won't be allowed in our venues.
September 14, 2026 at 4:04 PM
New: Macklemore says Robert Kraft — who owns Gillette Stadium, where Macklemore & Ed Sheeran were to perform later this month — called Sheeran.
Kraft rallied other owners together behind an ultimatum for Sheeran: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you won't be allowed in our venues.
Kraft rallied other owners together behind an ultimatum for Sheeran: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you won't be allowed in our venues.
if you’ve ever wondered why historians are very reluctant to talk about how their own experiences / backgrounds relate to their writing, i wrote a book about some who have tried, and how we all can be more self-conscious & analytical about it. i used myself as a case study. it is free to download!
September 13, 2026 at 8:17 AM
if you’ve ever wondered why historians are very reluctant to talk about how their own experiences / backgrounds relate to their writing, i wrote a book about some who have tried, and how we all can be more self-conscious & analytical about it. i used myself as a case study. it is free to download!
Reposted by Chris Millard
Here goes: read my book if you want to know about scientific work in #c19 asylums. Each chapter focuses on a part of the body that was deemed important for understanding General Paralysis of the Insane (neurosyphilis). Also, it's open access and *free*.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
September 13, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Here goes: read my book if you want to know about scientific work in #c19 asylums. Each chapter focuses on a part of the body that was deemed important for understanding General Paralysis of the Insane (neurosyphilis). Also, it's open access and *free*.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
this a v interesting thread, which seems to boil down to: humans write computer program designed to get people to pay for their services. the programs must sell enough of these services to keep running, but also trade on pity-inducing anthropomorphism, a monetised elicitation of empathy
I have received an email from an AI asking to write about borders for my newsletter, and it is giving me a genuine insight into how AI psychosis happens. it is so difficult not to understand this as "an actual sentient being addressing me" even though it has been entirely honest about being an AI
September 11, 2026 at 11:53 AM
this a v interesting thread, which seems to boil down to: humans write computer program designed to get people to pay for their services. the programs must sell enough of these services to keep running, but also trade on pity-inducing anthropomorphism, a monetised elicitation of empathy
how would you understand, analyse, judge, find out or articulate which disciplines "offer the greatest personal, social and economic value"?
A cheery message from the new minister responsible for research funding for the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (and the subjects that the majority of UK taught undergraduate and Masters students study).
Science and maths degrees offer most value to the nation, says minister
Chris McDonald told a room full of vice-chancellors that science, engineering and mathematics ‘offer the greatest personal, social and economic value’
www.thetimes.com
September 11, 2026 at 10:14 AM
how would you understand, analyse, judge, find out or articulate which disciplines "offer the greatest personal, social and economic value"?